HiFi Rose RW800 music streamer?

[Ruediger]

Thanks for the comments. Yes the Audiolab 6000a mark 2 has a decent DAC built in.

If you use the streamer as a digital transport only (optical out) you can go as low as WiiM Mini and save even more. It also has Apple (only the Ultra is missing that).

If you don't like DSP that's perfectly fine. But that's not just applying tone controls. It can also "fix things". It's generally nice to have in case opinions or needs change later on.

 

[FredBloggs]

If you use the streamer as a digital transport only (optical out) you can go as low as WiiM Mini and save even more. It also has Apple (only the Ultra is missing that).

If you don't like DSP that's perfectly fine. But that's not just applying tone controls. It can also "fix things". It's generally nice to have in case opinions or needs change later on.

Yes, thanks. I don't see a strong argument against doing that. I agree with your points.

Edited to add, the Wiim Mini doesn't support Chromecast. Just Air Play. That's a non starter.

 

[Purité Audio]

Removing ‘bass boom’ with a touch of EQ ( DSP )is almost certainly the single largest improvement one can ever make
Streamer wise no difference in sound quality between the cheapest and most expensive.
Keith

 

[GGroch]

Another thing to consider in the Wiim/Rose comparison is product viability going forward.

While the Digital output of either is near identical, that is only guaranteed today. These streaming devices are 80% software and while your needs may be simple, all streaming services change over time. When they change, you can easily lose utility, or at the very least sacrifice new functionality you may want. This happens every year with streamers that are orphaned, even very expensive ones from established brands. Wiim has over a decade of software development, is the market leader, and updates their products. monthly.

While replacing a streamer a year or two down the road may not be expensive, you then need to install and re-learn apps. Its a hassle. My guess is Rose did not develop their own streaming software, even so, you depend on them to update their devices which most mainstream audio companies do not regularly (or ever) do.

 

[FredBloggs]

Removing ‘bass boom’ with a touch of EQ ( DSP )is almost certainly the single largest improvement one can ever make
Streamer wise no difference in sound quality between the cheapest and most expensive.
Keith

Thanks, understood. I think such a scenario unlikely using small bookshelf speakers. But I understand the principle.

 

[FredBloggs]

Another thing to consider in the Wiim/Rose comparison is product viability going forward.

While the Digital output of either is near identical, that is only guaranteed today. These streaming devices are 80% software and while your needs may be simple, all streaming services change over time. When they change, you can easily lose utility, or at the very least sacrifice new functionality you may want. This happens every year with streamers that are orphaned, even very expensive ones from established brands. Wiim has over a decade of software development, is the market leader, and updates their products. monthly.

While replacing a streamer a year or two down the road may not be expensive, you then need to install and re-learn apps. Its a hassle. My guess is Rose did not develop their own streaming software, even so, you depend on them to update their devices which most mainstream audio companies do not regularly (or ever) do.

Thanks, I hadn't considered it as such. I'm not sure how much development is done by Rose in Korea.

 

[staticV3]

Thanks, understood. I think such a scenario unlikely using small bookshelf speakers. But I understand the principle.

As you can see in my graph from before, in my case the problematic room acoustics extended all the way up to 250Hz.

Even small bookshelf speakers would easily trigger them and therefore benefit greatly from Parametric EQ for room correction.

In reality, there's basically no system that wouldn't benefit.

Like seriously: a while ago I measured and corrected a friend's tiny clip-on PC monitor multimedia speaker. Massive improvement and all it took was PEQ.

 

[GGroch]

In reality, there's basically no system that wouldn't benefit.

Objectively, there is almost no system where Room-EQ will not make a large measurable and noticeable change in the speakers output. Whether it is a benefit is subjective, but for me it was a major improvement.

Mr. Boggs might also Google "Purite Audio". I believe they are familiar with rather nice bookshelf speakers. At the very least, having this "free" feature lets you prove it to yourself either way.

 

[Mnyb]

If you want to save cost there’s probably a raspberry pi based solution out there ? But maybe a diy streamer won’t have airplay ?

 

[FredBloggs]

Thanks, within reason, budget isn't really constrained. The Wiim and the Rose are same price and relatively inexpensive.

 

[Matt_Holland]

Thanks, within reason, budget isn't really constrained. The Wiim and the Rose are same price and relatively inexpensive.

Buy both and see which user experience you prefer. Return or resell the less preferred.

 

[FredBloggs]

Buy both and see which user experience you prefer. Return or resell the less preferred.

Exactly what I'm thinking too!

 

[Purité Audio]

The above makes perfect sense, just to add, traditionally listeners rejected more ‘full-range’ designs because they would excite their room, today it really is trivially easy to enjoy really full-range 20-20kHz reproduction without ‘boom’.
Keith

 

[Matt_Holland]

The above makes perfect sense, just to add, traditionally listeners rejected more ‘full-range’ designs because they would excite their room, today it really is trivially easy to enjoy really full-range 20-20kHz reproduction without ‘boom’.
Keith

Was weird how all the “fast”, “musical” subwoofers were lacking SPL and bandwidth lol!

 

[Purité Audio]

On another place I saw the LS3/5E being recommended for ‘drum and bass’!
Keith

 

[Ruediger]

Another thing to consider in the Wiim/Rose comparison is product viability going forward.

While the Digital output of either is near identical, that is only guaranteed today. These streaming devices are 80% software and while your needs may be simple, all streaming services change over time. When they change, you can easily lose utility, or at the very least sacrifice new functionality you may want. This happens every year with streamers that are orphaned, even very expensive ones from established brands. Wiim has over a decade of software development, is the market leader, and updates their products. monthly.

That's a valid concern especially when using streaming services, radio services and sources from the web in general. Where the manufacturer needs to keep support up or at some point in time it might stop working / the services doesn't exist in that form anymore.

Unless the device itself breaks things that we can count on to work on in my opinion: DLNA/UPNP and some of the big radio platforms like vtuner, radiotime.. UPNP is localnet, no one can take it away. And idk if I am in decade 2 or 3 with vtuner, but I kind of see that as a given with so many brands incorporating it. Although it could change. But bottom line: maintain your local media library, it's good forever.