The Rose RA180 hi-fi amplifier is unique with its retro futuristic design and mechanisms inspired by Nagra and the finest Swiss watchmaking. This hi-fi jewel contains class AD amplification designed with bi-amping in mind, with specific modules for midrange/highs and bass. Its colossal power reaches 4 x 200 watts, or 2 x 400 in stereo bridge mode. Sold for €5,999, is the Rose RA180 amp the perfect solution for enjoying the best performance with bi-amped speakers?
Rose RA180: packaging & accessories
Inside the box, the Rose RA180 amplifier is completely protected by a thick fabric cover. It comes with a quick start guide, a power cable, an aluminum remote control and an infrared repeater. The latter allows you to use the remote control when the amp is installed inside a closed cabinet.
Rose RA180: presentation
Design
The Rose RA180 amplifier features a very thick aluminum chassis to limit mechanical vibrations and eliminate electromagnetic interference. Its sophisticated retro design is inspired by Swiss craftsmanship, with elements borrowed from luxury watchmaking that are reminiscent of designs by rival brand Nagra. The aesthetic similarities between the devices offered by these two manufacturers are undeniable, with a front panel adorned with countless knobs and metal controls. The Rose RA180 amp, however, stands out for its bold volume control with its many visible gears. Visually captivating, each cog comes to life to adjust the volume smoothly and with precision, like a finely-tuned Swiss watch.
Particularly comprehensive, the control interface on the Rose RA180’s front panel allows for extensive customization. Available options include an active crossover to precisely clip frequencies between 600 and 6,000Hz, as well as gain adjustment. This setting can be bypassed to send the full bandwidth to the speakers. Tone control is also available, with the option to adjust bass and treble levels, as well as the balance. However, this feature seems to add a slight veil to the sonic message and attenuate fine detail. Therefore, we recommend that you bypass this equalization by activating the Pure Direct mode.
The MM and MC phono preamplifier also benefits from numerous dedicated settings, providing modular equalization that allows you to adapt the amp to the RIAA standard or make custom adjustments. There is also a subsonic filter to eliminate the infrabass frequencies generated by warped records, or to eliminate background noise created by a grounding problem. This filter is applied to all the amplifier’s inputs.
Moreover, the Rose RA180 is equipped with a source selector and a switch to select either the A or B speaker outputs. The latter can’t be powered simultaneously. Lastly, a switch lets you dim most of the controls when they are active. This setting also controls the orange backlighting of the VU-meters and volume mechanisms.
Aluminum remote control
The aluminum remote control that accompanies the Rose RA180 amplifier is light and ergonomic. It has the same main controls to turn the amp on and off, activate the mute function and adjust the volume. Thanks to the motorized knob on the amp, the gears come to life, even from a distance. The motorization is slightly audible, but in no way detracts from the charm of this precise mechanism. It’s a real treat to watch!
Stereo or bi-amping
The Rose RA180 hi-fi amplifier uses class AD amplification architecture. This technology has already been tried and tested on the Rose RS520 and Rose RS520 models, as well as on the Devialet 140 Pro, Devialet Expert 210 Pro, Devialet 250 Pro and Devialet Expert 1000 Pro Dual amps from the French manufacturer. This consists of combining class A polarized elements for preamplification with a class D power stage. The aim is to merge the precision and naturalness of Class A with the dynamics and power of Class D.
The power stage uses gallium-nitride FET transistors that considerably increase switching speed and stability. While stereo amplifiers usually feature two amplification modules, the Rose RA180 integrates four, combined with eight pairs of speaker terminals. The goal is to perform bi-amping, using specific modules for the mids/highs and others for the lows. These modules have identical bandwidths from 10Hz to 100khz, but the active crossover available on the front panel of the Rose RA180 amp allows you to concentrate on a narrower band.
This unique architecture allows the Rose RA180 amplifier to develop a high output power of 4 x 200 watts into 8 ohms. As a result, it is perfectly suited to power demanding speakers that are compatible with bi-amping. Thanks to its four amplification modules, the Rose RA180 can be bridged in stereo, whereas competing models are generally limited to mono bridging. In this configuration, it is capable of delivering an impressive 2 x 400 watts into 8 ohms.
To deliver this colossal amount of power without faltering, the Rose RA180 amplifier’ power supply features silicon carbide FET transistors. These are combined with large capacitors to instantly deliver 1000 watts of current with a damping factor of 200. Such features are usually found in only the most prestigious power amplifiers. Consequently, the Rose RA180 is capable of responding to anything your recordings may throw at it!
