HiBy Crystal6 II

I like the shell and HiBy had me appreciate the colour purple on my person. this not an easy feat.
The IEM is well crafted, stays in ear like a feather and doesn't move around at all. The cable's quite a perk, since it has swappable end so you can go 4.4 to 3.5 withouth the hassle of changing it. Less changing the cable, less chances to kill the socket. Good thinking HiBy!
To try them, i put them in their RS8, so i absolutely pushed them to their absolute limit
I got around trying it after a long time since i used IEM, being hooked on HPs.
First i went with something bass/vocal heavy, "I've got the world on a string" from Chesky Records. I often use their recordings in my review because, honestly, such high tier mastering means it's the duty of the hardware to show its capability, and any lack of positioning/frequency/detail is wholly on the hardware and not on the song itself (some crimes against sound should be put in prison, because of criminally bad mastering).
The bass is detailed and accurate, thought i guess my Heartland made me kind of a bass head, so MAAAAAYBE in the future a little bump there in the low end impact could be a way to improve it. Yet, it's mostly about improving what's there, not a lack of bass. I might be nitpicky, but at this 300 buck tier i start being picky.
Mids a pleasure to listen to, so voice-heavy songs are very enjoyable.
After that, "Get You Closer (Radio Mix)" because i needed to push the bass and highs with something more "spicy". Here you can see it has a slight lack of "control" in the low end, but still it doesn't hide it. Highs are detailed and powerful, not screechy at all but you can feel them. Like some techno/dance? This IEM will be something you'll enjoy lots.
In all songs i tried, positioning and technicalities were very satisfactory, i'd say eerily close to my Euclid, so yeah this IEM was done with quality in mind, both manifacturing and tuning.
I sincerely think that in their pricerange. I compared them to my old Blessing 2 Dusk, and i overwhelmingly prefer their tuning not to mention the added detail.
Could they be improved? a little more bass impact and you get yourself a gem.
Dear HiBy, you made a WONDERFUL mid-tier IEM, and this kind of quality is what keeps the higher end on their toe, to prevent us all from an inflation of overpriced top tiers. If IEM like these didn't exist, we'd all have mid-tier IEM priced at 2k.
Good work hiby!

TL;DR: perfect choice for mid-tier IEM, price/perf is very good!

"Crystals are living beings at the beginning of creation.”


~~Nikola Tesla, Serbian inventor, perspectivist and electrical & chemical engineer.


We in the audio enthusiast community are quite familiar with this audio brand, HIBY MUSIC as they are known to produce some of the most popular portable audio paraphernalias out there like DAPs, earphones and USB DAC dongles in the audio market. HIBY was established around 2011 and they have their own dedicated research and development to create some high quality portable audio products at decent price. The reason that they can provide such pricing to be affordable as possible is due to its strong manufacturing background with decades of experience and at the same time, they also have a stable supply chain for their hardware parts and other components. Aside from hardware aspect, they also have competent software development as they also develop their own OS for their portable digital audio player and a music app for popular mobile OSes which is one of the sought after app for audio enthusiasts for its advanced parametric EQ and a first choice for USB DAC dongle decoding support.



What I have here is an IEM product from them, the HIBY Crystal 6 II, which is an improvement over the previous Crystal 6 and an all-balanced armature driver setup. This product is at the midrange segment as it was priced at over US$300/£245 where it will be competing with other midrange contemporaries which are more established and quite popular to audio enthusiasts.



As mentioned, the Crystal 6 II is an all-BA setup. To be exact, it has 3 pairs of balanced armature drivers, the bass and treble pairs a customised version of a dual set-up of highly-regarded Sonion BAs and that will make it technically a hexapartite (6) driver layout per earpiece. These drivers were implemented in 3-way acoustic tubes and it utilises a electronic crossover frequency board, with gold circuit tracing for ensuring a minimal loss of signal transmission and better sonic fidelity for seamless, smoother and clear audio quality. The custom Sonion 39AY is a dual-woofer BA that will handle solely the low frequency in which I think that it is an improvement over the previous Sonion 38 series and it’s also a vented driver with accupass dampener technology for a deeper, more textured and better extended of bass akin to a high performance dynamic driver. The tweeters are custom Sonion E50DT, and the regular variant of this specific dual BA model is known to deliver a smooth, spacious and excellent treble air.




Its drivers and the other internal components are encapsulated in a resin shell chassis that were moulded via a 3D-printing process by HEYGEARS to ensure uniformity of its ergonomic design and better structural integrity. The faceplates were handcrafted and underwent a sand painting process to give a unique and distinctive pattern to each earpiece. It takes a UIEM-style form factor as it is the most ergonomic and versatile when it comes to fitting and comfort and the shell's cavity base has a large vent hole at the top part for releasing excess air pressure for more comfortable wear. And this set utilises a standard 0.78mm 2-pin connector as its detachable mechanism for ease of cable swapping.



It was partnered with a high quality cable with a modular interface for interchangeable termination plugs. The cable itself is a 4-core high purity copper cable and it is quite supple and malleable to handle though it has a termination plug which is sort of a weighty one that gives a solid build on it.




Its UIEM-style shell contours are quite ergonomic as it sits well into my lugholes without any issues so that I can definitely wear them for a long listening session. It has an excellent seal as it was able to block a substantial amount of external noises coming from the outside surroundings, despite the venting.



The product presentation of HIBY Crystal 6 II is rather utilitarian and practical on how it was packed in a medium-sized square box but at least it has a considerable amount of inclusions.



Here are the following contents inside the box:

■ Pair of HIBY Crystal 6 II IEMs

■ Stock modular cable

■ 3.5mm SE termination plug

■ 4.4mm balanced termination plug

■ 3 pairs of balanced ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ 3 pairs of vocal/crisp ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ 3 pairs of bass ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ 1 pair of narrow bore medium-size ear tips

■ a circular hard-woven fibre IEM storage case.

■ An anti-theft holder

■ paperwork like Q.C. stub, instruction manual and warranty card.



In regards to scaling on power requirement, HIBY CRYSTAL 6 II is quite exceptional on this aspect as it is one of the most sensitive when it comes to amplification and very easy to drive. My LG phones with ESS Hi-Fi DACs need only 20-30% of its volume level as it is quite pretty loud and will give a complete and dynamic sound quality. Pairing it with HIBY R6 PRO II will somehow regulate and give a proper power output to this set.




[Note: The HiBy R6 pro II, which I had together with this for review, powers these fully without a doubt, without overpowering them and there’s enough volume control granularity and no noticeable noise floor.]

