I’ve been reviewing amplifiers for a while now, and there’s nothing I like more than a simple, easy-to-use amplifier that gets the job done. Meet the HiFi Rose RA280, which takes things back to the basics and does a phenomenal job of it.
HiFi Rose is owned by Citech, a South Korean company that makes touch interfaces. One of the executives at Citech was a music lover, and he wanted to make an audio company. He called this company HiFi Rose, and their products are easy to use, just like Citech products.
HiFi Rose RA280 Integrated Amplifier Review
Price
The HiFi Rose RA280’s price is US$2995, which is the entry point for HiFi Rose. Even though this integrated amplifier is entry-level, that’s not to say that you don’t get the features and performance that you want, because you do. Some people, myself included, also prefer this entry-level unit and its design, which is sleek and robust.
Design
The Rose RA280 is an integrated amplifier, it has an old-school design but with a new high-tech amplifier section. The front panel is very simple, it has a knob for volume control and an input selector. It has a VU meter, tone control, a bypass selector, and a remote control receiver; that’s it. This layout keeps things simple while having more space between controls.
You can get the HiFi Rose RA280 in two colors, Black and Silver. It has cooling vents on the side and the HiFi Rose logo on the top. It comes with a small remote that only has a volume and a mute button.
The back panel of the Rose RA280 is just as simple, with a well-spaced choice of connections. There are three RCA inputs, a moving magnet phono input, and a set of balanced inputs. There are also speaker terminals for outputs and one subwoofer output, along with trigger in and trigger out jacks.
The HiFi Rose RA280 uses a class AD amplifier design, it produces 250 watts per channel at 8 or 4 ohms, and it had no issues driving any of the speakers we tested it with. According to HiFi Rose, the RA280 utilizes the high efficiency and harmonic design of class D amplifiers while using Gallium Nitride (GaN) to produce a smooth and natural sound with the fluidity of an analog amplifier.
The power supply inside the RA280 was designed to have high speed and stay efficient even under complex loads. HiFi Rose used Silicon Carbide FETs inside the power supply; these FETs have high voltage and heat resistance, allowing the power supply to stay cool and efficient.
The Rose RA280 is completely analog, which means you won’t get any digital connections. There is also the absence of a DAC, and you will need to connect an external DAC if you want better performance. If you want my advice, go with the Rose RD160 DAC; it pairs perfectly with the RA280. There is no bass management, and so if you want to change any settings like the crossover frequency, you will need to do that directly with your subwoofer.
Setting Up The Rose RA280
Since the HiFi Rose RA280 doesn’t have any digital connections, I paired it up with the Eversolo DMP-A10 streamer, which allowed me to connect my TV and use Apple TV. I could also control the RA280 with my Apple TV remote, which is always a good thing. For my speaker choice, I went with the Wharfedale Super Lintons, and the RA280 drove them with ease. I also connected the SVS PB17 Ultra R|evolution subwoofer with my system, but there is not much to discuss here, as the RA280 doesn’t have bass management.
Sound Quality
In my opinion, Class D amplifiers don’t deliver the natural sound that we all want. While the HiFi Rose RA280 is no exception to this, it is a perfect example of Class D amplification done right. The tone was undoubtedly neutral, and the music flowed without any of the quirks of class D amplifiers. The imaging and soundstage were excellent, the bass was tight, and the treble was smooth and lifelike.
Verdict
The HiFi Rose RA280 represents one of those rare pieces of equipment that manages to bridge the gap between simplicity and musical enjoyment. At US$2,995, it faces stiff competition from established brands, but its combination of build quality, aesthetic appeal, and most importantly, genuinely engaging sound quality makes it a standout contender in its price bracket. If you’ve been hesitant about Class D amplification in the past, the HiFi Rose RA280 might just be the unit that changes your mind—it certainly changed mine.