RS250Verdict: "Rose is becoming a constant on the market for high-quality media players. The RS250 is an excellent streaming DAC that impresses with its innovative design, intuitive operation and great sound. The clever system also offers an enormous range of functions. From the integration of the smartphone to Extensive streaming options and even use as a full-fledged media server: the RS250 is always there.Together with the good audio technology and its numerous interesting features, even apart from pure music playback, Rose offers all the advantages of its flagship systems, in a modern compact format ."

Product informations

The front of the RS250 is almost entirely occupied by a large, easy-to-read, easy-to-use, high-resolution 8.8-inch touchscreen. In addition, the front has an intelligent volume/mute control and a 3.5mm headphone jack. As a multimedia network player with an integrated premium DAC, the RS250 offers almost every imaginable streaming function, setting a completely new standard in this price segment.

RS250 control

With the ROSE Connect smartphone app for iOS and Android it is possible to browse through online and offline music collections. Thanks to the Android operating system and fast processor, handling the RS250's touchscreen is exactly as you are used to from modern smartphones. For those who prefer to control the player the old-fashioned way, a handy Bluetooth remote control is included.

RS250 sources and power supply

The player supports Spotify Connect, Tidal and Qobuz. It also offers Master Quality Authenticated (MQA), with which e.g. the offer of Tidal's master collection can be used. Airplay, DLNA and ROON are supported. Music can be played back in the highest quality from NAS (Network Attached Storage), USB storage, an optional internal 2.5'' SSD or any other external digital audio component.
An internal linear power supply provides clean and reliable power to the CPU and audio output circuits. It is isolated and shielded from the rest of the electronics, effectively blocking noise for the best possible sound reproduction.

RS250 premium converter and video

The HiFi ROSE RS250 is equipped with an ESS Saber Reference DAC that plays music up to a maximum resolution of 32bit-768kHz in PCM and offers Native DSD support up to DSD512. Internet radio stations and podcasts can be played with just a few clicks. YouTube videos can be played back in the best stereo sound with ROSE Tube in 4K UHD picture quality on the TV or the RS250 display itself.

RS250 CD playback and storage

CD collections can be played directly via USB using an optional CD drive (such as the HiFi ROSE RSA780) or ripped to the internal or external music storage connected to the RS250.

Features
Music Service: Qobuz, TIDAL, Bugs, RoseTube, RosePodcast, Internet Radio
Video Service: TIDAL Video, Bugs Video, RoseTube (supporting 4K UHD 60p resolution)
Streaming Service: BlueTooth A2DP Sink, Airplay, DLNA , Roon Ready, Spotify Connect
Internet Radio: Internet radio support for thousands of channels around the world
CD Play/Ripping: CD playback and CD ripping support using a dedicated USB CD drive
Network Service: Network sharing of built-in storage devices using SMB server, FTP server, and WebDAV server
Network shared folder support using SMB, FTP, WebDAV protocol
SoftWare Update: SW update including OTA, USB Storage, ROSE Store
USB Audio IN: Compatible with USB Audio Class 2.0, supporting USB Audio IN (Windows PC-ASIO drive support / MAC PC-Core Audio support / Linux PC-ALSA drive support)
USB Audio OUT: Compatible with USB Audio Class 2.0, supporting USB Audio OUT (Various USB DAC can be connected)
Hi-Res Audio:
Supporting high-quality sound data (24~32 bit/48~384 kHz) that certified by Hi-Res Audio
MQA: MQA Full Decoder
Supported Audio Codec
WAV, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, DFF, DSF, AAC, CDA, AMR, APE, EC3,
E-EC3, MID, MPL, MP2, MPC, MPGA, M4A, AIFF
PCM : 8kHz~768kHz(8/16/24/32bit per Sample)
Native DSD: DSD64(2.8MHz)/DSD128(5.6MHz)/DSD256(11.2MHz)/ DSD512(22.4MHz)
Supported Video Codec
ASF, AVI, MKV, MP4, WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.263, H.264, H.265, VC-1,
VP9, VP8, MVC,
H.264/AVC, Base/Main/High/High10 profile@level5.1 up to 4Kx2K@30fps
H.265/HEVC, Main/Main10 profile@ level 5.1 High-tier up to 4Kx2K@60fps
Storage interface
Supporting SATA slot for installation of USB hard disk (10TB) and SSD (4TB)
Setup Wizard
Installation Wizard support for easy initial setup
Technical support
Remote technical support function
Remote App
Supporting Remote App (RoseConnect) based on various platforms (Android, iOS, Windows)