As for its tonality, this set has a neutral-ish-bright sound profile as it has more emphasis and elevation on the midrange to high frequencies while the low frequency part is rather reserved and less focused on. This kind of neutral sound signature somehow plainly aligns with a reference sound that I am really fond of.


(Graph was provided by @koyawmohabal , credits to him)

[Note: The majority of conducting an assessment of this set to analyse its sound quality will be paired with HIBY R6 PRO II. And there will be no EQ or the usage of its add-on plugins unless otherwise stated.]


LOWS/BASS:

The bass quality of this one is quite impressive for a BA woofer. Like all IEMs with Sonion BA woofers that I've tested, it has that almost DD-like performance with good incisively deep and clean bass response in which a neutral-ish-bright tonality that usually has. But the vividness and punchiness of a dynamic driver is still unmatched in this regard. It's quite impressive that it has a sub bass presence as I am still able to perceive some reverberations from sub bass-focus instruments like low tone bass guitars, drum machines and synthesisers if I listened to some music genres like synth-pop, post-punk and old school hip-hop.

The mid-bass texture of this one is also noticeably denser that it will give a sufficient punch on the bass kick drum, ample roar on bass guitars and then, depth and tone on bass-baritones. The bass kick drum has a thudding and resonant sound as it is able to cope with fast double bass kicks on metal and rock tracks. Bass guitars have a rasping and sustaining sound on every strum of their string notations and bass-baritone vocals seem to have enough texture to have a wool-like and dense sound though it has a less darker tone that this particular voice type should have.


MIDRANGE:

This is probably one of its focal point on its overall frequency range presentation as the midrange frequency of Crystal 6 II was presented in a neutral, clean and transparent fashion. The quality of the midrange will give more emphasis on tonal colour of vocals (mostly female ones) and instruments to have crisp, energetic and more open sounding.

In part of vocal quality, both male and female voices have a good detail, clarity and some smoothness on its texture. And I'll begin with male vocals first, majority of baritone types have a smoothness and velvety sound while kavalier baritones has a tad metallic sound as I expect a more steely tone and verdi has a decent fullness although less darker timbre as I want. Tenors have a brassy and ringing sound of their vocals with a tinge of spiciness on either lyric, spinto, dramatic or Heldentenor as they have a sufficient texture and volume. Countertenors have smooth and tender voice qualities as they deliver their distinctive high falsetto notes. On female vocals, contraltos have a rich, smokey and sufficient lushness on their vocals as they project their low chesty voices while mezzo-sopranos have a tender, smooth and fiery sound as their voices really gives me that soothing and feathery feel. Sopranos are probably the best one for this set as it has a an energetic and spacious one as it sounds very crystalline, shimmering and metallic that all types of this vocals will be excellent on this one whether it is dramatic, lyric, soubrette or coloratura.

On how the instruments' will sound on this set, strings, woodwinds and percussives will sound very natural and well-delineated on this one as this kind of tuning will excel on mostly classical and orchestra ensembles. When it comes to strings like guitars and violins, guitars (both acoustic and electric-types) have a crisp, lingering sound and it also quite has a presence sound to in some acoustic tracks while violins have vibrant and metallic sound every motion of its bowstring. In woodwinds, concert flutes have a bright and silvery sound while piccolos have intense and piercing sound on them, and then both clarinets and saxophones have lively, sonorous and reedy sounds as I listen to them either in solo or group performance. Percussion instruments like snares, toms, field drums and kettledrums, snares have a sharp, metallic and bright sound while toms have a rustling and resonant sound. Kettledrums have resonant and dry sound and field drums have hard, clattering and sonorous sound. Chordophones like pianos and harpsichords are on the brighter side as the pianos sounds very evenly bright which gives a lively tone while harpsichords have a crisp and resonant sound as I enjoy listening to some Handel tracks. In regards of brass instruments, trumpets have brilliant, bright and shrill sound while trombones have a powerful, penetrating and tense sound, and then on horns, they have a rather a resounding and quite intense sound on them.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

The HIBY Crystal 6 II is absolutely a bright sounding set as I observe the elevation on the upper-mids on how its give a precise and sharper attack of percussive and rhythm instruments along with its boosted female vocals. It has remarkable clarity and detailed sound in its presence in the treble region. But there are some caveats on this one as it will be an anathema to most treble-sensitive folk out there as this will be a fatiguing sound for them, in that there are some noticeable shrillness and hissiness that will affect their listening session but if you are an ardent treble head, this is definitely for you. There are noticeable slight sibilance in this one too especially in tracks that were prone to sibilance.

Cymbals sounds have a shimmering, metallic and sizzling sound, hi-hats have shortened buzzing sound albeit it has added more resonance on them. Glockenspiels have a piercing and strident sound while celestas have a bright and glassy sound on them. Brilliance treble on this one is also remarkable as it has very sparkling and shimmering sound with good treble extension.

[Note: in HIBY R6 PRO II, In the plugin option, the Dynamic mode, it will somehow rectify some unwanted peaks and it adds some texture on its note weight.]


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

It has a good proportion of its sound/speaker stage as it gives me a roomy headroom within my aural sphere as it has a wide span on its sound field along with good height reach and depth on it. It projects a holographic, 3D-like stereo imaging as I was able to perceive the exact location of instruments and vocals. It has an excellent separation of instruments and vocals along with its well-defined layers of tonal frequencies and colour of each element on its overall composition in its black sonic canvas.

The cohesive performance of its drivers is quite remarkable as it has a faster transient response and delivers a detailed sound.

I also give an excellent mark on resolution capability as they have a good macrodynamics and stellar microdynamics. It has a decent amount of note texture while it has a very sharp definition on its detail retrieval as it was able to extract a good amount of details, nuances and subtleties of information from an audio track.

[Note: Again on HIBY R6 PRO II, plugins like “Sound Field” and “DRX10K Dynamics” will even further improve technical capabilities, like giving a more spacious headstage and a more vivid, impactful sound.]


PEER COMPARISONS:

THIEAUDIO HYPE 2

● This is a hybrid driver set-up and it is way less cheaper compared to Crystal 6 II. It has a dual dynamic driver in "isobaric" set-up and also uses two Sonion BAs for mids and high frquencies. Both have both appealing looking resin shells and almost have a quantity of inclusions.

● As for tonality, This set is more a mild U-shaped, probably even "bass-boost neutral", it has a more prominent bass which has more slam compared to Crystal 6 II. Its midrange especially on lower midrange have similar depth and texture on male vocals but compared to Crystal 6II, it has less energetic and particulaly not that open sounding on female vocals and woodwinds. Treble response on this one is more balanced and more smoother sounding but less airy and sparkling compared to Crystal 6 II.

