Pair up.
This is probably the most important section of my review because it covers how R6 pairs up with different full-size headphones and IEMs. There was no need to even consider iEMatch until I switched to IEMs.
Audio-Technica ATH-R70x (open back, full size dynamic) – wide airy soundstage expansion, a very balanced sound signature with more emphasis on mids, not necessary being mid-forward but just making them standout with a more natural tonality and effortless retrieval of details. Bass is very neutral, extends deep with a nice rumble, but a very neutral quantity, and the same with mid-bass, with an overall bass being articulate and layered. Treble has a nice neutral sparkle as well, not too harsh or rolled off, just a perfect amount for a natural definition of the sound.
Oppo PM3 (planar magnetic) – above average soundstage width with more depth. The sound is brighter in tonality in comparison to other pair ups, PM3 sound can get easily congested with some DAPs, here the sound was closer to neutral with a more revealing tonality, still smooth and a little laid back, not very layered or with improved separation. Warm sub-bass extension with a slightly elevated mid-bass – bass is typical of PM3, being slower, not as articulate, but it has a better control in comparison to pair ups with other DAPs where bass usually spills into lower mids. Here, lower mids do have full body, but they are not muddy or congested. Upper mids are smooth and detailed, while treble has a nice well-defined sparkle.
Audeze EL8C (planar magnetic) – wide/deep soundstage and a very fast sound, typical of planar magnetic driver performance. Bass is very neutral, being all about quality rather than quantity when it comes to sub-bass extension and mid-bass punch. Lower mids are lean, and the big emphasis here is on upper mids and treble. Mids are detailed, actually down to micro-detailed level, but they are also cold and more analytical. And the treble is a little too piercing, making the sound too revealing and less natural. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but I’m glad to report there wasn’t metallic sheen in the sound, like I find in some other pair ups.
Beyerdynamic T5p 2nd (Tesla, full size dynamic) – wide/deep soundstage, almost on a holographic level, and the overall sound is very balanced, with a natural neutral-revealing tonality. Sub-bass has a nice deep extension, but the quantity of the rumble is a little north of neutral. Mid-bass has a nice fast punch, with an overall bass being very articulate, layered and well controlled. This leads to a more neutral lower mids and micro-detailed upper mids, but with a more natural detailed tonality. Treble is crisp and airy, gives a very good definition to a sound.
VE ZEN (320 ohms earbuds) – above average soundstage width with more depth. The overall tonality is a little brighter and more revealing in comparison to how Zen pairs up with some other DAPs where it usually sounds a little smoother and more organic. The sound is actually faster and a little leaner. Bass goes down to a deep sub-bass extension with a very nice rumble. Mids bass has a fast punch, this is probably the “fastest” I heard Zen bass, being very articulate and well controlled. Lower mids are a little leaner, and upper mids are natural, transparent, with an improved retrieval of details. Treble has a nice sparkle, not too bright or too crisp, with a good extension.
Next, I tested a lot of IEMs where I made a note about pair up with and without iEMatch.
Sennheiser IE800S (DD) – the sound is balanced with a nice deep sub-bass extension, great mid-bass impact, very natural detailed mids, and a nice crisp airy treble. iEMatch reduces some of the treble definition, taking away a bit of sparkle and airiness. Wide soundstage. I prefer a direct pair up here.
Beyerdynamic Xelento (tesla DD) – very expanded soundstage, tastefully done v-shaped sound with upper mids pushing just a little bit back. Bass goes deep with a healthy sub-bass rumble and fast punchy mid-bass, lower mids are neutral while upper mids are natural and detailed, nice organic tonality, and treble has a nice controlled sparkle. With iEMatch mids are pushed more back. Direct pair up is preferred.
Campfire Audio Vega (DD) – nice soundstage expansion, a typical expected L-shaped sound sig, perhaps more like a reversed J-shaped since I can also hear a nice treble sparkle. Bass goes deep with lots of sub-bass and slower mid-bass, overpowering mids which are smooth and warm, and pushed back in their presentation, and a nice crisp treble. With and without iEMatch the sound is the same.
