The HiFi Rose RA280 Integrated Amp Review
By Steve Huff
DISCLAIMER: I was not paid for this review nor did I get a free unit. This review is not sponsored. I made zero money on this review and do not offer ad space here. My words here are just my honest feelings and to me this is important. Enjoy!
My Video Review of the HiFi Rose RA280
The older but still flagship RA180 from HiFi Rose
The RA180 has a $7k list price so it is quite the pricey integrated. I really enjoyed that amp but at the end of the day, for me, I was not sure on the design and I think it would look pretty sweet in black but it is only offered in silver.
The new RA280 Integrated Amp comes nat $2,995.00
Leaner and stripped down but NOT in sound!
This year HiFi Rose released another integrated amp. This one is called the RA280 and comes in at only $2995, less than half of what the RA180 costs. The RA180 also now comes in silver or black and I love the look of the black unit. It’s not as tall as the 280 so it looks sleeker, more modern and without the funky gears in the volume control dial.
This one looks like a mix of old and new but mostly modern. The golden VU meters are a nice touch as are the superb tone controls. These and those on the RA180 may be the finest tone controls that I have experienced yet. Meaning, they will not degrade the sound at all. A touch of treble adds sweetness rather than brightness. A touch of bass adds solidity vs boom. These can also be defeated and turned off so they are out of the circuit.
Yes, the RA280 is less in features so we do not see all of the dials and buttons of the more pricey box but the RA280 does get the best of the RA180 such as the dual mono amp section, subwoofer output, tone controls, phono preamp (mm only) and stunning build quality. This amp gives up nothing in sound quality and performance to its larger sibling. Nothing.
The phono stage was a pleasant surprise indeed and sounds remarkably good. Quiet, smooth and well my records sound just as they should. That’s a good thing but this bests almost any MM stage I have heard in a built in to date, even the Yamaha AS3200.
The front is still made from metal, and appears carved out of s solid block of aluminum. The metal remote is also nice. With several inputs including a balanced XLR input this integrated has all you need besides a streamer and DAC for digital music. I will say that the remote is metal and feels great but it is quite basic offering only a volume up and down, a power button and a mute. No input selector which is strange but it is what it is.
I will say up front, I prefer the newer RA280 to the RA180 in looks and features. I personally do not need the bi-amping feature nor the extended EQ of the 280. I’d take the $4k savings any day of the week as long as this amp sounds as good as the R280 (it does). I know there are those out there that would take the extra features but unless you need them, why pay more for the same powerful sound? If you do need the extra features then the RA180 will offer those up with the same powerful sound of this new unit.
Thanks to John at Lone Crow Audio for sending this unit to me after no one else would.
I asked four different sources of mine if they would like to me to review this amp and in return I would mention them or their shop. One said he would have to check with HiFi Rose first and I never heard back. The others just did not seem interested. I started to think if this RA280 was a stinker or a sleeper. I wasn’t seeing many reviews online at all either..hmmm.
Then one day, out of the blue, I hear from John at Lone Crown Audio asking me if he could send me his demo unit to check out and review if I wanted. I quickly said YES and within a few days I had the RA280 in the system, comparing it to my AGD Duet amps (end game quality) and others I had here from tube to solid state. From Class A to D.
The Specs of the RA280
First let’s talk about what this integrated amp offers and then I will get to my opinion of it as an integrated amp within my system.
The HiFi Rose RA280 puts out 250 watts per channel into 4 or 8 ohms. It uses a class D GAN FET amp section, which IMO is the future of audio amplification. This new type of class D offers up a smooth liquid sound but with details intact, and a warmth inside that just feels so right. This is present within the AGD Duet amps as well as this RA280 integrated that costs $8K less. (More on the sound differences later).
AGD uses proprietary tech to create their GaN amps and HiFi Rose uses what they call Class A/D in their amps, which they claim offers up some of the best of Class A sound mixed with Class D efficiency. A sort of hybrid if you will and I hear what they are getting at as this amp has detail yet also has warmth. It has insane power but can do delicacy as well as slam.
The power here comes from two mono amps that are inside the chassis. This will bring improvements to the sound with just this one feature. Mono amps are always a better option than one stereo amp and this implementation is the same in the Rose flagship. While these amps are really just cards inside of the amp, there are two and they are separated.
The RA280 has a phono stage input as well for moving magnet cartridges only and it sounds sublime with my basic U Turn Orbit Gen 2 with Ortofon Blue. Also sounds fantastic with my audio technica carts. Low noise, powerful sound and that analog vibe which this amp already brings just with the Gan Class A/D power section.
