Never mind that Akihiko Kondo has been without his waifu, Hatsune Miku, since 2020, when Gatebox, which officiated the marriage, pulled the service. She is very much alive and kicking. Just that she is not at his home. He will be able to find Hatsune Miku at her global concert tours, official events in Japan, and of course, merchandise and collaborations.
Speaking of collabs, Akihiko-san can feel closer to his “wife” when gaming with a range of Hatsune Miku-themed gaming hardware, and now, he can also feel closer to her during his daily commute thanks to the HiBy Digital x Hatsune Miku Audio Gear. HiBy’s sub-brand HiByDigital has launched a collaboration with the global virtual pop star, featuring the HiByDigital M500 music player and the HiByDigital YUME in-ear headphones.
This is not a lazy reskin. HiBy went all in. The M500 isn’t just a regular player with teal stickers slapped on; it features illustrator TID’s “Summer Breeze” design, a custom UI, and three Hatsune Miku voice profiles baked directly into the system. Turn it on, and the whole interface confidently announces that this is her device and you’re merely borrowing it.
The player runs on a Snapdragon 680 chip with Android 14, so unlike some audiophile bricks out there, this one will not freeze if you dare to swipe too quickly. Dual CS43198 DACs and low-noise op-amps take care of the actual sound, pushing out enough detail to let you hear every engineered breath, harmony layer, and studio sparkle that defines Vocaloid tracks.
On the hardware side, you’re looking at a 5-inch multimedia display, 4+64 GB storage, built-in camera, dual microphones, speakers, Wi-Fi dual-band support, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G connectivity, and a 3,100 mAh battery. It even supports DSD512 and PCM 768 kHz/32-bit, which is very “because we can,” but appreciated. Dual outputs (3.5 mm and 4.4 mm balanced) mean you can plug in whatever you want short of a desktop amp.
Meanwhile, the YUME IEMs take the visual theme and run with it. They feature magnesium–aluminum alloy domes, a polymer diaphragm, dual magnetic cores, and a 1.2-tesla magnetic circuit. In other words, these tiny things have more engineering than some budget laptops.
The rear chamber is L.S.W. (Long Sound Wave) tuned, the airflow is dual-controlled, and the cable system uses a 4-Pin lock so nothing detaches mid-chorus. They’re clearly designed for J-pop and ACG vocals, which is exactly where Miku shines.
The package also includes coaxial balance cables, Litz Type 4 wiring, and high-purity OCC conductors. Everything screams precision, minus the literal screaming — unless you play something that requires it.
Both items are available now, and early-bird buyers get bonuses. The HiBy Digital M500 x Hatsune Miku retails for US$269. The HiBy Digital YUME x Hatsune Miku goes for US$139 (U.P. US$149).
Images: HiBy.