● Technicalities-wise, both are comparable with their respective capabilities, but compared to Crystal 6 II, HYPE 2 has less sound/speaker width and its detail definition was less sharp but not blunted as I still consider it to have competent resolution capability.


HIDIZS MS5

● Unlike Crystal 6 II whose shells chassis are mostly made of resin shell material, the MS5 shells are made of composite materials, a hollowed resin on its faceplate and an aluminium alloy on its cavity base. It has a hybrid driver set-up and it also uses a Sonion BAs. It should be noted that it has a detachable tuning nozzles where you can interchanged with other tuning nozzles that suit your preferred sound profile

● Due to its detachable tuning nozzle, MS5 makes it more versatile to offer different types of sound signatures. The red nozzle has more V-shaped sound signature, rose gold nozzle has a U-shaped which is the most balanced sounding among its tuning nozzles and silver nozzle has a brighter U-shaped. Bass response of this set is more punchy and has a more authority compared to Crystal 6 II but the midrange is way more recessed especially the red nozzle filter. Its treble response are similar, especially the silver and rose gold tuning nozzles as they are also bright and crisp sound with good amount of air and sparkle.

● On technical competency, both sets are have similar imaging performance and resolution capabilities but the difference is that MS5 has a narrower sound/speaker stage compared to Crystal 6 II.


SEE AUDIO BRAVERY LIMITED EDITION

● See Audio's pride on the entry-level to lower midrange segment. This IEM has a similar build quality and driver configuration with the Crystal 6 II but there are still some differences. While it has similar resin shell and also takes a UIEM-style form factor, Bravery LE has a leaner and a tad smaller size. And in regards of its 4 BA drivers configuration, this set also have Knowles BAs to handling other frequency but its Sonion BA that handles the midrange frequency. It is also has modular stock cable but Bravery LE's is more premium as it was provided by Hakugei and it also included a premium ear tips by Azla.

● Tonality-wise, Bravery LE has a warmish-neutral sonic profile in contrast with Crystal 6 neutralish-bright sound. It has a fuller and impacting bass response, a bit warmer and textured midrange and smoother and well-balanced treble response which makes Bravery LE a more natural sounding and more versatile to all vocal types and instruments. Although when it comes to female vocals, strings and woodwinds, Crystal 6 II has better clarity, more shimmering and detailed sounding.

● On technical capabilities, they share similar performance in all technical aspects from soundstaging, imaging and driver cohesiveness. But the slight difference was that Crystal 6 II has tad wider soundstage width while the Bravery LE has a more solid macro-dynamics.


To summarise the overall product profile of the HIBY Crystal 6 II, it has an all-balanced armature drivers that were implemented in a resin shell chassis, a modular cable for versatility to different types of output sources. And then, its tonality took a different approach of having neutral-bright tuning while having a capable technical performance.

As I put a conclusion on this review, I will highly recommend this set to audio enthusiasts if they are looking for a neutral sounding IEM that is highly resolving, analytical with very competent technical capabilities. But for treble-sensitive folk, simply look for another set that will certainly fits your tonal preference.

HIBY CRYSTAL 6 II is now available at HIBY AUDIO's official online store, you can check out the unaffiliated link down below.

★★HIBY CRYSTAL 6 II - OFFICIAL STORE★★

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: HIBY CRYSTAL 6 II
IMPEDANCE: 58.5Ω
SENSITIVITY: 110dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (6) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVER(S)



Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)


Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to HIBY MUSIC nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains from themas they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to JOSEPH YEUNG of HIBY MUSIC for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate hos generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

𝑯𝒊𝑩𝒚 𝑪𝒓𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍6 𝑰𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆


|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||

HiBy Music is a brand most commonly known for the digital audio players(DAP) and their free android app that allows users to bypass the dreaded android resampling protocol. Unbeknownst to some, HiBy do make IEMs both over-the-ear and bullet type sets from various ranges that may have not been in the mainstream of this hobby of ours as of recently.



HiBy is here to present to you their Crystal6 II, a second iteration of their previous Crystal6 released before. Sporting a 6 BA setup, 2 for each pact of the frequency range and is priced at roughly $350.


|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||

• I don’t fancy confusing lingo, therefore, the reviews will simple without too much confusing terminologies

• This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.

• My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.

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𝗛𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗬𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 HiBy Music 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿.
𝗔𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱.

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| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |

The Crystal6 II comes in a nice compact box with galaxy-esque design and multiple branding and text all over. The rear of the box contains additional information regarding the manufacturer, HiBy. Other than that, there is nothing noteworthy about the packaging of the Crystal6 II.



| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Upon opening the box, the included case greets you upfront placed in some foam. Underneath is the included 3 sets of specialized eartips and 3.5mm(SE) termination jack along with some paperwork.



The inside of the case contains the provided cable with the 4.4mm(BAL) pre-installed, additional eartips, and the IEM earpieces wrapped in separate tiny ziplock bags.

𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:

Paperwork
Spherical hardshell case.
Modular OCC 4-core 2-pin cable
3 sets of eartips (S/M/L)
3.5mm(SE) termination plug
4.4mm(BAL) termination plug

I was kind of confused at first as to why a set of eartips are separated from the bunch and are placed inside the case. Apparently that set is the medium size of the balanced tip they provide. The reasoning behind it is simply because there was no cutout for that size within the cluster of eartips for them to be put on to.
Quite generous inclusions overall coming from HiBy. Although not the most inclusive, what these come with are more than enough for you to get started.


| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱, 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The Crystal6 II is made out of a high strength 3D printed resin that feels smooth and great to the touch. Heft is really good and really adds to the quality feeling of the product more. The shape of the Crystal6 II is akin to a faux-custom fit that has grooves all over which results in a protrusion or a wing. The whole earpiece is made out of the same material including the nozzle, besides the unique looking vent on the rear. The vent seems to be caused by a metallic material. I’ve never seen such a venting solution before, especially considering the driver configuration these are composed of.



Speaking of the driver configuration, the Crystal6 II is composed of 6 BA drivers, 2 of each are made to target bass, mids, and the treble. As far as I know sole BA sets aren't required to have vents unlike dynamic or hybrid sets.



