Hiby R6 Pro Max

After the R6 Pro II released in 2023, HiBy is relaunching its flagship series with a major technical overhaul. The R6 Pro Max drops AKM converters in favor of a new ESS Sabre platform, doubles output power in balanced mode, and gains an 8200 mAh battery. The form factor remains close to its predecessor, but the device gains weight (425 g) and thickness (21.8 mm).

Dual ESS Sabre conversion and eight-channel amplification

The R6 Pro Max is built around two ESS ES9039MS Pro chips, the latest additions to the 32-bit Sabre range. Each converter manages four channels, one for the left channel and the other for the right, for an octa-DAC configuration. This approach is intended to reduce background noise and improve dynamics.

The amplification stage uses eight Texas Instruments OPA1612 modules for current-to-voltage conversion, two additional OPA1612s for low-pass filtering, then two OPA1622s for the output stage. ELNA capacitors complete the analog circuit. HiBy has split the power supply into four independent sections (converter, I/V, filter, amplification) to limit interference between stages.

From the 4.4 mm balanced output, the R6 Pro Max delivers 697 mW into 32 Ω, roughly double that of the R6 Pro II. The 3.5 mm single-ended output reaches 179 mW. HiBy states a distortion rate (THD+N) of 0.003% and a signal-to-noise ratio of 126 dB in balanced mode.

A more musical sound tuning

The switch from AKM converters to ESS ES9039MS Pro changes the player’s sound signature. Where the R6 Pro II favored neutral and analytical reproduction, the R6 Pro Max adopts a warmer, more enveloping tonal balance. Bass gains texture and solidity, mids sound denser, and highs retain their detail without becoming aggressive. Some users describe a presentation reminiscent of tube amplifiers.

This tuning is particularly well suited to bright-leaning IEMs, whose frequency peaks the R6 Pro Max can soften. With more power-hungry headphones, the current reserve remains sufficient for most models, but the most demanding planar headphones will reach its limits. Above all, the R6 Pro Max remains optimized for in-ear monitors.

High-resolution formats and system bypass

The R6 Pro Max supports PCM files up to 768 kHz at 32 bits and native DSD up to DSD1024. MQA decoding is performed with 16x unfolding. Two femtosecond oscillators (45.158 MHz and 49.152 MHz) clock the conversion to limit jitter.

HiBy has integrated a global Android resampling bypass (SRC bypass). Streaming applications (Qobuz, Tidal, Apple Music, Spotify) send their stream directly to the converters without going through the Android mixer at 48 kHz. HiBy’s EQ and DSP processing can be applied across the entire system, regardless of the source application.

Android interface and software performance

The system runs on Android 12 with a Snapdragon 665 processor, 6 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of internal storage. A microSD slot accepts cards up to 2 TB. Compared with the R6 Pro II and its 4 GB of RAM, navigation is smoother during multitasking.

The HiBy Music Pro app comes preinstalled with its acoustic correction (MSEB), convolution, and online retrieval of album art and lyrics. Access to the Google Play Store allows installation of other players or streaming services. Remote control via the HiByCast app works over Wi-Fi.

The Snapdragon 665 is not recent, and Android 12 is starting to show its age compared with current mobile devices. In practice, responsiveness remains adequate for music use, but users accustomed to modern smartphones will notice slightly longer loading times in some applications.

A large screen in a thick format

The 5.9-inch 1080p touchscreen (2160 × 1080 pixels) covers almost the entire front face with thin bezels. The panel, protected by Gorilla Glass with an oleophobic coating, displays album covers with high pixel density for this product category. Double-tap detection lets you wake the screen without using the power button.

The format has bulked up compared with the R6 Pro II: 147.45 × 75.2 × 21.8 mm for 425 g, versus 285 g and 15 mm thick previously. One-handed use becomes difficult. The included leather case improves grip and protects the titanium-aluminum chassis, while leaving visible the decorative rear panel with its embossed wave patterns and its glass-covered carbon fiber section.

The controls are split across both sides: playback and navigation on the left, volume on the right. There is no physical volume wheel, but fine-step digital control compatible with sensitive IEMs. A side LED indicates the sampling rate of the current file.

Complete connectivity and versatile use

The lower section groups four dedicated outputs: 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm headphone, 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm line out. Each port keeps its function without requiring software switching. The USB-C port handles charging, data transfer, USB DAC function, and digital coaxial output (with the appropriate cable).

Bluetooth 5.0 works in both transmit and receive modes. When transmitting to wireless headphones or a speaker, LDAC, aptX, AAC, and SBC codecs are available. In receive mode, the R6 Pro Max can serve as a Bluetooth DAC/amp for a smartphone. The proprietary UAT codec (192 kHz, 1.2 Mbit/s) remains an option for HiBy-compatible accessories.

The Wi-Fi connection supports DLNA and AirPlay for streaming from other devices on the home network.

Battery life upgraded

The 8200 mAh battery is the main practical gain compared with the R6 Pro II and its 5000 mAh. HiBy claims up to 10 hours from the 3.5 mm output and 9 hours from the 4.4 mm balanced output. In real-world use with medium-sensitivity IEMs, high gain, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth disabled, battery life is around 9 to 10 hours.

PD 40 W fast charging makes it possible to recover a large part of the capacity in less than two hours. A software option limits charging to a defined percentage to preserve the battery over the long term (the player must remain switched on during charging to activate this function).

Technical specifications

Audio architecture

• Dual ESS Sabre ES9039MS Pro DAC in Octa-DAC configuration
  • 8-channel conversion (4 per converter)
• Analog amplification with 8 OPA1612 modules
• Audiophile components (ELNA capacitors)
• High-precision audio clocks: 45.158 MHz and 49.152 MHz
• Ultra-low distortion: THD+N of 0.003%

Supported audio formats

• PCM up to 32 bits / 768 kHz
• DSD up to DSD1024 (native)
• MQA 16x
• Bit-perfect playback (system resampling bypass)

Audio power and performance

• Balanced output (4.4 mm)
  • Power: 697 mW at 32 Ω
  • Signal-to-noise ratio: 126 dB
  • Channel separation: 109 dB
  • Frequency response: 20 Hz – 90 kHz
• Unbalanced output (3.5 mm)
  • Power: 179 mW at 32 Ω
  • Signal-to-noise ratio: 121 dB
  • Channel separation: 70 dB
  • Frequency response: 20 Hz – 90 kHz

Connectivity

• Two-way Bluetooth 5.0
  • Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC, UAT (192 kHz / 1.2 Mbit/s)
• Built-in Wi-Fi
  • DLNA / AirPlay
• USB DAC function

System and interface

• Operating system: Android 12 (open)
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
• RAM: 6 GB
• Internal storage: 128 GB
• Expansion via microSD up to 2 TB
• Access to streaming applications: Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal, Apple Music, etc.

Screen and ergonomics

• 14.99 cm (5.9-inch) Full HD (1080p) touchscreen
• HiBy interface with remote control app (HiByCast)

Power supply

• High-capacity battery: 8200 mAh
• Battery life
  • Up to 10 h (3.5 mm output)
  • Up to 9 h (4.4 mm output)
• Quad independent power supply (audio / DAC / processor / control)
• 40 W PD fast charging

Connections

• 1x 3.5 mm unbalanced headphone output
• 1x 4.4 mm balanced headphone output
• 1x 3.5 mm line output
• 1x 4.4 mm line output
• 1x USB-C

Design and dimensions

• Sturdy chassis with premium design
• Dimensions: 147.45 x 75.2 x 21.8 mm
• Weight: 425 g