I’ve had the RS150B for about 2 months and I understand your complaints about about some of the complications involved in the software. But the regular software updates have continually improved the usability. As far as the sound quality, WOW, it sounds absolutely fantastic. That’s what I got it for. By the way, they are in process of adding tidal connect and Qobuz connect.
Barry thank you for adding your own experiences. It is a point I bring up several times, that the future quality of the software really depends on the future ambitions of its makers. What it does well, it does very well. They should strive for that in all aspects, and focus a bit more on the daily user experience IMO.
I agree with Stjernholm Reviews 100% . While it is true they have made software updates, many of the issues that the reviewer & I have pointed out were mentioned on the Rose Community forums from at least December, 2021. I'm going to stay hopeful but I'm not holding my breath. I have taken the suggestion to use the Roon interface (trial) as a workaround for the remote control issues and for now I'm pleasantly surprised.
I auditioned the Rose 150B and thought it was a bit Gimmicky...to much going on and a lot that needs fixed...but from sound alone Vs my Marantz model 40n, I thought the sound was to forward and lacked a quality and fullness...perhaps due to it being a class D amp and like I said...I think there's to much going and a lot that needs fixed...just my opinion...
@@briancampbell7712 I don’t know what electronics were in the system you were listening to, but the Rose 150B sounds incredible. Versus my $16,000 Luxman SACD player it matched or surpassed the Luxman in every area. There are 7 different filters on the Rose that can change the sound to your liking. Some are more forward sounding, some more laid back and some with no coloration whatsoever. I’ve had the HIFI Rose in my $150,000 system for almost a year and I couldn’t be happier!
Yes, this is the best review I have seen of this product, by far! Given some of the problems, such as the slow response of the screen, it makes me wonder about the other reviewers' veracity. How can one not mention such problems!
Hi Daren. The speed is ok. Its the touch response feel that just made me feel "disconnected". OK in a €500 product with a crap touch screen, but not in a €4.000 product.
We absolutely need more reviews like this, objective and honest, unlike most of the Yankee clickbait that populates TH-cam. Great work, of note, love the Danish English, refreshing and very impressive, keep it coming buddy.
I appreciate youre reviews very much. They are well structured and very detailed and over all, honest and logically comprehensible. You mention facts here, that many reviewers probably don´t mention. That is very important for buyers of equipment in this price categories, i think. (for example the usability of the Hifi Rose App, the user software or the unnecessary gimmicks). These are details (or should i better say annoyances ?) that often are underestimated. Dealers in the Shops often only highlight the pro´s. When you ask them about the con´s, they often downplay them. (of course, because they want to sell something, so it is no wonder). I just subscribed youre channel. (thumbs up) !
I have the RS 150B for the last 2 weeks and I cannot be happier with this beauty. It is the Ferrari of streamers. I am still learning a lot of things about "Audio and Video" and this machine has it all. Lastly, the "perfect streamer" does not exist since that depends on the customer's taste and to me the RS 150B is the closest thing to perfection.
Thank you for watching the channel & sharing! I am glad that you love your RS150. As I try to get though in the review: It really depends on how you want to use it. It can be heaven or hell depending on our needs and expectations. I love the concept.
Ted, thank you so much for the kind words, and for watching! I think how features on "the box" is "delivered" to the user is really important for long time owner satisfaction. It all has to come together to serve the user experience and not the marketing department :-)
Wow, I so appreciate the honest review! Everyone is all over this thing and I was about to pull the trigger. When I was playing around with it I felt the same things you stated. The menus is very cumbersome and not intuitive. I’ll subscribe to your channel just based on this review alone. Please don’t change your candor.
Thank you so, so much for doing this review - it’s the first time I found your channel actually and having watched this and a few other of your videos, your style and honest, no nonsense approach has really grown on me. As for the HiFi Rose equipment, that too was something I only recently discovered when looking at alternatives for a high end streaming DAC and Roon endpoint. Seen a lot of high end retailers stocking this equipment from a brand I’d never heard of, but was nevertheless a little wary of whether this would be style over substance and, as is almost always the case with HiFi, money spent on additional components or features just to give an impressive spec sheet can mean compromises have been made on the essential items as a result, or it ends up being more expensive than you really needed to pay with a lot of the features you never actually use. I get the impression that HiFi Rose ended up trying too hard to please everyone, at the cost of the finished quality of some functionality and usability. Saw this a lot on the Roon forums, with people demanding “essential” new features that were not really very good or for everyone. Glad Roon actively listens to us users, but stays true to it’s core beliefs and vision on what the product should be and do, and when it decides to implement something new it is almost always very well considered, thought out and implemented. HiFi Rose should maybe take a good, careful look at Roon and decide which direction it should head in, make sure it does whatever that is really well, and not fall in to the trap of trying to please add every feature forum members suggest 😉
Stephen, first of all. THANK YOU for watching the channel. Second, you are absolutely right. It happens often with asian products, that they try to do everything, to please everybody. Its a Asian culture thing. Check out some of their electric cars, where the same happens. The hard part about making a compelling product is actually how to make it simple, effective and loveable. I can forgive the RS150 for a lot of this, if the display had been absolutely premium quality and features could be disabled. There is nothing like it, as far as I know.
Don't comment that often but feel I need to praise you on such a well balanced, detailed, honest review. These days most reviewers just go over the good points (as though they are being sponsored) but it becomes like an advert and you find they just mention theoretical stuff that is in the booklets. Think it's important that a reviewer has lived with the product a few weeks to really acquire a feel and be able to give a proper review.
That what I think is important. But even though, you should always check out the stuff yourself if it catches your interest. Thank you for watching the channel!
Hello, I have been living with the Hifi Rose RS150B for almost six months now. I have found it to offer a level of versatility unmatched by other DAC/Streamers. I also think it's sound quality is extremely good, perhaps not the equal of some higher priced DACs, but all in all, very, very good. I recently compared it directly with a Lumin T3 in my system and although both are quite good, I much preferred the tonality of the Rose. As a streamer, I have no complaints at all. I primarily stream Qobuz and I have been very satisfied with the Rose App's format and functionality. However, when it comes to both my local network music files' access and their management, it is not a mature platform. The same holds true for storing music on an internal SSD. I have installed a Samsung 4TB SSD and once I realized how challenging if not impossible it would be to copy files from external drives via USB, and equally challenging over the Network, I defaulted to ripping CD's. It was then that I learned the Rose OS doesn't always recognize the CD's "metadata", i.e., its album art, title and songs, sometimes overlaying a completely different and totally unrelated artist and album. The music is correct, but it is incorrectly associated. To make matters worse, I don't think it can be edited on the internal SSD, at least I have not figured that out. So, what's my point of adding this comment now? It is to acknowledge that the review is honest, and with the exception of opinion of sound quality as compared to the Cocktail Audio and Oppo machines, which is subjective and somewhat system dependent, I am in agreement.
Bravo for such a honest review. Absolutely loved your straight forward and open candour . I've been considering the RS 150B lately. And will still buy it most likely because I watch a lot of TH-cam music videos. And when I tried optical out from my TV to my dac, the sound really sucked. So eARC is definitely the way ahead. And I only know 2 products with hdmi functionality. The rose and the lumin P1. Though the P1 is very serious money. So looks like the rose mostly. But again, thanks for covering the rose in such intricate and transparent detail. Every other review was just gushing praise. And maybe you can convey to the dealer too, that an honest review won't dent sales. Iam mostly likely buying one. No peice of audio gear is ever perfect. But we still buy them when their strong points out weigh their flaws.
I am not here to bash products. I am here to offer my perspective. As I stress in the video, it is a great product, if you stay within what it does well. If someone was to buy it to be a great new way of storing and browsing their CD`s, they would currently be dissapointed. Or if they buy the rose to be a great internet radio discovery browser.. But just using it as a DAC or as a roon endpoint it is great! Good luck, and let us know how your HDMI adventure worked out. Remember, the rose has "Rose tube" digging into youtube. Might be just what you are looking for. Thank you for watching the channel!
I love your reviews. It would be good to hear your verdict on the relatively new HiFi Rose 130 streamer being a year on, with improved hardware and resolved bug fixes.
We shall see! I think its a great Idea to re-visit these software driven products that has great potential to become better user experiences all the time.
@GBGOLC a revisit is in the pipeline. Can say when, but it's on the list. All these software driven products should be re-reviewed after 24 months IMO.
@@stjernholmreviews That’s great, because I have short listed the Technics SU-R1000 with the HiFi Rose 130B as my next pure digital (except speakers) system. I just need audition them over the next few weeks, If it sounds good then I’ll buy.
I see that this video was posted a year ago. Do you know if any of the "con" issues have been addressed by the manufacturer? It's alot of money to drop if there are still concerns. I do appreciate the honest assessment.
