Only few people responded to earlier question on using an external DAC.
If you have tried an external DAC or actually using one, please share your experience.
Also, Is anyone waiting for the HiFi Rose RD160?
Yes, I am awaiting for the RD160.
At present my RS130 is connected to an Anthem AVM90 via coax cable.
RS150b>>>Singxer SU-6>>>Gustard R26
Great Difference 
Greetings
When I went to the dealer for a listening session, I compared the Hifi Rose RS250A with Silent Angel Munich M1 with a Chord (Huei, I believe)
Both setup had great qualities but also differences.
Soon I want to test the Munich with the DAC from the Rose and compare it with the streamer from the Rose with the Chord DAC
For now, my goal is to ever go for a RS130 with a DAC. Now is the time to test certain brands and combinations.
I’m with a RS150, and I use my Soulution 330 INT with its DAC Board as an external DAC.
I did lately test an Aurender N20, to see if the Streaming has a bit more to offer, and next some external DAC (Mola Mola Tambaqui is one) will be tested - and then I’ll decide.
The DAC in my RS150 (not B) has a very good sound overall - most of the people could be happy with that. Compared to my Soulution, the RS150 is thinkening up the Bass a Bit and it could be a bit more precise in microdynamics and with the sound stage.
When going with an External DAC, I might consider also to switch to the RS130 and keep my RS150 for my second Setup.
Depending on the rest of your setup, a stand alone DAC can improve, but you need to hear it for yourself.
I bought the RS250 because I already have had an external dac for decades. I have modified a lot of DACs so I know what I like. And that is definitely an R2R dac.
The ESS9038 in the RS150b is implemented better than most but it is still a Sigma Delta dac. I did try the built in 9038 of the RS250 for a bit. It’s good enough. But not as natural and fluid as an R2R. Although the RS150 has an original AKM4499 that comes closer.
I recently upgraded to the Laiv Harmony DAC and that was a really big upgrade. It has that natural sound but combined with a very large soundstage where musicians appear from a black background, well defined and with timbre that is ‘right’. Never fatiguing, unless the recording is really bad (and the rest of your setup is not overly bright). It has a really engaging sound.
According to the data sheet, the RS150B and the
RS520 have the DAC, ESS Technology - Sabre ES9038PRO,
https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/1082/ES9038PRO_Datasheet_v3_7-3074335.pdf
The RS250…see picture⬇️
???
I have the Rose RS250. The internal dac is a ESS ES9038q2m to be precise. That is the same as the 9038pro, only with a smaller size and 2 channels instead of the 8 channel pro. This is a fine chip and most of the sound depends on the implementation.
The RS250A is the newer model with an older chip. Which is totally fine because… It all depends on the implementation.
The new RS160 will also be a sigma delta design.
So if you really want a different flavor, there is a choice of discrete ladder dac designs by Holo, Denafrips, Gustard, Musician and my choice; Laiv Audio. All reviews have been highly favorable, and so are the user experiences.
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I still haven’t heard the 150b model - I’m still with my RS150 - and I use most of the time my external DAC, which is integrated in my Soulution 330. The sound is more refined and natural compared to the RS150 - but I will soon give some higher priced DAC a test session, to find out, how much I can gain compared to the much higher price. A friend just opened his own Hifi shop, so he will bring me some test equipment.
I have phantastic results using my Rs150b together with a Denafrips Terminator 12th via I2s. Sounds much better than the internal DAC of the Rose
Aside from Giubio who is using a Coax Cable, are all of you using USB to connect to your respective external DACs? Curious to know as I have had issues using the USB out as compared to Coax… wondering if any of you may have suggestions…I hear random micro pops when using USB… I’ve tried a variety of different settings (changing the sampling rate, PCM and DSD delay times, etc.) and even changing USB cables but to no avail… Thanks in advance if anyone can share any feedback or suggestions.
It must come from the Dac because I used an Accuphase Dac at the exit of the Rs150b without any worries with a basic Usb cable
if there are strange sounds with USB, change to a better USB cable- a friend once made me one, but this was only working on a PC, with a DAC I had issues.
I bought a Cardas USB Cable - and it sounds better than my other XLR Digital from Mogami. I never tested COAX because of the limitations. Neither I did with I2S because my current DAC does not support it.
Thanks for your reply Gillesbonatti… what is strange is when I used S/PDIF (Coax), the problem disappeared. So it doesn’t seem like it’s the DAC.
Appreciate the reply aswiss… I’ve tried it with 2 decent USB cables… one being a brand new Transparent cable. The random and subtle micro-pops were present on both occasions. Yet as I mentioned above, when going to digital Coax, it went away.
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It may be the USB connection of the Dac that is faulty
You should be able to try another dac, it’s the simplest
I guess that is always possible… I will try another DAC at some point to try and isolate the potential problem (on whether it is the USB connection from the Rose or that of the external DAC)… Again, Thanks for your input!
Well, got to finally try another external DAC and I can report that it worked flawlessly… No random micro-pops using a Transparent USB cable. So at least this determines the issues are not from the Rose 150B… and could be from my previous external DAC.
Will keep playing around with the settings available to me because again, when using S/PDIF (digital Coax), there are no issues… It isn’t the Transparent cable either as it proved to work perfectly with the alternate DAC… 
Do you need a PreAmp connected to the Denafrips analog output or can you use the 150b volume control?