Hifi Rose RS150B

Network Audio Streamer

"I have never heard streaming quality like this before and thoroughly enjoyed exploring new music with the HiFi Rose. If you are in the market for a streaming DAC with or without preamp capabilities, I strongly recommend that you audition the HiFi Rose RS150B." - TAS

"To my mind, spreading a high definition touch screen across the front of the RS150b may just provide the ease of access for people who are not comfortable with computers, smart phones, and apps. Especially crappy apps that were par for the course back in the bad old days of DLNA. To put it another way, I find the RS150b inviting and fun, yea fun, to explore. And if you miss seeing album cover art, HiFi Rose has got you covered." - Michael Lavorgna, Twittering Machines

The RS150b is for you if:

• You enjoy a large touch screen display
• You don't love using your phone or tablet as a remote
• You want user friendly, simple operation
• You want to play/rip CD's  from a USB attached CD drive
• You want a built-in DAC
• You would like video output

Reviews

• The Absolute Sound
• Twittering Machines

HiFi Rose

HiFi Rose is a South Korean IT company whose expertise has been touch panel displays and user interfaces. This is their first foray into music streaming. Their product offerings in this arena stand out because of their advanced displays and user friendly operation.

14.9" Wide Touch Screen

The large display provides for configuration and control, and also facilitates video playback. The operating system (based on Android 7.0 Nougat) serves as access not only to Tidal, Qobuz and networked and stored music (DSD256, 32-bit/384kHz and MQA files are all supported) but also applications such as their own in-house developed "RoseTube". A YouTube spin-off using Google’s Youtube programming interface, that provides recommended content based on user selections in addition to the usual search function. Similarly, you’ll also find RoseFM (which offers around 800 channels from several countries) and Rose Podcast (whose channels are provided by iTunes).

One can access several options through the touch screen.

• PCM Resampling
• DSD Mode
• The ability to increase the output gain for DSD files to match PCM levels
• Different I²S pinout configurations to match your DAC’s input
• Seven digital output filter options
• Output level adjustment
• And much more

Take a long look at the RS150b User Manual for a nearly complete rundown of features and functions.

Linear Power Supply, ESS Sabre DAC, Femto Clock

All of the above mentioned items are essential for a great digital experience, and the RS150 has them. The linear power supply is quiet (121dB S/N) allowing music to emerge from a dark background. Digital to analog conversion is handled by an ESS SABRE ES9038PRO chip that’s fed data form a highly precise Femto clock. The RS150b can handle PCM data rates up to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD256, while also offering full MQA decoding.

"There was plenty of resolution without things sounding artificially lit, a nicely developed timbral richness, and a fairly big and stable sound image." - Michael Lavorgna, Twittering Machines

RS150 Overview

• High-performance network audio and 4K video streamer
• CNC milled aluminum chassis
• 14.9-inch-wide touchscreen LCD display
• Control with touchscreen, Rose Connect app for Apple® and Android™ devices, or included Bluetooth remote
• hexa-core CPU:
• dual-core Cortex-A72 CPU up to 1.8 GHz
• quad-core Cortex-A53 up to 1.4 GHz
• ESS SABRE ES9038PRO DAC
• maximum resolution: 32-bit/768 KHz
• supports Apple AirPlay, DLNA, Roon, and MQA (full decoder)
• supports Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz, RoseTube (YouTube), internet radio stations, and RosePodcast,
• supported audio formats include MQA, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, WMA, MP3, OGG, M4A and more
• PCM decoding up to 32-bit/768kHz
• native DSD decoding up to DSD512 (22.4MHz)
• supported video formats include ASF, AVI, MKV, MP4, WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and more up to 4K resolution

Connections

• Ethernet port for connection to your home network
• USB input for Wi-Fi /Bluetooth®
• Wi-Fi dongle included
• USB-C port for updates
• HDMI video output with up to 4K resolution

Inputs/Outputs

• Toslink optical
• coaxial
• AES/EBU digital XLR
  
  
• analog input
• stereo RCA unbalanced line in
  
  
• digital outputs
• optical
• coaxial
• I2S-DVI
• I2S-RJ45
• AES/EBU digital XLR
  
  
• Analog Outputs
• stereo XLR balanced preamp out
• stereo RCA unbalanced preamp out

Storage Interface

• Two USB 3.0 connections
• Micro SD card slot
• Enclosed bay for optional 7mm SSD (solid-state drive) up to 4TB

Specifications

• Total Harmonic Distortion
• 0.0002% (balanced,1KHz 6.5Vrms)
• 0.0003% (unbalanced,1KHz 2.2Vrms)
• Signal to Noise Ratio
• 121 dB (balanced)
• 118 dB (unbalanced)
• Weight and Dims
• 16-15/16"W x 4-7/8"H x 12-1/2"D
• 28.66 lbs.