We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a pocket-sized way to turn any phone or laptop into a genuine hi-res audio source with full MQA unfolding, choose HiBy FC3; if you need actual headphones — wireless, noise-cancelling, all-day-comfortable ones that also do hi-res over LDAC — choose 1MORE Over Ear.
• HiBy FC3, biggest strength: an ES9281AC Pro DAC that decodes PCM up to 32bit/384kHz, DSD128 DoP and MQA, with 112mW+112mW@32Ω of output and an OLED display showing sample rate and volume.
• HiBy FC3, biggest trade-off: it makes no sound on its own. It's a USB dongle, so you supply the headphones and live with a wired tether to your source.
• 1MORE Over Ear, biggest strength: a complete wireless headphone — LDAC hi-res audio, QuietMax ANC rated to cut 45dB+ of noise, 40mm DLC drivers with a 20Hz–40kHz range, and up to 100 hours of playtime.
• 1MORE Over Ear, biggest trade-off: it's Bluetooth-first. Its hi-res ceiling depends on your source supporting LDAC, and at 15.84 ounces it's a full-size over-ear rather than something you tuck in a pocket.
• Who each is for: HiBy FC3 is for the listener who already owns good wired headphones and wants better decoding; 1MORE Over Ear is for the listener who wants one pair of headphones to do everything, wirelessly.
The HiBy FC3 is a USB DAC dongle, and that single fact defines everything about it. The ES9281AC Pro chip inside handles PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD128 via DoP, and it performs the full 16x unfolding of MQA. If you subscribe to a service or use software that delivers MQA — HiBy's own app or TIDAL are the examples HiBy gives — the FC3 is built to unfold 8x of that in software on a phone. That's the kind of spec that matters to someone chasing hi-res audio rather than casual listening.
What I find genuinely useful is the OLED display. Most dongles are silent black boxes; the FC3 shows sample rate and volume directly, so you can confirm at a glance that your source is actually feeding it the hi-res stream you think it is. The 112mW+112mW@32Ω output is respectable for a dongle and is aimed at driving a range of HiFi headphones rather than just sensitive IEMs.
Who should buy it: someone with a decent wired headphone already in their bag, who wants to upgrade the conversion stage on a phone, tablet or computer. It's plug-and-play on Macs and Windows 10, needs no charging, and can act as your computer's sound card. Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless freedom, noise cancelling, or a self-contained listening device. The FC3 doesn't include headphones and doesn't untether you — it's a link in a chain, not the whole chain.
The 1MORE Over Ear (sold as the SonoFlow Pro) is the opposite kind of product: a finished wireless headphone. The hi-res story here is LDAC, which moves roughly three times the data of standard Bluetooth, and the model carries dual Hi-Res audio certification. The 40mm diamond-like carbon drivers cover a 20Hz–40kHz frequency range, which is the extended top end hi-res listeners look for. 1MORE also states the tuning was done by engineer Luca Bignardi.
The practical features are just as relevant. QuietMax ANC is rated to block 45dB+ of external noise, which is squarely aimed at subways, airports and busy streets. Battery life is the headline number: up to 100 hours standard, 65 hours with ANC on, and a 5-minute charge adds around 10 hours. Bluetooth 5.4 handles the wireless side, and there's a 3.5mm jack plus wired mode if you want to bypass the radio entirely.
Who should buy it: commuters, remote workers and travellers who want one headphone for noise cancelling, long calls and long listening sessions. The ultra-lightweight build with protein leather cushions and adjustable fit is designed for exactly that. Who should skip it: purists who insist on a wired-only, zero-latency signal path, or anyone who wants something compact. It's a full-size over-ear at 15.84 ounces and comes with a carrying case, not a pocket.
• Best for true hi-res decoding flexibility → HiBy FC3. PCM 32bit/384kHz, DSD128 DoP and full MQA unfolding cover formats the 1MORE simply can't receive over Bluetooth.
• Best for hi-res streaming on the move without wires → 1MORE Over Ear. LDAC plus dual Hi-Res certification is the practical wireless route to hi-res audio.
• Best for noise and commuting → 1MORE Over Ear. QuietMax ANC rated to 45dB+ is the whole point of this model.
• Best for battery life → 1MORE Over Ear. Up to 100 hours standard, 65 with ANC, with a quick-charge top-up.
• Best for using what you already own → HiBy FC3. If you have wired headphones you like, the FC3 upgrades the source instead of replacing the headphone.
• Best for calls and meetings → 1MORE Over Ear. AI-powered noise reduction and its mic array are built for clear voice pickup.
• Best for desk and laptop use → HiBy FC3. Plug-and-play as a sound card on Mac and Windows 10, no charging, with the OLED confirming your sample rate.
• Best all-rounder for most people → 1MORE Over Ear. It's a complete, self-contained listening solution; the FC3 is a component.
In my opinion, most people asking this question should buy the 1MORE Over Ear. It's the complete product: hi-res wireless via LDAC, serious noise cancelling, roughly 100 hours of battery and a wired mode for when you want it. The HiBy FC3 is excellent at what it does — the ES9281AC Pro, MQA unfolding and that OLED readout make it a genuinely smart dongle — but it only makes sense if you already own wired headphones worth feeding and want a portable, high-quality DAC to drive them. If that's you, buy the FC3. If you want headphones, buy the 1MORE. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since the FC3 is a small accessory and the 1MORE is a full headphone — the value calculation depends entirely on which job you actually need done.
what is hi res headphones
Hi-res headphones are ones capable of reproducing an extended frequency range, commonly up to around 40kHz. The 1MORE Over Ear fits that description with its 20Hz–40kHz range, 40mm DLC drivers and dual Hi-Res certification.
what is hi res audio headphones
It refers to headphones paired with audio that exceeds CD quality — higher sample rates and bit depths. On the HiBy FC3 that means PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD128; on the 1MORE it means LDAC, which carries about three times the data of standard Bluetooth.
what are hi res headphones
They're headphones designed to resolve more detail than standard Bluetooth or CD-grade playback allows, either through a wired hi-res signal chain or a high-bitrate codec. The 1MORE Over Ear covers the wireless side with LDAC plus a 3.5mm wired mode, while the FC3 serves the wired side as a DAC.
which headphones support hi res lossless
Lossless hi-res generally needs a wired or high-bitrate path. The HiBy FC3 feeds wired headphones with PCM up to 32bit/384kHz, DSD128 and MQA; the 1MORE Over Ear supports hi-res over LDAC wirelessly and can also run wired via its 3.5mm jack.
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