The Rose RS150B network player and preamplifier is one of the most comprehensive models available, with its large touchscreen and countless possibilities. Designed for both audio and video streaming, this player is 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512 compatible, and can display 4K/60Hz images via its HDMI output. Sold for €4,490, the Rose RS510B network player seems to meet all the requirements of a modern, versatile hi-fi installation.
Rose RS150B: accessories
The Rose RS150B network player comes with a quick start guide, a power cable and a Bluetooth remote control with batteries. The manufacturer also includes a USB stick that serves as a WiFi and Bluetooth dongle. The latter is easily connected to a dedicated port on the rear of the device.
Rose RS150B : presentation
Design
At 43cm wide, 12cm high, 31cm deep and weighing 13kg, the Rose RS150B network player is one of the largest in its category, but also one of the most luxurious. Its thick chassis is made entirely of metal, imparting a sense of robustness and quality. It ensures perfect mechanical vibration damping while effectively eliminating electromagnetic interference. The sides look like large heat sinks with their stratified finish, while the top panel is perfectly smooth and adorned with the brand name and logo. Everything is assembled seamlessly, creating a monolithic-like object.
The Rose RS150B’s front panel is entirely covered by a large, 15” touchscreen. The latter is a real highlight of this player, offering countless possibilities, both aesthetic and functional. It allows you to navigate through the various apps, adjust settings and select sources. During playback, it can display album artwork, the song title, the resolution (including the bit rate) or a VU-meter. Many different themes are available, with various colors for the VU-meters, including blues inspired by McIntosh electronics. You can change the pleasures to suit your mood, giving you the impression of having a new piece of equipment every time you use it.
ES9038PRO DAC
Inside its futuristic chassis, the Rose RS150B network player incorporates one of the best DACs currently available: the ESS Sabre ES9038PRO. This chip, which is also used in the legendary FiiO M17 DAP, supports most of the latest audio formats up to a very high resolution of 32-bit/768kHz, but also MQA and DSD formats up to DSD512. These files are converted with surgical precision, as well as a very low level of distortion. A Femto clock ensures correct data timing, while a hexa-core Cortex processor acts as general controller to provide computing power.
Inside the Rose RS150B network player is a high-quality power supply to provide clean, stable power to the processor and audio circuits. To prevent the transmission of unwanted noise to the most vulnerable components, such as the DAC, the power supply’s massive toroidal transformer is carefully isolated from the other elements.
USB and DLNA playback
Thanks to the powerful ESS DAC, the Rose RS150B can play all digital audio tracks, whether they’re saved on a NAS (DLNA and Roon compatibility), a microSD card (400GB max.), or a storage device (10TB max. per disk) connected to one of the two USB-A ports or the USB-C port. The Rose RS150B network player can also store your music library internally, thanks to a rack located under the chassis (screws included). This rack can accommodate an SSD drive with a maximum capacity of 4TB. The USB ports can also be used to connect a CD ripper like the Rose RSA780 to rip lossless FLAC and WAV discs.
Streaming services
In addition to locally stored files, the Rose RS150B network player natively integrates Apple Music, Qobuz, Tidal and Spotify. They can be accessed using the touchscreen or in the Rose mobile app. Listeners can also enjoy thousands of podcasts and web radios. The manufacturer provides an old school radio/tuner presentation on the screen, with a large selection knob, needle frequency display and even static noise between stations, a nostalgic nod to the tuners of the 70s. For greater convenience, it is possible to save different radio stations for quick access.
What’s more, music can be streamed to the RS150B network player via AirPlay from an iPhone, iPod, iPad or Mac. A Bluetooth 4.2 receiver is also included to stream music without having to use the local network.
4K UHD video
The RS150B streamer is also able to read 4K UHD videos. They can be displayed at up to 60 fps on the built-in screen, or streamed to a TV via the HDMI 4K output on the rear of the player. It is therefore possible to enjoy videos you have saved on a USB stick, hard drive or NAS. Many video formats are supported, including MKV, AVI, H.264 and H.265. You can also play the music videos available on certain platforms. It is a shame that VOD services like Netflix and Prime Video aren’t available. That said, it is possible to access YouTube without any ads via the Rose Tube app.
Connectors
The Rose RS150B offers a wide range of connectors on its back panel. As well as many USB ports (two USB-A, one USB-B and one USB-C), there is an RCA input and three digital inputs: one coaxial, one optical and one AES/EBU. The latter allow you to use the Rose RS150B as a DAC to connect a CD player, for example. It is also possible to enjoy the sound of a TV on your living room hi-fi system thanks to the HDMI ARC port.
In its output section, the Rose RS150B network player is equipped with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA connectors. The level of these outputs can be fixed or variable, making it possible to use the Rose RS150B as a source or a preamplifier to connect it to a power amplifier. You can also use an external DAC thanks to the coaxial, optical, USB and AES/EBU digital outputs.
Interface and control
The Rose RS150B network player uses a custom version of Android. The interface displayed on the screen is very similar to that of a smartphone, ensuring intuitive use. It’s easy to navigate through the various apps, including streaming services, which are integrated to perfection. All the options offered by the native apps of each platform are integrated into the Rose RS150B player. A rare occurrence! Navigation through the many options of each app is smooth and fast, despite a short loading time when launching a Hi-Res album. This only applies to the first track, after which playback continues in gapless mode.
Available in the Rose RS150B’s menu, the “option” application provides access to countless settings, including display management. You can change the icon theme, screen brightness, video resolution, interface size and even display a clock when the player is in standby mode. From the settings, you can activate each of the player’s inputs and outputs separately. It’s also possible to manage local disks, add NAS servers to the media library, or set a specific gain for each source on the Rose RS150B.
