HiBy R6 Pro II Review

Power

HIBY explained that the R6 Pro II has a less pure driving force, and more control/precision. However, I’m quite satisfied with its driving performance from the BAL output. With IEMs, I don’t remember going past the 55-60 volume level on low gain. I used the Class A mode most of the time though.

For a full-sized can I tested my Hifiman Arya Stealth, and managed to drive it sufficiently. The power was more than enough on high-gain, at around 50-60 volume, in Class A mode. So I think HIBY has got that part covered, even with this new audio circuit design that prioritizes precision/control over pure power.

Class A vs AB

The R6 Pro II has a setting to switch the amplifying mode between Class A & AB. Class AB preserves more battery, whilst the Class A mode gives maximum performance. The difference is hard to spot on first listen, but when you spend the time you realize that there’s better dynamic range, better attack and definition, and better pace. 

Ultimately, the device still has fair battery stamina with Class A mode open at all times. So I would say if you have hard-to-drive IEMs/headphones, I think it would be better to use the device with full Class A amplification.

Comparisons

The R6 III is a great offering for the price, with a Class A amplifying option like this one. For no-sound topics, the R6 III has the same Android 12 software, same CPU and RAM. So the speed and general UI experience are similar. The difference is the screen of course, and that is actually a huge difference when you use them side by side. The R6 Pro II has a massively better screen experience, and its design looks and feels much more modern and premium.

Sound-wise the R6 III is more neutral, and it doesn’t have the musical quality of the R6 Pro II. Moreover, the R6 Pro II has better layering, separation and noise floor with a blacker background. That makes it the better performer in terms of definition, micro detail, and stereo imaging. There’s better focus, transparency, articulation, and layering. The soundstage of the R6 Pro II is also better, which R6 III lacks a bit. It’s basically a more mature and more immersive sound with the R6 Pro II if you can pay around 300$ more over the R6III. 

User experience-wise, although I like Shanling’s UI more, especially for their music app, these two perform similarly. And it makes sense. They have the same CPU and the same amount of RAM. Shanling offers a bigger battery, but I doubt the stamina would be dramatically different. The M6 Ultra has Pure Music Mode as a plus, so you can extend the battery life when you don’t use Wi-Fi or streaming services. Yet, HIBY has Android 12 vs. Android 10 in the Shanling.

For sound, the M6 Ultra is warmer than the R6 Pro II, which is closer to neutral than Shanling. Of course, the R6 Pro II is also an AKM player and I would also call it warm per se, but the Shanling offering is a bit warmer. That is most apparent in the bass region, where the M6 Ultra sounds a bit fatter and bolder. The R6 Pro II has a quicker bass response with a neutral performance. For mids, they both perform well, with good musicality and good timbre. I think the R6 Pro II has a better background still, whilst the M6 Ultra has a slightly fuller and denser instrument presentation. The treble is smooth in both, but I find the R6 Pro II a bit more energetic here. 

However, I personally think that with the new model, HIBY looks more elegant and that screen is a massive difference in terms of user experience. Sound-wise these two are both good, it’s just the little differences that set them apart, so you can choose depending on your set of IEMs/headphones.

Conclusion

HIBY’s DAPs keep getting better and better. With this aggressive price policy, they’ll continue to grow in terms of being a formidable player in the portable audio market. This new addition to the R6 line-up is certainly influencing. 

With this totally new design -which helps to create a unique brand image-, a fantastic new screen, and a sound performance to back it all up, the R6 Pro II is a good choice for any audiophile. You get a snappy navigation with full Android, a premium experience, and a musical, layered and detailed sound. So as a result, we add the new HIBY R6 Pro II to our Best DAP List.

Pros:

• Impressive New Design
• Gorgeous Screen
• Good Pricing
• Android 12
• Top-Level DAC chips
• Great Usability & Experience
• Warm, Natural Sound
• Class A Amp

Cons:

• Battery life isn’t great
• The size is a bit big
• Gets a bit hot in Class A mode

Page 1 – Intro, Package, Design & Build

Page 2 – User Experience & Software

Page 3 – Sound Quality