HIFI ROSE - RS150B Reference HiFi Network Streamer (Silver)

'There Is No Faster Way to Audio Excellence': Roon-Ready HiFi Rose RS150B Reference Streamer Features No-Limits Versatility, Audiophile Sound, 14.9-Inch Touchscreen
Experience the sensory thrills of audiophile-grade music streaming — and get immediate access to a practically unlimited universe of songs, albums, compositions, podcasts, and radio shows — with the HiFi Rose RS150B reference streamer. Equipped with HDMI 2.0 and HDMI ARC connectivity, RS150B also lets you tap into 4K video programming, watch it on a hi-def screen, and enjoy the accompanying audio in upgraded fashion. And no, your eyes aren’t deceiving you: Its full-color, 14.9-inch touchscreen is one of the most inviting (and cool) user interfaces on any component we’ve ever seen. Whether it displays fully functional analog meters or album art, you decide.
From a practical standpoint, the Roon-ready RS150B earns the “Reference” in its name thanks to high-resolution playback, native DSD512 decoding, MQA decoding, Apple AirPlay ability, one-touch streaming-service support, and Roon endpoint functionality. A hexa-core CPU, ESS SABRE ES9038PRO DAC, linear power supply, high-precision femto clock, large toroidal transformer, isolated circuitry, and solid milled aluminum chassis attest to internal and external audiophile-grade construction that helps the 28.66-pound RS150B behave more like an analog than a digital machine.
In addition to operating with extreme quiet, RS150B excels at convenience. Connectable to the internet via Ethernet or the supplied Wi-Fi dongle, RS150B uses an advanced Android operating system and can be controlled via an app, included Bluetooth remote, or that fabulous touchscreen. Balanced XLR inputs and outputs, dual USB 3.0 inputs for hooking up an external drive, a micro SD card lot, and a host of digital inputs and outputs make RS150B suitable for practically any setup. Tech updates arrive automatically to ensure your unit is always up to date. If you desire, RS150B can also serve as a preamplifier and streaming DAC — a great option for users with powered speakers. That capability — as well as the option to hook up a CD drive or connect external SSD/HDD/MicroSD or NAS device — turn RS150B into a combination player/storage library/streamer/DAC/preamplifier.
All that engineering and technical aptitude translates to the most crucial element of RS150B: Its compelling sound. Tuned by experts with more than 30 years experience in the audio industry, this streamer — winner of the 2021-22 EISA Award for High-End Music Player and given rave reviews by the international press — boasts exceptional fidelity. You’ll hear wide-range frequency responsiveness, delicate detail, taut bass, and gorgeous highs — all complemented by a combination of presence, tonality, and immediacy that gives music its liveliness.
"There's no better anchor to build a music system [with than the] HiFi Rose RS150B... Best of all, the user interface is the most intuitive we've yet used, and we've been around since Sooloos 1.0 days. The RS150B is equally groundbreaking because the implementation is sheer perfection. There is no faster way to audio excellence."
—TONEAudio, 2021 Overall Product of the Year
"This is an accomplished – and extremely flexible – player/DAC that will play everything from Bluetooth streams to hi-res content, and you can even install SSD storage to make it a complete library and player."
—EISA Award for 2021-2022, High-End Music Player
"[The HiFi Rose RS150] serves up a performance that is big and bold, but packed with detail... So much more than just a beautifully designed component showing others the way to go, the RS150 backs up the stunning aesthetics with a performance to match."
—Hi-Fi Choice, five-star review, Recommended component
"I have never heard streaming quality like this before and thoroughly enjoyed exploring new music with the HiFi Rose. If you are in the market for a streaming DAC with or without preamp capabilities, I strongly recommend that you audition the HiFi Rose RS150B."
—Rives Bird, The Absolute Sound
"Initial impressions of the RS150 are created by the visuals, from its build quality to that eye-popping full-width touch screen, but it soon becomes clear there's more to it than meets the eye."
—Andrew Everard, Hi-Fi News, Highly Commended component