HiBy R6 2020 User Impressions

[davidmolliere]

It's been a good long while since I auditioned it so I might be well off on this but the R6 2020 reminds me of Cowon Plenue L, anyone?

 

[soundblast75]

It's been a good long while since I auditioned it so I might be well off on this but the R6 2020 reminds me of Cowon Plenue L, anyone?

Not at all, very different sounds, L much smoother

 

[davidmolliere]

Not at all, very different sounds, L much smoother

Ok thanks.

So far I don't find R6 2020 isn't smooth but maybe that's my IEM collection speaking
I remember Plenue L to be plenty resolving and detailed even if smooth.

 

[soundblast75]

Ok thanks.

So far I don't find R6 2020 isn't smooth but maybe that's my IEM collection speaking
I remember Plenue L to be plenty resolving and detailed even if smooth.

Yeah, just the tonality is colder here, but that will be your iems too

 

[claudy]

I wouldn't have figured the R6 2020 was almost as small as my DX160, very cool form factor!
[/QUOTE]

Hai, can you describe what the main difference betwen dx160 & r6 2020 in sound and would u consider it an upgrade or side grade from dx160 from their price point? I'm using dx120 right now & have heard dx160, to be honest dx160 is not so different from dx120 in balance mode, probably that why dx160 only cost $100 more then dx120, maybe for the screen , been eyeing for r6 2020 since they released. thank you in advance...

 

[goodvibes]

Yeah, just the tonality is colder here, but that will be your iems too

Uapp player gives it more weight in the sig and with upsampling set to integer, is almost as open as Hiby player. I still prefer it as often as not and may ultimate default to it.

Oh, if you're comparing playrs and do the upsample thing on uapp, it appears to affect Hiby player is UAPP open. If you want super ethereal, there you go but it's bit much for most music that way.

 

[Blasterinn]

It's been a good long while since I auditioned it so I might be well off on this but the R6 2020 reminds me of Cowon Plenue L, anyone?

Any chancy you could comment on R6 2020 vs the DX300, like how resolved they are and such. I'm mighty interested.
Perhaps a small note on the m8 as well

 

[soundblast75]

Uapp player gives it more weight in the sig and with upsampling set to integer, is almost as open as Hiby player. I still prefer it as often as not and may ultimate default to it.

I delete Hiby, awful

 

[goodvibes]

Different sigs. Another on here felt the opposite. I keep leaning back to uapp for it's added solidity but could easily see others preferring Hiby player, especially if settings are default.

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

I went for a walk with the R6 2020 last night. It was very windy and I brought along my Blessing 2 Dusk IEMs. I normally bring my BTR5 and run Tidal off my iPhone. The sound is definitely better, but given the wind, I had to turn the volume higher than normal. I live near Diamond head, so LTE signal dies in the middle of my walk. My hotspot lost signal around the lighthouse. It was handy having downloaded music. The form factor is nice, but it is bigger than my iPhone so carrying 2 devices the size of a phone is a bit too much. I think I'll download music and just walk with my Apple watch to take calls if I need them. I think the R3 Pro is the better form factor for walking about, but downloading Tidal tracks is not possible yet and I am not sure the sound is better than my BTR5.

 

[Poganin]

Does anyone have an idea how much of an upgrade (if at all) the R6 2020 would be over Shanling M6?

 

[davidmolliere]

Hi, can you describe what the main difference betwen dx160 & r6 2020 in sound and would u consider it an upgrade or side grade from dx160 from their price point? I'm using dx120 right now & have heard dx160, to be honest dx160 is not so different from dx120 in balance mode, probably that why dx160 only cost $100 more then dx120, maybe for the screen , been eyeing for r6 2020 since they released. thank you in advance...

To me DX120 (which I owned) is more forward and less subtle than DX160 IMHO, also DX160 has a more open stage in my opinion.

DX160 is superb value for money but honestly R6 2020 as well
It surprised me just like DX160 did for providing performance well above its price point.
DX160 is more relaxed though, where R6 2020 is more dynamic.

Both are competitive with higher priced gear and are fantastic for audiophile on a budget.

I could only have R6 2020 as a DAP and wouldn't feel like I am lacking a lot compared to upper tier DAPs like DX300, M8 or R8.

After that it would be more a matter of a DAP sonic flavor rather than performance although the top dogs go further yet it will only be apparent in terms of headroom with certain IEMs (like the Elysium) or demanding headphones but you could easily add an affordable amp like iFi audio Zen Can and get plenty of power when needed.

Compared to DX160, R6 2020 is significantly more resolving so the price difference is justified IMHO.

