RS150이 독일 Lite 매거진에서 총점 100점 만점 중 98점, "Reference Class"로 평가 받았습니다.  요약된 내용과 함께 영어 버젼을 올려 드립니다. 

독일어 원본은 링크를 이용해 주세요.

출처: https://www.lite-magazin.de/2021/06/rose-rs150-vielseitiger-netzwerkplayer-mit-besonderem-touch/#

Live there

"Smoke on the Water"의 오프닝 리프가 확성기에서 울려 퍼지며 마치  오사카 콘서트에 참석 한 것처럼 느껴집니다. 또한 타악기의 훌륭한 구현이 있습니다. 드럼과 심벌즈는 아름다운 디테일로 마무리 되어 확고한 시작을 제공합니다. 거의 50 년 전 딥 퍼플의 무대 주변에 모인 박수 갈채의 군중이 방 곳곳에 잘 분포되어 있는 것 같습니다. RS150은 고해상도 음원의 경우 이전보다 약간 더 큰 스테이지를 만들어 냅니다. 변화를 담당하는 AKM DAC 칩은 또한 역학, 디테일에 대한 관심, 개방성 및 밀도의 좋은 조합을 찾습니다.

Conclusion [총평]

Rose는 고품질 기술과 프리미엄 부문에서도 타의 추종을 불허하는 다양한 기능을 결합합니다. 이 네트워크 플레이어를 특별하게 만드는 것은 모든 가능성을 최고 수준의 스타일과 편안함으로 결합한다는 인식입니다. RS150과 거대한 터치 스크린은 독특 해 보일뿐만 아니라 사용자를 새로운 방식으로 음악과 자신의 시스템에 연결합니다. 서버, 스트리머, DAC 또는 비디오 플레이어 등 Rose의 프리미엄 시스템은 항상 영리한 기능으로 훌륭한 수치의 점수를 매기게 만듭니다. 특정 기능을 갖춘 오디오 시스템을 찾고 있다면 반드시 RS150에서 찾을 수 있을 것입니다.

Home » tests » Rose RS150 - Versatile network player with a special touch

JUNE 27, 2021

TEST: Rose RS150 - Versatile network player with a special touch

  by Philipp Schneckenburger

ENGLISH

The motto for the Rose RS150 is high end that you can touch. The network player with the huge touchscreen is not only easy to use, it can also be individually adapted. In addition to its chic appearance, it also impresses with an enormous range of functions and high-quality technology. We took a closer look at the flagship Korean audio experts.

Its huge display, which dominates the entire front, makes the RS150 a real eye-catcher.

Smartphones have made home entertainment electronics much more convenient, but there is one disadvantage. Because everything is controlled with the same device, many hi-fi components now seem a little interchangeable. In addition, streaming systems in particular hardly offer any displays or controls and therefore use a rather simple, sometimes even unsightly housing. This is not a solution for a modern audio system with a lifestyle character. The Korean manufacturer Rose takes a similar view. The aim here is not to develop simple sound tools, but rather systems that can be perfectly integrated that create a connection between people and music. This is especially true for the reference network player RS150, which wants to offer a little more of everything than comparable systems.

Widescreen

I don't think you need to talk about it for long: the Rose RS150 looks like no other hi-fi system on the market. Almost the entire front of the, not necessarily small, player is used here for the enormous display. The screen is not designed as a pure display, but represents a core element of the player. It creates the connection between user and music, because the entire system can be controlled with the touchscreen. The advantages of operation via smartphone are integrated directly into the RS150, which also makes the design of the device itself much more appealing. The similarity to a smartphone goes even further, because Rose also uses a modified Android version as the operating system for its streaming flagship.

Large symbol keys are used to select the different functions, the order and design of which can be adjusted.

Choose your style

While smartphones are mostly made for a slim form factor and low weight, Rose is going in a different direction. Here, the glass front is combined with a thick aluminum cladding that blends wonderfully into systems with high-end components. With slim cooling fins on the sides and a company logo milled discreetly into the lid, the RS150 makes a great visual and haptic impression. Available in black and silver, the case is the first step towards customization. You can also customize the device's user interface. Six different style variants are available, from noble bronze or silver tones to brightly colored buttons. The order of the app logos in the main menu can also be changed so that frequently used functions can be accessed more quickly. In standby you can also display the time and weather in different styles. When the game is in play, there is a choice between numerous different VU meters on request.