Campfire Audio Andromeda (5BA) – here, iEMatch is definitely a must-have because without it the sound has a very neutral bass with a rather forward upper mids and splashy treble and a very noticeable sibilance, which you usually don’t hear from Andro. Once iEMatch added, it transforms into the sound I’m used to while listening with other sources – you get a fast mid-bass and a nice sub-bass extension which shines more with quality rather than quantity, neutral mids, detailed upper mids with a little brighter and more revealing tonality and crisp airy treble. iEMatch definitely brings Andro back to its fun signature.
iBasso IT01 (DD) – another example where iEMatch is not necessary, and it actually reduces the quality of the sound. Here with a direct connection you get a fun v-shaped signature with a deep and powerful sub-bass rumble and elevated mid-bass punch, neutral clear lower mids and revealing brighter upper mids, and crisp airy treble with a nice extension. iEMatch reduces the sparkle of the treble, turning v-shaped fun into a more L-shaped sound. I definitely prefer a direct pair up here.
iBasso IT03 (DD/2BA hybrid) – here, using iEMatch is actually a big plus. Directly connected, sub-bass and mid-bass becomes very neutral with upper mids and treble pushed more forward, and even some emphasis on sibilance. Once you connect iEMatch the sound change is back to expected tonality with a nice sub-bass rumble, faster mids-bass punch, a little pushed back but still detailed and brighter mids, and well-defined and controlled crisp treble.
Westone W80 (8BA) – low impedance multi-BA, you can safely guess iEMatch will be a welcome addition here. Direct connection gives you a slightly mid-forward signature since bass is more neutral and upper mids/treble are elevated. With iEMatch, the sound is balanced with a nice sub-bass rumble and punchy well controlled mid-bass, not too fast or too slow, neutral lower mids, natural detailed upper mids, and a crisp and well controlled treble. Very enjoyable pair-up, as long as you keep iEMatch handy.
Ultimate Ears UERR (3BA) – didn’t expect this one, but with or without iEMatch the sound is nearly identical. I hear a very neutral natural tonality with a decent sub-bass rumble, polite mid-bass much, neutral lower mids and natural detailed upper mids, and well-defined treble with a controlled sparkle. Actually, a very good pair up.
Noble K10UA (10BA) – another surprise where the sound is the same with and without iEMatch. You get a very well-balanced sound signature with a good sub-bass rumble, elevated fast mid-bass punch, neutral lower mids, revealing brighter upper mids, and crisp airy treble. Plug these in directly and you are good to go.
HiFiMAN RE2000 (DD) – with a single dynamic driver I was expecting that iEMatch is not necessary, and found it connected directly to sound nearly the same as other sources, but adding iEMatch actually took down a layer of brightness from the upper mids and lower treble, making the sound more pleasant and less harsh. You still get a great dynamic driver quality sub-bass extension and surprisingly articulate overall bass performance, mids are more analytical and on a brighter side, while treble is crisp and airy, but upper frequencies are smoother in comparison to direct connection. This is just a matter of personal preference.
64 Audio U12 (12BA) – this is how the original U12 was intended to sound! It’s not a secret that this IEM was tuned using higher OI source for performing stage musicians who use higher impedance wireless packs. The difference between R6 and any other DAP is around bass where with R6 bass is no longer bloated and overwhelming, you get a textured sub-bass rumble with a punchy mid-bass; with bass being well controlled without spilling into lower mids, and lower mids being north of neutral with a nice body but not muddy or congested, while upper mids are smooth and natural and still detailed, treble is well defined but not as crisp or airy. Adding iEMatch makes sound a little congested around lower mids, so direct connection is desired here.