It only comes in one color or design variation, and the overall design is in theme with the packaging of the box with its galaxy-looking faceplate. I have to admit that the design is too dark for its beauty and is only visible in certain angles, but still pretty nonetheless.


| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

Because of the shape being similar to a custom fit, It isolates noise well even with the big vent on the rear. You can definitely use these for commuting and dismiss the noise of the outside with the Crystal6 II


| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |

I find these really comfortable. These can achieve the insertion depth that I want and I didn’t find the wing/protrusion to be painful after hours of usage. The occlusion effect seems to be lighter than average probably because of the vent once again.




**𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗕 𝗘𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗘𝟬𝟳 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗭𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝟭 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗕𝘆 𝗥𝟲 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗜𝗜**


|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||

Overall sound signature seems to lean on the brighter-end. This is quite contradictory of what tuning I’m into these days but nevertheless appreciated my time with it. Seeing as it is solely composed of BA drivers, I did find that in some instances that BA timbre is audible though not often.



| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |

Despite the Crystal6 II having 6 drivers on each ear piece, I never encountered an instance where they’re power hungry. Of course better sources are recommended but be weary of things like the noise floor


| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |

The low-end side of things tends to lean more on midbass than subbass. Though the subbass is present, the quantity of it does seem to be lacking especially when the song demands the rumble. The midbass hits quite fast with a decent amount of impact as well as not sounding bloaty or bleedy but does not exhibit great texture.

The bass seems to be one of the areas where the Crystal6 II doesn’t particularly excel at either due to choice or shortcomings.


| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |

Mids are quite recessed. Vocals sound capped and sibilance is quite rampant especially with female vocals. Male singers typically have more body on the Crystal6 II compared to their female counterparts. Instruments have a good sense of air and extend quite well further up.
This is also one of the areas Crystal6 II suffers from, whilst not inherently the worst, it’s definitely not the best either. What I can say is that the mids performance of the Crystal6 II is quite middling.


| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |

This is where the Crystal6 II placed all its bets on. The highs are extended to the point of sounding peaky even to mid to high volumes. Though because of this emphasis, details are great and minor nuances of the sound are easy to pick up during playback. Transients are great as well without feeling cut-off preemptively. Overall the highs sound peaky and sound thin. It’s definitely a case of quantity over quality.

I’m not sure if things like impedance adapters would benefit this IEM as I don’t have one at the moment, but I’d definitely want to try applying things to tone down those highs and help other problems that this set had. I did find that this pairs well with HiBy’s R6 Pro II with Low Gain mode and with MSEB enabled.

| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Due to the emphasis that the Crystal6 II has, things like layering, imaging and separation are great. I can easily pin-point sources and distinctly know their position even despite other sources playing at the same time. Staging is quite average though but nevertheless easy to distinguish stereo channels while using these and would recommend them if your use case does require it to do so like gaming.


|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||

I’m not so sure about the asking price that these are going for with the performance it displayed. It could be due to my inclination of liking more warm sets and general sensitivity to treble but I do feel like this set isn’t for me but it can be for you. Despite the seemingly negative review, I did find these to be good in some tracks but they are a few and far between on my playlist.



With an asking price of over $300, I suggest thinking of other options first or re-affirm that what these deliver are what you are looking for.

[| 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 |]

https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-crystal-6-ii

(These are not affiliate links. I do not gain anything whatsoever upon purchasing something using the said links)

DISCLAIMER

The HiBy Crystal6 II is a tour unit. It will be sent on to the next tour participant after this review.
The Crystal6 II can be obtained here: https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-crystal-6-ii (no affliate links).





SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 6 Balance Armature (BA) Sonion drivers
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20000 Hz
• Impedance: 58.5 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 110 dB (no units provided)
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm, 4 core OCC copper cable
• Plug: modular options for 4.4 mm and 3.5 mm terminations
• Tested at $349 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:

- 3 pairs of "Crisp" silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of "Balanced" silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of "Bass" silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- Carrying case
- 4.4 mm and 3.5 mm modular plugs
- Cable
- Carabiner



Accessories are decent enough for a midFI pair of IEMs, save for the omission of foam tips and perhaps a cleaning tool




3 types of silicone tips are included here.

The "Crisp" tips have the widest bore and boost treble and increase soundstage, though they may cause sibilance. The "Bass" tips as per their namesake are the narrowest in bore, and boost bass (though with a smaller soundstage). The "Balanced" tips are a mid-point of the above two in sonics.




The stock cable is an OCC copper cable. It is braided well, with a chin cinch. There's slight microphonics unfortunately. It has 4.4 mm (balanced) and 3.5 mm (single-ended) terminations, so the Crystal6 II can be paired with most sources other than 2.5 mm ones (no biggie if you have a 4.4 mm - 2.5 mm adapter).

The right cable terminal has a red band to delineate the sides, and I'm glad it is a gold-plated 2-pin connector rather than MMCX, which may be more fragile with repeated cable changes.




The added clamshell semi-rigid zipper case is quite nifty. The innards are lined with a soft bubble pack like material to cushion the contents. The carabiner may be useful to hang the case on the go.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock "balanced" stock tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



Each housing is 3D-printed via HeyGears using quality epoxy resin, with HiBy marketing that each faceplate is custom painted and polished, using a sand and hand painting technique. Hence, each earpiece is supposedly unique!

The shells are very ergonomic and light at 54g apiece. HiBy says they made the shells via 3D scans of thousands of ears, and I concur, with no comfort issues to report on my end.




There's a "R" and "L" lettering to delineate the sides.




HiBy has used a special vented architecture to assist with bass tuning and to relief pressure in the ears. Verily, I did not experience any driver flex with the Crystal6 II due to this, but unfortunately isolation is below average in view of the vents.




There's a nozzle cover over each nozzle to prevent debris and wax from falling in.


INTERNALS

Utilizing a gold-traced crossover board with a 3 way crossover implementation, the Crystal6 II utilize Sonion drivers in the following configuration:

- Custom 39AY dual-woofer LFE for the bass
- Custom 1006 dual BAs for the midrange
- Custom E50DT dual-tweeters for the treble


DRIVABILITY

I tested the HiBy Crystal6 II with:
- Apple dongle
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

The Crystal6 II is relatively easy to drive, you can probably get away without amplification, though this IEM scales slightly with juice.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the Crystal6 II using a IEC711 compliant coupler. 8 kHz area is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the Crystal6 II is neutral bright and a treblehead's best friend. It is thin in note weight with a sterile/analytical signature.

Technicalities are top-notch. Imaging, clarity, detailing and instrument separation are very competitive at its price range. Soundstage is average in width, but has quite decent depth/height. Transients are lighting fast.