Rose RS150 - endless possibilities

But the Korean manufacturer does not only value diversity in terms of appearance. The RS150 also plays in the premier league in terms of functions and connection options. However, this means that the rear is much less tidy than the other sides of the device. Dozens of inputs and outputs of all kinds are waiting here to process analog and digital signals. The network connection is always important for a streaming system. This is not absolutely necessary with the RS150, but if you want to use all functions, you should provide access to the home network and the Internet. Unfortunately, there is no integrated WLAN connection, but the system can be used with the appropriate USB dongles. The same applies to Bluetooth, with a suitable adapter already included, because the remote control of the RS150 also uses the wireless connection. In addition to its function as a streamer, the Rose can also be used as a full-fledged media server.

Rose equips its reference player with a variety of different analog and digital connections, which means it can be used as a source, DAC and pre-stage.

Data vault

At the bottom there is a compartment in which an SSD with SATA interface and up to 4 terabytes of storage can be inserted. Once inserted and fixed with the four enclosed screws, it is ready for use. External hard drives can also be read from the RS150 via USB. Even microSD cards of sizes up to 400 gigabytes can be used as storage. Equipped with an external optical drive, the Rose can even play or rip CDs. So it makes sense to equip the device with some kind of memory in order to keep your own hi-fi system particularly slim. Beginners in particular get a space and cost-saving method of creating a streaming infrastructure that requires little knowledge of network technology. The various settings of the device can be easily checked thanks to the touch display. Even if you have to enter something manually, this is no problem thanks to the full-fledged on-screen keyboard.

The RS150 can be upgraded to a full-fledged server in just a few simple steps. A suitable SSD and a screwdriver are sufficient for this.

Can be freely combined

In short, I connect our test device to a Hegel H390 via XLRand a pair of Canton Reference 7.2 DC floorstanding speakers. Since the RS150 itself also has its own volume control, it can also be used with a pair of active speakers as an alternative. But I would like to let the integrated amplifier do the work and configure the connections of the streaming DAC in the audio menu. Thanks to a permanently adjustable voltage for the analog outputs, perfect coordination can be achieved here wonderfully easily. Everything very conveniently at the touch of a finger. The Bluetooth dongle is then plugged into one of the three available USB-A ports, whereupon the remote control also makes contact with the device. With the connection of the network cable, the Rose is then completely ready for use. Anyone who has a subscription can now set up their Tidal or Qobuz account.

With Tidal and Qobuz, two demanding streaming services are on board. With RoseTube, you can then also access millions of music videos.

Moving pictures

In addition to the two audiophile streaming services, Rose also integrated another gigantic service into its system that, as a music fan, is often not even on the screen. The RS150 accesses the content from YouTube via the RoseTube app. Although this is primarily a video service, there is still more music here than anywhere else. RoseTube is clearly designed for playing music videos and already offers some recommendations on the start screen. In addition, you can also filter by different genres and use the search function to view all videos on YouTube - and that is ad-free. A great way to access millions of songs without a subscription. In addition, locally saved films,

Start the film!

Despite the enormous size of the display, Rose is also aware that the almost 15 inches are not enough for a movie night. That is why the RS150 offers two HDMI ports, one of which can also be used with ARC to integrate the television into the system. In the RoseTube app, I first look for the channel Frog Leap Studios, which specializes in metal covers of well-known pop songs. When playing them, the RS150 convinces with a balanced sound, although the quality of the YouTube soundtrack is basically only a mediocre MP3 file. The streamer still offers decent dynamics and a pleasantly large stage. Not a bad debut for the Rose, whose technology is of course clearly under-challenged with the signal applied. The built-in DAC is finally able to store HiRes files with up to 384 kHz and 32 bit,

It should be noted, however, that the RS150 is currently available in two versions. While the functionality and design remain the same, a different DAC chip is used in the RS150B. Instead of the AK4499EQ, which is built into our test model, the ES9038PRO from ESS is used there. Both are the reference models of the respective semiconductor manufacturers, so that, as with the other components, the high-end requirements are met. In addition to a clocking section that works precisely to the femtosecond, the player also has a large linear power supply. Far from being a standard for digital source devices. Compatibility with other reference class hi-fi devices has also been considered. The RS150 has two different I²S outputs, which are intended for use with particularly high-quality DACs. The selection of inputs and outputs then takes place on a very clear screen, where you simply tap on a picture of the desired socket.

The large display also proves to be an extremely convenient control element when selecting inputs and outputs. Various technical settings such as upsampling or a fixed output voltage can also be selected in the clear display.

