Upper-mid segment Android players comparison: summer 2021

[@PortaFi]

I don't know why, but KZbin randomly erases my comments. It lasts for a few weeks already, and it's really annoying. I'm trying to answer all questions I receive, but unfortunately, they are often getting erased. So, I apologize for cases when someone won't receive my answer. Honestly, I've tried to answer, sometimes more than one time P.S. Just in case, I have an English-speaking chat in Telegram: t.me/PortaFi_Chat_En You can always find me here and ask anything

[@CLaudiusClemensJimmy]

love it, although it just a quick summary for all 3 of them but u highlight them all with your style. great review as always pavlo!

[@PortaFi]

thank you!

[@Andyhandle]

Thanks for the comparison. My reservation with using android is tahr some manufacturers don't do updates which is ok until apps stop being supported. I only found your channel recently and I'm going back over your reviews.

[@PortaFi]

I don't think it can be a big issue. Almost all modern DAPs support at least Android 9, and it's really unlikely that apps creators will drop it soon

[@Andyhandle]

@@PortaFi that's true but my Sony dap is still on android 4.2 and it won't work with things like audible. I hope for my dap to last several years and I'm not sure all android app makers support more than 3 or 4 versions of android.

[@PortaFi]

@@Andyhandle well, so far even Android 7 is pretty well supported. At least by streaming services and player apps :)

[@Andyhandle]

@@PortaFi thanks for the reply. And I'm enjoying your reviews. I only found them recently.

[@svilleda237]

I Love my R6 2020 ❤️💯

[@eddiecotter7201]

Great video!Would the sennheiser 660sd sound ok with the fiio m11 plus in your opinion please?

[@PortaFi]

unfortunately I didn't test Sennheiser 660, but I think that it will sound good, as you know, it's good player, with a plenty of power, so it should be OK but it's not 100% )))

[@robertinoau]

Firstly let me say I really enjoy our reviews. Keep up the great work. A few questions please. Is it possible to install Apple Music on the R6 ? Here in Australia the R6 and M11 are very close in price at $1100 each. The iBasso DX300 on the other hand is $1700. Since you have reviewed the iBasso in one of your other videos I wanted to ask you if you believe the extra $600 is really worth it. Thank you in advance

[@PortaFi]

Hello, thank you! Unfortunately, I didn't test Apple Music on HiBy R6 2020. Based on feedback, it should be working, but I'm not 100% confident here. I suggest you to ask on Head-Fi in the owner's thread to get exact answer As for iBasso… I'd probably paid for DX300, but not only because of sound, but also because of a big screen and replaceable amps

[@robertinoau]

@@PortaFi Thank you for your reply. Is the DX300 sound really that much of an improvement over the R6 and the M11 ? Thanks in advance

[@PortaFi]

as I've said above - FOR ME yes, but it's a subjective question and I'm biased here :)

[@hemanthsonu4]

Thanks for great review. Can we install Apple Music from playstore in HIBY R6 2020 DAP?

[@PortaFi]

sorry, I didn't test that

[@jorgeluisfernandez2560]

Between those review daps and A&K kann alpha which is better in terms of sound quality? To use with tidal offline? Thanks a lot

[@PortaFi]

all this players are good, so the choice here is first of all a matter of your tastes, what signature you like

[@popc10h15n]

I am a beginner who has recently become crazy about Japanese DAPs and earphones. When I bought the Walkman 50, DX160, M3X, and auditioned the M15 and KANN-ALPHA at the shop, I wanted them to fall in love at first sight. At that time, the m11plus ltd was announced, but it was released in Japan for 4 months. I was late, I tried several times to buy it on an overseas site, but I was in trouble because it sold out immediately or was sold for 300 $ higher. At this time, the new M6 and HiBy R6, which were explained in this video in an easy-to-understand manner, will be on sale, and will they be released in Japan? I gave up the unclear m11 plus ltd and M6. If I had decided to buy the R6 and M15, an acquaintance emailed me the schedule for the trial release of the m11plus ltd, and I'm probably the first to order it in Japan and enjoy it. But M6 and R6 are also very interested and are likely to go bankrupt. We are waiting for 3 additional reviews.

[@PortaFi]

Unfortunately, I don't know the plans of HiBy and Shanling about releases in Japan :( Probably it's better to ask their support directly

[@rangerxrin]

I'm thinking which of those players I should buy. If my sound preference is neutral/detailed to analytic would you recomment HiBy R6 2020, Shanling M6 Pro 2021 or FiiO M11 Plus LTD?

[@PortaFi]

as I've said in this video, R6 2020 is the most analytical of all three, then goes M11 Plus

[@laiwoh5001]

@@PortaFi I prefer FiiO because good battery life

[@PortaFi]

@@laiwoh5001 yes, it's an important choice criteria for many

[@MrPatosexyhot]

How would you compare the M11 LTD against the Hiby R6III? Which would you choose?

[@PortaFi]

R6III is more monitoring and focused on microcontrast, while FiiO is less doing that, and boosts dynamics more. I'd select HiBy because it's on the newer chipset or went for FiiO's M11S

[@MrPatosexyhot]

​@@PortaFi thanks for your answer. Greetings from Mexico!

