HiBy R6pro II

First I would like to thank @Joe Bloggs, and Hiby, for including me in the review tour for the R6 Pro II. The unit was kindly supplied for 10 days of unbiased review, and all thoughts and opinions in this piece are completely my own.

The R6 Pro II is a brand new model from Hiby, and slots in the range above the (also new R6 III), and below the flagship RS8, and style-wise is quite a departure from fairly conservative appearance of the other models. The review unit came in a striking purple finish, which I found to be far more attractive than in the pictures on the Hiby website. Black is also available. The rear of the unit is a mix of glass, and curved grooves.

Briefly, the Pro II (which I’ll refer to as Pro 2 here on, for ease of typing)uses AK DACs, supports Hi-Rez audio, including DSD and MQA, has headphone and line out in both 3.5mm single ended, and 4.4mm balanced, all of which can be run using either Class A or Class A/B amplification, along with usb C for charging, data transfer, connecting an external dac, and for using the player itself as dac. Volume, play/pause, next/previous track are controlled by push buttons on the side of the unit. A number of other Hiby players use a traditional rotary volume knob, which some prefer, although personally I like button controls, which I find more responsive.

The Pro 2 uses Android 12 as it’s operating system, and has a lovely 1080 resolution screen.
Storage is 64gb internally, plus the player will accept a Micro SD card up to 2TB.

The player comes with its own app, for navigating music stored on the SD card, and also giving access to Tidal streaming (this implementation of Tidal does NOT support gapless playback, so apart from testing that it worked, I chose not to use it), along with access to various set up and eq options, including their own MSEB equaliser, which gives a wide range of adjustment, and is far more sophisticated and subtle than other more basic equalisers.
Being an Android device gives Pro 2 users access to Google Play, allowing the installation of streaming services, and other features the owner wishes to use. I installed my own preferred streaming services, Qobuz, Tidal and Apple Music, along with Neil Young Archives, plus Bandcamp and Planet Rock radio.

Full specifications (and pictures better than I can take!) are on the Hiby website.

https://store.hiby.com/products/r6-pro-ii-gen-2

In the sturdy attractive box can be found the player itself, a protective case, a usb c to usb c cable, plus a usb c to usb a adaptor, along with a spare set of screen protectors (a set are already factory fitted, which is a nice touch). Finally a quick set up guide is included.

This is my first time using an Android based device, as most of my mobile listening is iPhone plus DAC, and consequently it took me a little longer to set up my streaming services and other apps, than maybe other users would, but once everything was up and running I found the player to be extremely easy to use, both via its own app, and third party services.

Once I had everything working it was time for some serious listening. I used mainly HiFiman Sundara headphones, in balanced mode, and Empire Ears ESR iems, running single ended. I also gave the R6 Pro 2 spin with Grado SR-80i, Sennheiser HD-580 Precision, and a pair of budget KZ ZS10 iems, which I use when I don’t want to endanger the Empire Ears.

I also tested Bluetooth, LDAC, into an iFi ZEN Blue connected to a Denon system in the bedroom, and single ended line out into the main system, Schiit Saga/Vidar amplification and Castle Avon 4 floorstanding speakers.

Music sources were local files on the SD card, mainly CD quality, some 24/96 and 24/192 Flac, and DSD. Other sources were Qobuz in both CD and Hi-Rez quality, and Tidal streams in both CD quality and MQA.

Before any serious listening, I experimented with the two different amplifier modes, the three gain settings, and the EQ and digital filter options available on the player. For the ESR I settled on low gain, and class A amplification, when using the Sundara I switched to medium gain, once again using class A mode. I kept the digital filter on the factory setting, as I couldn’t hear any appreciable differences between the different options. I tested MSEB, and it does provide an excellent range of adjustment to compensate for poorer recordings, and I can see it being extremely useful for many users. For this review I disabled all EQ options, so I could hear the player as is. The Pro 2 drove the various headphones I tried with no difficulty.

With both Sundara, and ESR, the quality of sound was what I would describe as essentially neutral, but with a touch of warmth to the upper midrange and treble regions. The treble was clear and well extended, but with very little harshness or undue sibilance, except on some recordings made during the height of the loudness wars (Metallica, take a bow…), or heavily compressed commercial pop music. If I owned an R6 I would certainly use MSEB, as it does help tame these kind of recordings, making them much more listenable.

Midrange was clear and well integrated with both the bass and treble, giving good levels of clarity on vocals, even from full on recordings like Bob Moulds “Blue Hearts”, where on some systems his lyrics can be almost unintelligible. With the combination of the Hiby and the Empire iems, I was able to fully appreciate the words to the songs, and the emotion in his vocals.

