I have been thinking about upgrading something in my audio gear for a while. I have thought a lot about what would be most practical. I have thought about getting new headphones (I already have a pair I am set on under $300, so that is not a big deal), but nothing really interests me. Considering that I travel a lot, and I am generally not at my desk for very long, a desktop amp or DAC is probably not the best idea currently. With all this in mind, it seems to me that the most practical upgrade then is a DAP.
Considering the options for DAPs that are around $1k or less, which have good android UI (I do use a lot of streaming services), the RS6 appears to be a good choice. It looks like it has pretty much everything I would ever want from a DAP. My only concern is the battery life. I don’t mind carrying around a portable charger for it, but if anyone has any experience with its battery life in general, I would love to hear what their experience was with it.
Hoping I can save up over the next few months to buy this! It would be quite an enhancement to my whole setup.
It isn’t an all day battery, but with reasonable listening levels it should be good for 5-5.5 hours. That’s about what I can get from mine. Only real complaint I have with it is the outputs are on the bottom. When I’m using it, it’s almost always in my pocket, and I would really prefer the headphone outs on top with the volume wheel.
That seems pretty short compared to what I am used to, but it probably won’t be a big deal I guess.
Wait really? Dang, that kinda sucks! That’s probably how I would be using it too. Do you know if there’s a way to flip or rotate the screen so that it adjusts for that? Is the volume knob sensitive or finicky at all in the position it sits in your pocket?
I haven’t had any issues with the volume suddenly changing on me when it’s in my pocket. But I also keep it in the included case, so that might help with that.
For any RS8 users out there, here’s a link to a new (work in progress) user manual:
Post in thread ‘HiBy RS8 flagship Darwin R2R Android DAP – Class A – news and impressions thread’ HiBy RS8 flagship Darwin R2R Android DAP -- Class A -- news and impressions thread | Page 165 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
Also, an alternate set of internal filters are available, including 3 NOS options (Zero Pad Only, Zero Order Hold, 1st Order Hold):
Post in thread ‘HiBy RS8 flagship Darwin R2R Android DAP – Class A – news and impressions thread’ HiBy RS8 flagship Darwin R2R Android DAP -- Class A -- news and impressions thread | Page 165 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
For anyone interested, the default NOS is Zero Order Hold with some high frequency roll-off (3dB down at 20kHz). The replacement NOS filter doesn’t have this roll off.
My 4th of July HiFi weekend project is going to be experimenting with PGGB up-sampling software and comparing that to the internal oversampling filters in the RS8.
The RS8 DAC supports up to 32x PCM and is linear to ~20bits. So I think the experiment will be to compare upsampled files at 20bit and 24bit as well as 768kHz and 1536kHz. And then compare to the internal oversampling filters (which run 24bit, 768kHz), fed by the original 44.1/48kHz files.
With the various NOS options that the RS8 has I should be able to play the up-sampled files pretty much directly to the R2R DAC. Other than completely consuming my SD card storage, it should be an interesting comparison…
Well… I think my RS8 is dead…
It started with some light popping sounds on bit rate changes, which then became loud popping, and now has a click/pop/whoomph sound on play/pause and bitrate changes.
Since the RS8 has screws on the back I decided to open it up:
Looks like a combination of a hand modification and a burned component. 
To me this screams of a factory hand modification made to the first run of boards, and in the process of the modification they damaged the device next to it. And that device has now failed.
I’m taking to the Hiby rep to see what Hiby will do for me. I don’t have a warranty since I’m not the original owner. But at the same time it’s clearly a defect.
That’s a pretty interesting look inside, hopefully you can get a repair regardless
When my hiby had a battery issue i spoke to the original seller who gave me the info for the shop he bought it from. I think it was Musictek in NJ. I called the shop and let him know i was the second owner but the unit was darn new and he made and exchange for me. It was either that or return it and wait an unknown amount of time for a factory refurb.
It may not have a warranty but if its new enough they may be willing to help
If you cant get help then maybe hit up NPAudio. The owner Steve is in the UK but is a dap super nerd. He modded my Cowon and I love it.
@elementze actually do you mind if i post pics on the NPaudio forums? I wonder the insight they will have on this.
No problem. Feel free to share it. Hiby has been very good to work with. I shipped the unit to them and they are honoring the original warranty to repair it.
His response…
Funnily enough I just repaired an RS8 today. Lifted pads and tracks on the 3.5mm.
I noticed the hand soldered Hiby board mod at the circled area on this one too, although it’s all back together now and I can’t fully make out the markings on the picture I took.
The board needs to come out with the screen and then separate the screen and board to get underneath to take an Elna cap off to access behind the 3.5mm properly 
Actually comparing the pics to the one I have here, this one has MLCC caps in place of your friends Panasonic Tantalum Polymer Poscaps 
Regarding Musictek: My experience with them has only been as a buyer. I must say their service is excellent and I encourage anyone this side of the pond to consider purchasing from them. We’ve got to support the great vendors out there.
I agree, very standup when they could have done nothing.
Finally an update on my RS8 repairs. The repairs are complete and it is shipping back to me. Should have it in hand early next week. 
They’ve not told me yet what the issue was. But it’ll at least be interesting to open it up and A/B pictures of the board.
That was a quick turn around. Ill be interested in what is changed when it gets back.
DAP received back from Hiby, they shipped it very quickly. Basic first listening test, and it’s definitely fixed. And seems to sound as good as before. So far A+ for Hiby repairs.
I’ll get out the screwdriver and look inside tomorrow. I’m curious what they did…
Internal pics after fix:
Definitely not exactly the same as the original. Not sure if it’s just a component supplier/ version difference (same function, different package) or a circuit change (change of component type). So far it sounds pretty good. I’m letting it run a few days too “burn in” with the new components before I try to judge sound quality.
But it does look like clean work done by the technician.
Edit: just realized these components match the picture from NPaudio. So maybe just an updated design.
Is it possible it was even just a board swap?
I looked at serial numbers on parts and they seem to match. So I don’t think it’s a swap. You can also see the flux residue from where the technician de-soldered and re-soldered it.