HiFi Rose RS250
Elegant rose
at the September 3, 20215 minutes to read
ENGLISH
(GOOGLE TRANSLATE)
HIFI ROSE RS250 - ELEGANT ROSE
The network player HiFi Rose RS250 has a lot to offer for the eyes. But the elegant rose also wants to beguile sensitive ears.
IN A NUTSHELL
HiFi Rose has reduced the concept of its large RS150 without major compromises in terms of sound or functionality and garnished it with a seductive price - a direct hit!
The RS250 is the newest network player in the portfolio of HiFi Rose, the brand of the South Korean high-tech company Citech, which is fully committed to audiophilia. For around 2000 euros and thus not even half the price of the streamer flagship RS150 presented in FIDELITY 55, the new one should flourish and convince in its own way, functionally and sonically - the developers would have put the red pencil at the right end.
TYPICAL ROSE
Operation is largely carried out on the device itself. The touch-sensitive screen shows instructive symbols that anyone who is halfway familiar with mobile devices can find their way around quickly. The output volume can also be set using the rotary control. The Bluetooth remote control puts important controls in the user’s hand.
The RS250 embodies the basic belief of its creators that ease of use does not necessarily mean fingering a control app. This is why the device itself is operated, apart from the volume control on the front, mainly via the touch-sensitive screen. Exactly, the smartphone / tablet principle is consistently implemented at Citech. The 8.8 inch display practically takes up the front, is very sharp and rich in contrast and shows many instructive symbols that make switching and exercising easy.
The 8.8 “touch display is very sharp and rich in contrast - which also makes the display of virtual VU meters a feast for the eyes.
As soon as the rose is wired and brought to life via the on / off switch, it is set up for its user. That made a lasting impression on us with the RS150 and the little brother blooms in a comparable way - perfect. No wonder, because the foundation of both machines (the operating system Rose OS, which is based on Android) and the dedicated apps are absolutely identical. The radio app quickly tracks down your favorite station, CD playback using a connected USB drive requires a fingertip - and this principle continues. In all possible uses of the streamer. Here are some of them:
Streaming via AirPlay and UPnP / DLNA is a matter of course, “RoseTube” enables you to enjoy YouTube videos, Roon Ready is just as mandatory as the direct line to Spotify. As it should be, a connection to Tidal and Qobuz is also possible without any problems. If you have your own music collection on removable media, you can connect it to the USB 3.0 port provided for data exchange. The second, labeled “Audio”, is used to connect external USB DACs - should they be needed at all. More on that later. The “Music” app is ideal for playing back the sound collection - including an optically opulent display on the screen. If you want, you can upgrade the RS250 to a server: The very well-made,
The RS250 offers a certain variety of connections: Two USB 3.0 ports are used to connect removable media or an external USB DAC, there is an HDMI output, digital and analog inputs and outputs and of course a network connection. This means that the smart steamer can be easily integrated into the existing system.
EVERYTHING IN THERE, EVERYTHING ON
But that’s not all. The RS250 is designed as a complete device, which is why it also has a DAC that can be integrated into a system via an RCA connection or connected to active speakers. On the input side, the Röschen accepts digital signals in S / PDIF and TOSLINK format up to a maximum of 24 bit / 192 kHz. Digital music from the connected removable storage device is possible in all common formats, an MQA decoder is also available. The RS250 can also be used as a USB-DAC in connection with the computer; the proprietary Citech driver is then required for Windows PCs, while Mac users enjoy plug-and-play. The manufacturer’s trusted converter chip is the Saber ES9038Q2M from converter specialist ESS. This chip works with 32-bit architecture, masters a maximum resolution for PCM of 32 bit / 768 kHz,
One of the numerous display views: Why not make the RS250 look like a digital clock radio? He can always play music.
Unlike with various dongle DACs, the RS250 user has access to the seven presets of the FIR filter, with which the sound can be audibly influenced. In the setting as a minimum phase filter with “Slow Roll-Off” it sounds warmer, in a certain way more analog, but then aliasing artifacts cannot be ruled out. Those who do not want to put up with that on their ears can choose one of the “Fast Roll-Off” filters or choose the hard low-pass filter that really doesn’t let anything through. So there are seven options for sound shaping, and even if the sound technology is very puristic in terms of aliasing: HiFi listener can and should follow their fine ears. I myself prefer the minimum phase filter with slow roll-off characteristics, for example.
The same femto clock in the RS250 that takes over the clocking in the large RS150 ensures that there is no jitter. The care with which the Citech engineers keep electrical dirt away from the audio signals is implemented at the same level of care. As a little treat, the RS250 also has a headphone output with a smart mini-jack connection. If headphones are plugged in, the analog outputs go silent - Ent or Neither is the motto.
ENJOY BEDDED IN ROSES
The RS250 has a powerful headphone amplifier with a smart mini-jack connection and - remarkable - input impedance matching.
Headphone over the RS250 is pleasant, because the headphone amplifier can be heard and is on the level of good DACs, can also keep up with some mobile players and only takes a modest step back against top HPAs like my Violectric V 200. Very good: The RS250 allows impedance matching so that the HPA works optimally with low or high impedance listeners.
Even through the connected speakers, the streamer asserts itself as a melodious noble rose that understands a lot about dynamics. It becomes ear-catching when the DSD edition of Oscar Peterson’s evergreen solo piano masterpiece My Favorite Instrument sounds: Depending on the piece, the Steinway pearles or roars, the subtle pedal work in the ballads is followed by the rose on the virtuoso’s foot without his own In the final analysis, analogue output stages have been committed to sound truth. But that goes perfectly with the beautiful, unquestionably audiophile recording of the Mozart violin concertos by Marianne Thorsen and the Trondheim Solistene for the HiRes recording label 2L: This is how this certain tendency towards beauty, paired with liveliness, caresses and envelops the ear Listener in a fine rose scent.
PICTURE GALLERY
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TECHNICAL DATA HIFI ROSE RS250
Functional principle: network streamer and DAC
hardware equipment : hexa-core CPU, 4GB RAM, 8.8 “touch display
outputs: 2 x analog RCA, 2 x digital SPDIF, TOSLINK, 1 x headphones, 1 x USB audio for external USB DAC
inputs: 2 x analog RCA, 2 x digital SPDIF, TOSLINK, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB DAC, 1 x USB data
network: Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth
converter chip: ESS Saber ES9038Q2M up to 32 bit / 768 kHz
Software
equipment : Rose OS (based on Android 7.1) Formats: all common, including DSD 512, 4K video, MQA decoder
Special features: Self-setting and maintenance system, can be operated intuitively via touchscreen, can also be used as a 4K video player, built-in preamplifier, volume control on the front, headphone amplifier with impedance adjustment, Bluetooth remote control
Design: aluminum, silver / black plastic Scope of
delivery: Bluetooth remote control, power cord, instructions
Dimensions ( W / H / D): 28/8/20 cm
Weight: 3.2 kg
Guarantee period: 2 years
Price: around 2000 euros
CONTACT
audioNEXT GmbH
Isenbergstr. 20
45130 Essen
+49 201 5073950
info@audionext.de
www.audionext.de
TEAMMATES
USB interface and D / A converter: Mutec MC-3 + USB, Mytek Digital Stereo192-DSD DAC, Violectric V800, Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt
headphone amplifier and headphones: Violectric V200, AKG K702 Studio, Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless
computer: Apple MacBook Pro 16
Music server: Audiodata MusikServer II
software player: Audirvana / jRiver
active speakers : Geithain RL 906, Nubert NuPro A200,
cables: Vovox, Audioquest, Klotz