Long-term streamer risk: Spotify HiFi/High-Res, TIDAL Connect, SDK churn — what’s the plan (and what if the company disappears)?

#1

Hifi Rose Community Forum members and Hifi Rose @moderators;

Posting this for the broader community (and obviously HiFi Rose if they’re watching).

A streamer’s value isn’t just hardware—it’s ongoing compatibility with third-party streaming services whose SDKs/APIs/auth/certification requirements change constantly. That’s where my concern is: feature parity today is one thing, but assurance of continued functionality is the real issue.

1) Features we can’t seem to get (or keep current)

At a minimum, a lot of owners want clear answers around things like:

  • Spotify HiFi / High-Res (if/when it becomes widely available)
  • TIDAL Connect feature parity / stability
  • Ongoing updates for other services as requirements evolve

Whether you personally care about Spotify/TIDAL specifically, the bigger point is: if HiFi Rose struggles to add/maintain major integrations, what does that mean for the long-term health of the platform?

2) SDK/API churn is relentless

Streaming services routinely change:

  • authentication/login flows
  • certification requirements (device approvals, security updates)
  • API endpoints and deprecations
  • DRM/security pipelines
  • “Connect” protocol behaviors
  • metadata / playback pipelines
  • minimum OS/firmware expectations

That’s not hypothetical—it’s normal. And when these changes happen, devices either get timely updates or they degrade quietly (logins break, playback becomes flaky, features disappear, etc.).

So the direct question is:

What assurance do we have that expensive devices like the RS130 will keep working reliably as the streaming services evolve?

3) What protections do owners have?

This is where I’d like clarity from HiFi Rose (and insight from other owners):

  • Is there a published support window for products like RS130 (e.g., “X years of service compatibility updates”)?
  • Do they have formal relationships/certification paths with the major services?
  • If a streaming service breaks compatibility, what is the expected time-to-fix?
  • Is there any owner protection if a key integration becomes unusable due to third-party changes (even if hardware is fine)?
  • Are updates “best effort,” or is there an actual commitment commensurate with premium pricing?

Right now, it feels like owners assume all of the platform risk.

4) The uncomfortable but real question: what if HiFi Rose goes out of business?

Not trying to be alarmist—this is a reasonable due-diligence question for any streamer ecosystem.

If the company ever disappeared or support essentially stopped, what happens to devices like RS130?

  • Do they remain fully functional as a local network bridge / endpoint?
  • Are any core functions dependent on Rose cloud services, app backends, or activation systems?
  • If app development stops, does the RS130 still operate cleanly via standard protocols (Roon, UPnP/DLNA, AirPlay, etc.)?
  • Is there a “local mode” or fallback path that keeps the device useful for years?
  • Is there any plan for documentation/APIs that would let the community keep devices usable if official support ends?

We’ve seen situations in high-end audio where a platform becomes fragile when the vendor is no longer actively maintaining it. In that scenario, owners can be left holding expensive hardware that’s functionally “frozen in time” while services move on.

Questions for the community

  • Have you experienced streaming features breaking over time on RS130 or other streamers due to service changes?
  • Do you now treat streamers as 3–5 year devices regardless of hardware quality because of software risk?
  • What do you think is a reasonable support commitment for a premium streamer?

Questions for HiFi Rose (if you’re reading)

  • What is your long-term support commitment for RS130 given third-party SDK/API churn?
  • What’s your stance on Spotify HiFi/High-Res and TIDAL Connect parity (and what’s realistically feasible)?
  • What protections do owners have when streaming services change requirements?
  • What happens to these devices if company support or cloud/app services ever stop?

I’m not trying to pile on—just asking for clarity. Premium pricing implies premium longevity. Streaming services are a moving target, and owners deserve a candid explanation of how that risk is being managed.

8 Likes
#2

I use my RS150 voor Roon streaming. Roon looks stable over the years, unlike other streamingservices mentioned here. So i am without fear audio atomic age…

So no worries for me, but when you dare into unstable terrein you better be prepared for disaster :wink:

1 Like
#3

No, I don’t. Because I refuse to rely on streaming services to supply my content. I have a hard drive with 1000+ artists, which is my primary, and nearly sole, source for media.

Reliance upon any software - at all - for your media content is asking to be disappointed at some point.

Signed,
Former Zune User
(Yes, I am serious.)

#4

By definition of a standard protocol, it will keep working with those. Roon still works on very old devices from out of business manufacturers. And Roon is rather proprietary at that.

