[wolfstar76]

To my ears, RS2 lacks in the amplifier section. RS2 in low gain mode doesn't give enough to iems like 64audio A18t or itsfit Fusion. Very easy to drive iems. When I switch to High gain, then could hear a well defined body. This is with NOS tuned on. Lack of power for even easily driven iems was a surprise to me. Not sure if others had a similar experience.

RU6 on the other hand is effortless even in low gain mode. This is with NOS tuned on.

RS2 is punchy in the bass when the song has it. RU6 bass is slightly different in that it doesn't punch but has all the things that a good bass should have. Personally I find both good. different people different preferences kind of thing.

RU6 surrounds you more with sound in height and width. RS2 has good width but not as wide as RU6 and doesn't envelope you as RU6 does.

RS2 is less analog sounding than RU6. May be fiddling more with MSEB settings will get it to that level.

Resolution is more with RU6 than with RS2.

I was expecting RS2 to slot in between RU6 and Cayin N6ii+R01. But it isn't so. It is like RS2 is a side-grade to me than an upgrade.

RS2 has a lots of options to configure the sound with MSEB. RU6 is plug & play. Low gain or high gain. NOS or OS.

This is with around 150 hours on RS2 and with those iems mentioned above. Your mileage might vary and your preferences will dictate your choice

Thanks for sharing this, it helps me to make my final decision. I will wait for more interesting device, RU6 is good for me now for R2R sound, for DAP I will settle with WM1A for a while.

 

[linux4ever]

Well, I am driving the RS2 predominantly on high gain - for me in 90% of iems and headphones it is delivering more texture and resolution in high gain. I also think it is the power to blame. But on the other hand I do not plan to run my Arya or T60rp with it. So, for me it does the job - the HD560s, the Sundara, the AA Xi-55, the Denon 5200 and Sony Z7M2 are enough.
On the technicalities - I do not hear it like RS2 being minor to the Cayin RU6. Yes, the the RU6 is great value, an amazing dac. But it cannot scale up with premium sound iems - Sony IER-Z1R and UM Mest v1 and other iems and entry audiophile headphones perform quite better with the RS2 vs RU6. Second, RS2's sound stage, according to me, is wider and with bigger depth. And RS2 resolution is superior. The RU6 is more energetic and intense in presentation but minor to detail. I paired the RS2 and the RU6 to my Stax SRM-007t + Stax Lambda Signature / Stax SR-007 and the RS2 beats the RU6.

Yes. I too noticed the better depth with RS2. With High Gain the sound stage width improves and is quite noticeable.
Yes RU6 is energetic but without being fatiguing to my ears. I get fatigue if it gets very energetic.

Also the differences between RS2 vs RU6 doesn't mean one is better, the other is bad. It is just that they're different. I've not yet decided if RS2 is a keeper. Its small form makes it appealing to carry around. My listening from now on is going to be with High Gain only and more hours hearing in this setting.

But with a premium iem like A18t, I hear an enveloping sound with RU6 when paired to a Macbook Pro. And perfectly showcases RU6's ability to keep up with one of the top tier iems in the market. I have to try RS2 more as an external DAC to Macbook pro

Note:
The itsfit fusion iem has 1 Magnetostatic driver – high, 2 Balanced Armature drivers: high-mid & mid, 1 Electro-dynamic: low. Another maximum value for your buck kind of an audio product.

Here's to more happy listening

 

[Tomm11]

Winner in what regard?

A few pages back there was a brief discussion about which DAP would be first to incorporate the new AKM 2 chip solution. In that regard, A&K is the winner.

 

[Barndoor]

I find high gain and nos switched off to be the best setting. With Nos turned on notes lose their definition and become more blurry, which makes the overall sound become more congested in busy tracks.

 

[boromcom]

I find high gain and nos switched off to be the best setting. With Nos turned on notes lose their definition and become more blurry, which makes the overall sound become more congested in busy tracks.

Thx!

 

[chaotic_angel]

To my ears, RS2 lacks in the amplifier section. RS2 in low gain mode doesn't give enough to iems like 64audio A18t or itsfit Fusion. Very easy to drive iems. When I switch to High gain, then could hear a well defined body. This is with NOS tuned on. Lack of power for even easily driven iems was a surprise to me. Not sure if others had a similar experience.

RU6 on the other hand is effortless even in low gain mode. This is with NOS tuned on.

RS2 is punchy in the bass when the song has it. RU6 bass is slightly different in that it doesn't punch but has all the things that a good bass should have. Personally I find both good. different people different preferences kind of thing.

RU6 surrounds you more with sound in height and width. RS2 has good width but not as wide as RU6 and doesn't envelope you as RU6 does.

RS2 is less analog sounding than RU6. May be fiddling more with MSEB settings will get it to that level.

Resolution is more with RU6 than with RS2.

I was expecting RS2 to slot in between RU6 and Cayin N6ii+R01. But it isn't so. It is like RS2 is a side-grade to me than an upgrade.

RS2 has a lots of options to configure the sound with MSEB. RU6 is plug & play. Low gain or high gain. NOS or OS.

This is with around 150 hours on RS2 and with those iems mentioned above. Your mileage might vary and your preferences will dictate your choice

Thanks so much & realy appreciate your answer

 

[TomKorn]

Expensive and bulky?

Well, I guess expensive is always relative. I meant, no one has heard the device to be able to say how good it is. I'm always happy when manufacturers push the boundaries of what's possible. I'm looking forward to the first impressions.

 

[Tomm11]

Well, I guess expensive is always relative. I meant, no one has heard the device to be able to say how good it is. I'm always happy when manufacturers push the boundaries of what's possible. I'm looking forward to the first impressions.

I can think of 2 reviewers (not on head-fi) that will proclaim the SP3000 to be the best sounding DAP on the market. Doesn't matter what it sounds like, they're going to call it the best ...

 

[German Expat in Vietnam]

I can think of 2 reviewers (not on head-fi) that will proclaim the SP3000 to be the best sounding DAP on the market. Doesn't matter what it sounds like, they're going to call it the best ...

 

[TomKorn]

I can think of 2 reviewers (not on head-fi) that will proclaim the SP3000 to be the best sounding DAP on the market. Doesn't matter what it sounds like, they're going to call it the best ...

Who? Now I'm very curious.

 

[Ultrainferno]

The HiBy RS2 is what we're looking at today on Headfonia! @Virtu Fortuna likes it so much he's giving it our Recommended Buy award!

https://www.headfonia.com/hiby-rs2-review/

 

[Jawis]

Hiby RS2 and Oriolus BA300S combo. NOS on, MSEB off. Keeps the overall warmth sound of the R2R, but adds a little more bass thump.

 

[Nostoi]

The HiBy RS2 is what we're looking at today on Headfonia! @Virtu Fortuna likes it so much he's giving it our Recommended Buy award!

https://www.headfonia.com/hiby-rs2-review/

Are you aware that your site is basically unreadable without the most aggressive ad-blocker installed?

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Are you aware that your site is basically unreadable without the most aggressive ad-blocker installed?

I use Opera and I didn't even notice. Switching to Firefox and after rejecting all cookies, I still don't see anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Nostoi]

I use Opera and I didn't even notice. Switching to Firefox and after rejecting all cookies, I still don't see anything out of the ordinary.

It's fine on a laptop, but on a phone it looks like a spam site. There's literally an ad after each paragraph as well as a pop up at the bottom.