RA280 defect no solution since 8! Weeks

#1

The volume potentiometer makes scratching noises. These are not mechanical but obviously electrical.

Starting at the 11 or 12 o’clock position, a scratching sound comes from the speakers when turned.

I’ve since noticed that the treble and bass knobs also both have obvious mechanical problems.
When turning them across their full range, you hear a grinding noise, and the knobs become increasingly stiff towards the end of the range.

When you turn on the RA280 and it’s not receiving any music signal, you still hear a whirring noise from the speakers.

When you turn on the RA280 and switch the source selection switch to the different inputs, you hear a quiet popping sound from the mid-bass drivers of the speakers.

I contacted the dealer about the problems described and sent the amplifier to them at the beginning of September 2025.
To date, I have neither received my amplifier back nor have I received a fixed repair appointment.

Apparently, the replacement part will be delivered to the German repair partner of Piega or Hifi Rose in the 44th calendar week. Hifi Rose takes 8!!! weeks to deliver a replacement part!!! By when will the amplifier be repaired? No one has given me a date.

Can that really be true? Is that Hifi Rose’s quality standards? If that’s the case, then I recommend that Hifi Rose withdraw from the German market. We hi-fi fans don’t need such manufacturers in Germany. There are better manufacturers.

I’ve owned various amplifiers from Yamaha, Lyngdorf, Abacus, Eversolo, and Kenwood. I’ve never had such a problem.

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#2

@Edi

Hi, just so I understand… you sent your RA280 back to the dealer for a warranty repair and its taking forever to get the replacement part?

Ok… so my first question… what has your dealer done for you?
Did they send you a replacement amp. Did you buy from a local shop, or do they have to ship it to you?

To me, the relationship starts with the local dealer.

I understand your frustration.
But what has your dealer said or done to make you whole?

#3

The Ra280 was purchased online. I sent it to the dealer. The dealer checked the amplifier and sent it to a Hifi Rose partner in Germany. This partner is supposed to carry out the repair. They apparently don’t have the necessary spare parts in stock. The dealer hasn’t sent me a replacement unit. I’m without an amplifier. They haven’t given me a firm date. Hifi Rose sells equipment in Germany but doesn’t care about the prompt delivery of spare parts. I actually assume these spare parts should be in stock. Leaving a customer without their DEVICE for so long isn’t nice. I don’t know yet whether I’ll ever do business with this company again. I’m very disappointed with Hifi Rose. Regards, Edi

#4

Ok…

I am sorry of your situation… but clearly you got a defective unit.
IMHO I would expect the dealer to get you a replacement, or some sort of loaner to you.
(A replacement would have been the optimal choice. )

While you’re mad at Rose not having a lot of replacement parts in Germany… think about what you’re asking… there are not a lot of boards in the RA280. Not a lot to go wrong. So shipping boards to sit on a shelf while it could be used in a product doesn’t make a lot of sense from Rose’s perspective. Also you have to consider timing.I believe they just had a week long holiday?

While this isn’t good, I think you should complain more to the dealer and see what they will do to accommodate you. Then contact the local (Germany) distributor to see what they can and or are willing to do.

I’d blame the dealer before Rose.

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#5

Hi, yes, I’m starting to think it’s the dealer’s fault. Unfortunately, we don’t have a Hifi Rose distributor in Germany. The distributor is Piega in Switzerland. I’ll contact them. We’ll see if that helps. The dealer in Germany doesn’t seem to have any interest in satisfied customers. I actually wanted to buy the new Streamer RS ​​451. But now I don’t think so. It’s a shame, really.

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#6

I completely understand. I was fully prepared to purchase the RD160 until I lived with the RS130 for a time. Not going to happen. Not going to double down on the self-flagellation.

#7

@Eleven
I fully understand… and its a bit of a shame.
That RD160 Looks like a killer product. Got a good review from a YT Reviewer.

And this should be a lesson to HiFi Rose… that any negative experience can kill one or more future sales.

#8

Outch.

Hopefully the Swiss help out. @ROSEHAN , @ROSELOA is there any way someone from Rose Corporate could help apply some pressure on Piega and the dealer in Germany?

The RS451 seems to be a slightly improved RS520 without any amplifier.
I mean it has headphone output, built in wi-fi and BT and XLR out.
So you can pair it with a lot of good options.

