7/6/2023 0 Comments Afromuh proplayer![]() ![]() So that means the same 3GB RAM and fast Snapdragon 425 SoC experience. They would be mad to ditch the ‘baby with the bathwater’ in terms of what people loved about the R6. Ironically, this brings the stock R6 Pro up to par with their junior R3 which is also now LDAC capable. The key new feature for me is the ability to transmit BT LDAC (and HWA) out of the box which Android 6 did not offer. ![]() Why is this important? Quite apart from the “keeping up with the Jones’s” element in 2019 it also brings in a few new features as well as allowing HiBy to retain their bit-perfect DTA Architecture. The second change is the software platform, moving from Android 6 to Android 8, or Oreo. Out goes the older 2.5mm balanced jack output and in comes the more modern Japanese NIPPON DICS 4.4mm pentaconn balanced format to match the likes of iBasso, FiiO, Cayin, and of course Sony. The final part of the amp stage overhaul is the jack configuration. In short, the R6 Pro output is more stable and much more powerful than the older R6. Not only will this reduce the impedance level to less than 0.5Ω for both balanced and unbalanced to match better with sensitive IEMs but will also change the tonal balance and maximum power output rating. Out goes the TI dual TPA6120A and OPA1612 amp stage and in comes four Muses8920 and an SSM6322 from Analog Devices. The R6 Pro remedies this with a complete amp stage overhaul. It seemed to have an effect on very sensitive IEMs, particularly BA designs. This is basically where the frequency tuning takes a turn away from what you expect, such as a darker tone or less bass. Low impedance IEMs would have to be jacked via an iFi IEMatch cable (an accidental hero, much to iFi’s delight I am sure) to prevent what we call low-z skew. This was a polarizing topic the minute the 10Ω spec sheet was released for the original R6. The first is the output impedance on both its 2.5mm balanced and 3.5mm unbalanced jacks. Quite a few things actually though the basic form factor and platform remain the same on a macro level. HiBy responded but I can tell you now the R6 Pro is not just a feedback fix, there is more to it than that. Well, technology never stands still, Android is up from 6 to 8 with LDAC and more than a few of us want that high output impedance lowered. Why did this come out if the R6 was such a success? Roll-on 2019 and now we have the new R6 Pro DAP priced at $799 (was that my fault?). It was largely a success as a freshman digital media player with some killer features. Since then the R6 grabbed a 2017 DAP award from us and made a hell of a lot of social noise from buyers and the general portable audio community. I guessed $800, my bad, it was $599 and now $499 direct from their online store. They were showing the original R6 stainless-steel ‘Domestic edition’ for the first time and wanted me to guess the price and demo it. I needed some R’n’R after visiting some factories and decided to wander upstairs where the HiBy booth was located. It was entirely coincidental that I met HiBy Music at the Guangzhou Audio show in November 2017. ![]()
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