Thank you for using the Oppo 205 to compare. I'm lucky enough to own that model and looking for a streamer for Qobuz in hi-res.... So I can dump the expensive monthly cost of Roon. But I'm really not sure how much better the DAC will be in a streamer that it is in that awesome machine, which carries the top of the line ESS 9038Pro DACs. Literally does 90% of what a streamer can do so I don't want to overlap features... I'm taking my time seeing what's out there. 0:03
Depends on what you want in a streamer. You can find the ones I have reviewed in this playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLg8I5SKH6xxlWagKeimoTVgR67kUKGIhh.html
@@stjernholmreviewsThanks to that link I think I just found my pot of gold I've been searching a while for: the Technics GX70. Until I dump Roon on my main system, I can use it on my back bedroom system which has a tur table & nice custom speakers to get Qobuz/internet radio. Then I can hook it up in my main system and use the pre-outs to go to my Audio Research multi-channel preamp. Steven has analog in to hook up my modified Sony HD radio unit. This thing has everything!
I am so glad to hear your opinion. I had my fair share of bad experiences with Rose's products 2 years ago. As I read their community problems keep poping all the time. No Tidal connect, despite being advertised, to date! Lagging software, slow and outdated system soon to be obsolete and simply weak to any malicious attacks. Yes, it sounds OK but nowadays one can buy a standalone dac that sounds as good for a fraction of the price. To me Hifi Rose streamers are half baked goods at a premium price. Finnally a review that hits all the cons, so on point.
I have 2 'reference' systems but only one streamer, the Rose RS130. I need to add another streamer and possibly one with a DAC (the RS130 is streamer only). This brings me to your review. I can relate to some of your comments regarding the complexity of the Rose and I don't have a reference point to other streamers because I don't review streamers, only watch TH-cam video's from other reviewers. I have the RS130 which has a better screen. But I am surprised by some of your comments. I'll start with the quality of the DAC which is important, especially in a upper tier system. In your review, I don't recall which DAC filter was chosen. I think to be fair, chose the filter that works best in your system. Maybe you did and I missed it. I believe the 'default filter' may be a fast rolloff filter which can sound aggressive or bright? I have not noticed a slow screen response. But I have not played with others and, I have the RS130, not the 150. I like the fact that it does have HDMI out to our TV. Watching music video's is a new sensation that we really appreciate. That's a big checkmark. Rose radio is amazing! My Russian wife, also an audiophile, can tune into her former local radio station(s), or nearly anywhere in Russia. And the interface is great. Another big checkmark. Prior to the Rose, we used Roon (still do), which is great, and prior to that, my Holo May KTE, HQPlayer, Ultrarendu..., she could never begin to even 'turn it on'. Even with the Rose's complexity, she's happy with it, so much so, I find myself moving the Rose upstairs and downstairs between systems. Pain in the ... Over the years I've come top appreciate the advent of streaming high end audio systems that can be controlled by those who have no interest in attempting to simply play a favorite song. Of course there's a simpler solution. Grab a favorite album from your rack, place it on a turntable, needle down, source selected, BAM. Regarding the Rose 130, using my Allnic DAC in front of a Legacy Wavelet II which also uses a DAC for room processing , the sound is so wide, deep and 3D, it's shocking, and this is what the Rose RS130 adds to. I know that the RS150 won't perform the same way as its pure streamer sister, but I'd be hopeful it could come close. I believe too, that one could add a DAC to the RS150B? So, I am curious how the Rose RS150B would sound using its onboard DAC and how it might comapre to say an Audiolab 9000n? Relialabilty is suspect. I'm on my second RS130 and my second RS780 CD transport. I like your honest assessment, pointing out frustrations that others should be aware of. Great review, Bravo.
Hi! I have a question about this unit (RS150), Can i stick a usb into it and play movies / surround sound test tracks in dolby / dts audio formats? Including atmos and dts x? Also, can it support Bluetooth audio?
I have a question about the i2s RJ45 connection on the RS150. Would it be compatible with the B&O Beolab 28 RJ45 Powerlink connection? Or would it require a special cable? Or is that not even possible? Thank you.
I am currently into a search for streaming DAC and cd player solution to replace my Marantz ND8006 and besides, it has to have a better DAC than Hegel H190 that I am using. This is on my list although doesn't play cd's directly. X45 pro is also on my list. I would love to see your take on the new technics sl-g700m2. I am more into quality than fancy displays... Thank you for the good work!
Thanks man! Yes, it is in the pipeline the Technics, was scheduled for week 8, but I have not seen it yet. What are your selection criteria for this new source you are after? Are you like me, that uses many sources of music, or are you commited to one or two? The Technics looks like a great combination on paper and has that SACD drive too. DAC wise I have no idea what they cooked up this time, but if it is anywhere near what I heard the SU-R1 do for digital music, there is potential! Thank you for watching the channel. Be sure to check out the X45 Pro review too for perspective.
@@stjernholmreviews Thank you Sir, indeed I am a cd guy as much as I am into streaming. I use Tidal and got intrigued by MQA that Marantz doesn't do. But I like Marantz design, is robust and reliable, it is gapless. Tehnics seems very near and on top seems proposes a potent DAC. Watched your review on x45, looks good but I am not sure it is my thing though. Looking forward to your future reviews!
Help me out...please tell me the best possible setup using my Dali rubicon 2 speakers...I'm presently using marantz model 40n, Rel T7x...class B to me sounds better than class D and I need ARC...I think I need more power to get the most out of these Dali rubicon 2 ...
Hi Brian. There is no such thing. It really is all about your own ears & music longterm. Amp power is a matter of how much is actually needed. That is a mixture of speaker sensitivity, listening distance and your sound pressure preferences that determines that. I have heard class D amplifiers that sings to heaven, and a lot who does not. My current reference is very fast switching amps with hybrid technology, using class A for the input stage. Again, what is right for you can not be determined without knowing a lot more about you and the specifics of music, room, listening style, and other gear. Good luck, and let us know your experiences finding that amp.
@@stjernholmreviews Hey...I want to thank you for showing me these...do the amps warm up the sound a bit ? So you think I'll have success with the Lyngdorf 3400 and these two mono blocks? You must really love them to keep them for a reference👍🏼...should it smoke my marantz model 40n...of course the cost is quite a bit more so I hope so...my local dealer doesn't sell these so I can't audition them🥶
@@briancampbell7712 Why dont you give the 3400 a listen first. Use the internal amps? The cool thing is that it gives you so many options down the road being a centerpiece with so many possibilities. Then you can try other amps with it down the road. The Nuprime Evolution just came out in a new version. It is great, and very warm sounding. It is extremely powerful too. But on my system and to MY ears, I found the EVO one to be a better suit for my preferences, strangely enough. It just confirms, that there is no real advice that can be given, without undestanding what YOU like, and hearing YOUR room. Thats why I am called a AV Therapist. I help people finding the sound of their dreams.
I've been dreaming about this unit over the last year. So glad I watched this review. I think I'll wait a couple of years and see it they work out the bugs or if anyone else puts out something better at a cheaper price. No way I am putting down $5,375 for this thing. I could see Bluesound putting out a competing unit for a lot less.
Well... I think you should try to focus on WHAT you want to use it for. It does matter that there is bugs, if you dont intend to use the affected features. I think a lot of users simply do not use nearly all the features. As I say in the review: If you just want a great sounding, good looking endpoint for Roon or spotify, this thing is very unique. What do you want from a full size streamer - center piece?
A wise decision to wait. HiFi Rose streamers run modified Android 7.1 and that's already old. It will soon be unsafe because of no updates on Android itself. A vulnerable device with full Android capability is a paradise for hackers to try to get in and take over your network.
@@stjernholmreviews My pleasure. Very good, honest review. For buying a high-end amplifier, a shop let me test the amplifier with this HiFi Rose as the source. I had never seen one before but within 10 minutes I had it going with a playlist set up via the app. Very intuitive. Then there was the impressive sound, it has indeed a very good DAC (and it showed the amplifier is up to it as well). But the soon-to-be-obsolete RoseOS means a no-no for me. Or as an alternative, wait a few years, pick one up at a bargain and use it as a DAC without network connection.
@@stjernholmreviews Ah that's a shame. I was going to get the Eversolo DMP A6 but everywhere I looked, they were out of stock. In the end I decided on Eversolo DAC Z8 and JF MX-Pro digital transport and streamer (via android apps). Great combination.
Unfrequent but brilliant. Perhaps these two categories determine each other. Very good value for a free review! BTW I liked the small fraction of that Beastie Boys track, I think from Paul's Boutique, being one of the best Hip Hop albums of all time. And non-DLNA is a no go, even for me as a Roon User.
Thanks Richard. I spend a lot of time with the products, and often forget to shoot the stuff I need to do a video! 🙂 "Nerdy by nature" I guess. I have several new reviews in the making, but it takes time, and as you mention, the channel is not monitized, so basiclly I work to pay for the channel. Thats the price of being independent. Thank you for watching! Keep the ideas coming, and let me know what YOU find the most interesting, and what you could be without.