When I saw this, I thought about pairing it w Orchard Audio’s mono blocks or you could go out to a pair of active speakers.

#9

Hello,

First of all, we would like to express our sincere apologies for the issue with the RA280 volume potentiometer.

We are aware of the delay in the arrival of certain replacement parts, and we are currently in the final stage of implementing a new process to maintain a larger inventory and ensure faster after-sales service. Once this process is completed, situations where repairs are indefinitely delayed due to lack of stock will no longer occur.

As you mentioned, the replacement parts for the RA280 potentiometer are scheduled to arrive between late October and early November. Although we have done our best to expedite the schedule, we regret that it did not meet your expectations.

We will make every effort to prioritize the preparation of this part and ensure it is available as soon as possible.
Once again, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the product defect and the disappointment with our after-sales service.

Best Regards,

#10

Thank you for the message and for the repeated apologies. I don’t mean to offend you.

I respect Korean customs. However, in my culture, it’s customary to apologize.

Not simply to apologize. In Germany, the injured party is asked for an apology and either accepts it or not. Incidentally, I’ve since discovered that the problem with the volume control on the Hifi Rose RA280 has been known for a long time.

I cannot tolerate this behavior and will switch to companies with established market positions in the future. These companies also make mistakes, but they’ve largely passed the learning curve.

They probably don’t even know what they’re doing to future company founders with their casual attitude. Who can possibly trust new companies like this? I hope you understand. I would have hoped for a quick and generous solution here. It would also serve as a signal to future Hifi Rose customers.

Greetings from Germany

#11

This is really your dealers fault. And/or the distributor. When it was clear the repair would talk a long time, they should have just sent you a new unit.

#12

@Edi, I agree w @Carnelian.

I don’t know more what @ROSELOA can do but offer an apology here…
I hope that they can send a message internally to their international sales organization and report the issue, asking Piega for some assistance.

In terms of knowing about defective devices… I think it depends on how bad the defect is…
If the number of defective units are small, Rose and their distributors should have kept a few units on hand in the region, and then when a defective unit shows up… if still within the warranty period, they should have exchanged the unit. Then repaired the original and resold it as refurbished.

Here in the US, there is Rose USA along w MoFi their distributor… so there is more support behind the dealer.

I would hope that Rose takes this situation to heart and that they consider how to best handle dealers that do not support their customers.

Beyond your experience… anyone who reads this thread will think twice before buying.

#13

The dealer who sold the device (Hifi Rose RA280) in Germany just celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Projekt Akustik Schönberg GmbH
Tremskamp 51 - 51a
23611 Bad Schwartau
Germany.

I’d like to congratulate them on that.

I think there are to much defect devices who have technical problems.

#14

Initially, the dealer had promised me a new device. He said the exchange was currently being negotiated with the distributor (Piega) and the manufacturer. That was four weeks ago. Now I’ve learned that too many devices are affected to exchange them for new ones. So, the customer is being saddled with this. It’s a shame. I don’t think they’re doing themselves any favors.

#15

i ve had to wait several weeks just to vet a replacement wifi dongle in germany.
It is certainly not the dealers fault because they sent the unit to a national distributor…

#16

I don’t care who’s at fault. I paid a lot of money and don’t have a device because some overpaid idiot isn’t doing his job properly.

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#17

How long after you purchased it did you notice the problem? I personally think the retailer should give you store credit so you can buy another (different) product. I find it hard to accept, let me put it differently, I find it unacceptable that the best Rose can do is offer an apology. Something is seriously wrong.

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#18

HiFi Rose always seems to apologize — whether that’s sincere or simply a reflex to deflect criticism is unclear. Either way, actions speak louder than words, and the forum is filled with apologies but very little tangible progress.

It’s an odd and frustrating dynamic for users like @Edi: repeated assurances without follow-through make the brand appear insincere and disorganized. It’s a bad look for HiFi Rose and yet another example that things are not under control.

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#19

The device was in use for 14 months. In Germany, the warranty is 24 months. As I said, someone isn’t doing their job properly.

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#20

Yes, exactly. Hifi Rose apologizes and thinks that’s the end of the matter. The customer is responsible. I always thought Asians were honest people. Unfortunately, my impression isn’t that. In Germany, we have a term for people who steal your time. We call these people “Tagdiebe” (day thieves).

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