Return the Rose RS130?

ROSE Products RS130
#41

See [Official] SW Ver 5.9 (Rose OS 5.9.07) Software Release - #275 by Stefan ← he solved the poor audio problem.

If you still have the problem: Just an idea. Contact your retailer and ask for a Zoom meeting. That way, the retailer can walk you thru various tests & checks. The retailer can see how the device is working and reacting. With Zoom, the retailer may decide to exchange your faulty device.

BTW, you said than you do downsampling/upscaling. Turn all the fancy stuff off. Then test will the most basic “all default” settings - play NAS first (not the internal disk) ← if you don’t have NAS, connect a mobile disk on one of the RS130 USB connection. Use your computer to format the test disk to say NTFS format. Transfer only a few audio files (either stereo mp3 or flac files) on the test disk. Test these files. If it works, from your computer, reformat the disk to exFAT. Test again. If it works. Format the disk from RS130. Continue the process, one step at a time till you find the culprit.

But first do the Zoom meeting with your retailer. ← Note: If your retailer is simply a sales person, ask to have the Zoom meeting with a technical person who has detail RS130 knowledge.

#42

If the rs130 was purchased within 90 days, you can return the unit for free to the US distribution center. You have to get an RMA. Use the contact details on the rose website for the support email address. My ethernet input failed and they were great at replacing the unit for free. Since then the rs130 has been great. Rose connect is mediocre but it’s worked fine.

1 Like
#43

Good advice! I didn’t know you could do that.

#44

Apologies for repeating old information. I had my RS130 for 6 months and never had any issues with hardware. My complaint was the quirky software. After doing A/B comparisons to several other streamer only transports, I decided to sell it. Three months after I sold it, the buyer asked for confirmation if it was under 2 years old as the unit would no longe power on. I never delete anything and was able to provide him with the paid receipt since it wasn’t even a year old. Fortunately the HiFi Rose warranty is transferable to the next owner.

#45

Hello, and thank you for your interventions.

As far as the troubleshooting steps are concerned, I have carried out everything that could reasonably be done. Come on, gentlemen, you must understand that buyers of a streamer at this price point are not novices in Hi-Fi. Whether the unit I received is defective or not, there are four main points I must emphasize:

  1. I received no meaningful assistance from the representatives of Rose on this forum (merely a generic message on a thread). To me, this reveals a certain attitude toward their customers.

  2. Setting aside any potential hardware issues, the software is utterly inadequate—something that should never occur with any product, and certainly not with a flagship. This, in my opinion, is equally revealing of the company’s seriousness.

  3. The sound quality is indeed good, but that alone is not sufficient. A streamer is also defined by its convenience; otherwise, one might just as well optimize sound from a dedicated computer, using DDCs, upgraded power supplies, USB signal reclockers, and control the music through Roon or Audirvāna (I own licenses for both). But when one purchases a streamer, it is also with the expectation of listening to music without complications—and that is precisely what differentiates high-end solutions from one another.

  4. Furthermore, I see a great many users experiencing serious issues with their streamers. One could argue that people who complain on forums are always more numerous than those who are satisfied and remain silent. Yet the truth is that, compared with forums for other brands, the proportion of users encountering problems here is markedly higher. The overwhelming majority of this forum is devoted to such issues, whereas in others one finds discussions of optimizations, expressions of satisfaction, and—above all—music.

There is, therefore, a genuine problem with this brand. Sound quality alone does not excuse everything, particularly when the bugs affect something as fundamental as streaming. For my part, I will not purchase another product from Rose.

4 Likes
#46

@ROSEHAN @moderators

It would be reasonable to expect a public reply to @Lector most recent post. The lack of customer support is more self evident now than ever all the while Rose hardware is failing at what appears to be a concerning rate and still no acknowledgment or update from the company. We are waiting Hifi Rose for support but the lack of transparency is accelerating concern and distrust.

4 Likes
#47

I think too much is expected of the moderators here. The problems with the software run deep and can only be addressed so fast. I think the moderators do a pretty good job under the circumstances. Also the complaints and issues I read of here are wide-ranging, from laughably trivial to serious.

I honestly think the software needs to be rewritten from the beginning. My attraction to the RS130 was that it supposedly did everything I wanted and I was willing to pay up for what is essentially a component that is easily replaced by a MacBook or Mac Mini. The problem is that the marketing of the devices is far better than the software and user experience and that needs to change.

There are a ton of coders in the US looking for work. Hire them Rose along with a team that is able to manage them. In the interim I will wait for updates and perhaps even buy that Eversolo T8 as a temporary patch.

3 Likes
#48

The Eversolo T8 streamer is a real bargain compared to HiFi Rose streamers. The T8 appears to have even better noise specifications than my RS 130 at about one quarter the price.

StandardModel

#49

The RS130 is superior in terms of HW. Circuit breaker vs fuse, OCXO clock, better physical isolation inside the chassis, bigger screen…etc.

Obviously the differences between streamers are not so big, but if Rose would finally focus on fixing the software bugs and enhancing it with new features (es. using the screen as a Roon display)…

1 Like
#50

Eversolo is definitely raising the bar on the lower end.
There are definitely differences in terms of quality of hardware.

The UX is slightly better on the Eversolo, yet marginally better.

#51

In other words, other than the screen, nothing that actually matters. Well, except that Zidoo actually supports their products.

