We identified a good deal of factors to really like about the HiFi Rose RS201E Streaming Amplifier in 2021. The touchscreen show and UI turned more usable soon after 6 firmware updates (in excess of quite a few months) and we were being thrilled when Qobuz grew to become a indigenous software on the system.
The device shown wonderful Wi-Fi balance in a residence filled with wi-fi products that are often competing for bandwidth. That may well seem trivial, but I have reviewed considerably a lot more expensive media streaming units that struggled with this sort of a undertaking.
The adaptability and connectivity choices produced it a no-brainer to make it the hub of our grasp bedroom listening procedure connected to a NAD amplifier that drives a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s. The fiddly toggle switch has develop into a issue of fixation for the dog and I’ve had to wipe it down 3 periods by now. Cease it Tyrion.
The inner electrical power amplifier was a tad lean sounding for my preferences with the relaxation of the system, and it could undoubtedly use a greater display screen and further power — which I often discovered odd looking at the mum or dad business, Citech, is a Korean IT software package corporation that also manufactures and sells interactive retail kiosks.
6 firmware updates. Glad these fellas did not make the voting devices in the United States. Envision the uproar.
The freshly announced HiFi Pink RS520 appears to incorporate all of the objects on my wishlist in a fairly interesting seeking situation with a a great deal better value tag as effectively.
Wendy Knowles of Naim & Focal is dreading my connect with on Monday.
What tends to make the RS520 streaming amplifier exciting is that it blends engineering from two of their present merchandise tea RS150 streaming DAC and RA180 integrated amplifier.
The Skinny
ORT (eCoustics’ resident linguist and media maven) is heading to put down his coffee when he discovers that the RS520 will be making use of an MQA-able ES9038Professional-based mostly decoder as its digital heart. The DAC supports up to 32-little bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512.
Just use Qobuz my buddy. It’s all heading to be ok.
The RA180’s Class Advertisement GanFet-primarily based amplifier is specified to output 250wpc into 8 ohms which helps make it additional potent than the Naim Uniti Atom and NAD M10 V2.
We however take into account the Naim Uniti Atom and NAD to be two of the ideal streaming amplifiers out there and the RS520 will have to offer you a better working experience than possibly one to be aggressive in the group at pretty much £3399 (continue to awaiting the closing USD/CDN pricing ).
Connectivity was a sturdy go well with of the RS201E and HiFi Rose is throwing almost everything but the kitchen sink at the RS520 the community amplifier will be Roon Prepared, and guidance Spotify Join, Apple AirPlay, and present its possess OS. TIDAL, Qobuz, Apple Tunes, and BUGS are all supported natively.
The RS520 also includes an HDMI-eARC input which will make it even additional eye-catching to people searching to construct a 2.1 songs/house theater program in their living place or den.
There is no subwoofer output, so you could possibly have to search at anything like a REL subwoofer with its connection system to make that function.
The RS520 can also be utilised as a preamplifier or digital supply (USB, Coaxial, Toslink) which makes it possible for you to operate it into a DAC or even energetic loudspeakers with its own inside DAC.
The 12.6″ 1920 x 515 touchscreen is an enhance in excess of the HiFi Rose unit makes use of in the much more inexpensive RS201E, and we somewhat like the new on-screen EQ characteristic that is a throwback to stand by itself equalizers of the 1970s.
One particular of the biggest alterations to the RS520 is an updated variation of the ROSE Link application the solitary most important flaw in the RS201E was the control app it was clunky and not quite responsive and usually puzzling to navigate.
A quick search at the new app reveals a considerably slicker interface that is additional responsive and we suspect that they have borrowed some style and design cues from Roon as inspiration.
Naim and NAD have the advantage on the front and I’ve never ever struggled to use the Naim application or NAD’s BluOS with their possess streaming amplifiers, Bluesound NODE, and Pulse Flex wireless loudspeakers.
The RS520 has the possible to problem the Uniti Atom for the Iron Throne but I would not guess from Naim right now.
For extra facts: eng.hifirose.com/RS520
Where by to acquire: £3,399 (~$4,000 USD). Expected this month (October 2022).
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