Experience with the RS451 as Heaphone amp

ROSE Products RS451
#1

There are really not a lot postings in the RS451 area and so while waiting (will delivered to me in 1-2 days) for the RS451, I want to ask about the experience with this streamer
I’m a bit a headphone junky and use some Stax (X9000, 009, 007 MK1, 404,…), but also dynamic and magnostatic cans, like the HE1000 Unveiled, HD800, Meze Lirics 2, Audeze LCD2, LCD-XC,…
Mostly Roon is my source and here I’m using for some headphones muse.
So, what’s your hearing with the RS451 together with your favorite headphones?

By the way: In my first system I’ve as headphone amps also a Cayin HA-3A, a Holo Audio Bliss and the AudioValve Luminare (for Stax and dynamic cans).

#2

Burki,

The reason you don’t see a lot of talk about the RS451 is that there are not a lot of them out in the wild. Its a newly released product (at least here in the states) and there is only a handful of reviews… Grammarphone ?sp? is one that I can recall.

#3

I know, that the RS451 isn’t available everywhere, but the first and second charge was send here to Europe and so there should be some owner.

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I’ve tried my new device yesterday a bit.
As output I’m using for speakers:

  • RS451 USB out → Matrix Audio SPDIF-3 I2S our → Holo Audio May → Primare PRE35 Prisma
  • RS451 XLR out → Primare PRE35 Prisma
    For the cans, I’ve surely to use the internal DAC and headphone amp.
    I’d a bit the fear, that you’ve switch manually between speaker and headphone out, but the switch (connecting, disconnecting a headphone) works automatically (include the volume control) → very fine :grinning:
    At first I heard only with the Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled. This headphone doesn’t needs a lot of power and so you’ve set the volume to a low level.
    What I’m missing here, is a gain setting (or I’ve not found it?).
    The Hifiman sounds very controlled with the RS451. Compared to the Holo Audio Bliss it’s perhaps missing a bit the magic in the mids, but it was only a first try…
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