Around the globe

Of course, the two radio services that Rose provides for its streaming flagship do not use this technology to the full either. In return, the RS150 scores with ease of use and stylish presentation. The normal internet radio offers access to hundreds of stations from countries around the world. Then there is the Rose FM app, which simulates a classic radio tuner on the screen, including a rotary control for frequency search. However, only a few channels from Korea, the United Kingdom and Switzerland are available here, which limits the functionality a little. In general, Rose should do a little fine-tuning with the localization of his software. In addition to a prominently integrated online service that is only available in Korea, lettering is also sometimes a problem. Every now and then you stumble across a wrongly translated term and very rarely Korean characters are faded in. The developers should look over it again.

The remote control is a good complement to the operation on the device itself. Some quick access keys make the operation of the RS150 even easier.

Bang effect

Once again, the sound quality is also good when listening to the radio. Prince's “Purple Rain” broadcast by RadioBOB to the world impresses with a beautiful flow and a pleasingly high level of detail. But it's time to challenge the RS150 a little more and at least give it a few CD rips. With "Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders" the Rose gets going dynamically and crisply. That goes well with the songs, which are mostly focused on fast drums and guitars. The drumsticks hit their targets precisely without prior notice, and after the first powerful kick, they are given a few fine details. Especially with cymbals and acoustic guitars, the DAC of the RS150 delivers such a multifaceted sound. In addition, the rose finds a good mixture of differentiated openness and musical density. Individual elements can be heard, but do not get lost in the space, which in principle appears to be rather filled.

If desired, various simulated VU meters can be displayed during operation, with which the RS150 can be optically coordinated with other devices.

Control in style

During playback, I tap the “full screen” icon on the screen. The display changes immediately from the list display to a more appealing variant. The title and artist are displayed here, supplemented by various player functions and a representation of the album cover. The cover is also displayed as the background and slowly fades towards the edge of the screen. It just looks a lot cooler than the usual, rather cold presentation of simple data. The functionality of the touchscreen is also wonderful. The detection is precise and the reaction time of the Rose, with its six processor cores and four gigabytes of RAM, is short. Operation with the remote control is also successful, even if the highlighting of the currently selected button, depending on the background, is sometimes difficult to see. Thanks to Bluetooth, you don't have to point the remote control at the device to make entries.

Great, modern design and excellent usability are once again combined in the playback screen.

Spoiled for choice

But the enormous variety of functions of a device like the RS150 can of course be operated very well with a smartphone. This is why there is an app called Rose HiFi even for the RS150, which controls the player and library functions. Again, the localization is sometimes a bit sketchy, but here, too, you can find your way around quickly and can use the network player smoothly after a few minutes of familiarization. Anyone who already has a license for the popular music and server program Roon can also use the RS150 with it. The device is Roon Ready certified, can be controlled with the appropriate remote app and integrated into a multiroom system. As nice as all the other control options may be, I personally actually prefer operation via touchscreen.

The system is also easy to use with the Rose HiFi app for smartphones and tablets. Instead, there is no pop of the enormous display.

Live there

It continues with a little live atmosphere in HiRes. The RS150 continues as it did with other sources. The opening riff to “Smoke on the Water” echoes from the loudspeakers and you almost feel as if you were there yourself at the concert in Osaka. In addition, there is the great implementation of percussion instruments. Drums and cymbals offer a firm start, rounded off with beautiful details. The applauding crowd that gathered around Deep Purple's stage nearly 50 years ago is well distributed around the room. The RS150 pulls the stage a little larger than before for high-resolution material. The AKM DAC chip, which is responsible for the change, also finds a good mix of dynamics, attention to detail, openness and density.

Made of fine material and processed to a high standard, the RS150 clearly meets the requirements of the reference class.

Conclusion

Rose combines high-quality technology with a range of functions that is unparalleled even in the high-end sector. What makes this network player so special is its awareness of combining all its possibilities with the highest level of style and comfort. The RS150 and its gigantic touchscreen not only look unique, but also connect the user to their music and their own system in a new way. Whether as a server, streamer, DAC or video player, Rose's premium system always cuts a fine figure and also scores with clever features. If you are looking for an audio system with that certain something, you will surely find it with the RS150.

Test & Text: Philipp Schneckenburger

Photos: Philipp Thielen

RATING

Summary

Overall rating: 98/100

Class: Reference class

Price / performance: very good

97 of 100

practice

99 of 100

Furnishing

100 of 100

Technical specifications

HiFi / Stereo tests

 AirPlay, Android, App, AV, Bluetooth, Canton Reference 7.2 DC, Display, Hegel H390, HiFi, Hires, Lifestyle, Netzwerkplayer, Panasonix TX-55GZW1004, Referenz, Roon, Rose, Rose RS150, RS150, Server, Smartphone, SSD, Stereo, Streamer, Touchscreen, Viablue SC-4 , video , YouTube