- The South Korean company Citech Co. Ltd. is offering a D/A converter under the HiFi Rose brand for the first time with the new HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC.
The HiFi Rose brand from the South Korean company Citech Co. Ltd. is, in addition to very fine amplifier systems and media players, known above all for its exclusive Hi-res audio streaming solutions, where it has earned an impeccable reputation in the High-end HiFi segment in recent years. Not only are HiFi Rose’s systems characterised by an enormous variety of functions, making them a prime example of what state-of-the-art networked entertainment electronics solutions are capable of, the products are also characterised by sophisticated concepts for quality at the very highest level.
It is obvious that this expertise can also be used to design a D/A converter, which was done for the first time with the HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC. This solution celebrated its premiere at the High-end 2024, and the D/A converter will soon be available from specialist retailers.
For pure, unadulterated sound
According to Citech Co. Ltd, the new HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC is a solution that offers nothing less than pure, absolutely unadulterated sound. The company even speaks of a solution that achieves a reference level and can therefore set new standards.
It should be noted at the outset that this is not just a pure D/A converter, but that the new HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC can also function as a preamplifier, which is likely to generate a great deal of interest in this solution.
Unique design
The first striking feature of the new D/A converter from HiFi Rose is its unique design. It’s not just the elegantly designed aluminium housing, which measures 430 mm wide, 330 mm deep and 88 mm high and is available in either black or silver, but rather the front panel, which conceals two AMOLED hidden screens and, in conjunction with a series of buttons and a rotary encoder, forms the basis for a unique operating concept.
The exciting thing here is that the complete signal processing of the D/A converter with all the options it offers is displayed graphically.
Rose DPC modules
The basis for the signal processing in the new HiFi Rose RD160 is a so-called Rose DPC Module, where DPC stands for Digital Processing Core. The manufacturer essentially uses this term to describe all function modules, starting with the input selection, the clock, through to the I2S encoder, which ultimately transfers the signals to the actual converter.
Rose CIM Architecture
A particularly sophisticated DAC module is the so-called Rose CIM Architecture, which is described by the manufacturer as a two-chip solution. Here, an AKM AK4191EQ acts as a digital filter and delta-sigma modulation stage, followed by an AKM AK4499EXEQ, which performs the digital-to-analogue conversion and then passes signals on to an OP amp. The manufacturer therefore speaks of a design in which digital and analogue are completely separated, thus guaranteeing maximum sound fidelity free of noise.
It should be emphasised that the signal routing just outlined – an AKM AK4191EQ followed by an AKM AK4499EXEQ and downstream OP amp – is implemented separately for each channel.
In addition, an RK3128 quad-core Cortex A7mp processor is used to control the signal processing, which is supported by 1 GB of DDR3 RAM and 8 GB of eMMc flash memory, and which also allows upsampling and provides a total of six digital filters. Linear PCM can be upsampled up to 32 bits and 768 kHz and DSD up to DSD512.
High-precision OCXO clock or external master clock
The HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC uses a high-precision OCXO clock to ensure maximum precision in signal processing, free from jitter that can damage the sound. However, it is also possible to use an external 10 MHz master clock if required. Two connections – BNC 75 Ohm and SMA 50 Ohm – are provided on the rear of the converter for this purpose.
Rose NRA filter
A special feature of the analogue output stage, which uses modules of the High Quality J-FET Input Dual OP-Amp type, is the Rose NRA filter. NRA stands for Noise Reduction Analogue and describes a solution for a perfect performance free of noise over a wide frequency range.
S/PDIF, AES/EBU, I2S, USB and SFP USB
In terms of inputs, the new HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC offers everything a modern hi-fi chain could require in terms of digital interfaces, and probably more. Not only optical and coaxial S/PDIF interfaces and AES/EBU are available here, but also I2S, USB-B and SFP USB.
High-quality internal cabling and three separate power supplies
Another outstanding feature of the new HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC is its high-quality internal cabling; for example, the analogue outputs rely solely on cables made of high-purity oxygen-free copper (OFC).
Another detail that guarantees the highest quality is the power supply, because the new HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC actually uses three independent power supplies, so that the digital section and the left and right analogue output stages are supplied separately.
Incidentally, the new HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC outputs analogue signals either unbalanced via a pair of RCA sockets or balanced via XLR.
The scope of delivery includes a matching infrared remote control for convenient remote control.
Prices and availability
The new HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC should be available from specialist retailers these days, and, as mentioned at the beginning, in either silver or black. The recommended retail price is listed at € 5.299,-.
Getting to the point
Solutions from the HiFi Rose brand in the streaming sector are characterised above all by the fact that the manufacturer, Citech Co. Ltd., does everything it can to guarantee quality at the very highest level. While the focus has so far been on amplifiers and streaming systems, the product range is now being expanded to include a D/A converter, the new HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC, which celebrated its premiere at the High-end 2024 in Munich and is now being launched on the market as a reference solution.
| PRODUCT | HiFi Rose RD160 Absolute True Fidelity DAC |
|---|---|
| Price | € 5.299,- |
| Brand | HIFI ROSE |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Citech Co. Ltd. |
| Distribution Austria | Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
| Distribution Germany | Rose x Piega SA |
| Distribution Switzerland | Rose x Piega SA |
| More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |
