HiFi Rose - RS520 Network Streamer/Integrated Amplifier

A true all-in-one: a GaN FET Class-D integrated amplifier, an ESS SABRE ES9038PRO DAC and a full network streamer behind a 12.6-inch touchscreen.

The RS520 takes the streaming platform from the RS250A, upgrades the converter to the eight-channel ESS SABRE ES9038PRO, and adds a gallium nitride Class-D power amplifier rated 250 watts per channel into 8 ohms. Unlike the RS250A it drives loudspeakers directly, so it is genuinely the only box between your sources and your speakers.

GaN output devices switch faster and waste less energy as heat than conventional silicon MOSFETs, which is how that power fits into a milled aluminium chassis measuring 13.6 by 12.9 inches and weighing under 18 pounds. The supply uses power factor correction. It is the same engineering approach HiFi Rose uses in its standalone RA280 integrated amplifier, at the same 250W into 8 ohms rating.

The 12.6-inch ultra-wide touchscreen is the signature. At 1920 x 510 it spans nearly the full fascia, running a customised Android build that puts album art, video, streaming apps and large analog-style VU meters on the front panel rather than on your phone. Control is yours three ways: the screen, the Rose Connect app, or the supplied remote.

Connectivity is unusually broad for a streaming integrated. Alongside optical, coaxial, line and USB DAC inputs there is an HDMI eARC input, which lets a television route its audio into the RS520 — that makes it viable as the heart of a two-channel system that also handles TV sound, a job most audiophile integrateds cannot do. Files play from an upgradeable internal 2.5-inch SSD, USB 3.0 storage or networked drives at PCM rates to 768kHz and native DSD512, and the optional RSA-780E drive adds CD playback and ripping.

Features

• GaN FET Class-D integrated amplifier, 250W per channel into 8Ω
• ESS SABRE ES9038PRO DAC with MQA full decoder
• 12.6″ ultra-wide TFT LCD touchscreen, 1920 x 510
• Roon Ready, plus TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, Apple Music, AirPlay and DLNA
• HDMI eARC input for television audio
• HDMI 2.0 video output up to 4K at 60fps; RoseTube for YouTube
• Upgradeable internal 2.5″ SSD plus two USB 3.0 ports
• PCM to 768kHz and native DSD512
• Gigabit Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi
• SMB, FTP and WebDAV for networked music libraries
• Optional RSA-780E drive adds CD playback and ripping
• Milled solid aluminium chassis in Silver or Black

Specifications

• Type: Network streamer, DAC and GaN FET Class-D integrated amplifier
• Power Output: 250W x 2 channels (8Ω, 20Hz–20kHz, THD 0.05%). HiFi Rose publishes no 4Ω rating
• THD: 0.05% (8Ω, 1W to 250W, 1kHz)
• Frequency Response: 10Hz–85kHz (8Ω, 1W)
• Amplifier Topology: Class-D with GaN FET output devices and power factor correction
• DAC: ESS SABRE ES9038PRO with MQA full decoder
• Display: 12.6″ TFT LCD multi-touch, 1920 x 510
• Operating System: Customised Android 7.1-based Rose OS, updated over the air
• Audio Inputs: Optical x1, coaxial x1, line-in x1, USB DAC x1, HDMI eARC x1
• Audio Outputs: Speaker binding posts, preamp out x1, optical x1, coaxial x1
• Headphone Output: Not fitted
• Video Output: HDMI 2.0 x1, up to 3840 x 2160 / 60Hz
• Video Playback: 4K at up to 60fps in H.265/HEVC. H.264 4K content is limited to 30fps
• PCM Support: 8kHz–768kHz, 8/16/24/32-bit
• DSD Support: Native DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512
• Streaming: Roon Ready, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, DLNA, Bluetooth, internet radio
• Music Services: TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, Apple Music, Rose Tube, YouTube, Apple Podcasts. Amazon Music is not supported
• Codecs: MQA, WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, DFF, DSF, AAC and others
• Storage: Upgradeable internal 2.5″ SSD; USB 3.0 x2. NTFS, exFAT and FAT32
• Network File Protocols: SMB, FTP, WebDAV
• Network: Ethernet 10/100/1000 BASE-T; Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual band
• Bluetooth: Version 4.2, via the supplied USB dongle rather than an internal radio
• Mains Input: AC 100–240V, 50/60Hz. Standby consumption less than 0.5W
• Remote Control: Bluetooth remote handset; Rose Connect app for iOS and Android
• Finishes: Milled solid aluminium, Silver or Black
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 13.6″ x 12.9″ x 5″ (346 x 328 x 127 mm)
• Weight: 17.8 lbs (8.1 kg)
• In the Box: Power cord, Bluetooth remote with two AAA batteries, manual, four SSD mounting screws
• Warranty: Two years. US warranty and service are administered by HiFi Rose USA
• Note: Apple Music on Rose OS is limited to 256 kbps AAC by Apple’s own SDK — it is not lossless. HiFi Rose publishes no signal-to-noise, dynamic range, crosstalk or damping factor figures for this model