HiBy W4 Adapter: A Colorful $99 Hi-Fi Upgrade for Wired Headphones

HiBy W4 adapter brings wired headphones back into the spotlight with Bluetooth 5.4, tactile controls, dual DACs, and a bold portable design.

A Dongle That Refuses to Hide

Wired headphones were supposed to disappear with the 3.5mm jack, yet plenty of us still have a favorite pair that sounds better, fits better, or simply feels more familiar than anything new. The HiBy W4 adapter taps into that stubborn affection, giving classic wired headphones a modern wireless connection without forcing them into a boring black box.

Instead of dangling anonymously from a phone, the W4 arrives with bright color, chunky controls, and enough visual personality to look intentional. It’s less “tiny accessory I hope I don’t lose” and more “small piece of audio gear I’m happy to show off.”

A Retro Shape With Modern Nerve

Portable audio adapters usually bring to mind little black rectangles or USB dongles hanging from a phone like an afterthought. They work, sure, but they rarely inspire much affection. The W4 takes a different route with a geometric form that feels almost Bauhaus-inspired: a sturdy square body, a splash of color, and a ridged volume dial that practically begs to be turned.

That mix gives the HiBy W4 adapter a pleasantly unusual character. It feels retro without becoming nostalgic wallpaper, while its compact construction still belongs firmly in the present. There’s a little bit of old-school hi-fi attitude here—the kind that says controls should be felt, not merely tapped on a featureless screen.

Controls You Can Actually Feel

The W4’s appeal isn’t only visual. It’s designed around the tactile experience of using it, which is a welcome change in a world where nearly every function has been flattened into a touchscreen menu.

Its ridged volume dial lets you adjust levels without looking down. That matters when the amplifier is tucked into a jacket pocket, sitting inside a bag, or clipped somewhere just out of sight. Instead of fishing for your phone and navigating around notifications, you can simply reach for the dial and make the adjustment by feel.

There’s also a 2-inch touchscreen showing playback information and providing access to settings. The display gives your thumb something useful to do besides wandering into the endless distractions of your phone. It’s a small distinction, but one that makes the W4 feel more like a dedicated audio device than a disposable adapter.

A Magnetic Companion for Your Phone

Of course, adding a portable amplifier means adding one more object to your everyday carry. That’s the trade-off. Your phone may be slim and beautifully self-contained, but wired headphones still need somewhere to connect.

The W4 can be paired with a MagSafe-compatible phone or case through an optional magnetic backplate. In theory, that keeps the phone and amplifier together as one tidy setup rather than letting the W4 bounce around at the bottom of a bag. It’s a practical answer to a very modern problem.

The catch? The magnetic plate doesn’t come included as standard. That’s a slightly awkward detail for a device whose whole appeal is portable convenience. The feature is available, but buyers need to account for the additional accessory if they want the cleanest phone-and-amplifier arrangement.

Bluetooth Handles the Final Connection

The HiBy W4 adapter doesn’t turn wired headphones into completely cable-free earbuds. A cable still runs from the headphones into the amplifier, so this isn’t a magic vanishing act for wires. What it does is remove the cable between your phone and the audio hardware.

Bluetooth 5.4 takes care of that final stretch, allowing your phone to communicate with the W4 wirelessly. The unit supports LDAC along with other aptX formats supported by the connected phone. In everyday terms, that gives compatible devices more flexibility in how they send audio to the amplifier.

Inside, dual CS43198 DAC chips handle the digital-to-analog conversion. That technical work happens quietly in the background, which is exactly how most listeners would prefer it. You don’t need to fuss over the circuitry every time you press play; the point is to connect your trusted wired headphones and get back to listening.

Two Headphone Outputs and a Desktop Role

The W4 supports the familiar 3.5mm headphone jack, making it compatible with the kind of wired headphones many listeners already own. It also includes a 4.4mm balanced output for headphones using that connection. That gives more serious listeners another option without making the everyday 3.5mm jack obsolete.

The device can also work with a computer over USB-C, effectively serving as a desktop DAC. So while the W4 is small enough to travel, it isn’t limited to use on the move. It can sit beside a laptop or computer when you want to bring your wired headphones into a desk-based listening setup.

Because USB-C is also used for charging, HiBy includes a special “UnCharge” mode.

“UnCharge” mode prevents the connected phone or computer from charging the W4’s internal battery.

It’s a thoughtful bit of housekeeping: without it, the host device could lose additional power while trying to keep the amplifier running.

Battery Life Has a Familiar Catch

A built-in battery makes the W4 convenient, but it also creates one more charging responsibility. We’ve all experienced that moment of reaching for a favorite gadget only to realize it quietly ran out of power overnight. The W4 joins the growing club of devices that need a quick charge before leaving the house.

HiBy advertises up to 6.3 hours of continuous AAC playback on a full charge when using the 3.5mm jack. That figure drops to five hours when the 4.4mm output is also in use. The difference is worth keeping in mind, especially for listeners who plan to rely on the balanced connection throughout the day.

It isn’t an enormous endurance number, but it gives the W4 a practical window for commuting, casual listening, or a few concentrated hours away from a desk. Just remember to charge the amplifier—not only the phone carrying your music.

Is the $99 Price Worth It?

At $99, the HiBy W4 adapter is an easier sell for dedicated audiophiles than for casual listeners. It doesn’t make every headphone cable disappear, the optional magnetic phone attachment costs extra, and the amplifier becomes another device to carry and charge.

Still, it solves a real problem for anyone who has a beloved wired pair sitting unused because their smartphone no longer includes a headphone jack. Instead of forcing those headphones into retirement, the W4 gives them a path back into daily listening.

The design helps, too. Bright, vibrant color options offer a little personal style in a category usually dominated by anonymous black plastic. The W4 may be a niche product, but it doesn’t apologize for being one. It treats portable audio like something worth enjoying with both your ears and your hands.

The HiBy W4 adapter is not a universal solution for every listener, but it makes a convincing case for keeping wired headphones in the conversation. With physical controls, a touchscreen, Bluetooth 5.4, dual DAC chips, two headphone outputs, and a personality-rich design, it turns an overlooked accessory into a piece of gear you might actually look forward to using.

FAQ

• What does the HiBy W4 adapter do?
  It connects wired headphones to a phone wirelessly through Bluetooth while providing amplification and digital-to-analog conversion.
• Does the HiBy W4 make wired headphones completely wireless?
  No. A cable still runs from the headphones into the W4, but the connection between the phone and amplifier is wireless.
• Which headphone connections does the W4 support?
  It supports a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and a 4.4mm balanced output.
• Can the W4 be used with a computer?
  Yes. Through USB-C, it can function as a desktop DAC for a computer.
• How long does the W4 battery last?
  HiBy lists up to 6.3 hours of AAC playback through the 3.5mm jack and up to five hours when the 4.4mm output is also used.

If this colorful return to wired listening speaks to your inner audiophile, browse our favorite album cover posters and bring a little more music-inspired character to your space.