My thoughts on the HiFi Rose 150B


Well, after the honeymoon wore off I ended sending the HiFiRose 150 back. It boiled down to how I’d use it and it just wasn’t 3k better than my Auralic Aries G1. The Rose is a great piece with tons of features and it sounded great. The video features (RoseTube, Tidal music videos) is certainly cool along with the display and all the other things it can do but streaming Qobuz and Tidal it did one thing noticeably better and that was MQA which I figured it would. My Anthem isn’t MQA certified so using my Auralic USB into it doesn’t give me the full MQA experience but listening to Tidal SD and Qobuz HD/SD it was pretty close. I could have added a TV to my music room to fully enjoy what the Rose does but I have a great movie/video system so it’s not something I was ultimately willing to do. So in the end, I don’t have anything bad to say about the 150, it’s built really well, sounds great and has tons of features but it doesn’t fit my needs.

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@nadimjaber I've had a 150B for about a month now with a separate PS Audio Mk 2 DAC, I think it sounds wonderful, the extra video outputs are so much fun and they sound good as well, I'm enjoying watching videos of songs I love. There are many features I don't need with the 150B since I have a preamp and a separate DAC but if something goes in for service or I change components around the Hifi Rose is there to fill the gap if needed. This is one of the funnest components I've ever bought.

 

@donavabdear thanks for your comments. For a week I have been testing the Rose 150B in my system. There are certain peculiarities of use that I have not yet been able to solve to see if its introduction as Roon Ready improves my current Streaming system. The possibilities of the Hifi Rose are enormous, but I don't know why it won't let me do the following: Roon Core through Innuos Zenith + Innuos Phoenix USB+ USB IN input of the Hifi Rose, from there the problems. It won't let me use the USB output (although in one day I could, with a lot of effort, because it continually went to the ethernet input) I can only use the coaxial output. Is there a limitation of Hifi Rose that doesn't allow us to use USB input and USB output at the same time? Another question I have is the HDMI output. That output is only to connect the TV, is it not acceptable to connect it to the AV?

@nadimjaber You’re right the Rose 150 would be great if it was a Roon Core that’s all it’s missing. If at all possible use the Is2 connector it keeps all the signals separate even your clock information, USB connections are always rough and sorry I have never used the USB on the Rose. The ARC is simply a normal ARC HDMI in that allows you to use your TVs A/V out to go through your stereo. The regular HDMI is simply an output 4k it looks great and sounds great as well.

Also the USB problem may be as simple as picking the I/Os to turn on and off on the Rose’s control section, I’m sure you’ve done that but just sayin’. Good luck.

@donavabdear Hi, I use my esoteric K01XD as an external DAC through its USB or Coaxial inputs. I don't have IS2 on my system. Coincidentally we have common elements in our audio systems: JL Audio F113 and the CR-1.

The Rose 150b when I use the USB IN does not allow the USB output, so I can only use the coaxial output but that prevents me from hearing DSD, not even via DOP. Unless there is some configuration that allows it. Although auditory memory is generally poor and for a short time, the memory remains in my brain when I put in my system, like Roon Ready, the Esoteric N05 (discontinued model) and how I substantially improved the SQ of streaming. I do not perceive that feeling by placing the Rose 150B. There are subtleties in the sound, but they are minor and nothing that justifies the investment of that device in my system for now. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong in the configuration of the device. Thank you for sharing your appreciations. I am very grateful to you for it, when you suggestion in the settings will be welcome.

You re not doing anything wrong, as far as how it sounds is concerned. I tried both the 250 and 150. It's meh to me. A few folks on here enjoy it due to the fact that you couldn stream from Youtube, and IIRC, Amazon as well. But is it much better than say w a RaspberryPi,  iFi Zen streamer or the SOtM Neo player? Not much.