HIFI ROSE RS151 Is broken as Hell In spotify playback and even Tidal

Function TIDAL / QOBUZ / SPOTIFY
#1

So i am new to Rose family and no doubt it sounds awesome and even looks great
but it lacks feature which even my Old CCNv2 had and 5 times less price.

1st Spotify lossless is missing even i can live with that but then
there are no navigation buttons on display when playing with spotify

2nd Tidal? i dont know what they were thinking Tidal works fine showing all the navigation button but to play tidal you have to use Hifi Rose app then only it will work? why i cant use my mobile tidal app or windows or mac tidal device to play and i am not used to hifi rose app and its not straight forward either

3rd The Display font is broken the small text font are not even alligned properly i asked and got to know its Rose firmware issue… i mean great what more you expect from a device at this pricepoint

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#2

You’ve posted this all over the internet. Every time I see it, my first thought is “don’t you research the features and feedback before spending $5K on a unit”?

1 Like
#3

This.
Buys house by an airport, complains airport is noisy…

1 Like
#4

Spotify is Spotify connect, so there is no associated app on the device.
So Spotify is controlled by the other device where the spotify app is located.

#5

Dear HiFi Rose customers,

Thank you for your continued support and for using HiFi Rose products.

For years, HiFi Rose has participated directly in the Spotify Developer Program and utilized the official Android NDK–based SDK to independently develop and maintain Spotify Connect, ensuring the highest possible sound quality.
Unlike many other brands that rely on third-party solutions, this approach allowed us to deliver HiFi Rose’s unique audio processing technologies and an enhanced user experience.

However, with the recent launch of Spotify’s new HD service, Spotify has officially announced that the Android NDK–based Spotify Connect SDK is no longer available and that the new HD service cannot be supported through this method.
In other words, Spotify now requires manufacturers—including HiFi Rose—to support Spotify Connect (including HD) only through designated third-party system integrators.

Currently, no third-party provider exists that offers the updated Spotify Connect SDK for Android NDK devices.
This situation also applies to Tidal Connect, which follows a similar policy structure.

Due to these changes, it is unfortunately not possible to support Spotify Connect HD through a simple software update at this time. We kindly ask for your understanding.

Alternative Solution in Development

HiFi Rose places the highest priority on customer experience, and we are actively preparing the following solution:

  1. Development of an External Connect Module

• We are developing an external module designed to provide stable support for Spotify Connect HD and Tidal Connect.
• This module will connect to existing HiFi Rose devices and is planned to support both Spotify Connect HD and Tidal Connect.
• The product will be offered at a reasonable price while incorporating high-quality circuit design that meets HiFi Rose’s audio standards.

  1. Release Schedule

• Detailed specifications and features will be announced soon through our official channels.
• The external module is planned for release early next year.

HiFi Rose remains committed to delivering the highest quality streaming experience.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by recent changes in the service environment and will continue doing our best to provide better technology and products.

Thank you.

#6

When you mention a reasonable cost that statement could be misleading. Let’s take for example the Eversolo T8 is reasonably priced when compared to the RS130 and offers Spotify and Tidal connect out of the box. So reasonable cost for HIFI Rose to compete / survive is $0 cost / complimentary customer goodwill gesture for existing customers.

Just sayin.

6 Likes
#7

@duffer5

Thank you for sharing your thoughts — we appreciate your perspective.

#8

Your next streaming devices to the market (RS131, RS152, etc) should not require an external device for these functions. If they do, it shows that the company is not serious.

2 Likes
#9

Oh sorry? are you offended?
its not all over the internet just here in this forum and on facebook and if that counts to all internet to you then great

i posted to get the idea if i am doing anything wrong or if its there any settings i am missing

Imagine someone coming at my home
even my house member in every and they cant play songs with there tidal app why?
because they have to install rose app to play songs from tiday great idea isnt it?

#10

but atleast there has to be option for tidal connect dont you think?
i cant ask everyone to install rose app to play songs from tidal think on it? out of all the devices i bought none has this problem/or so called feature

#11

Dear HiFi Rose userrs

We have been working to support Spotify Lossless and Tidal Connect, and we are still reviewing possible methods to implement them.

However, it has been a long time since we first stated that support would be added, and progress has taken longer than expected.
While searching for alternative solutions, we concluded that developing a module capable of supporting multiple services — including Spotify Lossless and Tidal Connect — would be a faster and more efficient approach.
This is now under development.

The External Connect Module is currently expected to be released around April next year.