1 Like
#5

Good to know, @BorisM — that’s reassuring, and I agree that Roon is likely the best “future-proof” layer here.

That said, my bigger concern isn’t just whether Roon can keep working in principle — it’s whether HiFi Rose’s own software or backend dependencies could accidentally (or by design) get in the way of basic device operation if the company ever goes defunct or significantly reduces support.

For example, the fact that some basic functions appear to require entering an 8-digit code to access core system settings gives me real pause. Any time a device’s baseline usability depends on:
• a vendor-controlled app or workflow,
• a cloud-based authentication step,
• a pairing/verification code,
• or a service that could disappear,

…it raises the question: what happens if that dependency goes away?

I’m not trying to be alarmist — I’m trying to think like a long-term owner of an expensive component. Even if Roon remains viable, I’d hate to see a scenario where the hardware is physically fine, but owners are effectively “locked out” of fundamental settings, configuration, or maintenance because a required code path or backend is no longer maintained.

So yes — Roon continuing to work is encouraging. But I’d still love clarity from Rose (or anyone who knows) on the broader question:
If Rose is gone someday, will the RS130 still be fully configurable and usable locally—without any vendor authentication or pairing steps?

#6

The PIN seems to be local to the device, so that probably should not be a problem. Now though, can you use a Rose device without registering it and setting up a Rose Id? Since quite a bit of functionality, from important (Rosetube, Radio) to trivial (Weather, because why use an existing pro-grade weather service supporting every location, when you can roll out your own, half-baked one, requiring users to be to have their locations added?!) depends on Rose’s servers, that would definitely be degraded/disabled, too. It should still work for local file playbavck, casting (airplay/DLNA/Roon) and as a DAC thnough.

2 Likes
#7

Roon is a huge overrated piece of crap. :hot_face:
The only sensible choice is Tidal.

1 Like
#8

I also have a very large collection of CDs. But streaming is the only way to explore new musical horizons. :laughing:

2 Likes
#9

Except I explore new (to me) music all the time, and I don’t stream at all.

It is possible.

1 Like
#10

I’m also discovering new music without streaming.
But no, no new musical horizons. Without AI like Tidal or Spotify. :100:

#11

Hifi Rose Community Forum members and HiFi Rose @moderators;

I’m posting this as an awareness note for (1) current HiFi Rose owners who are watching these topics closely and (2) anyone who may be considering purchasing an RS130 (or other HiFi Rose streamer) and is evaluating long-term risk.

I previously raised what I believe are reasonable, due-diligence questions about long-term platform support for premium streamers—especially given how often third-party streaming services change requirements (SDK/API/authentication/certification). HiFi Rose has not replied to this thread. Take that for what it is.

I’m not posting this to “pile on.” I’m posting it because a non-response to straightforward questions about longevity, compatibility, and owner protections is itself meaningful—and it’s relevant information for anyone spending several thousand dollars on a streamer.

Why this matters

A streamer’s value isn’t just hardware. It’s ongoing compatibility with services whose rules change constantly. When a company doesn’t engage transparently on that topic, owners are left guessing—and guessing is not what anyone signed up for at this price point.

1) Feature parity and keeping integrations current

Many owners are trying to understand what to expect regarding:

  • Spotify HiFi / High-Res (if/when it becomes broadly available)
  • TIDAL Connect feature parity and stability
  • Ongoing updates as services evolve

Whether you personally care about any one feature isn’t the point—the point is what it says about the platform’s ability to keep pace over time.

2) Streaming SDK/API churn is relentless (and predictable)

Streaming services routinely change:

  • authentication/login flows
  • certification requirements (device approvals/security)
  • API endpoints and deprecations
  • DRM/security pipelines
  • Connect protocol behavior
  • minimum OS/firmware expectations

That’s normal in 2026. The practical outcome is also normal: devices either get timely updates, or features quietly degrade.

So the real question remains:

What assurance do owners have that expensive devices like the RS130 will keep working reliably as the streaming world changes?

3) What protections do owners actually have?

These are basic, reasonable questions for any premium device:

  • Is there a published support window for products like RS130 (e.g., “X years of compatibility updates”)?
  • What’s the expected time-to-fix when a major service breaks?
  • Are updates “best effort,” or is there a concrete commitment?
  • What is the remedy policy when compatibility breaks even though the hardware is fine?

Right now, the perception is that owners are carrying the risk—and without manufacturer engagement, that perception hardens.