Any chancy you could comment on R6 2020 vs the DX300, like how resolved they are and such. I'm mighty interested.
Perhaps a small note on the m8 as well

Well it's a bit early and I need more time but let me say I don't feel too cheated by R6 2020 compared to DX300 or M8 in terms of performance. Sure, DX300 has incredible soundstage and layering as well as more headroom and M8 is so expressive with such powerful bass and full bodied mids and yet better resolution. But in non critical listening I get plenty of fun and a strong performance from R6 2020. As usual, law of diminishing return. I'll try to do a more in depth comparison but I am swamped with work this week...

DX300 has much better battery life and remains cool at all times but is much bigger M8 is heavier so in terms of from factor R6 2020 also enjoys a superb ratio of form factor / SQ.

One thing of note : I hear a quite a bit of EMI with the R6 2020 on quiet sequences on some tracks compared to R8 by the way so I guess shielding is much better on the R8. Too bad as I hear a blacker background on R6 2020 than R8... Same story for DX300 and M8 that have zero EMI. I stream a lot so I might notice it more than most. If you're not streaming or playing offline sync content then it's a non issue.

 

[goodvibes]

To me DX120 (which I owned) is more forward and less subtle than DX160 IMHO, also DX160 has a more open stage in my opinion.

DX160 is superb value for money but honestly R6 2020 as well
It surprised me just like DX160 did for providing performance well above its price point.
DX160 is more relaxed though, where R6 2020 is more dynamic.

Both are competitive with higher priced gear and are fantastic for audiophile on a budget.

I could only have R6 2020 as a DAP and wouldn't feel like I am lacking a lot compared to upper tier DAPs like DX300, M8 or R8.

After that it would be more a matter of a DAP sonic flavor rather than performance although the top dogs go further yet it will only be apparent in terms of headroom with certain IEMs (like the Elysium) or demanding headphones but you could easily add an affordable amp like iFi audio Zen Can and get plenty of power when needed.

Compared to DX160, R6 2020 is significantly more resolving so the price difference is justified IMHO.



Well it's a bit early and I need more time but let me say I don't feel too cheated by R6 2020 compared to DX300 or M8 in terms of performance. Sure, DX300 has incredible soundstage and layering as well as more headroom and M8 is so expressive with such powerful bass and full bodied mids and yet better resolution. But in non critical listening I get plenty of fun and a strong performance from R6 2020. As usual, law of diminishing return. I'll try to do a more in depth comparison but I am swamped with work this week...

DX300 has much better battery life and remains cool at all times but is much bigger M8 is heavier so in terms of from factor R6 2020 also enjoys a superb ratio of form factor / SQ.

One thing of note : I hear a quite a bit of EMI with the R6 2020 on quiet sequences on some tracks compared to R8 by the way so I guess shielding is much better on the R8. Too bad as I hear a blacker background on R6 2020 than R8... Same story for DX300 and M8 that have zero EMI. I stream a lot so I might notice it more than most. If you're not streaming or playing offline sync content then it's a non issue.

I'll give mine a try. Only used Qobuz and local streaming briefly to test function and character for a cut. I've been using Moondrop s8 with comply tips and an 8 core silver litz cable so not the most efficient IEMs either. I try my EE Spartans.

 

[davidmolliere]

I'll give mine a try. Only used Qobuz and local streaming briefly to test function and character for a cut. I've been using Moondrop s8 with comply tips and an 8 core silver litz cable so not the most efficient IEMs either. I try my EE Spartans.

I can hear EMI even with Dunu Zen so not ultra sensitive either 108dB and 16 ohms

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

The Hiby R6 2020 is my first DAP. Most of my listening experience is with DAC/Amps like the DragonFly Red, BTR5, Chord Mojo and Chord Hugo 2. I am still early in the listening process, but some trends are emerging for me.

1) The Hugo 2 is significantly better than the R6 2020 in sound quality. It has better detail, resolution and clarity. It can drive everything I own including the HD800S and ZMF Verite Closed. The R6 2020 can't. With the Hugo 2, all genres of music sound good. With the R6 2020, classical music and classic rock don't sound that great on the VC and the HD800s are unlistenable even with EQ.

2) The Lotoo PAW S1 is significantly better for classic rock and pop than the R6 2020 with my Blessing 2 Dusk IEMs. I put on Billy Joel Stanger on both the R6 2020 and the S1 and I am quite surprised how much clearer and balanced the S1 sounds. Actually, I was able to drive the VC with the S1 better than with the R6 2020. The relative performance of this dongle based AMP/DAC really surprised me.

I love the feature set of the R6 2020. It looks and feels like an Android device in every way. Easy to download apps and works with the same/similar user experience you would have it you owned a Samsung smart phone. Tidal connect works great so it can control my headphone desktop set up.

As I started down the path of evaluating DAPs, this was always my question. How do DAPs compare to DAC/AMPs. Each has it's use cases that it works best with. I would be interested in learning how the higher end and lower end DAPs perform relative to their DAC/AMP counter parts.