#12

Bluesound, WiiM and Eversolo offer Tidal connect at no additional cost and their streamers are less expensive.
I’ve been patiently waiting for Tidal Connect and now I’ll have to spend more money to get it. Not exactly what I was expecting. Maybe I’ll just drop Tidal and move to Qobuz.
How soon before you can give us an idea of the actual price of this module?

#13

They mentioned
Next year August I think and I am expecting year end so
Just keep waiting
Just keep waiting

#14

But of course, why get these features for free via a firmware update when we can pay for them by buying another device. And since you said it the new device is in the development process, a recommendation from me is to connect and power it simultaneously from the USB port of the Hifi Rose device.

#15

Rosehan,

What you say is technically correct but it’s not the entire story.
Other vendors that don’t rely on that deprecated Android NDK SDK (i.e., custom Linux builds, proprietary Connect support, or third-party integrators) can support lossless via software. Examples:
Sonos — updates over their S2 OS to support lossless Connect.
WiiM devices — reported to already have firmware supporting lossless Connect.
Other OEMs — Sony, Bose, Samsung, etc. appear in Spotify’s lossless compatible device lists.
So the pattern is:
Android Application based streamers that depend on the old Android NDK Spotify Connect are stuck right now.
Devices that integrate Spotify Connect via newer SDKs or proprietary connect stacks are getting lossless support via firmware. HiFi Rose Is Not Alone — But Not Entirely Correct.
Rose is correct about the Android NDK SDK situation.
But the broader claim that no other manufacturer using Android SDK can get lossless without extra hardware is only partially right:
If a device like Rose is pure Android + old NDK Spotify Connect, it’s out of luck until Spotify/third parties provide a supported SDK.
If a device uses a different Connect implementation (proprietary, third-party, Linux based, or the Spotify approved Connect SDK), they get lossless in many cases via software.

So what Rose is really pointing to is: Their specific implementation path is too old — that’s why Rose needs external hardware.
Bottom-Line:

  1. Rose cannot add Spotify Lossless with a firmware patch because Spotify pulled support for the Android NDK Connect SDK.
  2. It’s not a physical hardware limitation — it’s an SDK integration requirement.
  3. Some manufacturers already support Spotify Lossless via software (Sonos, WiiM, Bose, Sony, Samsung).
  4. The difference is how they integrated Spotify Connect — Rose’s Android NDK path is antiquated, others didn’t rely on that path.
  5. If Spotify or a third-party makes an updated Android Connect SDK available that works with Rose’s platform, the software path would exist again — but that doesn’t exist right now.

Another issue is also true. Rose has known for a very long time that its version of the SDK would not function but said that they were working on it. They knew that the lossless connections would not be implemented for their existing user base. I wish that they had been more straightforward about that much sooner.

Hi Fi Rose “backed the wrong horse”. It is true that Spotify moved the goalpost and Rose got caught. This is really a consequence of using an SDK that Spotify considers to be obsolete.

StandardModel

6 Likes
#16

In my opinion, even though I don’t use Spotify, for Rose to emerge from this stalemate with their heads held high, they need to introduce a device that would enable this, both for Spotify and the Tidal connection, which I wouldn’t use either. But as I mentioned, since others are providing it and nothing has worked for Rose before, to make this problem insurmountable, these adapters should be sold for mere pennies for those who already own Rose devices, so that those who have already purchased them don’t feel ripped off by the manufacturer. However, new Rose users should already have this knowledge and should buy such an adapter at the price it will be launched for next year.

#17

So here’s the catch then.
To fix… they need to upgrade to a newer release of Android across their entire platform.
Big expense along w some risk.

They could do it, or based on their comments about their newer product release coming in 2026… this may take longer for existing products.

#18

Smegel,

Rose has long maintained that it didn’t matter that they used an old version of Android.
They did, however switch to the current version in new devices they have released.
Maybe it does matter after all.

StandardModel

#19

Nope. You are talking nonsense, as usual. They might need to spend money on licensing or development though, and the business probably does not support that.

1 Like
#20

Whatever the reason, it sounds like a broken promise from the manufacturer. You supposedly have a device you can upgrade, but in reality, it’s a hodgepodge of old technology, and the manufacturer no longer cares about keeping the product alive. To me, it’s a sign that the device needs to be sold, because you never know when it will simply stop working completely. It’s a shame, because the device sounds great, but it’s not what I expected from a modern solution :frowning:

1 Like