Packing 6 BAs, unfortunately BA timbre rears its ugly head, and vocals sound nasal, with acoustic instruments sounding a bit metallic.

Bass is focused mostly at the mid-bass, and is just slightly north of neutral in quantity. Bass extension is not the deepest in the sub-bass. Despite having a vented BA bass, unfortunately like most other BA bass IEMs, the Crystal6 II suffers from a lack of decay and "movement of air" in the bass, causing it to sound not as organic as DD bass.

Bass quality is where the Crystal6 II redeems itself. The Crystal6 II has stellar bass texturing and speed, with zero mid-bass bleed. Bass lines are easily picked out in complex bass riffs, it is very fast and clean.

The midrange is a tinge recessed in the lower mids, with no mid-bass bleed to eat into this area. This translates into a very transparent and clear midrange. With the aforementioned good technical chops, this allows vocals and instruments to be layered well on a black background. Crystal clear is definitely a good name for the Crystal6 II!

Thereafter, there is quite a zealous 11 dB pinna gain in the upper mids. This unfortunately adds shout, and the Crystal6 II can be harsh, especially at louder volumes (Fletcher Munson curve). It is best played at soft to moderate volumes to counteract this.

The lower treble has another peak at the 5 kHz region, which is a double edged sword - great clarity and resolution is added, though at the expense of fatigue for treble sensitive folk. Sadly, sibilance is also present.

The treble extends pretty well, giving good air and sparkle, and the Crystal6 II will be a suitable pair for trebleheads.


COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made with other midFI pure BA IEMs. Planars, hybrids and single DDs and other driver types were left out of the equation as the different transducers have their pros and cons.




Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite

The Orchestra Lite is warm neutral. The Orchestra Lite has more subbass, but a tamer upper mids/treble region, and is very smooth and less fatiguing in contrast.

The Orchestra Lite has weaker technicalities, though it has a thicker note weight and a more natural timbre.


Audiosense T800

The T800 is an 8 Knowles BA setup which is tuned to a mildly bright V-shape. The T800 has more bass, and the bass is vented, giving a decay/movement of air that is similar to a DD bass IEM.

The T800 is quite boosted in the treble/upper mids too, but the big bass on tap gives tonal balance, even though the T800 still lies on the brighter side of the equation. The T800 has a slightly thicker note weight, and technicalities are probably a hair better on the Crystal6 II when it comes to imaging, instrument separation and clarity, though the T800 has superior soundstage.

The T800 has much better passive isolation at almost 30 dB, and is also build of resin (though it has an MMCX connector).


CONCLUSIONS

The Crystal6 II lives up to its namesake in bringing a crystal clear soundscape to the table. Resolution is great, technicalities are all-round excellent, with a very fast and clean bass. If clarity is your priority in music, the Crystal6 II is the one for you.

There's nothing to complain about the build, comfort and accessories too.




Unfortunately, the Crystal6 II has BA timbre, and will not be compatible for high volume listeners or for our treble sensitive brethren, due to the augmented upper mids/lower treble. Sibilance is also a relevant critique, though perhaps one can use EQ or foam tips or a warmer source to salvage this area. Those who yearn for a lush or analoguish style tuning may also need to look elsewhere, as the Crystal6 II lies on the sterile side of the equation.

If you are a treblehead or analytical head, and want a pair for critical listening, definitely consider the Crystal6 II in the conversation, though the above caveats will apply if you are sensitive to treble.

The Hiby Crystal6 II was loaned courtesy of Joe Bloggs as a little runners up gift for their latest review tour.

Disclaimer: People being nice to me influences my opinion and makes me want to say nice things.

I joke, these are just sound impressions to my ears.

From everything I’ve read Hiby IEMs have been considered companion products to their DAPS, one of which I was also sent the Hiby RS6. This review is a mix between sound impressions from the RS6 and from my regular android phone the Oppo Reno 8 Lite.

The Crystal6 II is my first all BA IEM, if i’m being upfront, impressions of BA only IEMs always seem to have some caveat:-

“I can’t believe an all BA is able to produce this sound”

“This is the best bass i’ve heard from a BA”

"I can't even pick up on that dreaded BA Timbre"

You’ve read the rest of them. But suffice to say caveats don’t come across as particularly confident and I’ve never really considered an all BA set.

Well it’s safe to say after some pretty extensive listening across devices that I genuinely like this IEM simply as an IEM.

I won't be able to give my impressions without referring to pre-conceived notions I had prior to listening to this, so away we go

~
First of all, I find the shell with it’s opalescent streaks, understated but beautiful. They aren’t flashy enough to make you feel like it’s jewellery or an over the top statement piece but they do have a lovely up close look that makes me want to move to Cooper Pedy to dig for opals.



Another plus before sound is that the Crystal6 II can run perfectly well from a 3.5 aux smartphone. I find this pretty important. I like having a phone to sort my music, DAP always seem to come with some kind of downside, my least favourite of which is on board storage space, sd card restrictions and physical size. When I say it can run perfectly fine, I mean that the sound isn't noticeably unenjoyable, the technicals are dramatically reduced on a smartphone but the tone of the frequencies still work together well.

While the Crystal6 II sounds truly extraordinary from the RS6, the sound can still be considered from an Android.

Sound Impressions - Without DAP

Bass
I never originally thought I was a basshead, but after getting into this hobby I’ve discovered that I undoubtedly am. However I do listen to bass heavy music, so for me, it isn’t about being a basshead, but having an accurate representation of bass as the genre requires. When I hear subdued bass, music doesn’t sound neutral to me, but neutered.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that “BA Bass” is just bass. Yes, the tuning here gives more punch and depth than width and weight but it’s actually preferable in some circumstances and I’ve found myself missing it’s clear speed and sharpness when going back to Dynamic Drivers. Circumstances where it isn't good is where you want big wide bass like in Psybass or Drum n Bass but for trance it actually works quite well.

Sub bass is not affected whatsoever by the lack of a dynamic. I find the Sub-bass here more powerful and enjoyable than many other pairs I have. However, here is the most impressive part and a little discovery. . . .

It deserves it’s own paragraph. Kickdrums in convoluted electronic music have always found themselves subdued in busier mixes as other elements come over the top. The consistency of this experience has led me to assume that this is the result of the mix itself, producers purposefully dialing bass back to keep things clean and put focus on melodies. NOPE.

It’s a result of drivers dialing themselves back to make space for the rest of the sound. But this experience is completely different on the Crystal6 II. Throughout none of my testing did I notice a change in tone or volume of kickdrums.

Still, kickdrums are a jab rather than a round house kick, but be assured, you’re still getting hit.

