To the skeptics pouring negativity under a thread dedicated to firmware fixes:
Hate is just another form of love, and often an even stronger one. You glorify competitors, secretly wishing “Rose” were as good as them.
“Rose HiFi” is the first passionate brand that truly set new rules for the market. They made such an impact that we now see copycat brands like “Matrix Audio” and “Eversolo.” But unfortunately, they managed to copy the style, just not the sound.
Everybody complaining in the spam comments - honestly, do yourself a favor: just sell the product and try a vintage-style “Aurender.” Might save you a lot of frustration.
Everything works wonderfully with the “Early Version.” I honestly don’t understand all the whining here. If you prefer other brands, by all means, go for them - but let’s be realistic: you simply won’t find anything better than the “RS151” for under $10,000.
What I Discovered When I Brought These Home:
Matrix Audio MS-1 Pre: In its pursuit of maximum measurement precision, ultra-high resolution, and transparency, it leans so heavily into an aggressive, analytical upper-midrange that, in certain systems, the sound quickly becomes a bit “shouty,” edgy, and fatiguing over time.
Aurender A20: Focuses on a smooth, organic, and analog-like presentation, but that heavy smoothing causes it to lose micro-dynamics, transient speed, and spatial breathing, leaving it sounding somewhat “smothered” and lacking life.
Esoteric N0-5XE: To my ears, it sounds too lean and lacks “body” - it feels lightweight. It’s tough to listen to long-term because the built-in preamplifier section is clearly a weak link. Overall, the brand feels heavily engineered to guide you into their entire closed ecosystem.
Directly into a power amp, the “Rose RS151” sounds fantastic to me. Sure, I’ve had some frustrations with the “Official” firmware too, but the “Early” version is a great temporary solution. I happily forgive “Rose” for it because of the pure, wonderful sound. I’ve had many brands through my system before.
While something like a “Lumin” requires a separate preamp, “Rose” is my absolute sweet spot!
In the end, you can all fight here and glorify Rose’s competitors, tearing at each other’s throats for all I care.Good Luck
