Hifi Rose - USA RS151
The RS151 pairs musical detail with punchy, extended bass and an open, controlled treble, making streaming, local playback and DAC duties feel equally accomplished. HiFi News found its presentation immersive and effortlessly listenable, while the vast touchscreen, expandable storage and variable preamp outputs make this a genuinely versatile digital system hub.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
85/100
Features Usability
91/100
Value for Money
93/100
Pros
Detailed yet musically involving sound with powerful, extended bass, strong dynamic impact and controlled treble.
Consistently strong sound quality and usability across streaming, local storage, Roon endpoint and external-DAC use.
Exceptionally versatile hub functionality, including variable preamp outputs, HDMI eARC, broad streaming support and up to 4TB internal SSD storage.
Cons
The Rose Connect Premium app was described as a work in progress, with some operational foibles.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
HiFi News finds the RS151 both highly detailed and deeply musical, with a notably easy, immersive presentation. It is praised for extended bass, convincing punch and slam, controlled treble, and an ability to make even imperfect recordings sound convincing.
Overall Sound
95/100
Andrew Everard describes a sound packed with detail yet musically involving, with “delicious levels of insight” and unusual ease of listening. Pink Floyd material delivered substantial punch, slam and impact, while bass was chunky and extended and the treble open but tightly controlled.
Digital Signal Integrity
87/100
The RS151 uses a high-precision femto clock and Rose DPC module, alongside a substantial linear power supply and extensive digital connectivity. HiFi News did not publish dedicated jitter, clock or output measurements, but it found consistently strong performance across streaming, stored music and digital-input use cases.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
This is an unusually full-function network player, combining broad streaming support, local-storage expansion, digital inputs and variable analogue outputs. HiFi News reports no meaningful usability or sound-quality advantage for one source mode over another, suggesting a well-integrated experience across its main functions.
Streaming Software
90/100
Rose OS runs on a powerful Android-based platform with a large 15.4-inch touchscreen and ROSE Connect control app. HiFi News notes broad support for Roon, AirPlay, DLNA/UPnP, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Apple Music, ROSE Tube and internet radio, and found usability consistently strong across use cases.
Features Connectivity
93/100
The RS151 offers Ethernet, optional USB Wi-Fi, Bluetooth aptX, USB storage, microSD and provision for up to 4TB of internal SSD storage. Its unusually flexible connection set includes optical, coaxial, AES/EBU, USB-B and HDMI eARC inputs, plus optical, coaxial, AES/EBU, I2S-HDMI, XLR and RCA outputs.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
85/100
The RS151 is specified with a precision-machined solid-aluminum chassis, a built-in toroidal linear power supply, and a substantial 24.3lb enclosure. The review concentrates on performance and operation rather than long-term durability or detailed internal construction assessment.
Value for Money
93/100
At roughly $4,299-$4,995, the RS151 occupies a serious high-end streaming category, but HiFi News considers it a fraction of the cost of some established-brand flagships. The review calls it a compelling buy and gives an unreserved recommendation, judging the updates sufficiently meaningful to advance performance substantially.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- Operating System
- Customized Android 12-based Rose OS
- Dimensions
- 16.9” x 12.6” x 4.9”
- Weight
- 24.3 lbs
- Materials
- Precision-machined solid aluminum chassis for reduced vibration and noise
- Display
- 15.4” Full HD IPS LCD Touchscreen (1920 x 382 resolution)
- CPU
- Octa-Core RK3588 CPU
- GPU
- ARM Mali-G610 MC4
- Memory
- LPDDR4X 8GB
- Storage
- 32GB eMMC (System Use Only) + Expandable via USB, MicroSD, or 2.5” SSD
- DAC Chip
- ESS SABRE ES9039PRO
- Clock
- High-Precision Femto Clock with ROSE DPC™ Module
- Output Level
- 9.0Vrms (Balanced), 4.5Vrms (Unbalanced)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio
- 131.4dB (Balanced), 124dB (Unbalanced)
- Dynamic Range
- Max 150 dB (CCITT filter)
- Stereo Crosstalk
- Max -143dB (20Hz-20kHz)
- Output Frequency Response
- 20Hz to 75kHz (+/-0.5dB)
- Network Support
- Wired: Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 BASE-T Wireless: External USB WiFi dongle supported
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX
- Audio Input
- Optical x 1, Coax x 1, AES/EBU x 1, HDMI eARC x 1, USB-B x 1
- Audio Output
- Optical x 1, Coax x 1, Pre-OUT (Balanced XLR x 1, Unbalanced RCA x 1), I²S-HDMI x 1, AES/EBU x 1
- Video Output