More traditionally ‘Hi-Fi’ sounding fare, specifically a DSD file of “The Nature of Things” by Foxfeather, sounding positively luxurious both through the Empire ESR, and particularly through the Sundara headphones. With the latter stereo imaging was excellent, giving an almost speaker like presentation. Vocals had wonderful clarity, and were perfectly balanced with the instruments of the band.

I didn’t have a comparable DAP to pit against the Pro 2, so I did quick comparison with my my Hiby R3 Saber, and the latter was trounced, as one would hope for given the price differential between the two devices. The R3 is still a great sounding budget player, but the R6 just sounds much more grown up, giving a real insight into the music.

My Grado SR-80e are a fun listen, but can err towards harshness if partnered with the wrong gear. Using the Pro 2 tamed that occasional brash edge, but didn’t diminish the fun factor one jot. A fine result.

There has been some internet chatter that the amplifier is underpowered, for some headphones. In my time with the Pro 2, I had no issues with the headphones I had to hand. With the Sundara, I had gain set to ‘middle’, and with the likes of Iron Maiden, Within Temptation, and other hard rock music, the volume was uncomfortable, for my ears, at around 50. With mellower music, or that mastered at a lower level, I had the volume a touch higher, but not much. Using my old Sennheiser HD-580, I preferred high gain, and again had no trouble getting a pretty deafening level at around the 55 level. I inherited a pair of Sennheiser HD-414SL, from my late father, and I barely use them, as I find then extremely difficult to drive. The only thing that I own that really gets then going is the Chord Mojo, and I do have to turn the volume on that. Using the Pro 2, via balanced out, and on high gain, actually gave a pretty good result. Volume was up around 60, but I didn’t have any sense of the player straining. This is just what I found with the few headphones I had available, using my ears. As always YMMV.

Bluetooth worked well, with both the iFi Zen Blue, and a Bluesound Node2i, with connection in both cases being quick and stable.

Used as a source into my main system, in place of the Node2i and Schiit Bifrost 2 multibit DAC, the Hiby acquitted itself well, giving a sound similar to that through headphones, smooth with good clarity; an enjoyable listen. The full size separates did give a more involving, dynamic sound, but the DAP did well, and I can certainly see a dual use as a home streamer and mobile player, maybe in a second system.

The only real gripes I have are that in Class A mode the player can get pretty warm; not excessively so, but enough to get slightly uncomfortable with it stuck in the back pocket of jeans. I also found that the supplied case did make the push button controls a little difficult to operate, so I gave up on it, and used the player naked (the player, not me!).
The lack of gapless Tidal playback, using the Hiby app, needs to be addressed. Use the native Tidal app, and it’s not an issue.
Battery life was pretty much as described in the specifications, so good but not brilliant. Class A and high gain certainly used more of the charge than class A/B and low gain. Not so much of a problem if using it home or in the office, but could be an issue if out and about for a long period.

In conclusion, I recommend the Hiby R6 Pro II very highly, despite my grumbles about the case and battery life. It’s beautifully built, easy to use, and sounds excellent. During my time with it I found it to be an excellent music source, and used it simply for enjoying my music when I wasn’t in reviewer mode. I was sorry to see it go at the end of the review period, and if I was in the market for a new DAP this would certainly be on my shortlist.

Disclaimers​

First of all this is my first time to experience a mid tier DAP and also I am not famillar with the other features of the HIBY R6 Pro II but i will give my best to give it an honest feedbacks.

This unit that I currently have is supervised by hiby and I was chosen to be part of the Philippines tour of the HIBY R6 pro II, 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

Packaging​

To keep it short here is the things that are included in the package.

• Usb C to C cord
• Instruction manual
• Specialized Case for the Dap
• Screen protector- ( Firm plastic type)
• The Player itself

By the way this is just a recommendation, I wish that they included some adapter for the USB C to C cable since not all users may already have an adapter for that, but overall the packaging is well-rounded and everything you need to get started with the device is included

Build Quality and Design​

The Hiby R6 PRO II has a solid and premium feel to it, with its aluminum body and sleek design. I like the wavy designs in the back also the carbon design it gives it an edgy and modern look. The buttons and ports are well-placed and easy to access. It has some color indications which i will explain later, and overall i like the design and the build of this player.

