HiBy R6 III (Gen 3) Android digital audio player, Dual ES9038Q2M, Class A / AB amplification switch, Snapdragon 665, Open Android 12 OS, DSD512 / PCM768

[Imbrie]

Can anybody with both this and the DX170 describe any difference in sound quality and overall UI speed / performance between the two?

R6III is maybe a bit fuller and slightly warmer than the DX170. I enjoy listening to both. However, the R6III is much snappier and and performs better than the DX170. If I had to choose between the two, I think I'd go with the R6III as I definitely prefer the look of it over the DX170 but, saying that, the DX170 is a great pocketable player.

 

[brainfog]

Unfortunately it's not possible to downgrade firmware on an Android, that's one thing we haven't been able to customize around. We can release a "upgrade" in the form of rolling back changes, if the issues are severe and an actual fix long in coming, but I'm confident it won't come to that.

Thanks for the response @Joe Bloggs! I guess I'm too used to being able to rollback windows updates... now there's an idea.. a Windows DAP! At any rate... it looks like the fix is scheduled for the next update and has been prioritized.

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

R6III is maybe a bit fuller and slightly warmer than the DX170. I enjoy listening to both. However, the R6III is much snappier and and performs better than the DX170. If I had to choose between the two, I think I'd go with the R6III as I definitely prefer the look of it over the DX170 but, saying that, the DX170 is a great pocketable player.

I just went from the DX160 and found the iii to be cleaner and more open not necessarily warmer but definitely a noticeable upgrade.

 

[cobrabucket]

I just received mine yesterday and it came pre-installed with the 1.10_20230109-1339 firmware. Out of the box, it works great with both UAPP/Qobuz and Apple Music (properly displaying the Hi-Res sample rates of the music).
Since it seems some folks here are having issues with the latest fw, I will probably wait until the next one comes out and see if there are any "quirks" with the new update when it drops.
Anyways, I am really digging the R6 III so far! This is a sizeable upgrade coming from a FiiO M9, IMO.
It sounds great with all my IEMs I have thrown at it and today's plans include trying it with more of my headphones.
The MSEB functions are really neat, but I feel I have barely scratched the surface as far as sonic optimizations go.
This is the first product by Hiby that I have heard, but I am enjoying the ride and can't wait to see what else this journey has in store.
Color me impressed!

 

[Sphere 57]

For those of us with problems playing 44.1kHz sample rate in some circumstances, I've found that the 'Fixed Sample Rate' plugin set 88200 or 176400 brings a clearer sound than letting the R6III convert to 48kHz. The 44100 setting is not working for me, it crackles and stutters.

 

[cobrabucket]

I am loving this device with my Focal Elegia!
Also, I have ordered a usb-c to coax cable to be able to hand-off the digital signal to my desktop DAC (Gustard R26) and play Apple Music in bit-perfect mode.
TBH, I was wondering if I made the right choice of this over the Shanling M3 Ultra. But with all the sonic flexibility this DAP offers, I feel pretty confident I made the right choice.

 

[brainfog]

I am loving this device with my Focal Elegia!
Also, I have ordered a usb-c to coax cable to be able to hand-off the digital signal to my desktop DAC (Gustard R26) and play Apple Music in bit-perfect mode.
TBH, I was wondering if I made the right choice of this over the Shanling M3 Ultra. But with all the sonic flexibility this DAP offers, I feel pretty confident I made the right choice.

Glad to hear we didn't steer you in the wrong direction!

 

[Sphere 57]

For those of us with problems playing 44.1kHz sample rate in some circumstances, I've found that the 'Fixed Sample Rate' plugin set 88200 or 176400 brings a clearer sound than letting the R6III convert to 48kHz. The 44100 setting is not working for me, it crackles and stutters.

After spending some time upsampling Qobuz and Tidal 44.1kHz to 88.2kHz or 174.4kHz, I now have reservations about it. Yes it does sound clearer, but very occasionally I'm getting a brief crackle.

 

[IamEduard]

I am loving this device with my Focal Elegia!
Also, I have ordered a usb-c to coax cable to be able to hand-off the digital signal to my desktop DAC (Gustard R26) and play Apple Music in bit-perfect mode.
TBH, I was wondering if I made the right choice of this over the Shanling M3 Ultra. But with all the sonic flexibility this DAP offers, I feel pretty confident I made the right choice.

I would be very happy to hear from you about the results of connecting Hiby to Gustard R26. As far as the sound from Hiby sounds better than the native streamer (render) from Gustard R26. I have a Hiby R3 and plan to also buy a Gustard R26 and follow your path.

 

[cobrabucket]

I would be very happy to hear from you about the results of connecting Hiby to Gustard R26. As far as the sound from Hiby sounds better than the native streamer (render) from Gustard R26. I have a Hiby R3 and plan to also buy a Gustard R26 and follow your path.

Hoping the USB-C to coaxial cable gets here quickly, but it's coming from China, so at least a few weeks.

 

[azhrael]

Love this thing. Super snappy UI and fantastic sound. MSEB settings are fun to fiddle with.

 

[ongbenghui]

After spending some time upsampling Qobuz and Tidal 44.1kHz to 88.2kHz or 174.4kHz, I now have reservations about it. Yes it does sound clearer, but very occasionally I'm getting a brief crackle.

I tested yesterday as well. To use the plugin to upsample to 96Khz. My goal is lesser to improve the sound but more on the stability. However, I noticed that certain songs are good. certain songs will get crackles. very noticible.

 

[carlosedp]

And mine finally arrived! Couldn't wait for it... and can't be happier!

One tip that makes it feel even snappier... go to "Settings" -> "About Device" and tap like 5-8 times in the "Firmware version" line ... it will enable the "Developer Options" menu.
Then go to "Settings" -> "System" -> "Developer Options", scroll down to the "Window animation scale", "Transition animation scale" and "Animator duration scale" and set them to "0.5x".

Makes Android animations shorter which makes the UI feel faster.

 

[cobrabucket]

And mine finally arrived! Couldn't wait for it... and can't be happier!



One tip that makes it feel even snappier... go to "Settings" -> "About Device" and tap like 5-8 times in the "Firmware version" line ... it will enable the "Developer Options" menu.
Then go to "Settings" -> "System" -> "Developer Options", scroll down to the "Window animation scala", "Transition animation scale" and "Animator duration scale" and set them to "0.5x".

Makes Android animations shorter which makes the UI feel faster.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[ipaddy]

My new R6 gen III had been working fine. Wired 4.4 and 3.5 fine. Bluetooth fine.

All of a sudden, it no longer outputs music through either the 4.4 or 3.5 outlets. When I play in the Hiby (and other, like foobar) apps, the unit makes visual indicators that a song is playing.

The unit does shows a “wired” when an iem is plugged in. Bluetooth is completely off.

However, no music plays. I tried doing a complete reset, all data, and let the Hiby app find all the songs on the micro sdxc card. But when I try to play a song, same thing. No music.

It used to play fine from both, and I didn’t intentionally change any setting, and I can’t find any setting that would somehow apply, that would let the unit visually appear to be playing, but no music plays.

I tried this with different IEM’s that play in other players. So it’s not the iem.

Is the unit just broken by itself, all of s sudden?