Here’s a list of what this beauty offers up:
- This is a 2 channel stereo integrated amp with one balanced, three RCA and one phono input (with phono preamp).
- Advanced Class D amplification (Class A/D) with GaN FETs for smooth, accurate sound.
- 250 watts x 2 into 8 ohms; 250 watts x 2 into 4 ohms. (plenty of power for almost any speaker)
- Treble and bass controls. (that work very well and do not hurt the soundstage/sound quality)
- Tone control bypass switch.
- Illuminated analog level meters (3-level dimmer for front-panel illumination).
- Analog stereo RCA phono input for moving magnet cartridges.
- 3 line-level analog stereo RCA inputs.
- Mono RCA output for connecting a powered subwoofer.
I’ve Been Converted
Ever since hearing the latest crop of Class D amplification from some truly great brands like AGD, Atma-Sphere, VTV, Peachtree, Jeff Rowland and many others I have been blown away by what this GaN tech can do for audio. To me, these amps all have some things in common (efficient, no heat, powerful) but none are truly alike in sound. Each brand brings its own flavor of sound to the table.
Things that are pros for this type of amplification? Low or no noise, cool/warm running, sound that is powerful and smooth with a great way of reproducing the ambience and spatial qualities of some music. Oh, and most of these designs are lightweight as well. No more 100lb boxes to lug around with GaN. This Rose is just over 20lbs.
So I am a believer and am all in on GaN Class D for audio. I still enjoy tubes and class A amps (own a few) but I believe that this tech will get better and better as there are already true end game amps made using Class D technology. These amps are also fast as lightning, explosive at times. Most amps using Class D power these days no longer have the issues of Class D past. They do not sound lean, quite the opposite. They do not sound homogenized, rather they are open and detailed and can be airy and truly “live” in the way they sound.
These days, GaN amps have life, effortless power and drive, dynamics, sweetness and even warmth with truly impressive bass performance. They throw a large stage as well and they are almost always quiet as a mouse with no noise. The cons? For the good ones, none.
So How Does the RA280 SOUND?
OK, so here is what you really want to know about this piece. You already know it’s sleek, powerful and has plenty of in and outs but what about the sound quality and character of this amp?
When it arrived it was already well broken in from being played at Lone Crow Audio (was the store demo) so it was ready to roll. I removed my $8k AGD Alto II preamp and $11k Class D GaN Duet amps which come in at close to $19k retail for the set.
I was replacing the nearly $20k of amp and preamp was the $2995 HiFi Rose RA280, that uses similar tech (but not the same) within the amp section. I was so curious as to how this would sound with the various speakers I have here as reference for testing things such as this, and I did just that! Listening day after day. A day or two with one speaker, then repeat with speaker 2 and 3 and 4!
I also attached the new Auralic Vega S1 Streamer and DAC with power supply to the Rose RA280’s “Input 1” which is an RCA input. I cued up some tunes from Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify as this streamer/DAC does it all, and it does it very well with its own custom made “Fusion” DAC. Auralic has done something pretty slick with the Vega S1 and you can tell when you hear it in action. The sound of the S1 wether I had it connected to the AGD set or the Rose showed its character and vibe, which is pretty fantastic, pretty alive and it does the ever so tough to do right “detail thing” exactly right. This DAC also has a solidity to its sound signature with big tight bass and impact but also has an analog vibe, which I love.
I also listened with the HiFi Rose RS130 streamer and LAIV Harmony DAC.
So I Started the Listening Voyage….
I started with the Galion Voyager MKII SE which are already sold out and gone fro Galion audio as they were a limited edition. This for me is a special speaker and at under $1k these little boxes impressed me greatly. They have an addictive quality to them. What they do for the voice is stunning at this price point, and the bass is quite nice for such a small speaker.
With the $19k AGD setup the sound was dynamic, large, very open and detailed yet rich in the midrange. The soundstage was holographic and open as can be for a speaker of this size. I feel these amps made magic with the little Galion speakers but what a mismatch…$19k in electronics paired to $995 speakers?
With the Rose RA280 the sound seemed more impactful as if more power was on tap. The sound was also thicker by a teeny bit so it had a more muscular sound vs the wide open detail of the AGD (which also can rock your house down). It had more warmth in the midrange vs the AGD but for some music, such as old 70’s and 80’s music the sound was fuller with the Rose RA280 and therefore sounded better to these ears for this genre of music.
