I think Bonte doesn’t want to reply because he uses more advanced software called Roon. I use Roon as well, and this little gadget is of absolutely no interest to me.
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Naw that’s not it.
Yes I agree that there is little appeal to this device to a lot of people here. If you want better BT and wifi… maybe.
But here’s the issue… the RW800 does Spotify Lossless via Spotify Connect.
This implies that its running a different OS than everything else. No longer on their customized Android 7.x
So this begs the larger question… what OS?
By now the wheels should be turning… if they have a scaled down OS for the RW800 … how far off would it be to have an upgraded OS for everything else?
If you have the RA180 or RA280 then the RW800 may make sense.
If you want to get better wifi and BT along w Spotify lossless. this device may make sense.
But that’s about it.
I don’t see that the RS130 customer is their main focus here. Are you missing any functionality on the RS130? I can’t imaging that many people with a $10K+ digital front end are going to insist on having Spotify Lossless. I still don’t see why more people don’t just buy Roon Lifetime and a little computer and be done with it.
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I agree.
I have a hard time seeing this for other devices.
Roon Lifetime works only if you have a music library. And there are other devices that are similar …
Yet …
I guess it would make sense if you have an RAxxx amp, or you want better wi-fi and BT plus spotify lossless and you are not using a device connected to your USB port … e.g. a laptop. (even your phone???)
For me… I use my MB20 for BT, and the USB input from my PC which give me an up sampled output via Apple’s MIDI app. I could use my iBasso DX180 via its SPDIF out to the COAX in. But that’s a bit of a hassle.
But again… who knows who will want this?
I’m not going to judge. Its not that expensive.
I should have added that there are no doubt some good use cases for a device like this - just not so much for RS130/RD160 owners. And you’re right that as I get older, I forget that the new generation grew up without physical media.
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WOW! HiFi Rose release a plastic streamer with wired ethernet to connect to you expensive all metal SFP enabled high-end streamer. It supports 384KHz and DSD128 at most. Still no NAA (but what would be the point?).
Is this a joke?
I don’t see a problem with the RW-800.
For me it’s a cheap optional add (or you can use it without a Rose device), primarily for Google Casting.
There isn’t a need for higher bitrates or NAA on this device (also RAAT I would not use with the RW-800), but other services (Tidal connect, Spotify, Apple Music,…), which couldn’t added to the current Rose devices.
Nobody must buy a RW-800, but anyone can…
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Yeah…
I think this was a stop gap thing…
It would be interesting to see if Rose would bite the bullet and migrate to either a different OS or upgrade to a later release of Android. Both would be relatively painful … but maybe AI could help w the coding issues.
I’m testing various LLM models using Cline (AI agent) thru LMStudio on my Mac and another server to host the LLMs (Rust and Python code)
There are currently no U.S.-based retailers offering the RW800, so it appears that customers in the United States cannot take advantage of the launch promotion.
Could @moderators please clarify the following?
- When the RW800 is used with an RS130 and an external DAC, is the RW800’s internal DAC completely bypassed?
- What exactly does the launch promotion include, and how can U.S.-based customers participate?
- When used with the HiFi Rose RS130, does the RW800 require its own internet connection? If so, would this undermine the benefit of using the RS130’s SFP network connection?
Here is a good description of the unit’s capabilities along with connection diagrams.
Yes, I have read that but the questions I have asked are not clearly addressed in the PDF. Imagine if you have a higher end DAC and the signal chain gets processed by the onboard DAC of the RW800 and your DAC, that is a big issue not to mention if you are adding additional noise via wifi or copper ethernet vs SFP ethernet.
Question 1: Yes.
Question 2: IDK
Question 3: Yes, No. Refer to “Flawless Stability (Wired Ethernet Method)” graphic under Simple Network Setup.
The RW800 is a bridge device for owners of the 130, 150, 151 who want to listen to Spotify Lossless, Tidal Connect and Qobuz connect. Eventually both units will be replaced with a next generation Rose unit.
So if I understand this correctly per your response my external DAC will be the only DAC to process the signal. Great to know.
But disappointed that HiFi Rose RS130 users have to forgo the benefits of the SFP ethernet using the RW800 with the RS130. That is a big trade off.
Thank you for the response @Eleven
If you use the RW800 as a standalone streamer / DAC and output the analog signal through the RCAs, yes you are using its internal DAC. If you output thru USB or optical to your DAC, or even the RS130, you bypass the DAC in the RW800.
Re the SFP, my advice would be to use the network connection to the RS130 whenever possible, but if you need the features of the RW800, eg Spotify Lossless, you will need to utilize its the ethernet port.
Clean sheet of paper, Rose won’t build the next gen streamers the same. But for those of us who have a legacy product, this is not a bad solution until the next upgrade.
@Eleven; is there an alternative use of the RW800 if you are not using Spotify connect, Tidal Connect and / or Qobuz connect and don’t want to use the onboard ethernet or Wifi of the RW800. What other use would there be for an owner of the RS130; I can see the value in the standalone use case. Too bad there is no way to piggy back off the ethernet connection off the RS130 internet connection via the USB of the RW800.
I’m so tired of the chaffing rub and tug these folks are putting us through for common functionality throughout the industry, I don’t care how they try to rationalize this S.S… I called my retailer and they called Rose and they aren’t selling nor allowing preorders. I emailed Mofi Distributers and they said “We are currently awaiting information reguarding this unit as it was just announced.
Your best bet for updates on availability would be to subscribe to the HiFi Rose newsletter”. They post of these forums yet have conflicting information up and down the ladder. I, like many, are ready to scrap them as option in the future.
@duffer5
You could contact MoFi / Hifi Rose USA about the product.
They (MoFi) is the US Distributor and I think you can buy some items directly from them.
While they are based in Chicago, their warehouse is in Vegas.
It would be interesting to see what RoseUSA (MoFi) has to say.
EDIT: I checked their website and the product isn’t showing…
This happened when the RS451 was launched it took a while for it to get updated.
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Dear HiFi Rose users
As of July 31 , MoFi is no longer the official HiFi ROSE distributor in the United States.
Starting August 1 , HiFi ROSE USA will be established and will handle sales and operations directly in the U.S.
We recommend contacting HiFi ROSE USA on or after August 1 to inquire about the RW800 and request to purchase the product.