The Rose RS250A is a high-end network audio player that combines exceptional sound performance, great versatility, and a modern user interface. Equipped with an ESS ES9028Pro DAC, a large 8.8-inch touchscreen, and extensive compatibility with streaming services, it aims to satisfy the most demanding audiophiles while offering an intuitive user experience.
The RS250A features a sleek and refined design, with a machined aluminum chassis that inspires confidence at first glance. The front panel is dominated by an impressive 8.8-inch IPS touchscreen, offering a rich and responsive visual interface. This approach contrasts with that of many high-end network players that often favor more discreet displays.
The screen does more than just display information about the current playback. It also allows you to navigate through menus, browse your music library, and even watch high-definition videos. This visual versatility helps make the RS250A a true control center for your audio system.
To the right of the screen, there is a power button and a volume knob, as well as a headphone jack. The whole unit conveys an impression of solidity and quality, reinforced by the substantial weight of the device (3.2 kg).
Beneath its elegant exterior, the RS250A conceals sophisticated electronics centered around the ESS ES9028Pro DAC. This high-end converter is renowned for its ability to reproduce the finest sonic nuances with great precision. It supports a wide range of high-resolution audio formats, including PCM up to 32-bit / 768 kHz and DSD up to DSD512.
The attention to sound quality is also evident in the choice of a linear power supply, similar to that used in the Rose RS201E amplifier. This approach, more expensive than a switching power supply, aims to provide stable, noise-free current to sensitive audio circuits.
The RS250A also incorporates a full MQA decoder, allowing you to fully enjoy tracks encoded in this format on Tidal. For high-resolution digital music enthusiasts, this is a significant advantage that ensures faithful reproduction of studio recordings.
Beyond its audiophile qualities, the RS250A stands out for its great versatility. It can serve as a network player, streamer, USB DAC, preamplifier, and even a 4K video player.
In terms of streaming, the RS250A is compatible with a wide range of services: Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify Connect, as well as lesser-known platforms like Bugs or the in-house RoseTube service. Internet radio and podcasts are also included, offering virtually unlimited access to online audio content.
Network connectivity is provided by dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and a Gigabit Ethernet port. Bluetooth is also present, although it is limited to reception (no transmission possible). AirPlay and DLNA protocols are supported, facilitating integration into a multi-brand ecosystem.
For storage, the RS250A can accommodate an internal SSD up to 4 TB or a hard drive up to 10 TB. Two USB 3.0 ports allow you to connect external storage devices. This significant capacity allows you to build a true local music library, accessible quickly and without depending on an Internet connection.
The RS250A’s user interface, based on a customized Android 7.1 operating system, is designed to be intuitive and pleasant to use. Navigation is primarily done via the touchscreen, but a Bluetooth remote control is also provided for remote control.
The interface allows you to customize the display of information about the album currently playing, organize your music library according to different criteria (artist, genre, year, etc.), and quickly access various streaming services.
A mobile app, Rose Connect, is available for iOS and Android. It offers complete remote control of the device, including music library management and access to streaming services.
The RS250A incorporates several features that will delight audiophiles and tech enthusiasts. Roon Ready certification allows the device to be integrated into a Roon ecosystem, offering a particularly refined music management and playback experience.
Support for the MQA format, already mentioned, is accompanied by compatibility with a wide range of high-resolution audio formats. The RS250A can thus adapt to virtually all current audiophile digital sources.
On the video side, the HDMI 2.0 output allows streaming of content up to 4K at 60 frames per second. This feature, unusual for a network audio player, can be useful for watching music videos or concerts in high definition.
The RS250A has comprehensive connectivity that allows it to integrate into virtually any audio system. These include:
This wealth of connections allows the RS250A to be used as the central hub of a complex audio system, connecting, for example, a CD player, a turntable (via a phono preamp), or even a television.
The RS250A is an evolution of the RS250, featuring notably a more powerful ESS ES9028Pro DAC (versus an ES9038Q2M on the RS250), extended support for high-resolution audio formats, and an improved user interface. The overall design and basic features remain similar.
The RS250A can access music files stored on a NAS or computer via the local network (Ethernet or Wi-Fi). It supports SMB, FTP, and WebDAV protocols for file sharing. Additionally, it can play music from streaming services like Qobuz, Tidal, or Spotify via the Internet.
The RS250A supports a wide range of audio formats, including WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, MP3, AAC, DSD (up to DSD512), and MQA. For video, it can play common formats like MP4, MKV, AVI, as well as H.264 and H.265 codecs up to 4K 60 fps.
Yes, the RS250A has a variable-level analog output that can be connected directly to a power amplifier or active speakers. The volume can be controlled via the device’s interface or the remote control.
The RS250A stands out for its large touchscreen and versatility (audio and video). Its audio performance is on par with the best network players in its price category. It also distinguishes itself through its significant internal storage capacity and compatibility with numerous streaming services.
The RS250A can be controlled via its touchscreen, the included Bluetooth remote control, or the Rose Connect mobile app available for iOS and Android. Additionally, being Roon Ready, it can be integrated into a Roon system and controlled via the Roon interface.
The RS250A does not have integrated home automation features. However, its compatibility with protocols like DLNA and AirPlay allows it to be integrated into certain home automation ecosystems. For more advanced integration, third-party solutions using IP control could be considered.
Alain
In line with all the reviews I’ve read online
And the various tests I’ve carried out
Comment from December 15, 2025 — Experience from December 04, 2025
Arnaud
A nice Swiss army knife that delivers great sound and component/material quality... But the apps are not easy for the average person to use, with too many features.
Comment from December 12, 2023 — Experience from July 20, 2023