64 Audio U12t (12BA) – learning a lesson from the original U12, U12t now features LID tech where the sound should be identical from any OI source. And indeed, when compared between R6 and other low OI daps – the signature is the same with a balanced sound sig where you have a nice bass impact, not too overwhelming and well controlled, neutral lower mids with a more natural-revealing tonality of upper mids, and crisp airy treble thanks to TIA driver. Adding iEMatch in series doesn’t affect much the bass or the lower mids, but it does make upper mids and lower treble a shade smoother if you want to tone down the TIA sparkle.
64 Audio Fourte (DD/3BA hybrid) – this is the one pair up so far where the synergy between a dap and iem wasn’t there, regardless of iEMatch or not. Adding this adapter does takes an edge off the upper mids/treble which could be a little too vivid for some, and regardless of the adapter the bass was still very accurate and with a nice sub-bass rumble and mid-bass punch, though both rather polite in quantity. But the main problem here were the mids which sounded a bit muffled to my ears, not the same as other DAPs. For me personally, this is not a good pair up.
64 Audio U18t (18BA) – talking about night’n’day difference, that’s how I can describe the sound of these iems with and without iEMatch. Without, you have a very mid-forward bright signature with a neutral flat bass. Once iEMatch added in series, U18t transforms with a deep textured sub-bass rumble and fast mid-bass punch with a slightly boosted quantity, neutral lower mids, natural micro-detailed upper mids, and crisp airy extended treble. This is not even a question, if you want to use U/A18t with R6, iEMatch is a necessity.
Empire Ears Legend X (2DD/5BA hybrid) – the clever crossover design of this hybrid reassures there is no need to worry about iEMatch because with or without it the sound is the same. You get a powerful L-shaped signature with a deep impactful sub-bass rumble and elevated mid-bass slam, with bass being well controlled despite being a force of nature that you feel in your chest. Mids are very natural and detailed, not really pushed back, but being more in a background due to elevated bass, and the same with a treble which is well defined and with a polite crisp and airiness. This is a basshead audiophile iem and it hits hard with a bass. Actually, even harder in comparison to other dap pair ups.
Conclusion.
When you are entering a competitive market of today’s mid-fi DAPs, you need to be able to stand out from the crowd. Many manufacturers respond to this challenge by offering unique looking designs or adding extra features or cutting corners to lower the price. Unless you have budget and resources of Sony or A&K proportions, smaller manufacturers focus on finalizing the hardware before the release, and then hoping to catch up with fw updates to fix remaining issues. Hiby is in a unique position where they are the one who help others to “fix” their fw issues, and as a result they are one step ahead of competition when it comes to fw/sw. And with that power, they’re also in a position to cherry pick their own hw because they know how to optimize its performance.
That’s exactly what happened in the debut release of Hiby R6 DAP. They picked a higher end SoC processor, the most RAM in comparison to other Android DAPs, top quality display, two premium ESS DACs, and also premium LPF and headphone amplifier opamp components. We are not just talking about another Android DAP release, but Android 6.0 with DTA (direct transport audio) architecture to ensure bit-perfect output (bypassing Android SRC). And this is not another ES9018 dual dac release, but they actually used higher end 9028 dac. And not a gimmicky balanced output, but actually BAL output with more than double the power of SE. And not just usb-c port because it’s a new popular standard, but actually with a support of QC3.0.
It would have been nearly perfect, except for high output impedance which could be an issue with some IEMs. I intentionally put extra effort in pair up testing with many different IEMs/headphones to describe the effect of OI. And as you can see, it’s not really the end of the world, and could be resolved with iEMatch. I’m not making excuses for Hiby, they learned their lesson and the upcoming R3 release already has lower output impedance. Also, I don’t want people to get an impression that R6 is only about fast Android performance. It also has a very impressive sound performance, along with a collection of MageSound 8-Ball effects to further fine tune the sound to perfection. Yes, you might have to invest into iEMatch, but it’s a small price to pay when you are looking for a top Android performance high-res DAP.