4) The long-term viability question

This is not “doom posting.” It’s simple due diligence:

If HiFi Rose ever scaled down significantly or went away, what happens to devices like RS130?

  • Do they remain fully usable as local endpoints/bridges?
  • Are any critical functions dependent on Rose cloud/app infrastructure?
  • Is there a local-only mode or fallback that keeps the device useful for years?
  • Is there documentation or a plan that prevents expensive hardware from becoming “frozen in time”?

Again: no response from HiFi Rose to these questions is not reassuring.

What I’m asking the community (and potential buyers) to consider

If you’re shopping in this category, factor in not only sound quality and features, but also:

  • the manufacturer’s willingness to engage publicly on platform longevity, and
  • the support experience you can realistically expect when issues arise.

Because at the moment, the only “answer” to the questions above appears to be silence—and if that’s the case, it’s fair for both current owners and prospective buyers to weigh that accordingly.

Questions to the community

  • Have you experienced service integrations degrading or breaking over time (on RS130 or other streamers)?
  • Do you now treat streamers as “3–5 year devices” regardless of price because of software risk?
  • What do you think is a reasonable long-term support commitment for a premium streamer?

Questions to HiFi Rose / @moderators

If HiFi Rose is willing to engage, a brief high-level reply would help tremendously:

  • your long-term support stance for RS130 amid third-party changes,
  • owner protections when services change,
  • and what happens to basic device functionality if app/cloud support ever changes.

Until then, the lack of response is the response, and people should take that into account when deciding whether to invest further in the ecosystem.

1 Like
#12

Roon and Tidal are entirely different things and can’t be compared.

Roon certainly has its problems, but there is no other music library management software that comes anywhere close. And personally, I don’t see how any decent person could use Tidal, given people involved with it.

#13

I have the opposite opinion—i.e., a very negative opinion of Roon. :face_with_monocle:
They’re brainwashing people. Their streaming isn’t lossless, and they’re not worth the price they sell access for. Currently, only Tidal and Qobuz guarantee the highest streaming quality.

#14

That’s why I bought the EverSolo DMP-A10 to have a platform that’s constantly being developed. I’m surprised at how quickly they respond to our suggestions.

#15

Roon is not a streaming service… It’s a library management and playback system (that admittedly can also pull tracks from a few supported streaming services, integrating them with your local collection). And it is absolutely, positively bit-perfect and lossless at playback, unless you configure it otherwise.

You must be thinking of some other service.

That’s a personal opinion. One needs to decide whether Roon’s features are worth it to them at the price Roon asks. But as far as playback quality goes, it is a good as it gets.

#16

“Roon is not a streaming service… It’s a library management and playback system,” I know, I tested it, but it was very disappointing. Besides, you need to introduce a source of interference, i.e., some cheap computer that has to run non-stop. This is paranoia for HiEnd.

#17

I’m afraid I have to disagree!

Since I’m not a fan of wasting electricity, I turn EVERYTHING off in the evening when I go to bed. Except for the refrigerator and my cell phone (if the battery is still full).

I don’t use a smart home system, and I also turn off my internet in the evening. Updates (Apple, Roon, etc.) are displayed when everything is back up and running.

When I open the Roon app in the morning, the core automatically boots up (logically), which takes about 1 minute. So it’s not absolutely necessary to leave everything on all the time. I flip my main switch in the morning and the router boots up. Then I go to the kitchen and make my tea. When the tea is ready, I start the Roon app and the core boots up. I can listen to music almost immediately because Roon immediately found my streamer from the night before and Roon continues playing the music where I left off the night before.

For me, everything is great.

#18

Depends on your use case.

And that’s exactly what it is – paranoia. Unless you manage to wire up a Commodore 64 with a Roon server, it just does not matter. And of course nothing is stopping one from using an overpriced audiophile-approved server like Grimm either.

1 Like
#19

Eversolo was my preferred product, but they did not have the build features that I needed for my use case.

I am hoping that their product line will evolve to include that. Or that Rose will recognize two very different use cases for their equipment exist, and they need to build software for them both.

#20

Roon isn’t just another streaming app, it’s a platform with its own protocol. Instead of creating a bunch of different integrations, companies can simply build one for roon, which then supports services like Tidal, Qobuz, and others. It’s a unified solution that could help streamers stay accessible for many years, even if the company itself were to shut down.

So to @duffer5 , thats the answer, for at least roon will last really long. I bought lifetime roon 10 years ago and they are still there and do great job.