Not every HiFi Rose owner wants to replace an entire system to get modern streaming. With the RW800, part of the new ROSE AIR Lite line, HiFi Rose offers a compact USB-based module that adds current streaming platforms to existing gear with a single cable, or works on its own as a standalone network streamer for any amplifier, active speaker or external DAC.
Two Devices in One Small Box
The HiFi Rose RW800 performs two distinct roles depending on how it’s connected. In Expansion mode, it plugs into a compatible HiFi Rose streamer over USB-C, drawing power directly from the host device and requiring no extra setup. Album art, track titles and playback status sync automatically to the host’s screen, and the RW800 passes digital audio losslessly up to 384kHz/32-bit straight into the host’s built-in DAC. Compatible HiFi Rose streamers include the RS201(E), RS250(A), RS150(B), RS520, RS130, RS151 and RS451, with the RSA720 supported only via its USB 3.0 Type-B port.
In Standalone mode, the HiFi Rose RW800 becomes a fully independent streaming player, connecting to any third-party integrated amplifier, active speaker or external DAC through RCA analog output or optical in/out, plus a 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet port for a stable wired connection. Standalone operation needs its own USB-C power adapter (5V/1.5A) rather than drawing power from a host, and both modes are managed through the dedicated ROSE AIR app.
Streaming Coverage and Measured Performance
The HiFi Rose RW800 supports TIDAL Connect and Qobuz Connect at up to 192kHz/24-bit, Spotify Connect at 44.1kHz/24-bit lossless, Google Cast at 96kHz/24-bit, Roon Ready at up to 384kHz/32-bit via RAAT transport, Apple AirPlay, and Bluetooth 5.2 with A2DP and AVRCP support. Local playback over USB reaches 32-bit/384kHz, and HiFi Rose specifies a 119dB signal-to-noise ratio with THD+N below -102dB from the 2Vrms RCA analog output — figures aimed squarely at listeners who don’t want streaming convenience to come at the cost of measured fidelity.
The compact chassis was designed to disappear into an existing rack: a glossy top-panel logo carries the brand identity while an indirect LED diffuser on the underside avoids distracting the listener during playback. HiFi Rose recommends pairing the standalone RW800 with its own RD160 DAC or RA180/RA280 integrated amplifiers, though the module works with electronics from any brand.
Pricing and Availability
The HiFi Rose RW800 launched at High End Vienna 2026 and is available now for £169 / A$299 / NZ$359, with a recommended European price of €199 — discounted to an introductory €125 through 30 September 2026. HiFi Rose has not published an official U.S. dollar price, though some American retailers list the HiFi Rose RW800 at around $249.
At that price, the HiFi Rose RW800 is positioned less as a flagship product and more as an accessible entry point into the brand’s ecosystem — a way for owners of an older streamer, or a system built around a third-party amplifier, to add current streaming standards without a full upgrade.
Key Specifications
- Modes: Expansion (USB-C to compatible HiFi Rose streamers) or Standalone (RCA/optical to any system)
- Streaming: TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, Google Cast, Roon Ready, AirPlay, Bluetooth 5.2
- USB hi-res playback: up to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD128
- Optical in/out: up to 192kHz/24-bit
- Analog output: 2Vrms RCA, THD+N below -102dB
- SNR: 119dB
- Network: 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet
- Power: USB host power (Expansion) or 5V/1.5A USB-C adapter (Standalone)
- Price: €199 (intro €125 through 30 Sept 2026) / £169 / A$299
For a look at HiFi Rose’s higher-tier hardware, see our coverage of the HiFi Rose RS151. Further information on the HiFi Rose RW800 is available directly from HiFi Rose.