Mids
Might be the star of the show.

Picture a fire man with a fire hose spraying his water up and down. That’s what it feels like the mids achieve from these little tubes. A barrage of sound waves spraying out at you, just like the fire hose, you can feel them as they oscillate up down and around. This is the experience I thought a planar was going to give me, but I find this much more enjoyable.

They are still well presented and balanced over the bass notes sitting more or less in line with the treble. Voices come across with prominence and when called for a delicateness. Ambient tones are smooth but not quite reaching silky smoothness.

Acid lines in Goa Trance comes across furious and powerful, keeping composure in even the busiest of tracks.

I wouldn’t go so far as to call anything here “Spectacular”, these aren’t quite reference, they don’t grab the microdetails and you aren’t getting the widest presentation of sound. But there is a smooth cleanliness to the sound.

You’re able to drive these quite loud to get more of those clean mids into your ear holes and across your brain which is pure joy and it’s easy to get lost in a track.

Treble
I’ve heard the new Hiby Zeta before listening to this which has tainted my experience somewhat. Had I not heard that, I would have said that the highs have great detail, no sharpness, aren’t hot, cymbal crashes roll of delicately and there is very fine balance of frequencies.

And I will still say all that, because it’s true. But i’ve seen the light, or rather seen the light shone on the treble when 4 EST drivers are being used.

It’s not fair to compare, but after this revelation i have to say that the highs are fine, portrayed true to form, not offensive but not the star of the show.

Technicals
Are not all that and detract from the sound. From a smartphone they are right on average. They don't improve the experience, but they also don't make the experience worse. However for me, I need atleast a big soundstage, it's one of my favourite parts of hearing music. Separation is still good but without the wider stage the imaging is bang on average. You can place instruments but once powered with a DAP the placement becomes much more precise and accurate.

In a lot of ways you can summarize the overall sound like this. The Crystal 6 does everything right, has a smooth presentation and is a fun way to listen to music. I was surprised to see myself enjoying the sound presentation of an all BA set more than the Planar 7HZ Timeless, it’s smooth sound presentation along with the design and driveability make it a great IEM.

Now all that’s without any help from the Hiby RS6

Sound Impressions - With Hiby RS6 DAP

YOOOOOOOOOO!

The soundstage opens up immensely, I didn’t have much to say on technicals earlier because they sit on average and there wasn’t much to say, it didn’t take the enjoyment away but it also didn’t increase the enjoyment. Now they are wide, deep, out of head, the delicate nature of the sound is smoother and moreish. There is a nice rounded off distant stage that instruments sit within and curve around without even a chance of bumping into one another.

Without the DAP these were a smooth, clear and enjoyable listen. With the Hiby RS6 the Crystal 6 II sounds unreal. Cohesion is the first thing you will notice with sound flowing at you in a singular fashion. Everything previously mentioned with the lows, mids & highs is maintained but amplified. Bass is still the same but has more power and assertion behind it, they feel like they have more colour within them AND Psytrance kickdrums have that beautiful crack behind them.

The mids still flow at you with a constant oscillation but are smoother, fuller, have edge details and sit within a more separated and larger stage. The highs are still in line with the mids but have more presence without stepping into hot-hot-hot territory.

Songs that include vinyl crackle have it loud and clear, cymbals roll off further and cohesion OH THE COHESION.

I really wasn’t expecting the difference to be so extreme but after hearing this pairing together the claim that the Crystal 6 II was tuned to work with the RS6 makes perfect sense.

I really want to stress that the soundstage when paired with the Hiby RS6 is on on par with with my Kublai Khan. The width and depth are something to behold and these things truly are your ultimate pairing with the RS6.

Sound Summary
These are great for smooth music and almost anything that doesn't need big wide dirty kicks. But I will be the first to say that yes, sometimes you want those big wide dirty kicks and for those moments you are getting more depth than width here. But the mids and highs really flow in what I find to be quite a unique way. With proper power you get a full sound, spacious soundstage


Other Things
The length of the stem is on the longer side, making tip selection important. I wanted to feel everything up against my ear so opted for shorter foam ear tips supplied with the Zeta. It goes without saying but getting the tip deep and cosy gives you more sound.

Photos of the case and tips and all of the unboxing experience can be seen in the earlier review.

I have a photo of the Crystal 6 II on a Rhino




Final Thoughts

These seem to me like an obvious pairing to the RS6. There is a lot to like and only very few genres in which you can find something to do a better job and let's be honest, you probably already own whatever those are.

I find vocals, instruments and highs to come across with a wonderful smoothness. The bass is pretty fantastic for particular genres and presented differently and satisfyingly.

My favourite part is the vibrating oscillation of the mids both with and without a DAP. But with a DAP these have so much more to give and the first proof of that for me.

So why a 4.5 star rating? Well the technicals when paired with the RS6 are on par with or close to a kilo-buck IEM. The texture and feeling of the sound is excellent and the smoothness is just so smoooooth.

https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-crystal-6-ii

HIBY CRYSTAL 6: Entering the Final Phase​

Disclaimers​

This unit that I currently have is supervised by hiby and i was chosen to be part of the Philippines tour of the HIBY Crystal 6 , which gave me the opportunity to test this device thoroughly.

I didn't gain any form of incentives in this review, and all opinions are my own.

We all have different ways on how we hear sound so your millage may vary

This will be the shortest review I have done

Introduction​

Since I only have limited time to test this set, My impression will be short and also will serve as my review. In my short time with the Crystal 6-II, I already fell in love to its sound signature for an all Balance Armature Drivers it really impressed me since at First I thought this has a Dynamic Drivers becuase the feel of the Bass.

Sound Signature​

I will be straight to the point, This has a warm leaning to balance kind of sound signature

Bass​

The bass on the HIBY Crystal 6 is tight and controlled, with a nice impact that doesn't overpower the other frequencies. This also has that fast attack and decay which means it can keep up with fast-paced tracks without any distortion.

Mids​

It has that warm feeling to it, but still detailed and clear. Vocals are well-presented and instruments are separated nicely, making it easy to distinguish each instrument in the mix.

Treble​

The treble on the HIBY Crystal 6 is well-extended and detailed without being harsh or sibilant but has an occurence to have peak at some frequencies in higher volumes, which may bother some listeners.

Technical​

In terms of tehcnical performance I can say thats its on average. Sound Stage is average and imaging is good but could have been better. Seperation is good but could be better.

Conclusion​

The set is more on tonality rather than the technical aspects of sound, making it suitable for those who prefer a warm and balanced sound signature.

