HiFi Rose RS150 Network Streamer Review

Hear Here said:
Well of course with Roon, any compatible streamer works like a dream and it’s simple and intuitive to find and play music. That was precisely my point - without Roon, the Rose software is complex and the main reason I passed on it.

The abundance of used RS150s is not just UK, but Europe-wide and I suspect N America-wide too. Just look at HiFiShark - you can select by region.

Why should buyers of costly streamers have to buy extra kit (Nucleus) and take a subscription in Roon to effectively operate these streamers? You don't need these with a streamer that works with a well-thought out control app such as BluOS - and it's free! No doubt there are others, but sadly few and far between in the streaming world!
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I'm not sure who finds the Rose app challenging or complex to use. It's about as easy as it gets. I just showed my 83 year old mom it last week when she came to visit and she was using it to listen to music after 10 minutes.

We keep hearing by a single person the Rose is for sale used in "huge numbers". Yet he's never shown the numbers of 150's for sale vs any of the competition vs the number of 150's sold new vs competition. So it's just made up false talking points.

Here's the summary - try it yourself. If my 83 year old mom can handle it and you can't, I don't know what to say. It's a great sounding unit that is easy to use at a price point that makes is a fantastic value.
 
Hear Here said:
Well of course with Roon, any compatible streamer works like a dream and it’s simple and intuitive to find and play music. That was precisely my point - without Roon, the Rose software is complex and the main reason I passed on it.

The abundance of used RS150s is not just UK, but Europe-wide and I suspect N America-wide too. Just look at HiFiShark - you can select by region.

Why should buyers of costly streamers have to buy extra kit (Nucleus) and take a subscription in Roon to effectively operate these streamers? You don't need these with a streamer that works with a well-thought out control app such as BluOS - and it's free! No doubt there are others, but sadly few and far between in the streaming world!
Click to expand...

No one has to buy a Roon core and a Roon subscription. I chose to buy it because I love the Roon interface. I haven't seen any other software that compares to the Roon experience, but that's just me.
 
I was absolutely right. In a communication with hifi rose they admitted that the screen resolution is not so good as it should be. The resolution is 1280x240. The screen resolution of new 130 1920x240
So my disappointment was satisfied....
 
klamia71 said:
I was absolutely right. In a communication with hifi rose they admitted that the screen resolution is not so good as it should be. The resolution is 1280x240. The screen resolution of new 130 1920x240
So my disappointment was satisfied....
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You were buying an audio device solely for the screen? I guess you could buy an 85 inch 8K TV and enjoy the speakers in that.


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no,

no, but when one of the two main features one of which will turn the scales and influence a buyer to prefer the 150 over another duc with a better possible sound is the screen, then this feature is partly burned. and indeed the company itself admits that the screen they reached was a compromise, and not what they would have wanted.

unless the sound quallity is superior to other dacs at the same price, then I will ignore the screen since it will simply be an extra feature. but I will say this when I have heard it
 
klamia71 said:
no,

no, but when one of the two main features one of which will turn the scales and influence a buyer to prefer the 150 over another duc with a better possible sound is the screen, then this feature is partly burned. and indeed the company itself admits that the screen they reached was a compromise, and not what they would have wanted.

unless the sound quallity is superior to other dacs at the same price, then I will ignore the screen since it will simply be an extra feature. but I will say this when I have heard it
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I can't imagine the screen on my 150B being any better than it is. This is getting beyond ridiculous.
 
Let's forget about the screen. I took a listening test today. Audio quality didn't much my expectations too...
That's all for me. I'm going to search another dac.
 
klamia71 said:
Let's forget about the screen. I took a listening test today. Audio quality didn't much my expectations too...
That's all for me. I'm going to search another dac.
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That's really the point. These clever devices have to sound excellent (that's a given), but if they are awkward to control with the supplied app, or they offer no good means of displaying album artwork, then perhaps look towards an equally good sounding alternative that does include a good app and a means of displaying artwork.

I'm very content with the NAD M33 as it offers all these attributes, but that doesn't mean I won't upgrade. At present my plan is to upgrade (hopefully) the amp section to Atma-Sphere Class D monos and the rest (streamer / DAC / preamp) to the recently announced NAD M66. This will offer even better sound (better DAC), the same artwork display and the same excellent BluOS control app, but also includes Dirac Live (not that I use it) and Dirac Live Bass Control. I've no idea how good this last feature may be, but it's there to be taken advantage of - or not. The M66 offers 4 sub outputs, so I may be tempted to add a couple of subs, although my twin 12" drivers each side seems to provide most of what I want anyway.
 
klamia71 said:
Let's forget about the screen. I took a listening test today. Audio quality didn't much my expectations too...
That's all for me. I'm going to search another dac.
Click to expand...

Did you listen to it in your system or another system? If you didn't listen to it in your system how do you know what the sound quality was? I'm not saying you'll like the sound, but listening to it in a different system in a different room really didn't tell you anything, right?
 
MichaelsMinute said:
Did you listen to it in your system or another system? If you didn't listen to it in your system how do you know what the sound quality was? I'm not saying you'll like the sound, but listening to it in a different system in a different room really didn't tell you anything, right?
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It's hopeless with him. He's a tire kicker.
 