Twister6 Reviews 
Thanks for the review. I’ve got a FiiO X7ii that I am thinking about changing. I’ve already got the DX200 and Opus#2 shortlisted. Should I add the R6 to this list? Any other suggestions would be welcome.
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definitely consider it, but you have to be aware that with some of your multi-BAs and hybrid IEMs – iEMatch will be necessary.
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may you make a review pairing it up with qdc neptune?thank you in advance.
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sorry, I never heard of qdc neptune…. just looked up the spec. It’s a single BA, though should pair up well. The only concern is low impedance. But either way, iEMatch can solve this problem.
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I need one!
(My life was so easy with Sansa Clip on my shirt and Meelec M9 in my ears… 🙂 )
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I’m going to assume that you have never heard any Custom Art ciems? Their Fibae range sound a natural fit (though assumption = dangerous on my part!) if you don’t want to use a dongle. Got both on order so looking forward to them. Also available as universal if you ask nicely.
Maybe on the con’s list you ought to put long wait time from ordering due to nature of backing indigogo!
Nice review as always.
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I reviewed a few CA in the past, just never got to Fibae series. Heard 2 is too smooth/natural while 3 is too forward? But yeah, they use crossover which makes the sound independent of OI. 64audio does it with LID crossover used in U12t and Trio.
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Thanks a lot!
It’s not entirely clear what position the iematch switch was in, could you clarify?
It would be great if you continued to post matching with other IEMS.
It’s a pity you can’t test Tidal or other hires apps to be able to estimate the implementation of bypassing Android SRC.
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I always use the lowest (first) setting on iematch, otherwise you will need more gain compensation from your source. The higher the setting, the more attenuation and the more volume you have to raise from a DAP. With Tidal and other streaming services, I’m not sure if they can sound identical to high res from your internal storage. They are not streaming 100MB individual songs and do have to use some compression, right?
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I was referring to the comparison of hires apps like Tidal or Deeser on R6 and Flio, Cayn, etc because they do not bypass the src.
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I have read many times many times when you mention how the 64 Audio U12 need a higher OI player!
Do u have any idea if the Onkyo DX P1 would be a good match?
I simply love that player more than any other at any price.
Thanks
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are you planning to buy u12? those are discontinued, replaced by u12t and trio, but if you can get second hand – don’t think it will sound as good as paired up directly with R6. Don’t have experience with Onkyo, but it’s a low impedance source. Might work better with a brighter cable like Ref8.
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Thanks for the fast response , and for the review of course , I already have the onkyo and the u12 and I use it with the hybrid balanced penon Audio cable , to me it sounds great but can’t help to think that the U12 should sound better , due to the OI. I recently listened to the forte and the u18 and both are great but liked the 18 better. I can’t really afford to pay 3k for IEMs so stocked with the U12 I am. That’s why I was thinking maybe buying the R6 after selling my onkyo. The hard decision is weather I sell it or not because I truly love it.
Any advice?
Thanks
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your decision, man. I’m not familiar with Onkyo dap, but I have a feeling R6 will be an upgrade, plus, a bonus upgrade of U12 sound 😉
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Great review! So far loving the R6 paired with my 64 Audio U4-SE and Plussound Echo Series Cable and Null Audio Arete MK III Cable (a bit stiff). Loving 64 Audio so much I’m waiting for a pair of discontinued U8’s this week (current line up is out of my range). Also waiting for Atlas Zeno IEM cable to pair up with the U8. Big mistake I made (gotta read more before jumping the boat) was wanting to try some open backs and going with the AKG K7XX. Great headphones but because of there sensitivity the R6 will not run them on there own. Using the FIIO A5 will get them to where I want but I want to avoid stacking. Even though open backs may create a larger soundstage I really want a good closed back, any suggestions? Even though I incline to listen to music on my IEM’s a lot more every day!
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I’m IEM guy 🙂 not much experience with closed back. I do still use MSR7 and like T5p 2nd gen. Last yeat at canjam, I was VERY impressed with AEON closed back too.