Hiby Crystal 6 II Mini Review​

INTRO

“Woah
Cover your crystal eyes
And feel the tones that tremble down your spine
Woah
Cover your crystal eyes
And let your colors bleed and blend with mine.”

— Crystals by Of Monsters and Men

Disclaimer: I received the Hiby Crystal 6 II (Crystal6 v2, $349) as part of Hiby’s review tour. Again, I’d like to thank them for the opportunity to review some awesome audio gear, particularly the Hiby R6Pro2 and the Crystal6 v2. All content, opinions, conjectures, and errors expressed herein are entirely my own. I try not to be biased as far as humanly possible.

I am not an expert on the subject matter or a professional reviewer. I’m just an audio enthusiast who loves listening to music; hence my review references songs/tracks. My opinions (and they are just that) should be taken with a grain of salt.

Specs: 6 Balanced Armatures (BAs) per side IEMs co-designed with Sonion: 39AY dual bass BA, 1006 dual mid-high BA, E50DT dual tweeter BA.




MINI REVIEW

The Crystal6 v2 immediately hooked me when I plugged them into my ears. Very musical and laid-back, they invite you to stay a while, relax, and enjoy your favorite tracks. As someone partial to using audio gears as tools to enjoy music rather than using music to test audio gears, I find it challenging to review units like the Crystal6 v2 as I often get sidetracked in my attempts at critical listening. In other words, the Crystal6 v2 is a delightful listen.

Gears




I used the Aune Flamingo Tube Amp DAC as a source playing Apple Music lossless and hi-res tracks to test the Crystal6 v2. I used only the stock cable and ear tips. I also used the Hiby R6Pro2 and the FiiO M11 Plus ESS to stream Apple Music and play some DSD, FLAC, and WAV music files. I’ve always appreciated IEMs packaged with essentials included, allowing you to hit the ground running once you open the box. No need for tip or cable rolling. Speaking of unboxing, the Crystal6 v2 was a straightforward experience sans bells and whistles.






Accessories & Configuration

What’s in the box? Aside from the IEMs, it includes a soft case, a cooperative modular cable, three sets of ear tips (crisp, balanced, and bass), a hook clip, and some documentation. The Crystal6 v2 faceplates are like fine crystals that faintly catch the light and give understated gem-like reflections. I think they look terrific yet subtle. When I opened the box and removed the IEMs from their plastic packaging (individually packed in sturdy plastic containers), I thought they had MMCX connectors. Upon closer inspection, what I thought were MMCX connectors were actually unusually large vents.



As mentioned above, we have an all-BA set with 6 BA drivers co-designed with Sonion on each side. Based on my limited experience, Sonions is one of the best, if not the best, in the business when it comes to balanced armatures. One of my favorite all-BA sets, the SeeAudio Bravery Red Anniversary Edition, also uses Sonion BAs, among others. I prefer its sound over other versions, like, for instance, the BAs used in the TRN BA15, a set with a whopping 15 BAs per side.

The fit is ultra comfortable, one of the lighter and more comfy fitting IEMs I’ve tried; great for long listening sessions as you are most likely to spend hours with the Crystal6 v2.

Music & Sound Quality

My initial listen is with my go-to test track, the Eagle’s Hotel California via Apple Music at 24 bit 194 kHz, but this time using the Hiby R6 Pro 2 (instead of the usual Aune Flamingo) on high gain, Class A amp at 40 dB. Based on experience, this track requires a higher volume output than my other test tracks, which play satisfyingly at 30 to 35 dB. At first blush, I noticed the Crystal6 v2’s detail replay already; very good treble and high frequencies with just enough brightness to give the cymbal strikes satisfying execution.



The mids are very good to excellent, with Don Henley’s lead vocals presented and positioned just right and reasonably accurate. The bass is good, albeit distinctly BA sounding, but still a satisfying replay with a textured sound quality (mainly the bass guitar) owing to the BAs technical ability. More on this below as I discuss certain tracks.

While listening to my chill playlist, there’s this distinct sound quality that’s very pleasing to me. I know this is so subjective, but I really like the overall sound replay, not just specific tracks or genres, albeit the Crystal6 v2 excels in particular kinds of music, as you’ll see later. When I switched to the Aune Flamingo, listening was already uber satisfying, even at 50 to 55 dB.



At first, I was just enjoying them while I did some WFH (not really critically listening), but I took a pause, and it hit me when Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, and Antônio Carlos Jobim’s The Girl From Ipanema cued in hi-res (24 bit 96 kHz ALAC). I realized this pair is truly accomplished and can offer more, depending on the track and source. Now, I know they play well with a favorite genre: bossa nova. The Crystal6 v2 translates the essence of bossa nova very well. That in-between of happiness and sadness, of pining and release, and of loneliness amidst a crowd is expressed well by the Crystal6 v2. Tim Bernardes’ Última Vez sounded more convincing and pleasing than ever. Tiago Nacarato’s live cover of Onde Anda Você for The Voice Portugal, despite my music file not being hi-res, resonated with the relaxed and laid-back style of the talented vocalist.



I noticed that the Crystal6 v2 has a very wide soundstage insofar as possible for IEMs (please hold your ALL CAPS comments and violent reactions, we’re not getting into that argument today ). Abby Celso’s cover of How Deep Is Your Love in the Love Stories Album Vol I is so pleasingly detailed and nuanced, with guitar plucks and voice modulations sounding very accurate and natural—the acoustics sound so lovely!

The fantastic duo Simon & Garfunkel’s America is exceptionally articulate and musical, the Crystal6 v2 expertly retelling this remarkable short story of a song, weaving its tale and leaving you wanting to know what happens next. It feels like you’re reading a Raymond Carver short story. To perfectly exhibit the Crystal6 v2 capabilities, listen to Tom Misch’s distinct sound as prominently and beautifully rendered in It Runs Through Me (feat. De La Soul)—head bobbing guaranteed.

Another artist wonderfully showcased by the Crystal6 v2 is the American Idol and internet sensation Alejandro Aranda (aka Scarypoolparty); his musical genius is shown in how the acoustic guitar, vocal harmonies, arrangement, and mastering of his now famous original audition song Out Loud. His skillful guitar mastery is matched only by his talent as a composer and music arranger, and this is better appreciated with the Crystal6 v2 plugged into your ears.