Listening to the old Easy Rider soundtrack the first track called “The Pusher” jetted full power through the little Galions with the HiFi Rose. Imaging was spot on and more organic than surgical. I sat and listened to the whole album and couldn’t fault the RA280 as it delivered the blistering sounds of reverb drenched guitar on the left and a tight bass line from the right side of the room. Vocals came out dead center with sounds traveling across the space in front of my chair.
Audiophile style music that is very well recorded was all out more revealing and exposed with the AGD but the Rose was as musical, smooth and rich as it gets. When turning the volume dial it feels as if the amp has an effortless supply of POWER.
Switched to Borresen X2
With the X2’s in the system the Rose setup of Auralic Vega S1 (with its dedicated power supply) and Rose RS280 was very impressive to say the least. The energy and drive was amazing but there was also delicacy when called upon in the recording. The sound was again…thicker than the AGD sound and therefore not as many 3D details emerged but it was close, maybe 85% there for $16k less in cost. .
The Borresen X2 are a huge warm sounding speaker by nature with a tremendously beautiful tweeter that brings out details and the high frequencies while staying smooth as silk. When I listened to the AGD stack vs the Rose stack I heard and loved the extra floaty details with the AGD but again, the Rose was more muscular and beefy. This provided more backbone to the music to the already warm leaning X2’s.
It really depends on what I listened to. With Rock/Metal, I enjoyed the Rose more. With classical, jazz and spatial/ambient, the AGD’s showed their stuff, what they were made of.
The Rose sounds a little darker than the audiophile AGD amps but this is not a bad thing. Think about it…the RA280 is $2995. The more pricey boxes will do more in regards to detail and imaging as that is part of what we pay for after all. With that said, the Rose 280 makes music just as enjoyable and it uses similar tech (Class D GaN) in a very good looking case.
Is 85% the performance worth saving $16k for? Is that extra 10-15% worth paying an extra $16k for? For some it is, others no way. All depends on your wants, needs and pocketbook really. Do I like the AGDs more? Yes indeed but I can not argue with reason here. The HiFi Rose RA280 is a truly superb amp for the money it costs to obtain one. It’s got that GaN vibe but with the HiFi Rose sound, which is smooth as silk, big and powerful, impactful and supremely musical.
Going to the Qualio IQ Ultra
These are the most impressive audiophile speakers I have heard in maybe 30 years, no joke.
They are open baffle up top as well as dipole in the tweeter and mid area (see my review here). This brings a huge soundstage that is as holographic as I have experienced. These speakers have an amazing presence that is much more alive than the Borresen X2’s or the Galion Voyager MKII SE.
These are about “being at the performance”, live in your home. High frequencies are exposed with every breath, finger movement and sound coming to life in a very real way without harshness (none). These do not have the big warm bass backbone of the Borresen and are more leaner in the mids (though not lean) vs the big Borresen towers.
With that said, if it is 3D and Holographic you seek, the Qualio speakers can do this with ease. This is amazing to experience but it may not be for all as we all like different things but these are stunners. These are the kings of 3D for me.
With the AGD amps this is the finest I have heard in a long time when I want to listen to well recorded music and experience the performance as much as listen to it. It’s breathtaking.
With the HiFi Rose RA280 more of the mid bass is present and it makes the Qualio speakers sound a little more beefed up and again, “muscular”. I lose some of those extreme all out tiny details and a little bit of all out 3D space that the AGD brings but again you can get 85-90% there with the Rose RA280.
The Rose brings a bit more warmth, this is what is happening here. This brings a very analog type of vibe, which is good. Very good if you love that analog sound and vibe, and it is a vibe.
Really, the RA280 warmed up the Qualio’s a little bit and the result was less all out three dimensionality but much more rhythmic body to the music. It’s a toss up and both sound absolutely incredible.
The Triangle Magellan Duetto 40th
Bringing out the French beauties it was more of the same. The AGD had a lighter footed vibe (less mid bass) vs the Rose RA280 (more mid bass) but the rose was more rhythmic vs more 3D of the shiny boxes from AGD. The Rose brought out the “meat” in the triangles and subdued the treble just a hair, which was great. This amp made these top of the line flagship bookshelf speakers from Triangle sing as well as I have heard them sing. They now had drive, power and muscle behind them and I could tell.
The Rose RA280 still brings a 3D stage and holographic imaging but not to the extremes that the AGD does, and I feel the AGD does this so well due to the Alto II preamp. None of this is a surprise as we have talked about diminishing returns before and it’s a thing. We can pay thousands more for a piece of audio gear and get maybe 5-10% improvement or change.
