HiBy Digital M500 X Hatsune Miku Audio Player Review: Virtual Pop Star Plays Your Favorite Music - CNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. HiBy paired with virtual idol Hatsune Miku for this co-branded media player that's actually quite good. Article updated on May 4, 2026, 4:00 am EDT This artist has played at Coachella, and is currently appearing “live” in a town near you. It’s virtual Japanese pop idol Hatsune Miku. You might not have heard of Miku, but it (I’m just not comfortable calling it “she”) is popular across music, games and more. For the fans, the $319 HiBy M500 x Hatsune Miku is a digital audio player with the same bright colors and overall aesthetic. The collaboration goes to more than colors, with an animated and occasionally vocal Miku offering some adorable and unique flair. For people who aren’t necessarily familiar with Hatsune Miku’s work, the M500 is also a solid mid-level audio player, with Cirrus Logic DACs, decent amp power and a fast-enough processor that makes it work smoothly. Running a modified version of