HiFi Rose RD160 DAC And Pre-Amplifier – Quick Look
All Image Credit: HiFi Rose
Apparently I missed the HiFi Rose announcement of their RD160 DAC And Pre-Amplifier. This high quality DAC and pre-amplifier was released earlier this year and is now available in both the US and UK. This latest model has their signature look with simple front-panel controls and display. It features a fully balanced, dual-mono flagship AKM DAC design, and incorporates three separate reference power supplies for different circuitry to reduce interference and crosstalk. It is manufactured from premium components, oxygen-free copper, includes J-FET op-amps, and comes in a solid chassis milled from a single piece of aluminum finished in either black or silver.
Key features of the RD160 include HiFi Rose’s proprietary technologies; the ROSE DPC (Digital Processing Core), which ensures signal accuracy by synchronizing the DAC’s digital signal with a high-precision OCXO clock, ROSE CIM (Completely Isolated Module) architecture, which isolates digital and analogue processes, uses two separate DAC chips per channel and ROSE NRA (Noise Reduction Analogue) filters that deliver a flat frequency response even in the lower frequencies. Its dual-chip design divides the DAC’s decoding duties; one chip handles digital filtering and initial delta-sigma conversion stages while the other performs the digital-to-analog conversion.
Keeping everything synchronized is the RD160’s super-accurate temperature controlled built-in OCXO clock that helps to keep timing errors to a minimum. An external clock input is also provided for a master clock generator for even cleaner, more precise, jitter-free digital audio signals.
The RD160 offers various features allowing the user to customize their listening experience. Choose from four sampling options; Bypass, PCM, DSD, and Upsampling, and six digital filters, all selectable via the front screen.
Local control is available using the front panel buttons and a defeatable rotary volume knob, with all menus and signal information being displayed on a customizable large front panel “hidden” AMOLED display. For seated operation the RD160 comes with an IR remote.
Rear panel digital input connectivity is extensive and includes; 1 x AES/EBU, 2 x coaxial, 1 x optical, 1 x HDMI I2S, 1 x USB-B, 1 x small-form factor pluggable fiber port and 2 x clock BNC. Analog outputs include; stereo balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA. Trigger control is available via the 3.5mm I/O connectors.
Features At A Glance:
- Dual-mono 2-chip audiophile AKM DAC:
- AK4191 chip handles digital filtering and initial delta-sigma conversion stages
- AK4499EX chip performs digital-to-analog conversion
- Three reference linear power supply units minimize interference between channels and prevent digital noise
- High-quality J-FET input dual op-amps provide wide dynamic range and super-low distortion
- Rose NRA filtering provides wide, consistent frequency response
- Large “hidden” display shows source, upsampling and filter selections, volume, and more
- Chassis machined from a single piece of high-purity aluminum minimizes vibrations
- Heat sink side panels keep operating temperature cool
- High-quality oxygen-free copper wiring in internal power and audio input/output sections
- High-precision OCXO clock suppresses timing errors that can smear musical detail
- Four upsampling and 6 filter options for flexibility in getting the best sound
Specifications:
- Input Sensitivity: 0dBF / 1kHz
- Output Impedance: 300Ω
- Max. Output Level: 4.5Vrms (RCA), 9Vrms (XLR)
- THD +N: 0.005% (RCA), 0.005% (XLR)
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 124dB (RCA), 124dB (XLR)
- Frequency Response:
- 10Hz – 20kHZ (-0.3dB)
- 10HZ – 50kHz (-1.5dB)
- 10Hz – 73kHz (-3.0dB)
- DAC Chips: 2 x AK4499EXEQ + 2 x AK4191EQ
- PSU: 3 x Linear Toroidal
- CPU: RK3128 Quad-Core Cortex A7mp
- RAM: DDR3 1866MHz 1GB
- Flash: 8GB eMMc
- Oscillator: High-Precision OCXO
- Display: AMOLED (hidden screen)
- Inputs:
- USB SFP Module (PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD512)
- USB 2.0 Type B (PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD512)
- HDMI I2S (PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD512)
- Coaxial RCA (PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD128 DoP)
- Coaxial BNC (PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD128 DoP)
- Optical (PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD64 DoP)
- AES/EBU (PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD128 DoP)
- External Clock:
- BNC 75Ω (10MHz)
- BNC 50Ω (10MHz)
- Analogue Outputs – Stereo:
- Unbalanced RCA
- Balanced XLR
- Trigger: 3.5mm I/O
- PCM Filters: Sharp, Slow, Short Sharp (Default), Short Slow, Super Slow, Low Short
- Pre-Out Level: 1V – 9V (fixed or variable switchable)
- Power Consumption: 0.3W Standby / 30W Max.
- Size (W x D x H): 430 x 330 x 88mm
- Weight: 10.0Kg
- Body: Solid Aluminum and Rust-Proof Steel
- Remote Control IR Input: 38KHz Infrared Ray (Within 10m)
Pricing:
- US: $5,295.00
- UK: £4,699.00
- EU: €5,299.00
For more information visit the HiFi Rose web site.
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