Hiby FC3 Review – Portability is Key

Comparisons –

Xperia 5 II: I thought it would be apt to compare the FC3 to the Sony’s integrated headphone jack. The FC3 does have a lower OI, noticeable on low-impedance multi-driver IEMs, though the Sony does have a sub 2-ohm OI which remains acceptable for most gear. The Sony in return offers a black noise floor but also has markedly less output power. Though sufficient for IEMs, the FC3 is a substantial improvement for headphones and offers much more volume.

Tonally, the FC3 is much more linear and offers more headroom. The 5 II has good linearity with a bit of additional body and warmth through its bass and midrange. The FC3 is more defined and dynamic, with a generally more succinct note presentation. Both have similar soundstage expansion, the FC3 has noticeably sharper imaging. Indeed, the FC3 is a good step up, but for IEMs, the integrated jack does quite well with low noise and a mostly flat sound.

Cozoy Takt-C ($109): The Takt-C provides a slightly fuller and more musical sound than the more reference-orientated FC3. Though both have a similar bass presentation, the Takt-C offers a slightly more dynamic and controlled experience. The midrange is also slightly more enticing on a tonality level with a bit more body on the Takt C. The FC3 is slightly more neutral in tone here and also a bit more defined.

The Takt-C has more accurate vocal size and is slightly more coherent. In terms of treble, the FC3 is a bit more linear here, delivering slightly better fine detail retrieval. Both offer similar extension, the FC3 having a slight edge. The Takt-C has a wider soundstage while the FC3 has better layering. The Takt-C offers a black noise floor where the FC3 has a little hiss on the most sensitive gear.

A&K Dual DAC Cable ($149): The Dual DAC Cable offers a more robust sound. It has better sub-bass extension and a bit more kick alongside slightly better control in the bass. The midrange is slightly more lush on the AK cable though at the cost of some definition relative to the cleaner and more linear FC3. The AK cable does have a nice timbre to my ears, with more appropriate vocal size though it is more tonally coloured overall.

The FC3 has a slightly crisper treble response, the AK being smoother and slightly more resolving of fine detail. I also find the AK cable to offer a bit more headroom and a noticeably larger soundstage. The AK cable also offers a slightly lower noise floor though still has some hiss on the most sensitive gear. Of note, its 2-ohm output impedance does not make it as ideal for low-impedance multi-driver earphones as the FC3.

Verdict –

The FC3 is available on HiFiGO (International) for $69 USD at the time of writing. I am not affiliated with Hiby or HiFiGO and receive no earnings from purchases through this link.