[@Mr76Gus]

GREAT. M6 pro 21 with Mest Mk2 could be a good set? I have qudelix 5k, fiio M6 and Shanling q1. I m going to buy Mest mk2 and or Solaris Og or a better player. What do you think the best option Is? Stay with this player configuration and go for Solaris og and mest Mk2 or Mest mk2 and Shanlig M6 pro 21 ( for example)?

[@PortaFi]

yes, why not in general? but it's a matter of your taste after all, what you want to achieve in terms of sound and representation there is no "best" option for others, only the one for you

[@Mr76Gus]

@@PortaFi finaly the player Will be ibasso dx240. Waiting for black friday sales. Iems Mest mk2 and Solaris perhaps.

[@PortaFi]

@@Mr76Gus good luck with purchase! DX240 looks really promising :)

[@greenneon9606]

what recommendations do you make for a portable player that offers a warm sound , emotional sound, soundstage, to feel the music as having a body

[@PortaFi]

Shanling M6 Pro 2021, not warm in general, but warmer than other two Cayin's N3 Pro/N6ii

[@greenneon9606]

@@PortaFi thanks!

[@skyhawk3090]

Hi, Paul if you had to choose. Which one would you take HiBy R6 or the new Fiio M11 Plus?

[@PortaFi]

FiiO, because I used to their UI and UX

[@skyhawk3090]

@@PortaFi Thanks. Have a nice week.

[@PortaFi]

@@skyhawk3090 you too!

[@phanindramvr2215]

@@PortaFi If based on just SQ alone? Then what would be your choice between the two?

[@PortaFi]

@@phanindramvr2215 both have equal sound quality for me, with slightly different representation. That's why my choice here is based on UX

[@juicypig4912]

Hi! Just wondering how would the m11plus compare to the pioneer XDP 300-r? Thanks!

[@PortaFi]

Hello, unfortunately I didn't test this Pioneer

[@juicypig4912]

@@PortaFi all good! Thanks

[@Zen.bassoon]

Hello, I would like to ask out of these 3, which one you would recommend at this moment?

[@PortaFi]

it's totally a matter of your preferences, all 3 are good and have some advantages and drawbacks. I like FiiO's UX, so I'd probably selected their solution, but it's totally a matter of preferences

[@Zen.bassoon]

@@PortaFi Thank you so much for your reply. What I always want to hear is the detail especially in orchestra music. And now I'm considering Hiby R6 2020 and Fiio M11 Plus ESS.

[@PortaFi]

@@Zen.bassoon R6 is the most neutral and monitoring. So if you like a maximum analytical representation, go for it. But M11 Pro ESS isn't really far in terms of sound, so here you can even select based on design you like more :) There is no "bad" option among them

[@Zen.bassoon]

@@PortaFi Yeah, I actually heard about R6 in the video already. Thank you again for your input.

[@TheCorstenn]

I'm considering these 3 daps. Actually i have dx160. Differences between them are worth to change ibasso? 🤔🤔🤔

[@PortaFi]

depends on your requirements, but in general - they are noticeably better

[@TheCorstenn]

@@PortaFi Which one is similar sound upgrade to dx 160?

[@PortaFi]

@@TheCorstenn probably, most logical choice is iBasso DX240, and of these three, new M11 Plus ESS edition

[@fermild3954]

Can you summarize, what are best DAP under $300?

[@PortaFi]

no, I can't. as "best" is subjective, and depends on personal tastes and requirements

[@kmwong1786]

Can you do one with modular DAPs?

[@PortaFi]

which ones? I know only Cayin and iBasso (and A&K, but I didn't test it)

[@hgpardo]

Has the HiBy R6 2020 more analytical sound profile than the FiiO M11 Plus? Which has better bass and sub bass representation of both players? I am deciding between these two players. Thanks

[@PortaFi]

difference between this players aren't big, and R6 2020 is a bit more analytical, yes. in terms of lows - there is no "winner" here subjectively, I think you can safely chose based on specs and features

[@anuragsaha145]

Which one has the most dynamic punch fast sound?

[@PortaFi]

they all are really dynamic, but if you need a sound with boosted dynamics, then it's shanling

[@ezvkm77]

Would have been nice to see the screens

[@PortaFi]

I showed them in a detailed review. But nowadays good DAPs usually have a more than decent screens, viva la progress! :)

[@Mattocurtis2]

How abut M6 21 (non pro)?

[@PortaFi]

Unfortunately I didn't test it, and most probably I won't

[@SvenCurly]

If FiiO then WITHOUT FiiO app!

[@PortaFi]

I'm using M11 as my on the go player exactly because I like FiiO Music :)

[@deadline7610]

Nicely Done. One thing that stood out when talking about he R6 was a system wide bypass resampling. Hopefully that works with streaming services as well ? Do you remember if the R5 has the same system wide bypass ? Thanks

[@svilleda237]

In Hiby website apparently they say that it does 👀

[@PortaFi]

yes, HiBy use same codebase, so all their Android DAPs usually have totally same set of features