#52

This is a complete bummer and I hate it for you. At least on this thread, I seem to be one of the rare few that’s had no problems. I run Ethernet, Qobuz or Tidal, sometimes through Roon. I use Qobuz Connect. No problems (Knocks loudly on wood…). I had a lot of problems with the Rose app and ditched that a while back. Good luck to you and thanks for keeping the group apprised.

1 Like
#53

Still no acknowledgment from HiFi Rose after my earlier post and private outreach. The silence is frustrating — not just for me, but for all customers who have invested in their products and deserve transparency.

Hardware failures aren’t an isolated concern. When these issues are left unaddressed, it creates ongoing doubt about reliability and support. Even when a distributor steps in, the lack of direct communication from the manufacturer is troubling.

Customers shouldn’t be left guessing if or when they’ll face the same problem. Clear information and accountability go a long way in building trust — the opposite happens when questions are met with silence.

@ROSEHAN — your customers are waiting.

1 Like
#54

I have had no end of problems with mine and have never had Rose solve a single one. Every update and fix engenders new problems, which I have listed elsewhere. The sound, when everything is working, is wonderful especially over USB but video is alost always unstable and even music only has there are problems in higher sample rates on USB and HDMI. If I had your choice over again I would return the machine and try another brand. Sorry.

1 Like
#55

@ROSEHAN @moderators

Reports of HiFi Rose hardware failures are increasing at a concerning rate. Yet, there has been no official communication or disclosure from the company addressing these issues. Given that this platform serves as the primary forum for customer service, HiFi Rose has a responsibility to provide transparent and timely updates regarding the root causes, scope, and resolution pathways for these failures.

The absence of such communication creates the appearance that the company is withholding material information—information that existing customers reasonably require to understand service and warranty remedies, and that prospective customers need in order to make informed purchasing decisions.

We therefore formally request that HiFi Rose issue a public statement addressing these hardware failures, including an explanation of the underlying causes, corrective measures being undertaken, and guidance for current and future customers.

1 Like
#56

It’s been a couple of days since my original post, and unfortunately there’s still been no response from HiFi Rose.

Given the seriousness of these ongoing hardware failure reports—and the fact that this forum is the only real channel for customer service—it’s concerning that customers are left without any acknowledgment or guidance.

Silence only adds to uncertainty and erodes confidence among both current and prospective customers. A transparent statement from HiFi Rose about what’s happening, what’s being done to address it, and what customers can expect would go a long way toward restoring trust.

@ROSEHAN @moderators — will the company be providing an update?

2 Likes
#57

@duffer5

I have organized your questions and requests for clarification as below and forwarded them to the General Manager of HiFi Rose.
Once I receive his response, I will provide you with the answers.

1. Compatibility Issues

  • DAC Compatibility Criteria
    Disclosure of the specific criteria used to determine whether a DAC is compatible or not (testing methods, technical specifications, internal testing conditions, etc.).
  • List of Compatible DACs
    Sharing the official list of DACs that are confirmed to be compatible with the RSA720.

2. Problem Recognition and Official Acknowledgment

  • Official Acknowledgment
    The company should publicly acknowledge the increasing frequency of reported product defects, hardware failures, and software issues.
  • Response to Customer Reports
    Recognition that customer reports have sometimes gone unanswered or have been delayed, along with a commitment to improve.

3. Transparent Communication

  • Sharing Causes and Current Status
    Clear disclosure of what problems are occurring, their causes, and the extent of what has been identified so far.
  • Explanation of Software Updates
    Providing clear reasons why certain functions may have been broken or removed during software updates.

4. Corrective Measures and Timelines

  • Planned Actions and Responsibility
    Sharing what corrective actions, replacements, or design modifications are being planned for bugs, functional defects, and hardware issues.
  • Implementation Schedule
    Providing a timeline for when these corrective actions will be carried out.
  • Warranty and After-Sales Support
    Explaining in detail the warranty coverage and the processes for hardware repair or replacement.
  • Public Statement
    Issuing an official statement regarding hardware failures, including root causes, corrective measures, scope of the issue, potential customer impact, and what actions customers should take.

5. Customer Support and Communication Improvement

  • Enhanced Customer Support
    Improving responses to technical requests and strengthening support systems for both new and experienced users.
  • Distributor Support
    Expanding support for dealers and distributors through better parts supply, training, and technical documentation.
  • Timely and Meaningful Responses
    Addressing customer inquiries promptly with substantive answers, reducing delays and lack of response.

6. Expectation Setting and Trust Recovery

  • Product Function Assurance
    Ensuring that the functions available at the time of purchase will continue to be maintained.
  • Prevention of Feature Regression
    Avoiding reduction or degradation of product functionality through updates.
  • Clarification of Product Nature
    Recognizing that the product is not only HiFi equipment but also a combined hardware/software system, and providing support accordingly.
  • Restoring Trust
    By disclosing processes and standards, customers can clearly understand what to expect and what risks may exist, thereby rebuilding trust.
3 Likes
#58

I love my RS130. Yes, software is a work on progress, at best. But once you get use to it, its fine.

I formatted an SSD using Windows and copied half my ripped library to it. Once installed in the RS130 it fired up and had no issues playing.

I selected the RS130 after comparing side by side with an Aurender N20.

1 Like
#59

@pdjmwj

Thank you for choosing HiFi ROSE over other brands.
We will continue to strive to make HiFi ROSE a brand that constantly evolves and improves.