Features and Light indicator​

This has native DsD support of 1024 and PCM upto 1536khz, if your a fan of MQA format the HIBY PRO R6 II can decode it upto 16x which is really helpful. This next feature is what I am suprised an amp in a DAP, and its my first time to experience an amp the type of amps used was Class A and Class AB. I personally love the Class A more compare to AB as it produces better sound quality, but both were impressive. This has some rgb functions and the purpose of it is to show you the music format you're currently playing. Since I already mentioned the rgb lightings, so here is the meaning of each color. This has bluetooth capabilities but unfortunately i can't test it due to not having any bluetooth devices. This also have an expansion sd card slot upto 2TB

• Yellow Green- PCM ( Consists of: MP3,AAC,WAV, 24Bit/48khz)
• Aquamarine- Hi-Res( 32bit,96khz,192khz,384khz)
• White-DSD
• Green-MQA
• Blue-Standby mode
• Red- charging mode

Ports and hardware buttons​

This has 4 audio ports and a type-c port for charging and data transfer. In terms of the hardware buttons here is the list of the buttons.

• Power button
• Volume up and down buttons
• Playback control buttons (play/pause, skip forward, skip back).

Now lets talk about the ports that i mentioned, so here is the following ports you can expect in the HIBY R6 PRO II

• 4.4mm balanced line out
• 4.4mm balance output
• 3.5mm line out
• 3.5mm power output
• Type C with 10gpbs transfer rate and charging

UI interface​

Its very snappy and clean and everything you need is already shown in the homescreen, If your famillar with slide gestures then it will be just a piece of cake. but if your use to the tradditional touch navigation buttons. adjustments will be needed to adapt to the gesture style navigation. In general the UI is very easy to understand and very responsive to gestures.

Operating System​

The HIBY R6 PRO II runs on android 12 and there is no restrictions you can modify and install the apps you like. The only app you can't remove or disable is the hiby app itself including hiby cast server, file manager,and settings but the rest you can do what you want. In general the HIBY R6 PRO II has an operating system which has no restrictions and its free to modify software.

Charging Time​

Even though is an audio dedicated device, you also need to know that this is very slow in terms of charging but its acceptable if your not in a hurry or just in your home. but if your traveling or going to commute then it may holdback since again this is very slow.

Battery Optimization​

In terms of battery, this has a 5000 mh/ah battery capacity even though it has that kind of capacity. it drains quickly and by the way I am using high gain, but even though i still wish that it was optimized properly.

Screen Display​

Even at full brightness, it still feels dim when you're close to the sun or other bright areas. but if your just in your house or indoors the brightness is acceptable. In general speaking the display will not handle the outside shine of the sun even at max settings.

Sound Signature​

After doing some long assessments The HIBY R6 PRO II has that base of being balanced-neutral or warm-neutral. The sound base is really good for pairs that lacks that bass and the neutral will help to amplify the set more, so it may sound confusing but don't worry i will explain it shortly. In general explanation this is more on passive and offensive way of approach since this has a balanced-neutral signature and warm neutral.

Amps​

This has two different amp style and the first one is the Class A then the second one is Class AB, if your confuse what is the meaning of both amps well i also don't know. but based on my reearch Class A is like uncompressed while the AB is compressed. For the sound I like the A more compare to AB since A has more tonality while AB is more on engaging sound.

Bass​

It has that punch and tightness and becuase of that it gives more flavor to the engaging factor of this spectrum. For example the track of Get into the Abyssmare by Abyssmare the bass is super satisfying and it gives that fullness and makes it even better. Sub-bass is really good its very energetic also it hast that flavor of being lively, For example the Track of Winner by Abyssmare the rumble is so energetic and aggressive. Mid-bass is very great it gives that texture which also has great body. It also adds warmness to the sound which is prominent in the vocals, for example villian vibes by mori calliope and amalee. In general The bass is very engaging and very lively also that tightness makes it even better.

Mids​

The mids are very great it has that flavor of sugar and spice, instruments are well presented with great emphasis on the vocals. The presentation is very clear and bright. Female vocals has that emotion and feel which is prominent in the track while the Male vocals its more on pleasing factor. In general the mids made me move becuase it super sweet and very clear and transparent.

Treble​

I like how the emphasis on the brightness is more on natural and not forced. since in my previous reviews some of it the brightness was forced or too much emphasis on it but this one is very refreshing. The extension is great it does not give any forms of peak and sibbilance which is I like since my ears are very sensitive in too much high frequencies. In general the treble has that outstanding performance and can give more colors to the sound.

Technical​

So lets start with sound stage the performance is average since it lacks the space for other instruments to shine and it has a feel of cramped room. instrument seperation is average it lacks that precision and accuracy. imaging is decent voices and other instruments can be heard but not that prominent.

