MAGAZINE
The front of the RS250 is almost completely taken up by a large and high-resolution 8.8-inch touchscreen display. In addition, the front also features a smart volume/mute control as well as a 3.5 mm headphone jack. As a multimedia network player with an integrated D/A converter, the RS250 offers a wide range of different streaming functionalities. For example, the streamer supports Spotify Connect, Tidal, Qobuz, Airplay, DLNA and Roon, among others. Internet radio stations and podcasts can also be played. The same goes for YouTube videos , which can be streamed in 4K UHD resolution on your TV or on the display of the RS250 itself – via "RoseTube".
Music can also be played from a NAS server, USB storage, an optional internal 2.5'' SSD, or any other external digital audio component. MQA is also supported. CD collections can be played directly via USB using an optional CD drive, or ripped to the internal or an external music storage connected to the RS250.
With the Rose Connect smartphone app for iOS and Android, it is possible to browse through online and offline music collections. Thanks to the Android operating system and fast processor, the handling on the RS250's touchscreen is said to be on par with that of a modern smartphone. For those who prefer to control the player in a classic way, a Bluetooth remote is included in the delivery.
An internal linear power supply is supposed to provide a clean and reliable supply of electricity for the CPU and audio output circuits. It is isolated and shielded from the rest of the electronics, thus aiming to suppress noise. The HiFi Rose RS250 is equipped with an ESS Sabre Reference DAC that processes music up to a maximum resolution of 32 bits / 768 kHz in PCM and offers native DSD support up to DSD512.
The new RSA780 CD drive is designed by HiFi Rose for use with its own audio streamers, but can also be combined with models from other brands. The RSA780 weighs a whole 900g and is said to thus provide stability during CD playback. In addition, the drive itself and the player of the CC drive are completely electrically separated, so that only pure music data is transmitted via USB without any noise.
The RS250 multimedia network player costs around 2000 euros* while the new RSA780 CD drive costs around 380 euros*. Both products are available immediately*.
*Prices and Availability for Germany.