Spot on review. I have had the 150b for close to a month and think perhaps you were a bit too kind, lol. The good: fantastic 2 channel playback. I'm using an internal 2TB drive which has worked perfectly. The bad: the app/user interface is a laughable, hot mess. Head-scratching translations from Korean, e.g. Output selection - active/ unactive?? Inactive maybe? Ridiculous playlist editing/navigation. Literally every OS and app in the world I've used works on the premise of selecting a file(s) or folder and then choosing an action: copy/paste/move, etc. With the Rose app if you want to remove a file from a playlist you first select the delete icon, then select the file, then confirm the delete. WTF? C'mon, really? And then as you point out, screen after screen of useless, overwhelming drivel that you can't hide. Yeah‚ that's what I paid $5,000 for. The passthrough implementation as of now is, to be generous, broken. Suprisingly I got a few mka files (Abbey Road Atmos) to play in 5.1 no Atmos data passed to AVR. None, of my multichannel FLAC files passed through properly. All we’re output as 2 channel only. My lowly $200 Nvidia Shield has no problem with multichannel output. I’m thinking such a premium product as the Rose should be able to achieve the same. Particularly when they state it has that capability. Some of these issues like proper translations should have been done BEFORE product launch. Fingers-crossed, they can address these issues through software updates. Again, sound quality - stellar, user experience - abysmal. Thx again & subscribed.
Stack Cats, thank you for your perspective on the RS150, and thank you for watching the channel! In regards to the ATMOS passthough. Did you remember to turn on the bitstream passthrough option on the HDMI?
@@stjernholmreviews Yes‚ of course. As I said‚ of the mka files I extracted from Blu-ray, the Beatles Abbey Road files did play in 5.1. So, the passthrough was functioning. I didn't expect the Atmos data to be passed through to my AVR. So, I would say maybe partial success for that one. Other mka files which I extracted, for example Hans Zimmer - Live in Prague, Trondheimsolistene - Lux, etc. did not play at all. Once I downloaded the VLC player and used that instead of the default player the Atmos music files did play but only in 2 channel. All of my multichannel FLAC files from 5.1 to 7.1 (Kraftwerk 3-D) output in 2 channel only. As I said the 150b has great sound quality for sure, I just wish they would have spent more time on some of the basics of the user experience/remote control. There are plenty of good examples of software interfaces they could have taken inspiration from e.g. Denon Heos, Plex, Neutron Media Player, Roon, etc. If they are able to fix the remote interface, the passthrough issues and improve the quality of the touchscreen to current standards they would have a 5 star product IMHO.
It means the target device for the digital audio from the network. Roon serving audio to the RS-150 makes the RS-150 a "roon end-point". Thank you for watching the channel!
Hi Stjernholm, just to say to you that for those who don't have the money to buy a HIFI Rose, You should take a look at the EverSolo DMP-A6 Streamer... No 4k video but focused on music with a screen that looks a lot like the HiFi Rose ! And the price is a bargain ;-) If you could make one day a test on this thing ! Regards from Paris !
@@stjernholmreviews Hi, thanks for answer. Naim Unity Atom and RS150GS are very similar products, the only difference is that Atom (in it's HDMI version) has also the amp function, or, for me more interesting the HEADPHONE version, which can act only as pre-amp besides it's streaming capacity. I am really balancing between those 2 choices.
Very good clear and well paced review. I just want a stand alone , non PC, method of ripping my cd and CD-R collection for safe keeping and to burn flash drives etc . The UK Brennan machines seem or be deliberately simple un technical and very user friendly. This machine you are describing seems far too involved and probably over speced for my use
Hello Andrew, and sorry for the late reply! Well, it might be overspec`ed, as they try to serve everybody, but at the same time all functions are very "siloed", so all that functionality does not stress each "silo". I use it primarily for what you want. Rip CD and browse/mix them in interesting ways. Especially the "mood" feature is a favorite of mine as well as the way it sounds. It also serves as a endpoint for roon and spotify for me, and can make it as a OK pre-amp as well.
Wow thanks for this great review, I have the oppo 105 which sounds very similar to the 205 I read so I guess I should find a good analog amp instead because I don't want to get rid of it...or pay too much for nothing when I already have great sound, I don't stream much besides TH-cam anyway, the new Yamaha rn2000a could be a great choice too but not sure if its dac will override everything from my oppo...Can't wait to find what I need😄✌👏🏼
The RN2000a looks like a great possibility. You can have the sound of our oppo just by connecting it using the analog outputs. In that case, what you hear is the oppo and the amplification of the Yamaha. You can connect the oppo digitally as well to the RN2000a, and in that case you will hear the DAC of the receiver instead. You can even do both, and flip between them on the Receiver to hear what you like best. In either case.. it's a matter of JUST LISTEN. Thanks for watching the channel!
@@stjernholmreviews thank you very much for the kind reply! They're taking some time to release the Yamaha haha the new rose 520 looks interesting too and even the Marantz cinema series in case I want to keep my surround speakers...hope you'll be reviewing the Audiolab 9000a as well. If money wasn't a problem, the Technics sr1000 would probably be the one while upgrading my turntable to a Technics too...thanks and good continuation to you!
I was close to buying the less expensive streamer/amp. I assume it has the same kind of issues? Your other reviews got me interested in others so my quest continues. Very interested in the room correction feature of the other.
Very thorough review. It’s easy to get caught up in the eye candy and futuristic features, but sound quality should be the top consideration at that price. The Teac 701n is a straight forward competitor to the rose.
Hello Tom. The Teac is without a doubt a great Roon endpoint and DAC, but I cant see how it offers remotely the possibilities of the HIFI Rose? There is no local playback, radio, ripping, storage database or cover art display on the TEAC. Thus calling it a competitor is far fetched 🙂. Its another product category, seeking to do something else. Thanks for watching! Let me know what you find interesting for future reviews!
Thanks for this great review. Many of the reviews in the US have been raving about Hifi Rose, but don't provide this level of detail other than being impressed with the display. The icons on the Rose look like iPhone skeuomorphism circa 2012. I find most hifi products with LCD displays don't stand the test of time...not even 5 years. The newest Hifi Rose RA 180 is again exciting reviewers/retailers with its "steampunk" volume control with cogs and gears. Also, thanks for revealing its DLNA limitations. For those who don't want to pay for Roon, DLNA and UPnP are necessary. Products like the Pro-Ject Streambox S2 and the Ifi Zen Stream use Volumio for UI, which also has limitations, but at least the prices are better Volumio occasionally updates software.
You ar ethe first guy on TH-cam reviewing the RS150 and pointing out what ugly and unusable software it has. Something as simple as playing a whole genre is imposible in this machine. Plus, all the other things you mentioned and many others. They should license Roon core and run it locally and the machine would be perfect. Kudos for your review.
Except for the sexy VU meters, I can stream pretty much any service using my Yamaha WiFi receiver and my Android phone. To me, this device is little more than expensive eye candy. I have had my Yamaha for 5 or 6 years and it cost a fraction of the Rose RS150. I can play FLAC and other common formats, hook up external devices like CD, and even stream from Amazon Echo device nearby. I am not super wealthy, but have far more than enough disposable income to by RS150, but just can't see paying that much for something this expensive. Now it if had a 150wpc amp I might feel differently, but for getting 50wpc for this kind of money is just a super poor value.
Hi Shenmi. There is no poweramp in the RS150. Its a DAC/Streamer meant to be high-end sounding eye candy in your rack. (it can also function as a preamp, data storage and network server)
The statement about the DLNA client is not really justified Morten, accessing the network files via a file share gives better quality and skips the DLNA server as bottleneck ! Good story anyway, love your honest opinion 👍
Thank you for your honest review, I just got one and even though some of the bugs you describe have been fixed some major ones are still present. The volume control when being used as a pre-amp being the biggest one.... Do not use this unit as a pre-amp if you like your speakers... it is terrible.
Hello Veteq. Thank you for commenting and confirming. Yes, it is something to consider, revisiting software driven products 24 months later for a "updated review". Much can change depending on how ambitious the company in question are. Thank you for watching the channel!
I can only assume that this review is like it is because lt was done some months ago, because having bought it just in March 2023 I totally disagree with everything bad he has to say. The screen is super responsive , all the function work brilliantly and the sound quality is tremoundous, I really can not recommend this unit enough 😀
Hi Andy. Thank you for joining the conversation. What has happened to the software since then? Would you be kind enough to address the critique given, by testing the things that is mentioned in the review and letting us know what software version you are on. Has a real internet radio browsing service been implemented? New type of display? Tell us about it!
@Stjernholm Reviews I can't comment on what's changed,as I've had the Rose for two weeks and it's software version 4.5. All I can say is the screen is almost instant and extremely responsive. I use Qobuz and admiterly I use it via a Roon necleus and it works perfectly. The quality of the screen is perfect and don't see how it could be any better. The sound quality with the Luxman L-507z Amp and Dali rubicon 6 floorstanding speakers I think is completely brilliant, and in my opinion (at this price point of £16000 approx.) can't be beaten (personal view of course) The area I will totally agree with you is on the radio, the lack of being able to put url in of stations you want (quality is good) In speaking to my dealer he said that they put that feature in the last update, but it went wrong and caused problems, so on version 4.5 they had to remove it, but they are working hard to fix that for the next update 😉 Hifi and equipment is of course often personal but I love the HiFi Rose and it works seamlessly in my system but would agree having Roon (which is brilliant) helps a lot 😀
@@andystokes377 Andy, it seems to me like you did not see the review in its entirety then? I am clearly stressing, that if you want to use the RS150 as a roon endpoint "and thats it" you will be perfectly fine. You start out by saying "This guy is wrong", how can you do that , if you are not elaborating on any of the features I criticise? In regards to the display, do you find it as responsive as your apple tablet or phone? Do you think that the display is perfect when viewed in an angle (like maintaining brightness and contrast?). What about metadata when ripping your own CD`s? Is that correct with data in the right fields? Can you browse for radiostations now? Is HDMI video output able to change framerate according to the source content and HDR compatible? Can you remove things you dont use from the main menu? That is what the other viewers would like to know that could "update" their knowledge on the progress HIFI Rose might be making on this product. That would add value to the conversation. When someone makes an effort to tell you the up and downs in a review, and you start out by saying he is wrong and all is great, you got to bring in more detail about your own experience with the things criticized in the review. 😆. If you have anything factual that has been improved since the review, I will even feature it in the HIFI NEWS & Quick Reviews show. Let me know.
@@stjernholmreviews Hi, Yes every bit as good as my samsung smart phone in terms of responsiveness and yes at whatever angle i view it at, although I haven't tried it standing on my head, drinking a pint of stella lol. The metadata in the 900 CD's I put into the hard drive seem perfect to me. As I said in my previous reply they tried to put radio station searching in on the last update but it caused problems, so they had to remove it on version 4.5 but I understand talking to the dealer that they are working hard to correct it so they can add it on their next update, did you not read my last reply in its entirely? The HDMI output seems fine to me the few times I've used it, I did not encounter any problems. Yes you can remove things from the screen that you don't want or add them back if you change your mind and also remove/add source/outputs. Yes I am using it as a Roon endpoint but also have used and tried all the features on the Rose both by interaction on the screen and using the excellent HiFI Rose app. I know that you are giving a honest review as you see it and that I totally believe that but although to be fair you did list the things you found good with the Rose the overall impression I got from your review was that you didn't like it and tbh if I had seen your review before I bought it, I probably would not have purchased something I find amazing. Also I did read about 10 other review's before I bought the Rose, and while I understand some has axe's to grind as in, they were selling the item or hoped to get units off Rose to review in the future and didn't want to upset Rose, not all are like that and all the other reviews were overall very positive about the unit accept yours (as I said I didn't see yours till after my purchase) As i said in my original comments I suspect a lot of the problems were due to the fact that I understand Rose initially did not get things right in some areas but have since corrected most in updates ( and yes still working on some) I do agree that manufactures should not release items too early and let customers test for them but don't think Rose was truly attempting to do that, no ones perfect but they are trying to correct anything that's wrong once they get feedback.
I totally agree. I am not trying to bash HIFI Rose, only pointing out obvious things that needs work or are suboptimal choices. The concept is great, and as I point out pretty clearly, - Software driven, meaning that it is totally up to their software development. Some companies abandon their great products ( like Sony), while others constantly improves and optimise their platform and use it for multiple products. How often and how well they fix and improve things, tells the story about their visions and capabilities with software development and undestanding the magic of crafting great user experiences. Customers tend to end up loving great products, while not so much on gimmicky "feature bombs" that does not deliver that cohesive music discovering and empowering experience. Its like with restaurants. The ones with the 10 page menu, usually dont make as great food as the one that dares to have only one page :-) To be honest, I think the endless scroll menu that cant be customized with your favorite stuff is the biggest design mistake in the RS150. Again, something that is easy to fix, but requires a real vision for how the experience should feel. See my Bluesound review for context on this, and for gods sake.. remember a line space once in a while for better readability, and I will buy a nose hair trimmer in return! :-D
I have the Rose RS250 streamer . While the sound is excellent, the software is full of bugs. Worse at all , when playing video files from its own ssd or my home network, the videos frequently stutter or freeze. No updates have fixed this serious issue over the last two years. Really bad, as this is not a cheap range. RoseConnect is also rubbish on all platforms.
What nobody told me before I bought this hunk of junk...is that it has a sync problem with the tv...Being a gamer I now use the tv sound because the sound running through this € 4400,- euro machine is absolutly useless, I mean in the seconds(!!!!) delay. I tried both optical and Arc HDMI but to no avail... I send an email to Rose and I got back that they are working on it...this thing has been on the market for what...2 years? maybe even more
San Diego... did you stop watching from there? The review sample was delivered by a local reseller. Only thing they get in return is the honorable mention, something they did not even ask for. Thats how it works. Thank you for watching and happy new year!
@@stjernholmreviews seller want to sell. if he has the device in the program, it's not because someone forced him to do it. He wants advertising for himself and this device and not bashing. So you are not independent. If you don't do what he expects, he won't send you anything.
@@jamapaza Hmnn.. The way it works here is: "I would like to borrow that unit, please. I will review it on my independent channel. You have no say in the content, but I will be honest in my subjective opinion and have fun!". The only more independent way would be to buy the gear every time... That means that all the fun stuff is ruled out, and I would have to get in the selling business as well. Imagine the pressure of buying a € 30.000 speaker system that is shit, that you have to sell again.. To me, that would probably be a even bigger challenge to the integrity of the reviews, if I had to unload expensive speakers on the market and my livelihood dependent on it! The other way, the channel is free, and there is no money interests, and all we do is being thankful to the kind local businesses that loans their stock to us. I make a living doing consulting, often for clients that meet me though the channel. Is there anything I overlooked integrity wise here? Can it be done in a better way you think? BTW: Also remember, I got the power to ask somebody else, and I also have the power to tell the viewer, that somebody would not accept the terms for the review...
I hated it, the software crashed over and over, I had two units S250 software updates and both bricked the system. So I moved on.... Although their newer Int. Amp looks good..
haha 😂, well, i think that is a unfair comparison. Android is pretty solid in itself, so building a audio device on it is not a bad idea. What else should they use for the basic platform other than Linux?
Every other reviews are ga-ga over this product, only YOU dived into the shortcomings of the User Interface, please don't apologize, if only old geezers care about this, so I say youngster are being desensitized by crappy non-design programmers. If I am paying usd$5K, I demand a well designed, 3-clicks to my music, even my Grandma can work it product. Tesla fanboys put up with uneven metal panels, really, and you charging me a premium? No-no-no. Not intended to be racist but Asians don't know $^#%& about UI.
Well. you say it in clear terms :-D . That would also be the design principle I would lay down for any consumer product, seeking to elevate user empowerment.
@@dorningarts Thats not what is being said. What being said is that no other review dare to be honest about what is actually not very cool with this product. Here you get a more nuanced story. I love that you hate clickbait, me too! But most people are not that smart, that they will pay attention without, unfortunately. Give it a chance, and let me know if you think the review dont deserve that title. If you find any other reviews pointing out anything like I do, we can discuss to change the title. I dont want to be called clickbait. Hate that sh*t. Thank you for caring, man!
@@dorningarts Likewise. Please give YOUR honest review of the video or ask questions that was not answered. It makes me become better at serving the most serious audiophiles that are my target audience.
Maybe you got hurt by some other channels, but I am pretty sure you did not see the entire review before posting that comment 😜. Also check out the Gold Note DS-10 review, and let me know what you think. Thank you for watching the channel, and remember: You will know everything, if you just listen.
I’ve had the RS150B for about 2 months and I understand your complaints about about some of the complications involved in the software. But the regular software updates have continually improved the usability. As far as the sound quality, WOW, it sounds absolutely fantastic. That’s what I got it for. By the way, they are in process of adding tidal connect and Qobuz connect.
Barry thank you for adding your own experiences. It is a point I bring up several times, that the future quality of the software really depends on the future ambitions of its makers. What it does well, it does very well. They should strive for that in all aspects, and focus a bit more on the daily user experience IMO.
I agree with Stjernholm Reviews 100% . While it is true they have made software updates, many of the issues that the reviewer & I have pointed out were mentioned on the Rose Community forums from at least December, 2021. I'm going to stay hopeful but I'm not holding my breath. I have taken the suggestion to use the Roon interface (trial) as a workaround for the remote control issues and for now I'm pleasantly surprised.
" they are in process of adding tidal connect ". No, they are not any more.
I auditioned the Rose 150B and thought it was a bit Gimmicky...to much going on and a lot that needs fixed...but from sound alone Vs my Marantz model 40n, I thought the sound was to forward and lacked a quality and fullness...perhaps due to it being a class D amp and like I said...I think there's to much going and a lot that needs fixed...just my opinion...
@@briancampbell7712 I don’t know what electronics were in the system you were listening to, but the Rose 150B sounds incredible. Versus my $16,000 Luxman SACD player it matched or surpassed the Luxman in every area. There are 7 different filters on the Rose that can change the sound to your liking. Some are more forward sounding, some more laid back and some with no coloration whatsoever. I’ve had the HIFI Rose in my $150,000 system for almost a year and I couldn’t be happier!
Yes, this is the best review I have seen of this product, by far! Given some of the problems, such as the slow response of the screen, it makes me wonder about the other reviewers' veracity. How can one not mention such problems!
Hi Daren. The speed is ok. Its the touch response feel that just made me feel "disconnected". OK in a €500 product with a crap touch screen, but not in a €4.000 product.
We absolutely need more reviews like this, objective and honest, unlike most of the Yankee clickbait that populates TH-cam. Great work, of note, love the Danish English, refreshing and very impressive, keep it coming buddy.
Thanks man! I really appreciate it! Thank you for watching and engaging. Please let me know if something is off the mark too!
