Hiby FC6 - another R-2R USB dongle

[Joe Bloggs]

One track which triggers the error on my side with static and artifacts in highs is this one (4. Between Us). After 3:30 there is an effect in the track which brings then the static until the end of the track. Same pattern observed while listening to vinyl rips with some clicks in them. Hope this helps to nail down the issue.

I might have reproduced the effect last night. But, can I ask you, what model of smartphone are you using, and are you able to adjust volume on the FC6, using volume buttons on the smartphone?

 

[tL47]

But, can I ask you, what model of smartphone are you using, and are you able to adjust volume on the FC6, using volume buttons on the smartphone?

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and no, on FC6 volume does not change.

 

[nishan99]

I got the Hiby FC6 R2R dongle ($300) for a week now and I want to share my brief impressions of it:

It got enough power for my Focal Celestee and Fiio FD5 and a bit lacking to my Shouer S12 (16ohm/102dB), the bass on the S12 is looser and slower compared to my E1DA 9038SG3 dongle (~500mw) but it was fine overall.

It sounds neutral overall with good tone density, good stage but rolled off on the edges (I think because the air region is rolled a bit).

NOS sounds NOS, fast, full and harsh I preferred it with the sloppy Fiio FD5 but hated it with the Focal and S12. For those I preferred the fast normal filter or sometimes the slow normal filter.

It's not a warm dongle, it's pretty neutral overall with rolled off upper treble (air).

It got crazy good imaging for such a tiny device.


It's not a staging monster or the last world of details, it's a great dongle if you pair it with sensitive enough stuff and selected the right filter for each headphones/iems. It's pricey for $300 I think they should priced it at $220 max.

 

[rishminder]

I might have reproduced the effect last night. But, can I ask you, what model of smartphone are you using, and are you able to adjust volume on the FC6, using volume buttons on the smartphone?

Following as I am also facing simillar issue

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Following as I am also facing simillar issue

What earphones? Also does anybody with this issue have a second smartphone they can test on, to see if it changes depending on the smartphone?

 

[povidlo]

Im about too pull the trigger on this. It was between this and dc03 pro but seen a guy say this makes that seem dull/tame. Has anyone tried with Xelento? I listen too vocal deep house and want emotive forward vocals, weighted notes/instruments and open soundstage and this seems from everything I've read reviews this thread it's exactly what I'm looking for

Lets go, just bought the fc6 and dc03 pro and the CB18 cable too beef things up. I'm sure I'll be returning the latter. Can't wait too hear this bad boy Power my Xelento. Will post impressions soon.

Looking forward to your impressions. I do prefer W2 over FC6 with Xelento, especially for electronic like tech house. W2 is faster, with wider scale of imaging, and better vertical extension. It better handles high bpm count tracks. Though FC6 pairing is still enjoyable. It's more holographic from depth of field perspective so it will render and separate vocals from the track to a better degree.

 

[Moris Renar]

Glad i saw this thread. I have minor memory loss so often forget stuff. This thread just reminded me of the past bad experiences with Hiby with the OG Ap80, Ap80 pro, R3 Saber, FC4 (complete pos) and an iem i forgot the name of.
Most of the portables were half-baked and plagued with issues. The software side is absolute garb. I thought they improved since then but this thread just proved otherwise. Thanks for saving me 300$. @ClieOS

 

[jsmiller58]

Glad i saw this thread. I have minor memory loss so often forget stuff. This thread just reminded me of the past bad experiences with Hiby with the OG Ap80, Ap80 pro, R3 Saber, FC4 (complete pos) and an iem i forgot the name of.
Most of the portables were half-baked and plagued with issues. The software side is absolute garb. I thought they improved since then but this thread just proved otherwise. Thanks for saving me 300$. @ClieOS

Wow. Sorry you had so many poor experiences. I never owned or tried the FC6, so I have no comment on it. I too am avoiding it based on feedback in this thread.