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Do you think iEM Shure SE535 would match well with R6? I was having second thoughts to place an order. Very nice review. Thanks.
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i guarantee it will need iEMatch
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I got the same pair. Works very well I think. I don’t think I hear any issues due to the high impedance.
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Why wasn’t it compared to the DX200?
Really interested in your opinion since they both use Sabre chips, with one being mobile and one being desktop grade.
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Someone asked me the same question. With AMP1, there are a lot of similarities in sound wiht R6, though obviously amp1 has more power and low output impedance. DX200 really scales up in performance when you upgrade amp modules. Even since I switched to AMP4, I’m keeping it permanently attached. DX200 will have an advantage in sound quality and amp module choices, but keep in mind – dx200 is bigger and heavier, and doesn’t have Google Play (either side load apk files or need to install Lurker’s custom ROM which has Google Play store).
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hi twister6,
How do you connect R6 with idsd BL using usb otg? Should i use app usb audio player pro or hiby app can do it? Please advise. Thanks.
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ok nevermind,. i can play it through deezer and poweramp.. but not hiby app
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That’s strange because I was using it with Hiby app. Per my review in a picture, it’s just a cheap $5 usb-c to full usb otg interconnect, and once you turn micro iDSD on you will get a pop-up if Hiby app can access the connected device (or something like that). When you click OK – it should work.
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Hello and great review. here on headfi always enjoyed the simplicity of the reviews for a relatively uninitiated ones like me.
I been on X5(3)+A5 combo. my only issue is the hissing i get on Dunu’s and even IT01 also catches them. Lot of classical rocks even good recordings would play with minute pauses and the hissing just destroys all the mood.
I loved this player , my only issue is single card as i travel and I prefer music along with me.
If someone preferred warmer musical tone, bit of punch in that musically, but no hisses, decent battery and dual storage what should I try. Older rock, some alternate n metal is what keeps me happy. Wifi – i dont need, bluetooth- if its there all right but not a deal breaker to my needs.
Sony WM1A is way out of my reach currently 🙂 .
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have you looked in to N5ii? That might fit you better, hiss free, SE and BAL outputs, and dual uSD storage. I reviewed it not too long ago on my blog.
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i saw and at that price point it seems too good to be true :). The sound comparison was similar to costlier daps. My only worry was the volume wheel and that just kept me away. and Cayin’s UI I tried with first gen and I never took to it.
any other option that also be future proof.
Thank you for replying. really appreciate it.
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Sorry to bother you again. how would you stack Opus#1S in this mix?
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it’s inferior in sound quality (not by a lot, but R6 still sounds more detailed), but the biggest downfall in this comparison is that #1S is just an audio player, no bluetooth, no wifi, no app support, no streaming, etc.
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With the potential problem with the high output impedance, with can’t Hiby make a hardware modification to address this?
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it’s not a problem, just a part of the design. They had first batch released in China first where everybody loved it, they went on IGG to crowdfund it and got feedback from audophiles who demanded low OI. You can’t change the design after production started, it will only introduce the delays and will make people upset who bought it already. My vote goes for R6 Pro version in the future 🙂
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Hi wanted to know what you think
Would ibasso it01 or it03 would be a better pair for Hiby r6, a little confused beteeen these two and would like to know what you think ( m well aware of their price difference )
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Did you read the last page of my R6 review? These two have two different sound signatues, you can also search on my blog for detailed reviews of it01 and it03, to get a better idea which sound you prefer. Regarding pair up, as I mentioned in the review, with R6 it01 pairs up great directly connected while it03 requires iematch adapter due to high impedance of R6 which messes up the sound. So, all will depend on your budget and a sound preference.
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Hey Twister! Nice review. Could you tell that R6 is superior to Plenue R in sound quality? I can’t decide between these too. Because if they technically are on par(soundwise), but have just different signatures, I would rather go with the Plenue R. But if R6 is a step up in sound, then the decision is clear.
