Design and build
HiBy hasn’t tampered with success. The new R6 Pro II is a visual twin of its predecessor, right down to the sculpted grooves running down the sides. It’s an unapologetically modern design, a world away from the brushed metal slabs of iBasso or the retro nods of Astell&Kern. There’s something distinctly futuristic about it: slip it out of its (excellent) leather case, and you half expect it to unlock the doors of a spaceship.
At 283 grams, it has the heft of a serious tool, but not so much that it feels unwieldy. In hand, it’s reassuring rather than burdensome, like a solidly built smartphone from the days before everything went wafer-thin. The dimensions are roughly comparable to a large mobile, which makes it jacket-pocket friendly but a little ambitious for skinny jeans.
Front and centre is the 5.9-inch full-HD display. In the DAP world, where screens can feel like an afterthought, this one is positively sumptuous. Colours pop, text is razor sharp, and album art looks good enough to frame. In hand it feels more like a flagship phone than a niche player. Brightness is ample for outdoor use, though the glossy finish means fingerprints are inevitable.
The physical controls are refreshingly straightforward. On the right, you’ll find a trio of playback buttons, raised enough to find by feel without being so proud that they’re easily triggered in a pocket. The volume is handled by buttons rather than a wheel – a point of contention in audiophile circles. Personally, I found the clicks precise and less prone to accidental nudges than some of the fiddlier dials out there.
On the bottom, the ports are neatly aligned: 3.5mm single-ended, 4.4mm balanced, and USB-C, which doubles as digital output. It’s a practical, no-nonsense layout that keeps cables pointing downward whether you’re desk-bound or on the move, although I’m still confused as to why HiBy flips the position of the LO and PO ports on the 6-series and 8-series DAPs (potentially resulting in dangerous ear blasts if you accidentally plug your IEMs into LO).
Accessories deserve a mention, not least because HiBy has resisted the urge to cheap out. The leather case supplied is leagues ahead of the plasticky sleeves bundled with rivals – snug, tactile, and protective without obscuring the design. You also get spare screen protectors and the expected cables. In a world where some brands charge extra for anything beyond the bare minimum, it’s refreshing to find a package that feels complete out of the box.
HiBy offers the player in black or a striking royal blue. The latter has a certain flair, but the stealthy black version is more discreet in public and blends in with other gadgets. Whichever you choose, the finishing is excellent. Edges are smoothed, seams invisible, and there’s an overall impression of thoughtful engineering.
The only caveat is its size. This is not the sort of player you slip unobtrusively into a shirt pocket. It’s better thought of as a transportable device – easy enough to carry around the house, the office, or on commutes, but it does feel slightly decadent to whip it out in a crowded subway carriage. Then again, part of the appeal of a DAP like this is precisely that sense of indulgence.
Continue to interface and features…