Jazz funk tracks also sound great with them, particularly the slower and less busy songs, e.g., Something About Us by Pomplamoose. Those spoken French lines are ASMR heaven to listen to on the Crystal6 v2. There’s a lovely replay of bass with a wide soundstage and vocal harmonies exemplified in Pomplamoose’s Lovefool. Speaking of low frequencies, I noticed a terrific reproduction of bass guitar in my All About the Bass Apple Music playlist. The bass guitar techniques (the plucks, hammer-on and pull-off, slap, pop, etc.) are accomplished and rich with details. Those studying bass guitar might benefit from this replay.

Except for the live track I mentioned above (Onde Anda Você), the Crystal6 v2 is more unforgiving of lossy tracks and poorly recorded songs. Flaws are immediately apparent. Is this a sign of good detail retrieval? I’m not sure.

Synergy

There’s a significant and perceptible synergy with the R6Pro2, intentional or not; you can hear it. Those AK4191EQ and dual AK4499EX DACs complement the all-BA configuration of the Crystal6 v2 very well. Compared with the synergy between the FiiO M11 Plus and FA9 (which I also like), I’d say the R6Pro2 and Crystal6 v2 are at 9, while the M11 Plus and FA9 are at 8 on a scale of 10.




The R6Pro2 and Crystal6 v2 give enjoyable vocal playback; details and articulation are top-notch but not pushed forward. Positioning and imaging give you the impression that the singer is spatially aligned with the rest of the band—a rather pleasing presentation to my ears. Again, bass replay is rich and textured, particularly the bass guitar, with the plucks, picks, hammer on and off techniques accurately and nicely played. Although, understandably, the kick drums lack the physicality of dynamic drivers. But I must underscore that this does not detract from the quality of the sound replay of drums; they are still very detailed and accurate.

The combo gave me one of the best replays of Tanita Tikaram’s The Cappuccino Song which featured background noises and conversations and was handled by the Crystal6 v2 quite well, making you feel that you’re in a cafe with the two protagonists of the song’s story as it unfolds. It was very nice to experience one of my favorite songs this way—this track underscores the uncommonly wide soundstage of the Crystal6 v2. Also notable was that the artist’s husky female voice is more smoky and mesmerizing with the Crystal6 v2.

The combination also gave me one of the most accomplished replays of acoustic guitar and music I’ve heard; the strum, plucks, and riffs sound so natural. If anything else, the Crystal6 v2 was meant to play your acoustic playlists, and it’ll do an astounding job when paired with the R6Pro2.

Select Comparison



For this section, I decided on an all-BA shootout. However, since I had to cut short my time with both the Hiby R6Pro2 and Crystal6 due to an out-of-town emergency trip, I was only able to compare the Crystal6 to two other all-BA systems near its price range: the FiiO FA9 ($499) and AudioSense T800 ($498). The comparison was made using the Hiby R6Pro2 + Hiby balanced 4.4 cables and volume at about 40 dB on high gain with Class A amp—

• vs. the AudioSense T800: The lower frequencies, especially the mid-bass replay, are better with the Crystal6 v2—very textured and deep. The same goes with vocals, not pushed forward but still articulate and clear. The treble is a tad better on the T800, particularly the crisp replay of cymbal strikes and other instrumentations in high frequencies. The T800 is brighter, but I’ve always liked how they handled sibilance—always within the threshold of my treble-sensitive ears. The drums and kick drums are understandably better with the Crystal6 v2. The slight emphasis on the high frequency might give the impression that the T800 is superior when it comes to detail and imaging, but to my ears, the Crystal6 v2 has better imaging since it has a more expansive (as IEMs would allow it) soundstage, allowing for better instrument separation, giving the sound replay, sonically speaking, a more layered presentation—hence, psychoacoustics-wise, seemingly better detail. For those who like a warmish neutral sound, you should go for the Crystal6 v2. Trebleheads or those wanting a brighter sound signature are better served by the T800. Bass heads might find both a bit lacking in that department. However, I’m pretty much satisfied with the T800’s low frequencies and impressed with the Crystal6 v2’s bass replay. Crystal6 v2 is for easy listening and relaxing, while the T800 is for more analytical sessions.

• vs the FiiO FA9: for this A/B test, I set the FA9 at the “Strong Bass” setting to match what I think is the strong suit of the Crystal6 v2. Note that with the FA9, I had to raise the volume to 47 to get a satisfying replay. Again the Crystal6 has a better low-frequency presentation, and the bass guitar has a more pleasing sound. The FA9’s bass is similar to the T800—not really bad, but the Crystal6 v2 edges both out in texture and slam. The vocals are, however, better with the FA9 than the T800 and the Crystal6 v2, but not by much. FA9’s treble handling is closer to the T800 than the Crystal6, maybe a smidgen brighter than the T800 (and this is not even the “Crisp Highs” setting of the FA9, mind). It’s still within my sibilance threshold but poking at the ceiling already. The vocals are where the FA9 edges out both the Crystal6 v2 and T800, with even the second voices/backup singers coming in clear, albeit some would say that the vocals might be slightly pushed forward. Again, for enjoyable listening sessions with your favorite playlists, particularly acoustic guitars and bass-heavy tracks, you’ll like the Crystal6 v2. For those looking for versatility, a brighter sound signature, and the ability to tweak their IEMs, the FA9 has those advantages.

Niggles & Giggles

They say it’s the little things that count. This section includes what I perceive as minor points that may be worth considering, perhaps even deal-breakers for some. Things that delighted me (giggles) and those that piqued me (niggles).

Niggles

• The cable plugs partially cover a small part of the left and right indicators. Not really a biggie, except for people with OCD, perhaps.

Giggles

• I like the subtle branding on the cable plugs, which is not in your face and is stylishly executed.
• Initially, I was a bit undecided, but now I’m sure I love the simple 4-core stock cable of the Crystal6 v2. It has little to no microphonics, has a good build and with quality materials, and is well-behaved and tangle-resistant compared to most cables. I also like the golden copper colorway.

CONCLUSION

In a word: DELIGHTFUL. The Hiby Crystal6 v2 is an accomplished piece of tech with a relaxed and playful tuning that goes well with laid-back, chill, and relaxed tracks, particularly bossa nova and acoustic music. At this price point, it’s certainly worth considering after an audition. Fans of mellow music and chill playlists, those looking for a relaxed listening session, and those listening to music while working (whether WFH or at the office) will find this pair a delightful companion. However, those looking for high-energy replay might find the Crystal6 v2 lacking. I think the Crystal6 v2 covers all the bases well, from the low frequencies to the highs, but I fear some might find the pair lacking energy.

#Hiby #Crystal6v2 #IEMs #MALEAudioReviews #MALEMiniReviews