Munich High End 2025 was my third year attending, and after seeing and testing hundreds of products, there were a few that caught my eye. The HiFi Rose RS451 network streamer was one of those products that immediately grabbed my attention. And after spending significant time with it at HiFi Rose’s booth, I walked away impressed enough to place a pre-order.
HiFi Rose has this knack for making gear that actually looks like something you’d want in your room. While most components are boring black boxes, Rose’s Korean design team creates products that feel and look more premium. The RS451 continues that trend with its sleek aluminum chassis and that massive 8.8-inch display that dominates the front panel.
At £2,699 / $3295, the Rose RS451 sits in competitive territory alongside streamers from Cambridge Audio, NAD, and Marantz. But HiFi Rose’s focus on both desktop and traditional hi-fi use, combined with serious headphone amplification capabilities, gives it a unique position in the market. Here’s what I discovered during my hands-on time with this Korean streamer.
Design And Build Quality
The HiFi Rose RS451 follows the same design we’ve seen in previous HiFi Rose products like the R160, with a machined Aluminum chassis that comes in two matte finishes, Silver and Black. The chassis has the HiFi Rose logo engraved on top, and overall, it looks very elegant. The front panel has an 8.8-inch LED touchscreen, a volume knob, three headphone outputs, and a dial to switch between them. The RS451 measures at 16.9 x 13.2 x 3.6 inches, and it is compact enough to sit on your desktop without taking up too much space.
On the back panel, you have an HDMI eARC port that supports 4k, Ethernet, and a USB-B port for computer audio. Digital inputs and outputs include USB-A, optical, and coaxial, and there are USB ports for connecting to external storage devices. The analog outputs included are balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA, along with a dedicated line-level input. A 12V trigger port is also available, along with a reset button.
The build quality lives up to HiFi Rose’s reputation. The aluminum chassis feels substantial at 7kg, with precise machining and clean panel gaps. The volume knob has that weighted, damped feel you expect at this price point. The 8.8-inch touchscreen is responsive with good viewing angles, and it is intuitive and easy to navigate, though it does pick up fingerprints easily.
The Streamer Section
HiFi Rose’s new Android-based operating system operates at the heart of the RS451 network streamer. Rose OS has native support for Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify Connect, Apple Music, and Rose Radio. It’s also Roon Ready and supports local network playback from your NAS or computer. You can even connect an external CD drive for playback and ripping.
Format support is comprehensive with WAV, FLAC, MP3, ALAC, AIFF, WMA, OGG, APE, DFF, DSF, and more. You can control the RS451 from the touchscreen, the included remote, or from the Rose Connect app. If you connect your TV with the HDMI eARC port, you can also use your TV’s remote to control the RS451.
Features And Technology
The digital processing in the HiFi Rose RS451 is done by an 8-core RK3588 CPU; this processor has four times the performance compared to its predecessor, and it has a DRAM capacity of 8GB and an eMMC storage of 32GB. This upgrade facilitates the playback of 4K videos and large audio files, and it gives you a larger media library with capacity for over a million tracks.
The DAC section features two ESS ES9027PRO 32-bit, 8-channel DAC chips designed with ESS’s HyperStream architecture. It has seven built-in digital filters by which you can fine-tune the sound signature to match your preferences. In the Rose RS451, the DAC’s eight channels are configured in a 4-channel parallel structure to achieve greater dynamic range and very little distortion.
Of the two DAC chips, one is dedicated to the pre-out, and the other to the headphone output. Each DAC has its own power supply and grounding, which blocks interference and minimizes noise, resulting in a cleaner audio output because the signal paths are completely separated.
There are three headphone outputs on the front panel: a 4.4mm balanced output, an XLR balanced output, and a 6.35mm output. The headphone amplifier section has four individually driven amplifiers that provide a stable output for even very low impedance headphones. These amplifiers maintain consistent performance across different headphone impedances, from easy-to-drive models to demanding planar magnetic headphones.
The HiFi Rose RS451 also features HiFi Rose’s DPC (Digital Processing Core) Module, which was originally developed for the RD160 and then also featured in the RS151. This module is applied to the RS451’s digital stage, minimizing jitter and maximizing signal quality by synchronising your input signals, ensuring accurate signal processing.
The NRA (Noise Reduction Analog) Filter eliminates noise and gives you flat frequency characteristics even at low volumes. This ensures consistent frequency response at any volume level, so your music sounds balanced whether you’re listening quietly or cranking it up. The Rose RS451 also uses the Rose Audio Engine. This ensures all digital audio is delivered to the DAC without any loss of signal.
Sound Quality
Testing the HiFi Rose RS451 at Munich with various headphones immediately revealed the benefits of that dual-DAC design. The headphone amplification delivered clean bass and detailed mids without the compressed feeling you get from most streamers’ headphone outputs. Switching between the different digital filters showed noticeable differences; some added warmth, others emphasized detail, though the changes were subtle.
The line outputs feeding the demo system sounded clean and neutral, with good separation between instruments in complex tracks. Every track was composed at different sound levels, no thin sound at low volumes or harshness when turned up. For a £2,699 streamer, the RS451 delivers the kind of refined sound you’d expect from this price bracket.
Verdict: Is The HiFi Rose RS451 Worth $3295?
The HiFi Rose RS451 occupies an interesting position in the network streamer market. At £2,699, you’re paying a premium for that dual-DAC design and serious headphone amplification, some features that most competitors treat as afterthoughts. If you’re primarily using speakers and rarely touch headphones, you might find better value elsewhere.
But if you want a streamer that excels at both desktop headphone listening and traditional hi-fi listening, the RS451 delivers. The build quality feels premium, Rose OS has matured into something usable, and the design aesthetic makes it actually attractive on your desk or shelf.
The RS451 isn’t the cheapest option in this price range, but it’s one of the most thoughtfully designed. HiFi Rose has created something that works equally well for critical headphone sessions and casual streaming through your main system. That versatility, combined with solid engineering and attractive design, makes it worth the asking price, especially if you value both form and function in your audio gear.
Specifications
Product Type: Network Streamer & DAC
DAC Chips: Dual ESS ES9027PRO (32-bit, 8-channel)
CPU: 8-core RK3588 ARM processor
Memory: 8GB DRAM, 32GB eMMC storage
Display: 8.8-inch high-resolution touchscreen
Supported Formats: PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD up to DSD512
Digital Inputs: Coaxial, Optical, USB, HDMI eARC
Analog Inputs: RCA line input
Digital Outputs: Coaxial, Optical, USB
Analog Outputs: Balanced XLR, Unbalanced RCA
Headphone Outputs: 4.4mm balanced, 6.35mm unbalanced, XLR balanced
Connectivity: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX
Video Output: HDMI 2.0 (4K UHD/60Hz)
Storage: 3× USB 3.0 ports, 2.5-inch SSD bay
Power Consumption: 20W maximum
Dimensions: 430 × 337 × 92mm (17 × 13.3 × 3.6 inches)
Weight: 7kg (15.4 lbs)
Finishes: Black, Silver
Price: £2,699
Not sure what these specs mean? Check out our Guide To Speaker Specifications.
Price
$3295 / £2,699