
- According to Citech Co. Ltd, the latest solution from the HiFi Rose brand, the HiFi Rose RS151, should prove to be a network streamer of the highest calibre.
The Korean company Citech Co. Ltd. has been able to establish an outstanding reputation with the HiFi Rose brand within a very short space of time. It is above all the streaming solutions offered under this brand that have caused a stir on the market, as they are clearly among those products that offer what is currently technically feasible and know how to combine this with impeccable quality.
One of these outstanding solutions is certainly the HiFi Rose 150 Network Streamer, which is now to be replaced by a new generation. Citech Co. Ltd. is now presenting the new HiFi Rose RS151 High Performance Network Streamer Gen 2.
Outstanding progress in many aspects
The new HiFi Rose RS151 is a network streamer that is characterised by outstanding progress in many aspects, as the manufacturer itself describes the new solution, referring in this context above all to the experience gained in the development of the HiFi Rose RD160, which has been directly incorporated here.
The latest technology in the areas of D/A converters and streaming as well as a sophisticated design and a proprietary, optimised operating system should ensure that the HiFi Rose RS151 sets a new standard for high-resolution audio and streaming with improvements in performance, functionality and convenience.
Rose DPC modules as a central element
The focus of the new HiFi Rose RS151 is initially on the so-called Rose DPC Module, which stands for Digital Processing Core. This is a module that essentially ensures maximum precision even with the input signals, as it synchronises these with the help of extremely precise clocks and is therefore intended to guarantee minimum jitter.
Highest performance thanks to next-generation 8-core CPU
At the heart of the new HiFi Rose RS151 is a Rockchip RK3588 SoC, a platform based on a next-generation 8-core CPU and an ARM Mali-G610 MC4 GPU, as described by the manufacturer itself. Compared to its predecessor, the new HiFi Rose RS151 is said to offer four times higher data processing performance and eight times higher graphics performance. In addition, the DRAM capacity has been doubled from 4 GB to 8 GB, while the eMMC memory has even been expanded from 8 GB to 32 GB, which more than doubles the processing speed.
This enables the seamless playback of large audio files and even the playback of high-resolution videos with 4K and HDR should be possible in principle. It should also be emphasised that the capacity of the media library has been tripled and now supports over one million titles.
The structure of the platform has also been optimised in terms of the data transfer rates between the individual signal processing modules and Google Android 12 is now used as the core operating system, which also further improves performance and increases both stability and security.
Rose OS in the latest version
Even if Google Android 12, as just described, is the basis in principle, handling is ultimately handled by Rose OS, a platform that offers a wide range of functions.
The HiFi Rose RS151 initially functions as a UPnP music streamer and music player, supporting not only audio but also photo and video, the latter even including, as we have already mentioned, content in 4K and HDR.
The HiFi Rose RS151 can access a wide range of online services, be it TIDAL, Qobuz, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify or YouTube, with the necessary apps being made available via the RoseStore. It also supports Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect and is certified for Plays with Audirvãna as well as Roon Ready.
The entire platform is controlled by the Rose Connect app, which is available for Apple iOS and Google Android. In addition, the device itself has a 15.4-inch touchscreen display that takes up the entire front of the device. A matching remote control is also included in the scope of delivery.
It should also be mentioned that the HiFi Rose RS151 can also play audio CDs via a CD drive connected via USB and can also rip them if a suitable storage medium is available.
Incidentally, the entire signal processing is handled by the so-called Rose Audio Engine. This consists of the audio stream reader based on caching technologies, the audio decoder and the audio process, whereby audio signals are processed natively in linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 768 kHz, as well as DSD up to and including DSD512, but content encoded in lossy MQA is also supported.
The actual signal conversion is carried out using DACs from ESS Technology Inc., namely ESS ES9039 PRO in combination with a Highly Precision Femto Clock Oscillator, as the manufacturer itself describes it.
The output stage of the HiFi Rose RS151 relies on ROSE NRA filters (Noise Reduction Analogue) and is equipped with high-quality op-amps and high-precision MELF resistors as well as WIMA film capacitors. This solution also has a specially developed linear power supply based on a toroidal transformer and, of course, separate power supplies are used for the various analogue and digital modules to prevent any negative influences.
Numerous interfaces
Firstly, it should be mentioned that the HiFi Rose RS151 is integrated into the network via a Gigabit Ethernet interface, whereby WiFi can also be used via a USB dongle. Bluetooth is also available for the integration of smartphones, for example, whereby Bluetooth 5.4 is used and aptX is supported in addition to the SBC and AAC codecs.
Direct connection to a PC or Mac is possible via a USB-B port and two further USB-A ports are used to integrate corresponding storage media.
The HiFi Rose RS-151 has both an optical and coaxial S/PDIF interface as input and output, also provides an AES/EBU as input and output, and also has an HDMI interface as I2S output.
Furthermore, an eARC is available as input and an HDMI as output and for analogue signals, the system offers an unbalanced input in the form of a pair of RCA sockets, the same as an output, as well as a balanced output designed as an XLR.
Trigger inputs and outputs are also included, as well as a circuit breaker and a GND for the sake of completeness.
The all-aluminium housing of the new HiFi Rose RS151, which is available in silver or black, measures 430 x 319 x 125 mm and weighs 11 kg.
Prices and availability
The new HiFi Rose RS151 will soon be available from specialist retailers. The recommended retail price is listed at € 4.799,-. As already mentioned, the customer can choose between silver and black.
Getting to the point
HiFi Rose, solutions from this brand of the Korean specialist Citech Co. Ltd. have secured a firm place in the High-end HiFi sector within a very short space of time. The basis for this are products with outstanding features and impressive quality, coupled with a high level of operating convenience and maximum flexibility. The latest offspring from Korea, now presented in the form of the new HiFi Rose RS151 High Performance Network Streamer Gen 2, should also stand for all this.
PRODUCT | HiFi Rose RS151 High Performance Network Streamer Gen 2 |
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Price | € 4.799,- |
Brand | HiFi Rose |
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Manufacturer | Citech Co. Ltd. |
Distribution | Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |