ROSE RS520

The HiFi ROSE RS520 is an all-in-one network streamer designed as a complete solution for high-level music listening and multimedia playback, integrating a network player, reference DAC, and power amplifier into a single device. The philosophy behind the RS520 goes beyond the traditional concept of a source with built-in amplification, offering a ready-to-use system that only requires connection to speakers to deliver high-end audio performance, operational simplicity, and a refined design built to last. Even with medium and large speakers, the device ensures a balanced, elegant, and coherent sound across the entire frequency range, maintaining a natural and engaging musicality.

At the heart of the digital-to-analog conversion section is the ESS SABRE ES9038PRO DAC, the same reference chip used in the brand’s flagship models, capable of handling PCM signals up to 32-bit/768 kHz, native DSD up to DSD512, and MQA content with full unfold. Its performance, characterized by extremely low distortion and a very high dynamic range, is further enhanced by ESS’s proprietary jitter cancellation system and a set of low-latency filters that allow the sound output to be tailored to listener preferences, always ensuring purity, precision, and tonal naturalness.

The amplification section is one of the RS520’s most distinctive features and is based on next-generation Class AD design, derived from the RA180 amplifier experience. The use of GaN FET transistors drastically reduces switching dead time, improves linearity, and brings the musicality of Class D closer to that of traditional amplifiers. The result is 250 watts per channel, capable of driving a wide variety of speakers authoritatively while delivering a sound that is powerful yet refined, with controlled bass, rich mids, and extended, airy highs.

Significant attention is also given to the analog stage, which uses discrete operational amplifiers developed in-house by ROSE for the I/V conversion circuit. This solution provides high driving current, low output impedance, and an extremely linear response, contributing to a wide and three-dimensional soundstage, with depth and warmth reminiscent of analog listening. Active power factor correction further enhances energy efficiency and power stability, reducing noise and interference and ensuring silent operation even under demanding conditions.

From a construction standpoint, the RS520 features a chassis made almost entirely of high-strength aluminum, crafted using an all-in-one process that integrates all four sides into a single structure. This design drastically reduces vibrations and unwanted resonances, improving both mechanical solidity and overall sound quality. Available in Silver and Black finishes, the device combines elegant lines with a carefully designed ventilation system for efficient heat dissipation, creating a product that blends technical functionality with aesthetic value.

The large 12.6-inch high-resolution front touchscreen provides an intuitive and engaging user experience, allowing users to view album artwork, track information, control menus, and video content with excellent clarity and wide viewing angles. Physical controls are positioned at the top to maximize screen space, enabling users to focus on the graphical interface and displayed information.

The proprietary ROSE OS forms the core of the user experience, offering a modern, fluid, and constantly evolving environment. In addition to high-resolution music playback, it provides access to numerous streaming services, including Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, Apple Music, and Bugs, supports Roon Ready certification, and allows management of local music libraries on USB, SSD, and NAS devices, as well as playback via DLNA and AirPlay. CD playback and ripping are possible with an external USB drive, playlists combining local files and streaming can be created, and sound can be customized using a five-band digital parametric equalizer with precise adjustments.

On the video side, the RS520 handles Ultra HD 4K content via HDMI, supporting major modern codecs and enabling playback of movies and videos from local storage or streaming. The ROSE Tube app provides ad-free access to online video content, while podcast and internet radio services offer thousands of stations and programs from around the world.

System control is highly flexible, achievable directly from the touchscreen, via the included Bluetooth remote, or through the ROSE Connect Premium app available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Thanks to an internal architecture that physically separates digital and analog sections and an advanced proprietary audio engine, the RS520 ensures that the signal reaches the DAC in its purest form, unaffected by background processes. In this way, the HiFi ROSE RS520 establishes itself as a reference among all-in-one streamers, combining power, sonic refinement, multimedia versatility, and a complete user experience in a single high-level device.

Technical Specifications:

• Operating System: ROSE OS 4.2 based on Android 7.1 (Nougat) customized
• Design & Finish: high-quality anodized aluminum panel from a single block (single frame); Silver or Black finish
• Display: 12.6" Wide IPS color touchscreen eDP; resolution 1920 × 480 pixels
• CPU: Hexa Core; Dual Core Cortex-A72 up to 1.8 GHz; Quad Core Cortex-A53 up to 1.4 GHz
• GPU: Mali-T864; OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.0/3.1; OpenVG 1.1; OpenCL; DX11
• Memory: LPDDR4 4 GB
• DAC / Pre-Out Section: ESS Sabre ES9038PRO DAC; Femto 100 MHz Ultra-Low Phase Noise oscillator; HiFi ROSE Discrete OP AMP
• Wired & Wireless Networking: Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 BASE-T; Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/a/ac dual band 2.4/5 GHz (dongle included); Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP Sink, AVRCP v1.3)
• Streaming & Protocols: AirPlay; DLNA; DIAL service
• Audio Inputs: analog RCA line (2.2 Vrms / max 9.0 dBu); digital optical Toslink (-27 dBm ~ -17 dBm); digital coaxial (0.5 Vp-p / 75 Ω); USB Audio IN; HDMI eARC
• Audio Outputs: pre-amp output for external or integrated amplifier (2.2 Vrms / max 9.0 dBu); optical S/PDIF Toslink; coaxial 75 Ω
• Video Inputs: HDMI eARC
• Video Outputs: HDMI 2.0 for TV/projectors; HDMI passthrough for sending DTS/Dolby multichannel audio to external decoder
• Trigger: Trigger In DC 3.3–12 V; Trigger Out DC 12 V (active after boot)
• Expandable Storage: 3× USB 3.0 (NTFS/FAT32, up to 10 TB); 1× SATA SSD (NTFS, up to 4 TB)
• Network Protocols: SMB; FTP; WebDAV
• Supported Audio Codecs: WAV; FLAC; WMA; MP3; APE; DFF; DSF; AAC; CDA; AMR; EC3; E-EC3; MID; MPL; MP2; MPC; MPGA; M4A; AIFF; ALAC; ISO SACD
• PCM: 8 kHz – 768 kHz; 8/16/24/32-bit
• Native DSD: DSD64 (2.8 MHz); DSD128 (5.6 MHz); DSD256 (11.2 MHz); DSD512 (22.4 MHz)
• MQA: native Full-Unfold certification
• Supported Video Codecs: ASF; AVI; MKV; MP4; WMV; MPEG-1/2/4; H.263; H.264; H.265; VC-1; VP9; VP8; MVC; H.264/AVC up to 4K@30 fps; H.265/HEVC up to 4K@60 fps
• Amplification: 250 W + 250 W on 8 Ω and 4 Ω; input/output sensitivity 2 Vrms; power bandwidth (-3 dB) 10 Hz – 85 kHz (8 Ω, 200 W); damping factor 150; input/output impedance 100 kΩ / 50 mΩ
• Audio Performance: THD+N Pre-Out 0.00033% (1 kHz, 600 Ω, 2 Vrms); THD+N Speaker 0.007% (1 kHz, 8 Ω, 150 W); frequency response +1/-3 dB 10 Hz – 83 kHz; SNR Pre-Out 124 dB (1 kHz, 2 Vrms); SNR Speaker 109 dB (1 kHz, 2 Vrms)
• Power Supply: AC 220–240 V, 50–60 Hz; 150 W; standby < 0.5 W; 6 A thermal circuit breaker
• Updates: automatic firmware via Internet; manual updates via USB (recommended)
• Online Streaming Services: RoseTube (YouTube); Podcast; Internet Radio; Tidal HiFi & Tidal MQA Master; Spotify Connect; Qobuz Studio up to 24bit/192kHz; Apple Music; Roon Ready Certified; Bugs; VLC
• Control: Bluetooth remote included; Rose Connect Premium HiFi app for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
• Accessories: power cable; quick start guide; Bluetooth remote; 4 SSD mounting screws
• Dimensions: 346 × 328 × 127 mm
• Weight: 8.1 kg