Spotify playback resolution

Function TIDAL / QOBUZ / SPOTIFY
#29

StandardModel,

I am not sure I completely agree with you. I don’t think Rose is trying to win a race to the bottom with China on being the low cost producer. I think they are aiming higher, into the middle hifi ground, with the higher margins that come with being there. Heck I think the Chinese companies are trying to do the same thing. The Topping D900 is an example of that as is the Magnetar Blu-ray player. Every company likes high margins. Just ask the pharmaceutical companies.

I don’t care about how many updates Rose makes a year. Not needing any update would be fine with me because I know the product works as it is supposed to. I think they try to do too much in terms of pleasing the customer, which is fine, but do the basics correctly and then go up the add-on services later. Personally if an update for a new functionality is worth it, I would pay for it.

#30

Eleven,

I wasn’t clear in my post. HiFi Rose isn’t lowering its price, but Eversolo and others are producing ever more capable equipment at prices of about half or less of what HiFi Rose is selling equipment of similar capabilities plus upgrades and more features every month with software that really works.
Presto!
There goes HiFi Rose’s margins along with that demanding evil customer.

I have made a post stating that I too would be willing to pay a subscription for GOOD software upgrades.

StandardModel

#31

This mean that Rose RS520 also will not receive an updated Spotify with CD-quality (Lossless/Hi-Res)?

#32

@jwierzbo

At this moment, enabling Spotify Lossless through the current SDK is very challenging.
We cannot directly update or modify Spotify’s SDK, and therefore cannot support Spotify Lossless on existing models right now.

#33

Could you please let me know if you have already started the Certomato certification process required for Spotify Lossless support on the RS130?

If the process has begun, do you have an estimated timeline for when implementation might be completed?

Thank you in advance.

Best regards,

Göran

#34

@Gorsti

At this moment, enabling Spotify Lossless through the current SDK is very challenging.
We cannot directly update or modify Spotify’s SDK, and therefore cannot support Spotify Lossless on existing models right now.
However, the new module RW800 , which supports Spotify Lossless and TIDAL Connect, is planned for release around March next year .

#35

Hi,

Thank you for your response. However, the explanation still does not align with the information provided by Spotify, nor with what competing manufacturers have already accomplished.

To avoid further confusion, could you please clarify the following:

  1. Has HiFi Rose initiated the Spotify Lossless certification process via Certomato?** This is the only official pathway for enabling Lossless, so a yes/no answer would be appreciated.
  2. Is the RS130 included in this certification process?The RS130 is a premium, Android-based platform, and technically should not require new hardware to support the updated Spotify SDK.
  3. Why is a new module necessary? Competing brands (KEF, Yamaha, Bluesound, WiiM, etc.) have already integrated Spotify Lossless purely through firmware.Can you explain why HiFi Rose cannot do the same?
  4. What is the expected timeline?A rough estimate (Q1, Q2, etc.) would be helpful.

I invested in the RS130 specifically because it was marketed as a flagship streamer with long-term software support. I simply want to understand the roadmap and why the communication so far has been inconsistent.
Thank you in advance for a clearer update.
Best regards,

Göran

1 Like
#36

@Gorsti

It appears that Spotify has recently changed its policy so that eSDK support is now only available through approved System Integrators (LinkPlay, Frontier Smart, Libre Wireless, StreamUnlimited, etc.).
At this time, we are unable to update the eSDK, which means Lossless support is not possible in the immediate future.
Therefore, we are currently unable to provide any schedule or timeline for this feature.

#37

Hi,

Thank you for your previous reply.
I just want to make sure I fully understand the situation regarding Spotify Lossless support.
You are saying that Spotify has recently changed its policy so that the new Lossless-enabled eSDK can only be implemented through approved System Integrators (LinkPlay, Frontier Smart, Libre Wireless, StreamUnlimited, etc.).

This means that existing Spotify Connect implementations cannot simply be updated — a new integration and a new Certomato certification are required?

Could you please confirm the following:

  1. Has HiFi Rose already initiated the new eSDK integration through one of the approved System Integrators?
  2. If so, is there any estimated timeline for Certomato approval and Lossless support?
  3. If not, is this planned, and what is preventing the process from beginning?

I appreciate your transparency, especially considering that many competing brands already have a clear roadmap for Spotify Lossless.

BR
Göran

1 Like
#38

@ROSEHAN

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1 Like
#39

I would like to highlight my consternation, too, as another customer who spent aorund 5k $ for an RS130 a year ago, assuming to get a cutting edge streaming transport that will comply with HighRes-streaming providers and that will be kept at the top at least for some time.

Spotify, the biggest audiostreaming provider worldwide, announced its lossless/pro/etc. cd-like version for many years, and it was very clear that they would have to upgrade sooner or later, pushed by their competition.
Every better smart phone and every simple computer, at least every simple mac from 0,5k $ is ready for Spotify lossless – and Hifi Rose tells us that they were not prepared? Or is Hifi Rose too small to be suported by Spotify?

If this stadium lasts for a longer time, Hifi Rose won´t be an option anymore in the profitable audiophile streamer segment, where people are willing to pay a lot for a proper handling of the last bit. Restricting this digital information by failing to get ready for Spotify Losless is a clear path downward. A nice and colourful touch screen in a fancy form won´t be sufficient.
Sad.