So why on earth did I compare a $18-19k set of preamp and mono amps yo a $3k integrated amp? Audio reviewers are usually told not to do this. Well…
- They are both Class D GaN amps
- Both are high power
- Both appear to be of very high quality
So why not? The Rose did not best the AGD gear but I never expected it to. The fact that it gets close, is more accessible to more people and will drive any speaker with stability down to 2 ohms for so much less is a big deal. It’s not any less enjoyable when listening, it just brings a different vibe, One of warmth and musicality vs SET like detail and illumination. Which one is right, which is wrong? Neither, all depends on what you like and want to spend.
Thoughts…
Some prefer more muscular and powerful vs more open and clean. Some prefer a plumper mid bass while others like it crystalline clear.
The HiFi Rose RA280 integrated amp delivers music that is noise free and grain free but it does this with an analog vibe. Yes indeed, I hear a smooth slightly warm leaning character here but also with an ability to bring the details and even a holographic stage. It does imaging but is not as extreme in this area as some of the very pricey pieces. It’s not surgical or analytical in this way, it just makes music that is big, palpable, a bit warm and with a gorgeous mid-range due to the full natured way the Rose makes music. This is a beautiful integrated amp, not a cheap low quality box.
As for sound, it sounds similar to the RA180 flagship in tonality and drive. With the 280 you are not getting lesser in performance, just lesser in features.
I also tested my beloved HiF Rose RS130 streamer hooked up to the LAIV HARMONY DAC but ended up using the the Auralic Vega S1 as a combo stream and DAC unit sop it was the same source in the comparisons. I will have a review of the Vega S1 soon but it’s a stunner in sound and performance though not up to the looks and function of the Rose RS130.
My Fave Combo?
All of my listening experiences with the RA280 were wonderful. With the Borresen X2 I received that huge warm glowing hug from the music. It was larger than life, room filling and everywhere…those sounds. With the Galion Voyager MKII SE I was blown away by what I heard from these tiny boxes in all areas of the sound. Thomas only made a limited number of these as the profit was not there due to the quality he put into it for such a low price. I love these for almost all kinds of music. The Triangle Duettos are top tier bookshelf speakers and they also sound super refined with the RA280 and what you would think a high end speaker should sound like. Really this right here may have been the finest match up as the Triangles sounded better than I have ever heard them. Sublime, smooth, rich, and wide open with that bit of warmth throughout the sound. The sound of the Rose amps is quite nice indeed, never technical or in your face.
The Qualio IQ Ultras delivered on all fronts and with the 280 at the helm these really were a very YOU ARE THERE type of experience. Beautiful, open, palpable, and exquisite. The IQ’s to me were about tied with the Triangles but with the Rose 280 I think I preferred the Triangle presentation.
I do not really have a fave here I guess as I really enjoyed the presentations from all of the speakers. Even the OGY/BOB combo sounded rich and full with the RA280 yet still delivered their signature detail “in the air” as they do, just with more warmth in the treble, which is needed with those OGY!
This is a pretty high praise for the RA280. It sounded so good with all of my speakers I am confident it will sound good with mostly all speakers. No, it may not pull out all of the magic tricks of those $20k amps and preamps but it sounds pretty amazing and just as good as another much more expensive integrated I have on hand, the Yamaha AS3200.
The Yamaha costs more than double of the Rose, is larger and heavier and honestly the Rose RA280 to me sounds like it has more power (it does) and also has more get up and go. The Yamaha has its own set of charms though and is an excellent integrated amp with even more old school warmth. It’s also double the cost and then some vs the 280.
One thing the HiFi Rose RA280 never did was sound lean or harsh, but it did sound refined and like it was made from the good stuff. It’s like an old school 70s integrated but with modern day technology. Maybe it will even become a classic one day, who knows.
I love this amplifier and feel it is a very good deal indeed at $2995.
CONCLUSION
I am so glad I was able to get one of these in because it showed me a few things and fully satisfied my curiosity.
- The HiFi Rose RA280 sounds just as good as the flagship RA180 (and other more costly integrated amps)
- The Ra280 is a stunner in looks, in person. I love it in black. Your tastes may differ.
- The 280 has a very powerful and rich sound, and drove all speakers I have with ease.
- This integrated amp is more basic, without DAC/Streamer but it’s better off for those who like to dabble with DACs (me).