- HDMI 2.0 x 1 (up to 3840 x 2160 / 60Hz)
- Power Supply
- Built-in toroidal linear power supply
- Remote Control
- Infrared (IR) remote control
- Remote App
- ROSE Connect (Android, iOS)
Manufacturer's Description — Hifi Rose - USA
RS151 Key Features
- Highest-performance network streamer and DAC with advanced digital processing
- 15.4” Full HD multi-touch display for an intuitive user experience
- Balanced circuitry with XLR and RCA connectivity for high-fidelity audio output
- Fixed or variable output modes to suit any system setup
- HDMI eARC input and HDMI 4K video output with multi-channel passthrough
- Supports 2.5-inch SSD internal storage, Micro SD, or external USB and NAS drive
- ES9039PRO DAC with ROSE DPC™ module and Femto Clock for ultra-precise signal processing
- Hi-Res Audio compatible: up to Native DSD512, 32/768 PCM, and MQA Certified
- Precision-machined solid aluminum chassis for reduced vibrations and noise
- Built-in toroidal linear power supply for stable, low-noise performance
- Wireless (via USB dongle) or wired with gigabit ethernet for flexible connectivity
Next-Level Audio Engineering
The RS151 builds upon the acclaimed RS150B with a completely re-engineered digital processing core for even greater clarity, detail, and musicality. Now featuring the ROSE DPC™ module and an upgraded Femto Clock, the RS151 significantly reduces jitter, improves signal accuracy, and supports PCM-to-DSD512 upsampling for an even more lifelike presentation. The precision-machined solid aluminum chassis minimizes vibrations while maximizing thermal efficiency, ensuring pristine audio performance in any setup.
Immersive Control with a Larger 15.4” Full HD Display
The RS151 introduces a stunning 15.4-inch Full HD multi-touch display, an upgrade over the previous generation’s 14.9-inch screen. With a wider viewing angle and enhanced resolution, the display offers improved clarity for album art, system settings, and playback controls. Navigate your favorite streaming services, digital library, and system settings with a user-friendly touch interface—no phone or tablet required. The customizable UI includes advanced visual elements like VU meters, enhancing both form and function.
Expanded Streaming Capabilities and Faster Performance
With an upgraded 8-core processor (4x faster than its predecessor), 8GB RAM, and 32GB storage, the RS151 delivers an even smoother user experience. Streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, and internet radio load faster and operate more efficiently than ever before. This improved architecture ensures that you can browse and play high-resolution files without lag, while support for ROON Ready and full MQA decoding unlocks the best digital playback possible.
Beyond Sound – 4K Ultra HD Video and Enhanced Connectivity
The RS151 isn’t just a high-performance streamer—it also features 4K HDMI output for an immersive visual experience. The exclusive RoseTube app delivers curated music videos, live performances, and access to your personal YouTube account, while TIDAL subscribers can enjoy a vast library of music videos and exclusive video content. The RS151 also introduces upgraded connectivity with HDMI eARC, improved COAX & AES/EBU sampling rates, and Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX for better wireless performance.
Expanded Internal Storage for Digital Libraries
The RS151 makes it easier than ever to store and access your personal music collection. With support for 2.5-inch SSD drives, Micro SD cards, and external USB or NAS storage, you can keep your favorite albums at your fingertips. TIDAL and RoseTube caching capabilities ensure smooth playback, even when your internet connection is inconsistent. Improved library management also allows the RS151 to handle even larger collections with ease.
Direct CD Ripping with an Optional Drive
The RS151 retains the ability to rip CDs directly to your local library using the optional RSA-780 drive or most external CD-ROM drives. Once a hard drive is installed, you can rip and store lossless digital copies of your favorite CDs, ensuring long-term access to your personal collection. You can even play CDs in real time, effectively turning the RS151 into a high-end CD player with advanced digital processing.
New IR Remote Control and Seamless Device Integration
The RS151 introduces an improved IR remote control, replacing the Bluetooth remote of the RS150B for better reliability and range. The Rose Connect app remains the ultimate control center, available on iOS, Android, and PC, allowing you to manage playback, system settings, and streaming services with ease. The addition of Trigger In/Out also enables seamless power synchronization with other HiFi components, making the RS151 an even better fit for high-end systems.
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Authorized dealers for Hifi Rose - USA RS151
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
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