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Beauty & Beast in one: Hiby R6 Pro II
A few days ago the delivery with the Hiby R6 Pro II DAPs arrived here, and I was very excited about Hiby's new "Pro" DAP. Although the name R6 makes absolutely no sense in my opinion and is probably due to (somewhat unfortunate) marketing.
Why? Because the R6 Pro II has absolutely nothing to do with the R6. Unlike its predecessor, the R6 Pro, which shared the body and various internal features with the R6, the R6III and R6 Pro II no relationship is apparent. Even on the outside they are completely different and on the inside the Pro II also seems to have a completely different/new structure.
But no matter - name games or not, one thing immediately catches the eye and yes, one can have differing opinions here:
"Personally, I find the R6 Pro II to be the most beautiful DAP I've ever held in my hands!"
The case—especially the back—is elaborately designed and a real eye-catcher. Whether in black or, as I tested, in bright purple.
In fact, I've long wished for a bit more boldness in color from DAP manufacturers. The only manufacturer that has been mentioned so far is Astell.&Kern, whose colorful devices have fascinated me before.
And now Hiby has dared – bravo and thank you!
As you can see, Hiby (at least at the purple version) the purple theme is consistently carried through to the user interface.
From follows Function
The back is particularly striking, with its "hump," beveled edges, and curved grooves. I suspect this isn't solely for design reasons, but also for functional reasons. The "hump" presumably houses the battery, and when holding the R6 Pro II in your hands, you'll notice that the beveled edges at the bottom provide excellent grip for your fingers. This is especially noticeable when using the included case—the Pro II sits comfortably and securely in your hand.
In contrast to Astell & core, where the "angular design" is more of an end in itself, Hiby have followed the motto "Form follows function" Real thought has gone into this! For me as a user experience designer, this is a step in the right direction! 🙌😊
Incidentally, the Pro II is surprisingly light for its size—another plus for everyday mobile use.
Sound
Of course, what counts most with a DAP are the inner values and here too The Pro II shines: Three AKM DACs ensure adequate conversion, and the analog output section is also quite impressive!
In order to put the R6 Pro II through its paces, I have one of my absolute favorites, the Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor attached. At CHF 4499, the Multiverse Mentor is a full six times more expensive than the Hiby and definitely exposes any weaknesses - should there be any.
Wow - the two devices even match each other perfectly in terms of color - but do they also match in terms of sound?
The short answer is:
"YES!"
The R6 Pro II powers the Multiverse Mentor like there's no tomorrow - meaning, without any problems.
Although I usually compare the Mentor with flagship DAPs of the caliber of Hiby RS8, Cayin N8II or Cayin N7 The R6 Pro II manages to utilize all the advantages of this wonderful in-ear, playing wonderfully powerfully and detailed, with great stage and presence.
Sure, the flagship DAPs mentioned above can capture the subtle nuances a bit better, resolve them even more finely, and the bass is even faster and more powerful – but – this is "whining" at the highest level!
Typically, you would use the Hiby R6 Pro II with in-ears or headphones in a similar price range, yet it is capable of greater things, outperforming itself and its price range with high-end IEMs.
"Chapeau!"
What Hiby has created here is the crowning achievement of their "run" in developing affordable yet fantastic-sounding DAPs.
Conclusion
For significantly less than 1000 CHF/EUR, there's currently no real competition on the DAP market. I'd say even a bit more. The next level of sound quality will likely be Hiby's in-house RS6 R2R DAP.
The Hiby R6 Pro II is now available to purchase from Audio Essence.
More exciting blogs
Flagship without a flagship price - Cayin N7
The new naturalness - Hiby RS8 Flagship DAP
Into the Multiverse - UM Multiverse Mentor