Thank you in advance.
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It’s not exactly night’n’day, unless if you are dealing with some low impedance multi BA iems and not using iematch, just keep in mind high output impedance of R6. I think many will be making their choice based on features between these two, especially if you want a fast android performance with streaming and app support. Other wise PR is damn good.
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Hi Twister,
I want to double check that the R6 suits my needs. I intend to get a coax cable (3.5mm to BNC male),connect it to a Nuetrik impedance convert (75 to 110) and finally link it into my subwoofer, which expects AES signal.
Is the output signal from the RS coax port SPDIF 75 on?
I’m I correct I require an audio coax cable? (not to be confused with Topslink).
Thanks!
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R6 already comes with 3.5mm to BNC male cable bundled in, for SPDIF coax output (you can select either Line Out or SPDIF coax out). I’m using it to drive iFi Micro iDSD DAC/amp. To be honest, I’m not sure if it’s 75 ohm, can’t find it anywhere in the spec of R6 or Micro iDSD. I’m a “portable” audio guy, only familiar with DAP and portable dac/amp equipment, sorry man.
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Super helpful. Exactly what I need, although I’ll have to get a new coax cable: the enclose is RCA terminated, whereas the 110ohm converter wants a BNC connecter.
BTW, how do you find the sound from coax port? Does the bit perfect algorithm makes a difference?
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well, to me the sound from the coax port is “colored” by the external DAC/amp which I use 😉 Though I’m into portable setup, Micro iDSD is one heck of a transportable DAC/amp. So, in general, no complaints with Coax of R6 😉
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That amp is sweet!
BTW, the R6 will be replacing an sp1000…Its confined ecosystem, where I can’t stream off SoundCloud, drives me crazy. I wish A&K fitted the DAP with a digital input for a Chromcast and likes…Furthermore, 11 months of the year, the DAP serves as a transport, and the sp1000 has only Topslink output, which is prone to jitter and requires tons of format conversions. Oh well…
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I love SPK as a standalone DAP, but for $3.5k it’s one expensive transport lol!
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Well argued 🙂
May I trouble you with one question?
Can the R6 can be controlled remotely? Put differently, I’d like to run the “HiBy Music” app on my phone, and, using the HiByLink feature, control the R6 remotely.
Thanks…
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hibyLink is supported as part of the HibyMusic app on R6 and when you install it on your phone to control it remotely. Other remote control apps – you can search Google Play, I’m sure there are many in there. R6 is like a full android phone without a “phone” part, like iPod touch 😉 So, whatever you can install on a phone can also be installed on R6.
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Hi, I am a iem newbee. I ordered the R6–it comes tomorrow. I have an older iem–Earsonics SM64. It seems to get no love in the reviews I have read. Could I trouble you to steer me in the direction of IEMs in the $500-1000 range. I read your reviews and I am trying to find the sweet spot between expense and sonic quality for the R6. I prefer a direct match if possible. I listen to mostly jazz and classical. I don’t want to put you on the spot and I will be responsible, of course for my buying choice, and will test as much as possible. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much.
Doug
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Funny, that’s a price spot which doesn’t get as much coverage from me, either going with budget iems or a lot more expensive flagships. You do need to try different ones. If you are in US, attending CanJams might be a very good start for you. For the type of music you are listening to and in this price range, I would try Westone UM Pro 50 v2. It will give you a more musical tonality, and still with a great bass extension and punch and enough airy sparkle in treble. These are not the most resolving, have that Westone laidback feeling, but you might need to get either ear-buddy or iematch adapter, unless if you are getting R6 from MusicTeck where they offer now a free ear-buddy with R6 purchase.
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Hi
Thanks for the review. Does the iEMatch take any volume from the signal? I’ve just seen a Youtube video on how to update to 8.1. Looks overly complicated.
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iEMatch does attenuate the output level, so volume will be lower, you will have to raise it from the DAP.
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