We found a lot of things to love about the HiFi Rose RS201E Streaming Amplifier in 2021. The touchscreen display and UI became more usable after 6 firmware updates (over many months) and we were thrilled when Qobuz became a native application on the platform.
The unit demonstrated superb Wi-Fi stability in a home filled with wireless devices that are always competing for bandwidth. That might sound trivial, but I’ve reviewed far more expensive media streaming devices that struggled with such a task.
The flexibility and connectivity options made it a no-brainer to make it the hub of our master bedroom listening system connected to a NAD amplifier that drives a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s. The fiddly toggle switch has become a point of fixation for the dog and I’ve had to wipe it down 3 times already. Stop it Tyrion.
The internal power amplifier was a tad lean sounding for my tastes with the rest of the system, and it could certainly use a larger screen and additional power — which I always found odd considering the parent company, Citech, is a Korean IT software company that also manufactures and sells interactive retail kiosks.
6 firmware updates. Glad these guys didn’t make the voting machines in the United States. Imagine the uproar.
The newly announced HiFi Rose RS520 appears to incorporate all of the items on my wishlist in a rather attractive looking case with a much higher price tag as well.
Wendy Knowles of Naim & Focal is dreading my call on Monday.
What makes the RS520 streaming amplifier interesting is that it blends technology from two of their existing products; the RS150 streaming DAC and RA180 integrated amplifier.
The Skinny
ORT (eCoustics’ resident linguist and media maven) is going to put down his coffee when he discovers that the RS520 will be utilizing an MQA-capable ES9038PRO-based decoder as its digital heart. The DAC supports up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512.
Just use Qobuz my friend. It’s all going to be okay.
The RA180’s Class AD GanFet-based amplifier is specified to output 250wpc into 8 ohms which makes it more powerful than the Naim Uniti Atom and NAD M10 V2.
We still consider the Naim Uniti Atom and NAD to be two of the best streaming amplifiers available and the RS520 will have to offer a better experience than either one to be competitive in the category at almost £3399 (still awaiting the final USD/CDN pricing).
Connectivity was a strong suit of the RS201E and HiFi Rose is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the RS520; the network amplifier will be Roon Ready, and support Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, and offer its own OS. TIDAL, Qobuz, Apple Music, and BUGS are all supported natively.
The RS520 also includes an HDMI-eARC input which will make it even more attractive to those looking to build a 2.1 music/home theater system in their living room or den.
There is no subwoofer output, so you might have to look at something like a REL subwoofer with its connection system to make that work.
The RS520 can also be used as a preamplifier or digital source (USB, Coaxial, Toslink) which allows you to run it into a DAC or even active loudspeakers with its own internal DAC.
The 12.6″ 1920 x 515 touchscreen is an upgrade over the unit HiFi Rose uses in the more affordable RS201E, and we rather like the new on-screen EQ feature that is a throwback to stand alone equalizers of the 1970s.
One of the biggest changes to the RS520 is an updated version of the ROSE Connect app; the single biggest flaw in the RS201E was the control app; it was clunky and not very responsive and often confusing to navigate.
A quick look at the new app reveals a much slicker interface that is more responsive and we suspect that they have borrowed some design cues from Roon as inspiration.
Naim and NAD have the advantage on the front and I’ve never struggled to use the Naim app or NAD’s BluOS with their own streaming amplifiers, Bluesound NODE, and Pulse Flex wireless loudspeakers.
The RS520 has the potential to challenge the Uniti Atom for the Iron Throne but I wouldn’t bet against Naim right now.
For more information: eng.hifirose.com/RS520
Where to buy: £3,399 (~$4,000 USD). Expected this month (October 2022).
Related Reading
- Best Streaming Amplifiers (Video and Article)
NWWOODS
October 4, 2022 at 10:24 pm
5,500 loonies is to be the Canadian MSRP, according to a Canadian dealer which provided me with a firm quote that enticed me to pre-order for an anticipated mid/late November delivery.
Ezra
October 7, 2022 at 2:34 pm
Recently received word from a US dealer friend that MSRP in the States is right around $3,700. At that price point, it’s extremely inticing…
Ian White
October 7, 2022 at 2:51 pm
Which makes it slightly more than the Naim Uniti Atom but not much more. With more power and features.
IW
Bill Ruschmeyer
March 10, 2023 at 11:24 pm
Yes it is inticing at that price. I may have to order it. Currently have NAD Masters M32. May have to go with the very expensive RS180 and the RS150 streamer to match my M32. Way too much for those two
ORT
October 5, 2022 at 3:25 am
MQA? Master Quality Authenticated? Really? Meh…It is more like Moronic Quisling Affectation . FTN of that farcical, canard spewing shill Blob Stewfart.
Even if you NEVER use mqa, you have paid the toll to Blob Stewfart for it.
As for HiFi Rose RS520?
A device for “streaming” (Oh, how I loathe that term! LOL!) by any other marque would, dare I say it…”Stream” as sweet. The ones I buy, use and give as presents to those I love cost me a LOT less and provide just as much pleasure.
And no mqa! 🙂
But the RS520 is a peach of a looker, I shall grant you that!
ORT
ORT
October 5, 2022 at 2:50 pm
Hmmmm…My interest in this “Qobuz” has been, if not piqued then poked. I shall look into it as perhaps a present to my older brother and his wonderfully winsome wife. They mean a great deal to me, as do all my family and friends.
I have given them a subscription to “Pandora” and will soon add to that “Amazon Music Unlimited UHD” and a “SiriusXM” sub for car and home. At home they will soon be using Denon’s HEOS so I know that those three services will be naaaatively available to them but I don’t think “Qobuz” is?
I know that my big brother likes to buy his music too so that is my reasoning for looking into “Qobuz”. That name is difficult to pronounce with out laughing. Mayhap ’tis a good sign that it is? I do so enjoy laughing…And music.
ORT The Chaste
Sage
October 7, 2022 at 2:33 pm
ORT, as an owner of HEOS-enabled products as well as a Qobuz subscriber… You are correct, Qobuz is NOT currently available via the HEOS platform, though falling back to AirPlay 2 (minus the obvious loss in overall streaming resolution) is an option.
ORT
October 8, 2022 at 1:28 am
Thank you Sage! The only Apple device I currently have is an iPad Mini 4. Is that enough to use Apple AirPlay 2? I gave my daughter and her husband a Macbook Pro last Christmas and have been thinking about a new iPad or a lesser Macbook. I fear I have fallen behind in the world of Apple and my Mac Mini music files got wiped somehow by iTunes. I had the music backed up on a thumbdrive and it is now on a couple of PC laptops. I digress and ramble.
Thank you for the heads up on AirPlay 2. I shall speak with my brother and his wife and if they are interested in that service perhaps I can get them a Macbook Air(?) if that would help with the music. I want them to enjoy their retirement!
Thank you again!
ORT