Exactly👍🏼
I appreciate youre reviews very much. They are well structured and very detailed and over all, honest and logically comprehensible. You mention facts here, that many reviewers probably don´t mention. That is very important for buyers of equipment in this price categories, i think. (for example the usability of the Hifi Rose App, the user software or the unnecessary gimmicks). These are details (or should i better say annoyances ?) that often are underestimated. Dealers in the Shops often only highlight the pro´s. When you ask them about the con´s, they often downplay them. (of course, because they want to sell something, so it is no wonder). I just subscribed youre channel. (thumbs up) !
I have the RS 150B for the last 2 weeks and I cannot be happier with this beauty. It is the Ferrari of streamers. I am still learning a lot of things about "Audio and Video" and this machine has it all. Lastly, the "perfect streamer" does not exist since that depends on the customer's taste and to me the RS 150B is the closest thing to perfection.
Thank you for watching the channel & sharing! I am glad that you love your RS150. As I try to get though in the review: It really depends on how you want to use it. It can be heaven or hell depending on our needs and expectations. I love the concept.
how are you using it ? as a pre amp as well as a streaming end point ?
Fantastic review. Really intelligent insights. I like the fact that you look at ergonomics and usability of the various features.
Ted, thank you so much for the kind words, and for watching! I think how features on "the box" is "delivered" to the user is really important for long time owner satisfaction. It all has to come together to serve the user experience and not the marketing department :-)
Wow, I so appreciate the honest review! Everyone is all over this thing and I was about to pull the trigger. When I was playing around with it I felt the same things you stated. The menus is very cumbersome and not intuitive. I’ll subscribe to your channel just based on this review alone. Please don’t change your candor.
Thank you so, so much for doing this review - it’s the first time I found your channel actually and having watched this and a few other of your videos, your style and honest, no nonsense approach has really grown on me. As for the HiFi Rose equipment, that too was something I only recently discovered when looking at alternatives for a high end streaming DAC and Roon endpoint.
Seen a lot of high end retailers stocking this equipment from a brand I’d never heard of, but was nevertheless a little wary of whether this would be style over substance and, as is almost always the case with HiFi, money spent on additional components or features just to give an impressive spec sheet can mean compromises have been made on the essential items as a result, or it ends up being more expensive than you really needed to pay with a lot of the features you never actually use.
I get the impression that HiFi Rose ended up trying too hard to please everyone, at the cost of the finished quality of some functionality and usability. Saw this a lot on the Roon forums, with people demanding “essential” new features that were not really very good or for everyone. Glad Roon actively listens to us users, but stays true to it’s core beliefs and vision on what the product should be and do, and when it decides to implement something new it is almost always very well considered, thought out and implemented. HiFi Rose should maybe take a good, careful look at Roon and decide which direction it should head in, make sure it does whatever that is really well, and not fall in to the trap of trying to please add every feature forum members suggest 😉
Stephen, first of all. THANK YOU for watching the channel. Second, you are absolutely right. It happens often with asian products, that they try to do everything, to please everybody. Its a Asian culture thing. Check out some of their electric cars, where the same happens. The hard part about making a compelling product is actually how to make it simple, effective and loveable. I can forgive the RS150 for a lot of this, if the display had been absolutely premium quality and features could be disabled. There is nothing like it, as far as I know.
seems the company tried throwing in the kitchen sink but it wouldn't fit🤣
Always fun and informative to watch Morten. Keep up to good work please :-)
Thank you Claus! And thank you for watching!
Don't comment that often but feel I need to praise you on such a well balanced, detailed, honest review. These days most reviewers just go over the good points (as though they are being sponsored) but it becomes like an advert and you find they just mention theoretical stuff that is in the booklets. Think it's important that a reviewer has lived with the product a few weeks to really acquire a feel and be able to give a proper review.
That what I think is important. But even though, you should always check out the stuff yourself if it catches your interest. Thank you for watching the channel!
Hello,
I have been living with the Hifi Rose RS150B for almost six months now. I have found it to offer a level of versatility unmatched by other DAC/Streamers. I also think it's sound quality is extremely good, perhaps not the equal of some higher priced DACs, but all in all, very, very good. I recently compared it directly with a Lumin T3 in my system and although both are quite good, I much preferred the tonality of the Rose. As a streamer, I have no complaints at all. I primarily stream Qobuz and I have been very satisfied with the Rose App's format and functionality. However, when it comes to both my local network music files' access and their management, it is not a mature platform. The same holds true for storing music on an internal SSD. I have installed a Samsung 4TB SSD and once I realized how challenging if not impossible it would be to copy files from external drives via USB, and equally challenging over the Network, I defaulted to ripping CD's. It was then that I learned the Rose OS doesn't always recognize the CD's "metadata", i.e., its album art, title and songs, sometimes overlaying a completely different and totally unrelated artist and album. The music is correct, but it is incorrectly associated. To make matters worse, I don't think it can be edited on the internal SSD, at least I have not figured that out. So, what's my point of adding this comment now? It is to acknowledge that the review is honest, and with the exception of opinion of sound quality as compared to the Cocktail Audio and Oppo machines, which is subjective and somewhat system dependent, I am in agreement.
There is No Dac Its A Transport ! You Must Be Lieing Troll ! 😮 No Dac 😂
Bravo for such a honest review. Absolutely loved your straight forward and open candour . I've been considering the RS 150B lately. And will still buy it most likely because I watch a lot of TH-cam music videos. And when I tried optical out from my TV to my dac, the sound really sucked. So eARC is definitely the way ahead. And I only know 2 products with hdmi functionality. The rose and the lumin P1. Though the P1 is very serious money. So looks like the rose mostly. But again, thanks for covering the rose in such intricate and transparent detail. Every other review was just gushing praise. And maybe you can convey to the dealer too, that an honest review won't dent sales. Iam mostly likely buying one. No peice of audio gear is ever perfect. But we still buy them when their strong points out weigh their flaws.
I am not here to bash products. I am here to offer my perspective. As I stress in the video, it is a great product, if you stay within what it does well. If someone was to buy it to be a great new way of storing and browsing their CD`s, they would currently be dissapointed. Or if they buy the rose to be a great internet radio discovery browser.. But just using it as a DAC or as a roon endpoint it is great! Good luck, and let us know how your HDMI adventure worked out. Remember, the rose has "Rose tube" digging into youtube. Might be just what you are looking for. Thank you for watching the channel!
I love your reviews. It would be good to hear your verdict on the relatively new HiFi Rose 130 streamer being a year on, with improved hardware and resolved bug fixes.
We shall see! I think its a great Idea to re-visit these software driven products that has great potential to become better user experiences all the time.
@GBGOLC a revisit is in the pipeline. Can say when, but it's on the list. All these software driven products should be re-reviewed after 24 months IMO.
@@stjernholmreviews That’s great, because I have short listed the Technics SU-R1000 with the HiFi Rose 130B as my next pure digital (except speakers) system. I just need audition them over the next few weeks, If it sounds good then I’ll buy.
My current favourite is the Atoll ST300 Signature - I am confident it would be an ear-pleasing experience in one of your tests 😊
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for such a detailed review,very informative.
Thank you for appreciating it!
I see that this video was posted a year ago. Do you know if any of the "con" issues have been addressed by the manufacturer? It's alot of money to drop if there are still concerns. I do appreciate the honest assessment.
I am planning to REVISIT the RS range of products next year, to do a update on their progress. That would only be fair.
Thank you for using the Oppo 205 to compare. I'm lucky enough to own that model and looking for a streamer for Qobuz in hi-res.... So I can dump the expensive monthly cost of Roon. But I'm really not sure how much better the DAC will be in a streamer that it is in that awesome machine, which carries the top of the line ESS 9038Pro DACs. Literally does 90% of what a streamer can do so I don't want to overlap features... I'm taking my time seeing what's out there. 0:03
Depends on what you want in a streamer. You can find the ones I have reviewed in this playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLg8I5SKH6xxlWagKeimoTVgR67kUKGIhh.html
@@stjernholmreviewsThanks to that link I think I just found my pot of gold I've been searching a while for: the Technics GX70. Until I dump Roon on my main system, I can use it on my back bedroom system which has a tur table & nice custom speakers to get Qobuz/internet radio. Then I can hook it up in my main system and use the pre-outs to go to my Audio Research multi-channel preamp. Steven has analog in to hook up my modified Sony HD radio unit. This thing has everything!
I am so glad to hear your opinion. I had my fair share of bad experiences with Rose's products 2 years ago. As I read their community problems keep poping all the time. No Tidal connect, despite being advertised, to date! Lagging software, slow and outdated system soon to be obsolete and simply weak to any malicious attacks. Yes, it sounds OK but nowadays one can buy a standalone dac that sounds as good for a fraction of the price. To me Hifi Rose streamers are half baked goods at a premium price. Finnally a review that hits all the cons, so on point.
I have 2 'reference' systems but only one streamer, the Rose RS130. I need to add another streamer and possibly one with a DAC (the RS130 is streamer only). This brings me to your review.
I can relate to some of your comments regarding the complexity of the Rose and I don't have a reference point to other streamers because I don't review streamers, only watch TH-cam video's from other reviewers. I have the RS130 which has a better screen. But I am surprised by some of your comments. I'll start with the quality of the DAC which is important, especially in a upper tier system. In your review, I don't recall which DAC filter was chosen. I think to be fair, chose the filter that works best in your system. Maybe you did and I missed it. I believe the 'default filter' may be a fast rolloff filter which can sound aggressive or bright? I have not noticed a slow screen response. But I have not played with others and, I have the RS130, not the 150.
I like the fact that it does have HDMI out to our TV. Watching music video's is a new sensation that we really appreciate. That's a big checkmark. Rose radio is amazing! My Russian wife, also an audiophile, can tune into her former local radio station(s), or nearly anywhere in Russia. And the interface is great. Another big checkmark. Prior to the Rose, we used Roon (still do), which is great, and prior to that, my Holo May KTE, HQPlayer, Ultrarendu..., she could never begin to even 'turn it on'. Even with the Rose's complexity, she's happy with it, so much so, I find myself moving the Rose upstairs and downstairs between systems. Pain in the ... Over the years I've come top appreciate the advent of streaming high end audio systems that can be controlled by those who have no interest in attempting to simply play a favorite song. Of course there's a simpler solution. Grab a favorite album from your rack, place it on a turntable, needle down, source selected, BAM.
Regarding the Rose 130, using my Allnic DAC in front of a Legacy Wavelet II which also uses a DAC for room processing , the sound is so wide, deep and 3D, it's shocking, and this is what the Rose RS130 adds to. I know that the RS150 won't perform the same way as its pure streamer sister, but I'd be hopeful it could come close. I believe too, that one could add a DAC to the RS150B?
So, I am curious how the Rose RS150B would sound using its onboard DAC and how it might comapre to say an Audiolab 9000n?
Relialabilty is suspect. I'm on my second RS130 and my second RS780 CD transport.
I like your honest assessment, pointing out frustrations that others should be aware of. Great review, Bravo.
Hi! I have a question about this unit (RS150), Can i stick a usb into it and play movies / surround sound test tracks in dolby / dts audio formats? Including atmos and dts x? Also, can it support Bluetooth audio?
Yes you can. But the unit I reviewed could only output fixed framerates and no HDR. It will do bitstream audio. Thanks for watching the channel!
@@stjernholmreviews no problem. It's a great video. I also liked and subed after watching :)
I have a question about the i2s RJ45 connection on the RS150. Would it be compatible with the B&O Beolab 28 RJ45 Powerlink connection? Or would it require a special cable? Or is that not even possible? Thank you.
To my knowledge, thats not possible. The RJ45 is a standard ethernet connection for network data.. Thank you for watching the channel!
one year later have there been any enhancements to the unit, especially software?
Most likely. Any owners who can confirm? Maybe there is change logs on their website?
I am currently into a search for streaming DAC and cd player solution to replace my Marantz ND8006 and besides, it has to have a better DAC than Hegel H190 that I am using. This is on my list although doesn't play cd's directly. X45 pro is also on my list. I would love to see your take on the new technics sl-g700m2. I am more into quality than fancy displays... Thank you for the good work!
Thanks man! Yes, it is in the pipeline the Technics, was scheduled for week 8, but I have not seen it yet. What are your selection criteria for this new source you are after? Are you like me, that uses many sources of music, or are you commited to one or two? The Technics looks like a great combination on paper and has that SACD drive too. DAC wise I have no idea what they cooked up this time, but if it is anywhere near what I heard the SU-R1 do for digital music, there is potential! Thank you for watching the channel. Be sure to check out the X45 Pro review too for perspective.
@@stjernholmreviews Thank you Sir, indeed I am a cd guy as much as I am into streaming. I use Tidal and got intrigued by MQA that Marantz doesn't do. But I like Marantz design, is robust and reliable, it is gapless. Tehnics seems very near and on top seems proposes a potent DAC. Watched your review on x45, looks good but I am not sure it is my thing though. Looking forward to your future reviews!
great review bro!! 👏 LIKED AND SUBSCRIBED 👍🏻
Thank you for watching the channel.
How does this compare with the Zidoo NEO Alpha that's half the price?
Zidoo are not replying to my requests for review samples. Ask them why that is? ;-)
Help me out...please tell me the best possible setup using my Dali rubicon 2 speakers...I'm presently using marantz model 40n, Rel T7x...class B to me sounds better than class D and I need ARC...I think I need more power to get the most out of these Dali rubicon 2 ...
Hi Brian. There is no such thing. It really is all about your own ears & music longterm. Amp power is a matter of how much is actually needed. That is a mixture of speaker sensitivity, listening distance and your sound pressure preferences that determines that. I have heard class D amplifiers that sings to heaven, and a lot who does not. My current reference is very fast switching amps with hybrid technology, using class A for the input stage. Again, what is right for you can not be determined without knowing a lot more about you and the specifics of music, room, listening style, and other gear. Good luck, and let us know your experiences finding that amp.
Please tell me some of the class D integrated amplifier you say that are like heaven and can you tell me the name of the hybrid you like...thanks
@@briancampbell7712 th-cam.com/video/wgM_VoQeLtU/w-d-xo.html
@@stjernholmreviews
Hey...I want to thank you for showing me these...do the amps warm up the sound a bit ? So you think I'll have success with the Lyngdorf 3400 and these two mono blocks? You must really love them to keep them for a reference👍🏼...should it smoke my marantz model 40n...of course the cost is quite a bit more so I hope so...my local dealer doesn't sell these so I can't audition them🥶
@@briancampbell7712 Why dont you give the 3400 a listen first. Use the internal amps? The cool thing is that it gives you so many options down the road being a centerpiece with so many possibilities. Then you can try other amps with it down the road. The Nuprime Evolution just came out in a new version. It is great, and very warm sounding. It is extremely powerful too. But on my system and to MY ears, I found the EVO one to be a better suit for my preferences, strangely enough. It just confirms, that there is no real advice that can be given, without undestanding what YOU like, and hearing YOUR room. Thats why I am called a AV Therapist. I help people finding the sound of their dreams.
I can “hear” from miles away, that this guy is Danish, typical Danish way of talking English 😂
Thank you for a honest review 👍
I've been dreaming about this unit over the last year. So glad I watched this review. I think I'll wait a couple of years and see it they work out the bugs or if anyone else puts out something better at a cheaper price. No way I am putting down $5,375 for this thing. I could see Bluesound putting out a competing unit for a lot less.
Well... I think you should try to focus on WHAT you want to use it for. It does matter that there is bugs, if you dont intend to use the affected features. I think a lot of users simply do not use nearly all the features. As I say in the review: If you just want a great sounding, good looking endpoint for Roon or spotify, this thing is very unique. What do you want from a full size streamer - center piece?
A wise decision to wait. HiFi Rose streamers run modified Android 7.1 and that's already old. It will soon be unsafe because of no updates on Android itself. A vulnerable device with full Android capability is a paradise for hackers to try to get in and take over your network.
@@colanitower Also a very good point! Thanks for watching the channel!
@@stjernholmreviews My pleasure. Very good, honest review. For buying a high-end amplifier, a shop let me test the amplifier with this HiFi Rose as the source. I had never seen one before but within 10 minutes I had it going with a playlist set up via the app. Very intuitive. Then there was the impressive sound, it has indeed a very good DAC (and it showed the amplifier is up to it as well). But the soon-to-be-obsolete RoseOS means a no-no for me. Or as an alternative, wait a few years, pick one up at a bargain and use it as a DAC without network connection.
Try the Atoll ST300 Signature - it will not disappoint 😉
How does the Rose compare to the much cheaper Eversolo DMP A6?
Have not been possible to get a review sample from Zidoo. Ask them why! :-)
@@stjernholmreviews Ah that's a shame. I was going to get the Eversolo DMP A6 but everywhere I looked, they were out of stock. In the end I decided on Eversolo DAC Z8 and JF MX-Pro digital transport and streamer (via android apps). Great combination.
Good review ! I'm afraid that the clock function will burn into your screen
@royhuijsmans6117 Not with that type of display.
Unfrequent but brilliant. Perhaps these two categories determine each other. Very good value for a free review! BTW I liked the small fraction of that Beastie Boys track, I think from Paul's Boutique, being one of the best Hip Hop albums of all time.
And non-DLNA is a no go, even for me as a Roon User.
Thanks Richard. I spend a lot of time with the products, and often forget to shoot the stuff I need to do a video! 🙂 "Nerdy by nature" I guess. I have several new reviews in the making, but it takes time, and as you mention, the channel is not monitized, so basiclly I work to pay for the channel. Thats the price of being independent. Thank you for watching! Keep the ideas coming, and let me know what YOU find the most interesting, and what you could be without.
Spot on review. I have had the 150b for close to a month and think perhaps you were a bit too kind, lol. The good: fantastic 2 channel playback. I'm using an internal 2TB drive which has worked perfectly. The bad: the app/user interface is a laughable, hot mess. Head-scratching translations from Korean, e.g. Output selection - active/ unactive?? Inactive maybe? Ridiculous playlist editing/navigation. Literally every OS and app in the world I've used works on the premise of selecting a file(s) or folder and then choosing an action: copy/paste/move, etc. With the Rose app if you want to remove a file from a playlist you first select the delete icon, then select the file, then confirm the delete. WTF? C'mon, really? And then as you point out, screen after screen of useless, overwhelming drivel that you can't hide. Yeah‚ that's what I paid $5,000 for. The passthrough implementation as of now is, to be generous, broken. Suprisingly I got a few mka files (Abbey Road Atmos) to play in 5.1 no Atmos data passed to AVR. None, of my multichannel FLAC files passed through properly. All we’re output as 2 channel only. My lowly $200 Nvidia Shield has no problem with multichannel output. I’m thinking such a premium product as the Rose should be able to achieve the same. Particularly when they state it has that capability. Some of these issues like proper translations should have been done BEFORE product launch. Fingers-crossed, they can address these issues through software updates. Again, sound quality - stellar, user experience - abysmal. Thx again & subscribed.
Stack Cats, thank you for your perspective on the RS150, and thank you for watching the channel! In regards to the ATMOS passthough. Did you remember to turn on the bitstream passthrough option on the HDMI?
@@stjernholmreviews Yes‚ of course. As I said‚ of the mka files I extracted from Blu-ray, the Beatles Abbey Road files did play in 5.1. So, the passthrough was functioning. I didn't expect the Atmos data to be passed through to my AVR. So, I would say maybe partial success for that one. Other mka files which I extracted, for example Hans Zimmer - Live in Prague, Trondheimsolistene - Lux, etc. did not play at all. Once I downloaded the VLC player and used that instead of the default player the Atmos music files did play but only in 2 channel. All of my multichannel FLAC files from 5.1 to 7.1 (Kraftwerk 3-D) output in 2 channel only. As I said the 150b has great sound quality for sure, I just wish they would have spent more time on some of the basics of the user experience/remote control. There are plenty of good examples of software interfaces they could have taken inspiration from e.g. Denon Heos, Plex, Neutron Media Player, Roon, etc. If they are able to fix the remote interface, the passthrough issues and improve the quality of the touchscreen to current standards they would have a 5 star product IMHO.
Does it have volume control over AES output?
Thats a really good question! I would think so, but did not test this specifically. Thanks for watching the channel!
What does ‘an endpoint’ mean?
It means the target device for the digital audio from the network. Roon serving audio to the RS-150 makes the RS-150 a "roon end-point". Thank you for watching the channel!
Hi Stjernholm, just to say to you that for those who don't have the money to buy a HIFI Rose, You should take a look at the EverSolo DMP-A6 Streamer...
No 4k video but focused on music with a screen that looks a lot like the HiFi Rose !
And the price is a bargain ;-) If you could make one day a test on this thing !
Regards from Paris !
Yes, it looks great. I have asked Zidoo for a review sample... so lets see! Thank you for watching the channel!
@@stjernholmreviews Awesome 🙏 I truly Know this streamer will be in good hands 👍👍👍 Can't wait this review 💥
how does it compare to NAIM Unity Atom?
I have never tested the Atom, but they have very different objectives, ill guess? Thank you for watching the channel!
@@stjernholmreviews Hi, thanks for answer. Naim Unity Atom and RS150GS are very similar products, the only difference is that Atom (in it's HDMI version) has also the amp function, or, for me more interesting the HEADPHONE version, which can act only as pre-amp besides it's streaming capacity. I am really balancing between those 2 choices.
Very good clear and well paced review. I just want a stand alone , non PC, method of ripping my cd and CD-R collection for safe keeping and to burn flash drives etc .
The UK Brennan machines seem or be deliberately simple un technical and very user friendly. This machine you are describing seems far too involved and probably over speced for my use
Hello Andrew, and sorry for the late reply! Well, it might be overspec`ed, as they try to serve everybody, but at the same time all functions are very "siloed", so all that functionality does not stress each "silo". I use it primarily for what you want. Rip CD and browse/mix them in interesting ways.
Especially the "mood" feature is a favorite of mine as well as the way it sounds. It also serves as a endpoint for roon and spotify for me, and can make it as a OK pre-amp as well.
Wow thanks for this great review, I have the oppo 105 which sounds very similar to the 205 I read so I guess I should find a good analog amp instead because I don't want to get rid of it...or pay too much for nothing when I already have great sound, I don't stream much besides TH-cam anyway, the new Yamaha rn2000a could be a great choice too but not sure if its dac will override everything from my oppo...Can't wait to find what I need😄✌👏🏼
The RN2000a looks like a great possibility. You can have the sound of our oppo just by connecting it using the analog outputs. In that case, what you hear is the oppo and the amplification of the Yamaha. You can connect the oppo digitally as well to the RN2000a, and in that case you will hear the DAC of the receiver instead. You can even do both, and flip between them on the Receiver to hear what you like best. In either case.. it's a matter of JUST LISTEN. Thanks for watching the channel!
@@stjernholmreviews thank you very much for the kind reply! They're taking some time to release the Yamaha haha the new rose 520 looks interesting too and even the Marantz cinema series in case I want to keep my surround speakers...hope you'll be reviewing the Audiolab 9000a as well. If money wasn't a problem, the Technics sr1000 would probably be the one while upgrading my turntable to a Technics too...thanks and good continuation to you!
I was close to buying the less expensive streamer/amp. I assume it has the same kind of issues? Your other reviews got me interested in others so my quest continues. Very interested in the room correction feature of the other.
Glad I could help
Very thorough review. It’s easy to get caught up in the eye candy and futuristic features, but sound quality should be the top consideration at that price. The Teac 701n is a straight forward competitor to the rose.
Hello Tom. The Teac is without a doubt a great Roon endpoint and DAC, but I cant see how it offers remotely the possibilities of the HIFI Rose? There is no local playback, radio, ripping, storage database or cover art display on the TEAC. Thus calling it a competitor is far fetched 🙂. Its another product category, seeking to do something else. Thanks for watching! Let me know what you find interesting for future reviews!
I still prefer my Atoll ST300 Signature 😉
... all thumbs up... thank you...
Thank you too!
Thanks for this great review. Many of the reviews in the US have been raving about Hifi Rose, but don't provide this level of detail other than being impressed with the display. The icons on the Rose look like iPhone skeuomorphism circa 2012. I find most hifi products with LCD displays don't stand the test of time...not even 5 years. The newest Hifi Rose RA 180 is again exciting reviewers/retailers with its "steampunk" volume control with cogs and gears. Also, thanks for revealing its DLNA limitations. For those who don't want to pay for Roon, DLNA and UPnP are necessary. Products like the Pro-Ject Streambox S2 and the Ifi Zen Stream use Volumio for UI, which also has limitations, but at least the prices are better Volumio occasionally updates software.
Thank you for watching, I am glad you found it helpful!
Thanks excellent video
Glad you enjoyed it
thank you for your honest review i will be looking elsewhere
Glad I could help
You ar ethe first guy on TH-cam reviewing the RS150 and pointing out what ugly and unusable software it has. Something as simple as playing a whole genre is imposible in this machine. Plus, all the other things you mentioned and many others. They should license Roon core and run it locally and the machine would be perfect. Kudos for your review.
Thanks for the kind words, man! And THANK YOU for watching the channel.
Except for the sexy VU meters, I can stream pretty much any service using my Yamaha WiFi receiver and my Android phone. To me, this device is little more than expensive eye candy. I have had my Yamaha for 5 or 6 years and it cost a fraction of the Rose RS150. I can play FLAC and other common formats, hook up external devices like CD, and even stream from Amazon Echo device nearby. I am not super wealthy, but have far more than enough disposable income to by RS150, but just can't see paying that much for something this expensive. Now it if had a 150wpc amp I might feel differently, but for getting 50wpc for this kind of money is just a super poor value.
Hi Shenmi. There is no poweramp in the RS150. Its a DAC/Streamer meant to be high-end sounding eye candy in your rack. (it can also function as a preamp, data storage and network server)
The statement about the DLNA client is not really justified Morten, accessing the network files via a file share gives better quality and skips the DLNA server as bottleneck ! Good story anyway, love your honest opinion 👍
Peter, Nothing to do with quality. Only convenience. It will be a pain fir the average user, especially as they made it extra hard to log in 😁
Thank you for your honest review, I just got one and even though some of the bugs you describe have been fixed some major ones are still present. The volume control when being used as a pre-amp being the biggest one.... Do not use this unit as a pre-amp if you like your speakers... it is terrible.
Hello Veteq. Thank you for commenting and confirming. Yes, it is something to consider, revisiting software driven products 24 months later for a "updated review". Much can change depending on how ambitious the company in question are. Thank you for watching the channel!
I can only assume that this review is like it is because lt was done some months ago, because having bought it just in March 2023 I totally disagree with everything bad he has to say. The screen is super responsive , all the function work brilliantly and the sound quality is tremoundous, I really can not recommend this unit enough 😀
Hi Andy. Thank you for joining the conversation. What has happened to the software since then? Would you be kind enough to address the critique given, by testing the things that is mentioned in the review and letting us know what software version you are on. Has a real internet radio browsing service been implemented? New type of display? Tell us about it!