However, I had the HiBy R6 Pro and now have the R6 Pro II and both have been wonderful products (sound, HW build quality, Software), so overall I am a fan of HiBy, but since you had a different experience I can understand your frustration

 

[Chessblitzer2017]

Well I'm afraid the vocals are not forward or emotive I can not feel them/become one with them. They are like another user said "laid back" back there so I just hear the music, do not feel it/get goosebumps. In fact, everything but the vocals seems forward so I have too crank the music too uncomfortable levels too get what Im after Same thing with the dc03pro, very neutral/boring too me. My reference apparently is the ibasso dc02. It's amazing how I prefer that sound signature akm velvet 80$ dac more, where it takes you into another world. It could just be that I use basic YouTube download files idk. Will be returning both and my search continues for high end forward emotive vocals.

 

[jsmiller58]

Well I'm afraid the vocals are not forward or emotive I can not feel them/become one with them. They are like another user said "laid back" back there so I just hear the music, do not feel it/get goosebumps. In fact, everything but the vocals seems forward so I have too crank the music too uncomfortable levels too get what Im after Same thing with the dc03pro, very neutral/boring too me. My reference apparently is the ibasso dc02. It's amazing how I prefer that sound signature akm velvet 80$ dac more, where it takes you into another world. It could just be that I use basic YouTube download files idk. Will be returning both and my search continues for high end forward emotive vocals.

There is no real mystery! Tastes in sound profiles, tastes in music, individual hearing anatomy and health, how sources are tuned, how music is mastered, etc, are all so different. If this were not so we would all settle on common music, sources, headphones and IEMs, etc. This is why all observations and reviews need to be taken with a bit of skepticism, not because those reports are false, but because they are true only to the specific individual.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Well I'm afraid the vocals are not forward or emotive I can not feel them/become one with them. They are like another user said "laid back" back there so I just hear the music, do not feel it/get goosebumps. In fact, everything but the vocals seems forward so I have too crank the music too uncomfortable levels too get what Im after Same thing with the dc03pro, very neutral/boring too me. My reference apparently is the ibasso dc02. It's amazing how I prefer that sound signature akm velvet 80$ dac more, where it takes you into another world. It could just be that I use basic YouTube download files idk. Will be returning both and my search continues for high end forward emotive vocals.

What earphones were you using with these? Does it have a mic button? If so does pressing the mic button down make any difference to the sound?

 

[Joe Bloggs]

@ClieOS @povidlo @rishminder and any others facing
-stuttering issues in non-exclusive mode on e.g. the Sony Xperia 1 mk IV
-noise artifacts in OS mode

You may try downloading and opening the DFU tool and checking for a new update https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17ARHz9dDVPbFWvQYe2uSxBWFKSTWmma8?usp=share_link

Relevant changes include:
-downgrading USB signaling to synchronous mode (which sounds nicer than asynchronous but isn't. But, it least, it should work) on hosts affected by the USB signaling bug
-improving OS AA filters, which should probably solve the noise problem

edit: there was one more bit of improvement, that didn't make it to this update, for the noise issue, so if the problem is not yet solved, there's more that can be done soon. But I'd like to know, from those affected, whether the issue has seen any change at all.

 

[tL47]

stuttering issues in non-exclusive mode...

Now after this update stutter is terrible on all 44.1khz tracks. There is HDR ON/OFF button which changes nothing, but the positive note is that >96khz test artifact triggering tracks sound well. Reverted to original 1.04 FW because it was unbearable.
Attached you can see how update passed with me - strange but version stayed on 1.04 after 1.05 update.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

I have taken the update offline for now. Anyone who still wants to try it may contact me by pm.

 

[LincolnNE]

Hello

I am interested in this DAC/AMP, and hope a few here can answer some questions.

Firstly, I am coming from someone who owns an audioengine D3, and overall its a warmer dac that pairs well with brighter cans. I am curious though, how well would this Hibi Fc6 compare to that dac, and is R2R really making the truly audible difference? How does it compare to similarly priced r2r dacs such as the hifiman Ef400, cayin ru6, or even just some pricy delta sigma dac?

I own and use SRH-1440 headphones, modded and hard to beat.