Analog connectors
The Rose RA180 amplifier’s connectors are more conventional, with an exclusively analog interface. They include three unbalanced RCA inputs and a balanced XLR input, allowing you to connect a network streamer, DAC or CD player, for example. A phono input is present to connect a turntable equipped with an MM or MC cartridge. A switch on the back of the amp lets you select the type of cartridge used. The Rose RA180 also features an output for a subwoofer. In addition, a trigger input allows you to turn the amp on at the same time as your source.
Rose RA180: key specifications
- 2 x 400W or 4 x 200W
- Stereo bridging or bi-amping
- Class AD
- Volume knob with gear mechanism
- Variable crossover frequency
- Frequency response: 10Hz to 100kHz
- XLR and RCA inputs, including phono
Rose RA180: listening conditions
For our review, we connected the Rose RA180 amplifier to the Magnepan LRS+, Cabasse Murano and Cabasse Murano Alto speakers in stereo bridge mode, before testing the Sonus Faber Sonetto V and B&W 702 S3 speaker in bi-amping mode. Our source was the Rose RS150B network player, which we used to play our playlists on Qobuz and access DSD tracks saved on the local network. Lastly, we used the Pro-Ject Xtension 10 Evolution turntable to evaluate the performance of the phono preamp.
Rose RA180: listening impressions
The immense power of the Rose RA180 amplifier was masterfully controlled, enabling it to adapt brilliantly to a huge variety of musical genres. Whether we were listening to a mellow jazz piece like The Girl from Ipanema, an energetic rock track such as AC/DC’s Back in Black, or a complex symphonic composition along the lines of Les Quatre Saisons by Anne-Sophie Mutter, everything remained in place and sounded very natural. The dynamics were remarkable, reproducing every attack with verve and striking realism, without ever losing the finesse of the details.
The Rose RS520 could be criticized for its overbearing bass, but the Rose RA180 amp has corrected the shortcomings of its predecessor, providing lows that are far more natural and balanced. Without reaching abyssal depths, the bass was remarkably tight and precise, providing a solid foundation for instruments. It gave impact to every note, and gave great breadth to the sound.
Thanks to its pure Class A preamplification, the Rose RA180 avoids the cold, harsh sound often attributed to Class D amplifiers. Its reproduction offered delectable smoothness and finesse. The round, rich tones magnified vocals, which took center stage with striking impact. Although certain tessituras exhibited a slight dip in the lower mids, the emotions and realism remained incredible.
The vast, open soundstage created by the Rose RA180 amplifier allowed the instruments and vocals to be expressed freely. The depth was striking, allowing each element to be rendered very realistically. The piano was natural and dense, while the violins were conveyed smoothly and vividly. The Rose RA180 amplifier was just as capable of reproducing the grandeur of an orchestral composition as it was of creating a feeling of closeness and intimacy with the artists’ voices.
Rose RA180: compared to…
Cayin Soul 170i: available at the same price, this Cayin model delivers a warmer and smoother reproduction thanks to its tube amplification. The mids are even richer and the bass slightly rounder. However, it isn’t as dynamic and transparent as the Rose RA180.
Rotel Michi X3: also sold for €5,990, the Rotel Michi X3 amp stands out with its wide range of connectors, including both analog and digital inputs. Its DAC ensures Hi-Res playback up to 32-bit/768kHz. The Rotel Michi X3’s amplification stage works in class AB and can deliver 200 watts into 8 ohms. It offers deeper bass and a warmer sound, but isn’t quite as transparent or lively as the Rose amp.
Rose RA180: who is it for?
With its four amplification modules and integrated equalization, the Rose RA180 is ideal for bi-amping without having to install multiple elements. Thanks to its separate outputs for mid/high and low frequencies, as well as a level of customization rarely found in hi-fi, it provides optimal performance with any speakers equipped with a double pair of terminals. With its stereo bridging function, this Rose RA180 amplifier will also meet the needs of the most demanding speakers, thanks to an extraordinary output power that is more often seen with mono models.
Rose RA180: conclusion
The Rose RA180 amplifier is one of a kind, both due to its retro-futuristic design and its multiple settings. Like a multidisciplinary work of art, it captivates both visually, with its gear mechanisms that move with every volume adjustment, and audibly, with its exceptional musicality. Its colossal energy enables any pair of speakers to be brought to life with dynamism, precision and balance. Transparency, power and smoothness are combined in a way that is unusual for a Class D amplifier. Finally, bi-amplification options give this amp a real edge, setting it apart from all other models in the sector.
We liked:
- The retro-futuristic design
- The colossal power
- The bi-amping options
- The many settings
We would have liked:
- Even deeper bass
- Stronger low-mids
- More transparent tone control