@Stjernholm Reviews I can't comment on what's changed,as I've had the Rose for two weeks and it's software version 4.5. All I can say is the screen is almost instant and extremely responsive. I use Qobuz and admiterly I use it via a Roon necleus and it works perfectly. The quality of the screen is perfect and don't see how it could be any better. The sound quality with the Luxman L-507z Amp and Dali rubicon 6 floorstanding speakers I think is completely brilliant, and in my opinion (at this price point of £16000 approx.) can't be beaten (personal view of course) The area I will totally agree with you is on the radio, the lack of being able to put url in of stations you want (quality is good) In speaking to my dealer he said that they put that feature in the last update, but it went wrong and caused problems, so on version 4.5 they had to remove it, but they are working hard to fix that for the next update 😉 Hifi and equipment is of course often personal but I love the HiFi Rose and it works seamlessly in my system but would agree having Roon (which is brilliant) helps a lot 😀
@@andystokes377 Andy, it seems to me like you did not see the review in its entirety then? I am clearly stressing, that if you want to use the RS150 as a roon endpoint "and thats it" you will be perfectly fine. You start out by saying "This guy is wrong", how can you do that , if you are not elaborating on any of the features I criticise? In regards to the display, do you find it as responsive as your apple tablet or phone? Do you think that the display is perfect when viewed in an angle (like maintaining brightness and contrast?). What about metadata when ripping your own CD`s? Is that correct with data in the right fields? Can you browse for radiostations now? Is HDMI video output able to change framerate according to the source content and HDR compatible? Can you remove things you dont use from the main menu? That is what the other viewers would like to know that could "update" their knowledge on the progress HIFI Rose might be making on this product. That would add value to the conversation. When someone makes an effort to tell you the up and downs in a review, and you start out by saying he is wrong and all is great, you got to bring in more detail about your own experience with the things criticized in the review. 😆. If you have anything factual that has been improved since the review, I will even feature it in the HIFI NEWS & Quick Reviews show. Let me know.
@@stjernholmreviews Hi, Yes every bit as good as my samsung smart phone in terms of responsiveness and yes at whatever angle i view it at, although I haven't tried it standing on my head, drinking a pint of stella lol. The metadata in the 900 CD's I put into the hard drive seem perfect to me. As I said in my previous reply they tried to put radio station searching in on the last update but it caused problems, so they had to remove it on version 4.5 but I understand talking to the dealer that they are working hard to correct it so they can add it on their next update, did you not read my last reply in its entirely? The HDMI output seems fine to me the few times I've used it, I did not encounter any problems. Yes you can remove things from the screen that you don't want or add them back if you change your mind and also remove/add source/outputs. Yes I am using it as a Roon endpoint but also have used and tried all the features on the Rose both by interaction on the screen and using the excellent HiFI Rose app. I know that you are giving a honest review as you see it and that I totally believe that but although to be fair you did list the things you found good with the Rose the overall impression I got from your review was that you didn't like it and tbh if I had seen your review before I bought it, I probably would not have purchased something I find amazing. Also I did read about 10 other review's before I bought the Rose, and while I understand some has axe's to grind as in, they were selling the item or hoped to get units off Rose to review in the future and didn't want to upset Rose, not all are like that and all the other reviews were overall very positive about the unit accept yours (as I said I didn't see yours till after my purchase) As i said in my original comments I suspect a lot of the problems were due to the fact that I understand Rose initially did not get things right in some areas but have since corrected most in updates ( and yes still working on some) I do agree that manufactures should not release items too early and let customers test for them but don't think Rose was truly attempting to do that, no ones perfect but they are trying to correct anything that's wrong once they get feedback.
I totally agree. I am not trying to bash HIFI Rose, only pointing out obvious things that needs work or are suboptimal choices. The concept is great, and as I point out pretty clearly, - Software driven, meaning that it is totally up to their software development. Some companies abandon their great products ( like Sony), while others constantly improves and optimise their platform and use it for multiple products.
How often and how well they fix and improve things, tells the story about their visions and capabilities with software development and undestanding the magic of crafting great user experiences. Customers tend to end up loving great products, while not so much on gimmicky "feature bombs" that does not deliver that cohesive music discovering and empowering experience.
Its like with restaurants. The ones with the 10 page menu, usually dont make as great food as the one that dares to have only one page :-)
To be honest, I think the endless scroll menu that cant be customized with your favorite stuff is the biggest design mistake in the RS150. Again, something that is easy to fix, but requires a real vision for how the experience should feel.
See my Bluesound review for context on this, and for gods sake.. remember a line space once in a while for better readability, and I will buy a nose hair trimmer in return! :-D
Great
Would be better running iOS. Much snappier. 👍🏻
Obviously not possible in a non-apple product :-)
I have the Rose RS250 streamer . While the sound is excellent, the software is full of bugs. Worse at all , when playing video files from its own ssd or my home network, the videos frequently stutter or freeze. No updates have fixed this serious issue over the last two years. Really bad, as this is not a cheap range. RoseConnect is also rubbish on all platforms.
@jonm7547 I was thinking about doing some followups, years after to see developments. Does not sound that encouraging, though!
What nobody told me before I bought this hunk of junk...is that it has a sync problem with the tv...Being a gamer I now use the tv sound because the sound running through this € 4400,- euro machine is absolutly useless, I mean in the seconds(!!!!) delay. I tried both optical and Arc HDMI but to no avail... I send an email to Rose and I got back that they are working on it...this thing has been on the market for what...2 years? maybe even more
thank you for sharing.
This independent review ist sponsored by …………………… ha ha ha that was good! Made my day!
San Diego... did you stop watching from there? The review sample was delivered by a local reseller. Only thing they get in return is the honorable mention, something they did not even ask for. Thats how it works. Thank you for watching and happy new year!
@@stjernholmreviews seller want to sell. if he has the device in the program, it's not because someone forced him to do it. He wants advertising for himself and this device and not bashing. So you are not independent. If you don't do what he expects, he won't send you anything.
@@jamapaza Hmnn.. The way it works here is: "I would like to borrow that unit, please. I will review it on my independent channel. You have no say in the content, but I will be honest in my subjective opinion and have fun!". The only more independent way would be to buy the gear every time... That means that all the fun stuff is ruled out, and I would have to get in the selling business as well. Imagine the pressure of buying a € 30.000 speaker system that is shit, that you have to sell again.. To me, that would probably be a even bigger challenge to the integrity of the reviews, if I had to unload expensive speakers on the market and my livelihood dependent on it!
The other way, the channel is free, and there is no money interests, and all we do is being thankful to the kind local businesses that loans their stock to us.
I make a living doing consulting, often for clients that meet me though the channel. Is there anything I overlooked integrity wise here? Can it be done in a better way you think?
BTW: Also remember, I got the power to ask somebody else, and I also have the power to tell the viewer, that somebody would not accept the terms for the review...
@@stjernholmreviews This device is rubbish and you can get it from today's sponsor Hifi John!!!!! Yeah, right!
@@jamapaza Read my words. Its not a sponsor. Watch the review before being a smart-ass. 🙂 No more time on you, now.
I think this device have to much options, they better work some thinks beter out that are more important
Actually, it does not have that many. It is a pretty short feature list. But the mess they make of it ....
I hated it, the software crashed over and over, I had two units S250 software updates and both bricked the system. So I moved on.... Although their newer Int. Amp looks good..
Thanks for sharing!
Here is honest for you, just like the android radio in your car for only 5000 bucks.
haha 😂, well, i think that is a unfair comparison. Android is pretty solid in itself, so building a audio device on it is not a bad idea. What else should they use for the basic platform other than Linux?
Every other reviews are ga-ga over this product, only YOU dived into the shortcomings of the User Interface, please don't apologize, if only old geezers care about this, so I say youngster are being desensitized by crappy non-design programmers. If I am paying usd$5K, I demand a well designed, 3-clicks to my music, even my Grandma can work it product. Tesla fanboys put up with uneven metal panels, really, and you charging me a premium? No-no-no. Not intended to be racist but Asians don't know $^#%& about UI.
Well. you say it in clear terms :-D . That would also be the design principle I would lay down for any consumer product, seeking to elevate user empowerment.
the only honest review? This is some of the most tiresome clickbait I have seen so far
Hello GLD Edmond. Please expand your criticism. What is missing or unclear? Any reviews doing a better job, and why? How much did you watch?
@@stjernholmreviews To say all the prior reviews are dishonest ? I need to explain this?
@@dorningarts Thats not what is being said. What being said is that no other review dare to be honest about what is actually not very cool with this product. Here you get a more nuanced story. I love that you hate clickbait, me too! But most people are not that smart, that they will pay attention without, unfortunately. Give it a chance, and let me know if you think the review dont deserve that title. If you find any other reviews pointing out anything like I do, we can discuss to change the title. I dont want to be called clickbait. Hate that sh*t. Thank you for caring, man!
@@stjernholmreviews fair enough, I respect you for explaining where you are coming from
@@dorningarts Likewise. Please give YOUR honest review of the video or ask questions that was not answered. It makes me become better at serving the most serious audiophiles that are my target audience.
Bad Sound.
Can you expand what you are relating to, otherwise such statement is of no value to anybody. 😉
The hifi rose Sound to warm and bad softvare
Every time a TH-camr with monetized channel says "HONEST" you know guy is a professional liar 😉😉😉
Maybe you got hurt by some other channels, but I am pretty sure you did not see the entire review before posting that comment 😜. Also check out the Gold Note DS-10 review, and let me know what you think. Thank you for watching the channel, and remember: You will know everything, if you just listen.