I’ve had my 150B for quite a while now and love it. The only issue I’ve ever had is some audio drop out running my tv into the ARC input, but ARC has always been troublesome for me. The sound quality is great and I replaced a very nice Denafrips DAC and DDC with the 150 and it’s definitely an improvement. I also compare to the AKC DACs built into my Classe Delta PRE and the 150 is a smoother, more natural sound in my experience. The app is easy and I also use Roon. I think it’s amazing for the price and to get something better costs a lot more money. I would love to try a MSB or Lampizator DAC but then I still need a streamer.
 
Yes, come to the dark side, add those boxes, LOL Amps, preamps and subs, oh my

Hear Here said:
That's really the point. These clever devices have to sound excellent (that's a given), but if they are awkward to control with the supplied app, or they offer no good means of displaying album artwork, then perhaps look towards an equally good sounding alternative that does include a good app and a means of displaying artwork.

I'm very content with the NAD M33 as it offers all these attributes, but that doesn't mean I won't upgrade. At present my plan is to upgrade (hopefully) the amp section to Atma-Sphere Class D monos and the rest (streamer / DAC / preamp) to the recently announced NAD M66. This will offer even better sound (better DAC), the same artwork display and the same excellent BluOS control app, but also includes Dirac Live (not that I use it) and Dirac Live Bass Control. I've no idea how good this last feature may be, but it's there to be taken advantage of - or not. The M66 offers 4 sub outputs, so I may be tempted to add a couple of subs, although my twin 12" drivers each side seems to provide most of what I want anyway.
Click to expand...
 
I can't believe that there's so much focus on the screen. The Cambridge CXN V2 I purchased a few months back had a screen, a rather poor one at that, but I didn't care because I hardly ever looked at it. My current Auralic Altair G1 has a much nicer, larger screen, but again, I hardly ever look at it. I didn't buy either one because of the screens, but because of their sound performance.

In fact, a short while ago I was planning on buying an RS150B from Mike, but "life" things happened and a large portion of that money had to go elsewhere more important. What drew me to the RS150B was not the screen, but the features it has (like turning off unused inputs and outputs) and it's sound performance from various reviews that I read or watched on YouTube, or what Mike said in his brief YouTube review.
 
chops said:
I can't believe that there's so much focus on the screen. The Cambridge CXN V2 I purchased a few months back had a screen, a rather poor one at that, but I didn't care because I hardly ever looked at it. My current Auralic Altair G1 has a much nicer, larger screen, but again, I hardly ever look at it. I didn't buy either one because of the screens, but because of their sound performance.
.
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Well if the brand makes a big fuss about its excellent screen, then buyers' expectations will demand an excellent screen.

And many buyers with a wish list of features that includes a good display will be encouraged by the Rose one. A nice screen is certainly on my wish list of features.

The Auralic screen is better than many streamers but is poor compared with the best. The Rose may be the biggest screen around, but the one found on NAD's Master Series M33, M66 and M10 is probably the next best.

With my M33, I can see the artist and track title I'm listening to with album artwork, plus pause, next and last track buttons. Or I could choose to see VU meters (why, I can't imagine!), or what's being played on the radio station I'm listening to. With the NAD (and I believe the Rose and a few others) an HDMI cable can be used to connect with a TV and this artwork, etc can be displayed in large format.
 
Just a question to the Rose 150B users, if the screen resolution is an issue with some, why not use an ipad. My 2 Ipads have either 2732-by-2048 resolution at 264 ppi or
2360‑by‑1640 resolution at 264 ppi. And they work great on my Lumins and also they control my TV and its apps and Hulu Live. Of course like most device connectivity depends upon your software level of the control device in my case the OS. Will the IPAD work with the 150B and control the unit and all the functions ?
 
CPP said:
Just a question to the Rose 150B users, if the screen resolution is an issue with some, why not use an ipad. My 2 Ipads have either 2732-by-2048 resolution at 264 ppi or
2360‑by‑1640 resolution at 264 ppi. And they work great on my Lumins and also they control my TV and its apps and Hulu Live. Of course like most device connectivity depends upon your software level of the control device in my case the OS. Will the IPAD work with the 150B and control the unit and all the functions ?
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The screen resolution isn't an issue with normal people. Only those trying to make a fake issue.

You can easily send what is on the screen to a TV via HDMI as I do. I use the screen simply as a cool feature and to sometimes navigate. No serious person is sitting on the floor in front of the unit to watch a video. :)
 
CPP said:
Just a question to the Rose 150B users, if the screen resolution is an issue with some, why not use an ipad. My 2 Ipads have either 2732-by-2048 resolution at 264 ppi or
2360‑by‑1640 resolution at 264 ppi. And they work great on my Lumins and also they control my TV and its apps and Hulu Live. Of course like most device connectivity depends upon your software level of the control device in my case the OS. Will the IPAD work with the 150B and control the unit and all the functions ?
Click to expand...

I agree the screen "issue" is fake news. I do use an iPad to control Roon.
 
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