3 Likes
#40

@frank73

At this moment, enabling Spotify Lossless through the current SDK is very challenging.
We cannot directly update or modify Spotify’s SDK, and therefore cannot support Spotify Lossless on existing models right now.
However, the new module RW800 , which supports Spotify Lossless and TIDAL Connect, is planned for release around March next year .

Tidal Connect Support?
#41

Dear Rosehan, thank you kindly for your message. For our understanding of the matter, please help us understand how your challenge updating the Spotify SDK is mysterically overcome in launching a new product that should be working on/with the same SDK?

1 Like
#42

I have two guesses. 1) It is technically not feasible to retrofit existing models with the software update because of some hardware issue or 2) it is less expensive for Rose to create a second piece of hardware that can handle the third party software such as Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect from a licensing perspective. Plus users subsidize the cost through the purchase of the new device.

My only hope is that Rose figures out how to incorporate the third party software into future streamers because two boxes are clunky and add one more point of possible failure.

#43

What I don’t understand is the exact role of the RW800. It seems to be a fully functional streamer DAC. It receives a network connection and has digital and analog outputs. Presumably D to A conversion happens in the unit and the 2V output can be sent to a preamp. Alternatively a digital signal can be output to another streamer DAC via the USB out. For those of us with a multi thousand dollar investment is Rose hardware this would seem the way to go if we want to listen to Tidal or Spotify and get the benefits of the nice screen that we have come to love and presumably a better DAC. But who knows. I just think this is a really suboptimal solution but perhaps the only solution Rose could come up with outside of a complete recall of its devices that are out in the field.

1 Like
#44

Dear HiFi Rose users

For the newly released products, we are not simply incorporating the updated Spotify SDK to add Spotify Lossless. Instead, we are planning to integrate a dedicated module that already supports Spotify Lossless directly into the new devices.

At this time, we do not have a feasible method to add Spotify Lossless support to our existing products.
Therefore, we concluded that releasing the RW800 module and allowing it to connect to current Rose devices is the best possible solution.

#45

Thanks to ROSEHAN for that explanation and the outlook to have to connect externally an additional module, named RW800.

However, this looks like a substantial slackness in hardware development, as at least the RS130 is not an old product.

Therefore, it would be quite appropriate to offer that module a substantially reduced price or only at shipping costs to the owners of the respective devices in the field. We live in a world where digital updates maintain well developed devices, regularily for free, at least on that level of top-technology at top hardware prices. IN another field, automotive, OEM correct hardware defects at own costs, as well.

To sum up: Provide the RW800 to current hardware owners for free, to keep the top-market-claim alive.

#46

@frank73

We fully understand why this situation may feel frustrating, especially considering that the RS130 is a relatively recent product and positioned as a high-end device.
Your comparison to other industries and expectations around long-term support is completely understandable.

The decision to develop the RW800 as an external module was not taken lightly.
Unfortunately, due to technical and licensing constraints related to third-party services, it was not feasible to enable these features through a simple firmware update on existing hardware.
Developing an external module was determined to be the most reliable and future-proof solution without compromising performance or stability.

Regarding pricing or potential support options for existing customers, your feedback has been clearly noted.
While we are unable to confirm any specific policy such as free distribution at this time, we will make sure that your comments are shared internally with the relevant teams for consideration.

#47

Subject: Technical and Commercial Complaint – Lack of Software Update for RS150B

Dear ROSE / HiFi Rose,

I am the owner of your RS150B, a high-end product that I chose not only for its build and sound quality, but also in the expectation of long-term software support, which is now an essential requirement for devices in this category.

To my great surprise and dissatisfaction, I find myself in a situation where certain software updates are currently impossible without the use of an external module.
In 2025, with the technological means available today, I find it frankly unacceptable that a product like the RS150B cannot be updated natively and instead must rely on external solutions.

The use of an additional module such as the RW800, beyond being an evident technical workaround, is in my opinion an aesthetically and conceptually “dirty” solution, completely inconsistent with the philosophy and positioning of a high-end product like mine.
It is paradoxical that a premium device is effectively “capped” by an external add-on to compensate for limitations that should be addressed at the software level.

I find this technical and commercial policy absurd, especially considering the price and target market of the product. A customer who invests in an RS150B should never be forced to accept compromises of this nature.

The solution, allow me to be frank, is extremely simple:
invest in a competent software developer and properly update the system, rather than delegating to external modules what should be handled internally.

I look forward to your official response and to receiving clear explanations regarding your plans for future support of the RS150B, as the current situation is a source of great disappointment for me.

Kind regards

4 Likes
#48

Today if I want Spotify Lossless, I can take my iBasso DX180 DAP, use the SPDIF (coax) out to the RS520 and I have it.

The benefit is that if I want something portable… I just unplug it… turn off the SPDIF and plug in my headphones / IEMs.

Essentially any device that can plug into any of the RS520 inputs could be used to provide Spotify lossless.

I guess if you’re using eARC and your smart tv has spotify lossless (I don’t know if they do) you could also go that route too.