The Rose RS150B network player is controlled remotely using mainly the Rose Hi-Fi mobile app. Its rather minimalist interface provides access to compatible streaming services, music shared over the local network and web radios. The homepage features several tabs that allow you to quickly find your favorites and previously listened-to tracks. Finally, there is a full control interface to easily control all the player’s features and the content displayed on the screen (VU-meters, song title, clock).
The Rose RS150B network player comes with a Bluetooth remote control for browsing through apps and music, adjusting the volume, selecting the source and activating various settings. The possibilities are numerous, but we unfortunately never managed to pair the remote control that came with our test model. The problem seems to be random, but Rose has promised to deliver a second remote control as soon as possible if there is a defect.
WiFi and Ethernet
Surprisingly, the Rose RS150B network player doesn’t come with an internal WiFi module. It is still possible to benefit from a wireless connection thanks to the included Nextu USB dongle. In WiFi mode, this module promises a bandwidth of 650 Mbps. However, you need to be in an area with perfect WiFi coverage to get good reception. In a room far from the internet box (2 bars of reception), the connection was unstable and frequently interrupted. It is possible to replace the WiFi module with a more responsive model, but compatibility may vary from one system to another. As a result, it may be a good idea to use the Rose RS150B network player with Ethernet for a perfectly stable connection.
Rose RS150B: key specifications
- Audio and video network player
- ESS ES9038PRO DAC
- 32/768 PCM and DSD512
- Large touchscreen
- HDMI 2.0 (ARC, 4K/60Hz)
- DLNA, AirPlay, Roon, Bluetooth
- Streaming services
Rose RS150B: configuration
The Rose RS150B network player is configured in three very easy steps: selecting the interface language, the time zone and the keyboard style (QWERTY etc.). Thanks to the large touchscreen, you don’t have to use the app for the configuration. Then, you simply have to enter the WiFi password if needed and add your various streaming services.
For our review, we connected the Rose RS150B network player to the Rose RA180 amplifier with which it proved a perfect match, both musically and aesthetically, thanks to a screen theme based on the latter’s design. We also tested the Rose RS150B with the Cayin Soul 170i tube amp, as well as the Hegel H390. The sources used were streamed from Qobuz and Tidal, and from the network via a Roon server.
Rose RS150B: listening impressions
The Rose RS150B network player revealed outstanding clarity, which contributed to a pure and crystal-clear reproduction. With the album Buena Vista Social Club, it demonstrated remarkable analytical abilities, extracting micro-details from recordings with surgical precision. The contours of vocals and instruments were beautifully crisp and delineated with extreme finesse. The slightest nuance was precisely revealed to the listener, thanks to a transparency that bordered on perfection.
The Rose RS150B network player demonstrated impeccable accuracy, reproducing music authentically. Preserving exemplary neutrality, it avoided any unnecessary excess. As a result, each track unfolded naturally, in keeping with the recording acoustics and the artists’ intentions. The spectral balance was perfectly maintained, offering a beautiful alchemy between the different frequency ranges. The highs were crisp and flowed through the soundstage with fluidity and obvious ease. They were accompanied by a well-textured, highly analytical midrange that captured all vocal tessituras. The bass was dense, energetic and full-bodied, providing a solid foundation for the reproduction.
The soundscape created by the Rose RS150B network player extended as easily in width as it did in depth. The vast soundstage faithfully reproduced recordings, with every element in the correct place. It offered plenty of space and clarity for the various frequency ranges to express themselves with ease. This spaciousness contributed to the excellent reproduction of the greatest orchestral compositions, which seemed to come to life without any restrictions. It also gave the piano a solemn presence, emerging before the listener with clear authority, while the violins soared with agility.
Rose RS150B: compared to…
Cambridge Edge NQ: €1000 more expensive (€5,490), the Cambridge Edge NQ network player is also equipped with a color screen. However, it is much smaller and isn’t touch-sensitive. Although it features an HDMI ARC port, it can only be used for audio, unlike the Rose RS150B that can also read 4K videos. The Cambridge Edge NQ’s sound is very analytical and slightly rounder than the RS150B.
Rose RS150B: who is it for?
The Rose RS150B network is ideal for adding a modern touch to any high-end hi-fi system. Its large touchscreen makes music playback more interactive thanks to the song information displayed and the many available VU-meters. This screen allows the Rose RS150B to work entirely independently, without having to systematically go through the mobile app, as is the case with many competing models. This Rose player’s undeniable musicality makes it a great choice for discerning audiophiles who will be able to use it as a source, a DAC, but also a preamplifier.
Rose RS150B: conclusion
With the Rose RS150B network player, the Korean manufacturer has produced one of the most advanced models available today. The large touchscreen is unique, bringing hi-fi into the 21st century. It is the focal point of this player, offering a user-friendly interface that facilitates navigation and music selection. Rose Audio definitely lives up to its name with the Rose RS150B player, whose musicality is like the scent of a rose: captivating, unforgettable and rich in nuances. It’s a true declaration of love for music, embodying an immense passion for reproducing every detail with flawless fidelity. The only thorn in its side is that the remote control seems tricky to connect, and the WiFi module sometimes lacks responsiveness.
We liked:
- The large touchscreen
- The many available themes
- The natural and highly detailed reproduction
- The transparency of the sound
We would have liked:
- To have been able to use the remote control
- A WiFi receiver that was built-in and more responsive
