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USB-C DONGLE · ESS ES9281PRO

HiBy FC3

A USB-C dongle with an ESS ES9281PRO DAC chip, a 3.5 mm output. Weight 9.1 g.

Manufacturer page · Price history

POWER AT 32 Ω70mW3.5 mm
OUTPUT IMPEDANCENot statedNo data from the manufacturer
SNRNot statedNo data from the manufacturer
PRICE$39Lowest price at HiBy store
OUTPUTS3.5 mm
DAC CHIPESS ES9281PRO
PARAMETRIC EQNot statedHiBy lists none
CONTOURNot supported

Numbers are the manufacturer's stated figures unless marked as measured; sources linked below.

Outputs and power

3.5 mm
70mWat 32 Ω per channel
FC3 original audio componentry: 70 mW, printed 70+70mW
Output impedance -

Not stated: gain, supply voltage, SNR, distortion, crosstalk.

Is it enough for your headphones?

HiBy rates the FC3 at 70 mW into 32 Ω. Below is how much of that is left to spare for each kind of headphones when you listen loud, with peaks at 110 dB. A figure marked est. is worked out from that rating.

Sensitive IEMsMulti-driver sets that hiss on strong sources
needs 0.6 mWest. 35 mW at 16 Ω+17 dB
Most IEMsTypical in-ears, 16 to 50 Ω
needs 3.2 mW70 mW at 32 Ω+13 dB
Easy-to-drive headphonesClosed and portable, 32 Ω
needs 16 mW70 mW at 32 Ω+6 dB
Hard-to-drive headphones300 Ω, HD 600 class, hungry for voltage
needs 20 mWest. 7.5 mW at 300 Ω4 dB short
Most planarsPlanar magnetic, low impedance, need current
needs 50 mW70 mW at 32 Ω+1 dB
Demanding planarsThe hardest loads, desktop territory
needs 251 mWest. 37 mW at 60 Ω8 dB short

Where to buy

Some shop links are affiliate links: if you buy through one, I may earn a commission. Your price and the order stay the same.

HiBy store · official store price, checked 16 Oct 2026$39The HiFi Cat · sold out, read 10 Nov 2026$59

Price historyCompare prices on Soundblooms Deals

The device

From HiBy's spec sheet unless marked
InputUSB-C
FormatsPCM up to 32-bit / 384 kHz, DSD128FC3 original audio componentry
DAC chipESS ES9281PRO
Volume30 stepsFC3 original audio componentry
Parametric EQNo data from the manufacturer. Not supported in Contour.
Size45 × 13 × 9 mm
Weight9.1 g

How it stacks up against the competition

Power at 32 Ω · price in US dollars
50 mW100 mW200 mW10 mW$30$50scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+13 dB to spareFiiO KA11: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99Questyle M12i: 21 mW at 32 Ω, $49TANCHJIM SPACE LITE: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99SPACE LITEFiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99FiiO KA2: 153 mW at 32 Ω, $34.59Hidizs S3 PRO: 55 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99S3 PROHidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs S9 PRO: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha: 180 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S8 Pro Robin: 160 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99Hidizs SD2: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $35.99SD2Hidizs XO: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $40.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata HD III: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $45.90iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59GO linkJCALLY AP7: 70 mW at 32 Ω, ~$45.73AP7JCALLY JM20: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$31.64JCALLY JM20 PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$35.46JCALLY JM20MAX: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99JCALLY JM30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$27JCALLY JM30L: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, $26.99JCALLY JM30PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$46.49JCALLY JM45: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$26.50JCALLY JM45L: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$28.45JCALLY JM80E: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $39JM80EJCALLY JM98MAX: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $34.99JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK NK1 Ultra: 122 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99FiiO JIEZI B: 34 mW at 32 Ω, $22.99HiBy FC350 mW100 mW200 mW10 mW$30$50scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+13 dB to spareFiiO KA11: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99Questyle M12i: 21 mW at 32 Ω, $49TANCHJIM SPACE LITE: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99SPACE LITEFiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99KA1FiiO KA2: 153 mW at 32 Ω, $34.59Hidizs S3 PRO: 55 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99S3 PROHidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs S9 PRO: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha: 180 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S8 Pro Robin: 160 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99Hidizs SD2: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $35.99SD2Hidizs XO: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $40.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99DAWN PRO 2TempoTec Sonata HD III: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $45.90Sonata HD IIIiFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59GO linkJCALLY AP7: 70 mW at 32 Ω, ~$45.73AP7JCALLY JM20: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$31.64JCALLY JM20 PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$35.46JCALLY JM20MAX: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99JCALLY JM30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$27JCALLY JM30L: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, $26.99JCALLY JM30PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$46.49JCALLY JM45: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$26.50JCALLY JM45L: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$28.45JCALLY JM80E: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $39JM80EJCALLY JM98MAX: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $34.99JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK NK1 Ultra: 122 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99NK1 UltraFiiO JIEZI B: 34 mW at 32 Ω, $22.99HiBy FC3
  • Nearby
  • Same DAC chip
  • Most IEMs, 3.2 mW

Compared with

Manufacturers' stated figures; the price is today's lowest

HiBy FC3 vs HiBy FC4

At 32 Ω HiBy FC3 is listed at 70 mW and HiBy FC4 at 340 mW; the lowest prices are $39 and $49, $10 apart.

HiBy FC3 vs HiBy FC4: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
HiBy FC3HiBy FC4
Power at 32 Ω70 mW3.5 mm, printed 70+70mW, socket not printed; the only headphone output340 mW4.4 mm balanced
Price today$39HiBy store, 16 Oct$49HiBy store, 16 Oct
DAC chipESS ES9281PROESS ES9219 × 2
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
Size45 × 13 × 9 mm65.3 × 22.1 × 11.9 mm
Weight9.1 g21.7 g

HiBy FC3 price history · HiBy FC4 price history

More like this

More portable DAC amps

Sources

Checked 14 Oct 2026
FC3 original specifications
hiby.com · the spec sheet
Used for formats, the DAC chip, input, outputs, size and weight
FC3 original audio componentry
hiby.com
Used for power, formats, controls and charging required