- It’s 85% of the nearly $20k setup in sound quality and while it couldn’t best that pricey setup in all out detail being exposed, 85% is getting mighty close. I would say that while some would prefer the AGD sound, some may prefer the more muscular Rose sound. High end sound from audiophile gear is not always everyones cup O tea. ; )
I had an old friend stop by not so long ago and he wanted to hear my best “audiophile” setup. This guy has never had anything audiophile and is just a Casula music listener who listens on his bluetooth speaker (JBL). When he heard a $50k setup he hated it and said it did not sound like music and that it was not allowing him to connect with the songs due to the way the music was dissected. I then placed in the rose, the triangle duet speakers and the Auralic S1 Vega used as a DAC with the Rose RS130 streaming. This was still a pricey setup, around $18k but this time he connected with the music and said it was the best sound he has ever heard in his life.
So big money systems does not always bring happiness as some out there do not even enjoy that kind of sound. It is true that the more you spend the more detailed things get but sometimes at the expense of warmth or body. I learned this long ago after years of drooling over exotic gear but after hearing some of these exotic pieces, well I was let down.
Low End is usually music and full but not detailed and without much imaging.
Mid End can be the sweet spot with warmth, fluidity and sound staging without being lean.
High End can be unreal good, but careful matching is required. Some high end offers big body and big detail but some of it does not.
Exotic usually costs six figures for a system and can sound lean, overly detailed and technical vs organic.
These have been my experiences over the last 30+ years of being into audio.
This is a fantastic integrated amplifier at just $3k. I have heard so many integrated amps in may lifetime and the reality is that there are more similarities than anything but all are different in looks, build, style, control and sound. Most modern day integrated amps are wonderful but some have been awful with excessive heat, noisy buzzing and a couple had rough sound but for the most part today’s very good modern day audio products are pretty amazing and best what came decades ago without breaking a sweat.
Here we have a 250 WPC amplifier that sounds a bit analog in nature but is extremely well balanced top to bottom with just that hint of body and warmth in the mids. While it’s not bloated or fat or veiled you will never say “my system sounds lean or harsh” with the RA280 in your system. This amplifier section in the RA280 has the power, speed, drive and impact to really bring the most from your speakers. The bass is impressive as well, very.
It also does detail and throws a large wide and deep stage, not so much tall but we can not have everything for $3k. A lot of this comes from your source anyway, your “front end” of streamer, dac, turntable, cart, etc. Imaging is here as well but not overly done or extreme which can sometimes take you mind away from the vibe of the music.
This is one of the sleeper amps of this year. It’s phenomenal yet not many are talking about it for some weird reason. Why?!? It’s such a sweet integrated amp and has such a refined solid kicking sound.
There is no heat here, just slight warmth when touching the top of the chassis after a few hours of listening. There is no noise that I can hear so no buzzes, no clicks or pops from the amp itself.
I love HiFi Rose as they are making some killer gear that looks awesome, is built with high quality parts and is priced right. While some pieces are very pricey like the RS130 steamer at $5200 the RA280 is a steal at $2995 if you just want a powerful integrated amplifier that uses the latest in audio amplifier technology. It offers up so much for so little and I am so happy they left the DAC and Streamer out of this one so we can add whatever we like and change it up from time to time.
This is a killer integrated amp without the fluff, No DAC, No Streamer. Just two mono 250 WPC Class A/D GaN amps inside with a noise free preamp to drive them, all in one nice looking chassis that is very well made. Analog inputs only and this amp just throws an analog vibe in looks and sound. I love it.
An EASY recommendation.
UPDATE:
I have been listening to the Rose RA280 with the RS130 and LAIV HARMONY DAC and have realized this is the best combo I have heard yet with the 280 feeding the speakers I have here. The sound has livened up a little with this front end source but sounds like a $10k amp is running the show. The RA280 is pretty freaking awesome and brings such power with a refined powerful and effortless sound. Compared to the Yamaha AS3200 I have here the Rose is more dynamic, punchy and just as refined in sound. Both are smooth, fluid and produce a nice stage. Not analytical at all, either of them but the Rose may be a touch smoother than the big $8k 3200. Listening to both side by side, I do not have a fave between the two, rather I enjoy both. WIth that said, the Rose at $2995 seems like a steal when comparing it to this pricier Yamaha. The 3200 is larger, heavier and has less power but has a sweet beautiful sound to it as well as the looks. The Rose is smaller, lighter but using new tech that allows it to deliver massive power with delicacy and/or slam.
Steve, I was interested in perceived sound differences but thanks for the reply. I have these two short listed as hopefully my last amp. Cheers.
Can you comment on the differences between the Hifi Rose integrated and the Kinki Studio integrated?
Different brands, different place of manufacture, different design, one is class D, one is A/B. Different kind of amp really..in looks, sound and design.