Closing​

I really enjoy the HIBY R6 PRO II alot .but I guess we will part ways since this is only a tour unit and not my personal unit so until we meet again my friend.

Test Tracks​

• Idol- Yoasobi
• Discotheque- Nana Mizuki
• Taiyou Iwaku Moeyo Chaos
• Into the night- Yoasobi
• Out of time- The weekend
• This Is How To Be In Love With You- Milgram Project: Shiina Mahiru's first trial song
• Tear Drop- Milgram Project: Kashiki Yuno's second trial song
• It's not my Fault- Milgram Project: Kusunoki Muu's second trial song
• Ready Steady- Vivid Bad Squad
• DJ NANMO WAKARAN- Uncihord
• Get into the Abyssmare- Abyssmare
• Winner- Abyssmare

INTRO



I just got the latest medium-end DAP from Hiby (available for pre-order today on their website), the R6 Pro II (hereinafter R6Pro2), as part of Hiby’s review tour. Before anything else, I’d like to thank them for the opportunity to review some awesome audio gear, particularly the R6Pro2 (spoiler alert!). That being said, all content, opinions, conjectures, and errors expressed herein are entirely my own. I try not to be biased as far as humanly possible.

Out of the Box










The unboxing experience is straightforward and simple, yet stylish, setting the tone for my initial impressions. Upon opening, you are immediately greeted by the device itself, the tour unit coming in wearing sexy black (there’s a more popular purple colorway too). Its large screen is the first thing I noticed; much larger than my FiiO M11 Plus. It’s also considerably thinner than the M11 Plus (please see included photos for size comparison). I’m digging the overall design language, particularly the “waveform” design at the back, which probably helps dissipate heat. The included accessories, spartan but complete, are also well appreciated, particularly the faux leather case, the type A adapter for the type C cable, and the extra screen and back protectors. No need to look for essential aftermarket accessories. Very thoughtful.







At First Blush

Of course, I couldn’t help but boot it up immediately after unboxing. Initial boot time took just about 3 to 5 seconds. The introduction screen and dialogue boxes are straightforward and easy to follow since I’m familiar with Android from the M11 Plus. However, the R6Pro2 uses Hiby’s proprietary OS, which is a first for me.




Although I couldn’t test the touted 2 terabyte capacity of the R6Pro2, I’m happy to report that it had no problems with my 1 terabyte microSD card. The DAP was able to scan around 380 gigabytes worth of music in less than a minute.




Logging into my Apple Music account was also a breeze. However, loading my entire Apple Music Library took a bit longer, around 2 minutes. In fairness, I have accumulated a relatively extensive library and created several playlists, as I’ve been using Apple Music for quite some time now. Once that was complete and Apple Music was up and running, I immediately noticed that playback abruptly cut at the tail end of songs. My theory is that I would need to tweak the playback settings. I’ll report back to you guys once I’ve confirmed this.

Sound Impressions



My initial listen was done with the settings on class A amp mode at high gain using Letshuoer Cadenza 12 playing, as per usual, the Eagles’ Hotel California (24-bit 192 kHz) at 32 to 38 dB. Here’s my initial take, all in comparison to the FiiO M11 Plus:

• I couldn’t help but notice immediately how nicely warmer the sound replay was. As I prefer a warmish neutral sound signature, this is right up my alley.
• Bass was a tad richer, with the bass guitar at the intro full and accomplished (note replay from beginning to end is complete and accurate).
• During this initial listen, I hazard to say that the sound replay is akin to tube amps, perhaps with less natural distortion. I must say that they really complement the Cadenza 12’s technical capabilities. It reveals more nuances of the tracks played by the Cadenza 12, with micro details pleasantly and subtly revealed but nothing overboard or unnaturally pushed forward.
• At this point, I veered from my usual initial listening routine as I couldn’t help but immediately throw a few DSD files at it to test how well it could handle them. With the Cadenza 12, the details are wonderfully revealed, with a touch of warmth that ticks off my first impressions like boxes.
• I did notice some noise when music is on pause at the class A amp and high gain setting, but nothing distracting or annoying. This could depend on the IEMs used; in this instance, it’s the Cadenza 12.

OUTRO

So these are my initial thoughts on the R6Pro2 based on a very short time with it. I look forward to spending more time getting to know it. I’m very excited to try them with Hiby’s Crystal6 version 2, explore possible synergies with other audio gears (headphones, IEMs, and Bluetooth devices), and compare this DAP extensively with my trusty FiiO M11 Plus ESS. Thank you for taking the time to read this short take, and I hope to see you in the next one.

#HibyR6ProII #DAP #Unboxing #InitialImpressions #MALEAudioReviews