HiFi Rose BEST Amplifier: NEW RA280 vs EXQUISITE RA180

[@pauljordan3828]

Great review , I think both of these look amazing and very exciting, nothing wrong in shaking up some of the old boring audiophile looks , let’s embrace the change , the 280 is on my shopping list

[@stijnvanderlooy5311]

Great comment. Indeed, change and innovation, please!

[@peterlarkin762]

I like a really simple chassis and fascia with no bling. That said, what HiFi Rose do with their switch gear is an engineering and visual treat. If it was done cheaply it would look tacky. The aesthetic is a bit of an homage to 70's receivers that were plastered in knobs, VU meters and features. Even if it's not my cup of tea I have massive respect for it.

[@Voidoid77]

That is one serious, "marmite" amplifier! i.e., You'll either love the front fascia design or you'll hate it! Cheers for yet another objective, in-depth, detailed & explanatory review, Terry. all the very best to you & yours - P. in Japan... (ex-Scotland)

[@kevineyles-q7b]

It's refreshing to see a review of an "older" product , everyone tends to rush out their reviews, and then move on, well done Terry , great job. As an aside, nice shirt.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Hahaha great banter !!!!

[@jimfarrell4635]

Especially as 180s are now available on the ex demo and second hand market, so you can save a few bucks and get one of them rather than a new 280.

[@MissPalorte]

Great job! Detailed and in depth review of a complex consumer product

[@IRON_PANDA]

That B-roll is looking pretty nice, Terry! Gotta love GaNfets getting more usual and (hopefully) more affordable

[@kungula]

Thank you also for your great music recommendations ! It would be great to give us more audiophile tips .

[@jimfarrell4635]

I have the Hifi Rose RS130 streaming transport, and what hifi Rose does better than many other manufacturers is give you shed loads of features without losing quality. The RS130 is a smorgasbord of new technologies and options, like optical ethernet and optical USB, supercapacitor and adjustable I2S. They don't really do simplicity. I like the idea of Gan Class D and currently you have two main choices. Complexity with hifi Rose RA180, and simplicity with Orchard Audio. The RA280 falls somewhere between the two I guess. Edit: I look forward to your review of the DAC when it comes. If it has synergy with the streamer I might be tempted to move from my Terminator Plus.

[@liamporter1137]

Great and detail review. Thanks for sharing.

[@roa5359]

Excellent review Terry, thanks

[@Sparklepony]

I love your videos and I especially like how you explain that this amp really needs you to read the manual. Because I’d blow the thing up! 😂

[@gildasguillaume251]

Thanks for this video, very interesting 👍👍👍

[@mrkitewine7700]

Thanks for these detailed reviews and comparisons Terry, very much appreciated. I quite like the look of the RA280 (in black) It’s a shame there is no headphone socket nor even a line-out to allow you to connect a headphone amplifier

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Take the line out from your dac or use a dac that doubles up for headphones too, few different ways to skin that cat

[@mrkitewine7700]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem indeed, that’s the only way I could think to do it, however it means no headphones for vinyl playback. But it might be a compromise worth taking and there are other ways around that too. Thanks once again Terry, you’re one of the reviewers I feel I can trust ever since your multi-test reviews of speakers that led me to audition the Ophidian Mojo 2 and ultimately buy the Neat Motive SX3.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Good point made about vinyl, that goes through a spanner in there

[@andrewcrowder4264]

Looks like Nagra had a hand in the design

[@crisjr6478]

The 180 is really cool but a little much for some of us, but the 280 is what I would consider an almost perfect integrated.

[@williamdirks5805]

Thanks for the review. I wish you would please make a list of the music that we hear in your videos -- I'd appreciate it.

[@adsph]

Thanks for the take Terry. Either one likes the look or not. Same for the sound. Hifi Rose is somewhat popular here in the USA. All the best.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

100% agree, I didn’t know that about the popularity in the states, interesting thanks

[@adsph]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem you’re welcome.

[@mrpmj00]

I love my Class D NAD C298 (uses Purifi Eigentakt) in my main system 2.2 music/7.4.4 home theater. I also love my Class D Parasound Zonemaster 2 in my 2ndary system Family room 5.1.4. ----------- source=Apple Music lossless quality.

[@antonyalumkal1526]

Which mode(s) did you use for the 180: regular, bridge, or bi-amp? It would have been nice to compare all three, but that would have been pretty time consuming. :) My sense is that the ability to bi-amp is really what you're paying for when you buy the 180. Also, there is some confusion about the active crossover. If you look at the frequency options in the manual, it apparently would work for bi-amping a 2-way speaker (i.e., one amp module per side dedicated to driving a tweeter). It doesn't work on a 3-way speaker where the tweeter and midrange driver are grouped together.

[@isobutylquinoline]

Terry is the type of guy where I'd see him and say "Terry!" and extend my arms out for a hug. Then he'd just stand there and say "I'm not much of a hugger, mate." and I'd be left with my arms out, then slowly and awkwardly lower them.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

This might well be the most interesting funny comment ever left :)

[@richardsaila8073]

Active crossovers in the 180 were fine, but for two subs.

[@mrrocknroll84]

The one thing that really annoyed me at first with the ra280 was vocal wibilqnc3. It calmed down when I added a viqblue 6mm power coat. However a customer ordered a silver ra280, so while he was waiting we gave him our black one. When the amp cam3 back there was no vocal sibilance even on plain power cables.. what no one mentions is that the amp requires alot of burn in time. The other thing I would mention is that it does lose a bit of fidelity when you switch the tone controls on in flat. You can head them.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Run in time is always very important, I was sent an already hammered unit which I prefer so long as its still nice for the camera, so I didn't experience any run in change. However making sure the amplifier has warmed up a lot I did speak about as that really matters here. Yes you maybe lose a tiny bit of resolution when you engage the Tone Controls but its hard to tell because the music goes silent for a second so its not an instant change. I think any negative is worth it for the greater good you can achieve but that is why its cool to be able to turn the whole circuit on and off.

[@mrrocknroll84]

@PursuitPerfectSystem true. Very true. This is where the manufacturer should tell us these things, this is why people get disappointed. It's all a learning kerb. I have to say though, that the ra280 is a power house...this is one loud amplifier. It doesn't give up. Have a good day Terry👍🏻

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yep and its why some reviewers that only spend a very short period of time testing gear often get it wrong and I do question their motivation but that is a debate for another day :)

[@mrrocknroll84]

Sorry about the autocorrect...I was half asleep

[@johnshaw359]

Chord sticks out a notoriously high output voltage.

[@williamhicks2763]

Terry, I’d like to request a comparison between the Music Fidelity NU-VISTA 800.2 and the McIntosh MA12000. Similar in many regards and I remember how much you liked the Nu-Vista. At that time I thought I’d never pay that much for a piece of equipment but over time I guess I’ve changed. Just a wish but I don’t know of anyone that could do a better job of comparing these two similar amplifiers.

[@jocool7370]

Steampunk-fi: the beginning.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I am trying to do different things, cheers for noticing :)

[@jamesschneider3828]

They look like a all in one system we used to get At Walmart or Kmart back in the 80’s, all show and no go that would already get distortion at 25% volume on the other hand the RA280 is much better looking

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

This is the opposite, you would be deaf before you get any distortion and the chassis is made out of solid aluminium so its not your average bit of gear.

[@lsaideOK]

Excellent review. Definitely not sold on the looks of the 280. I'm more of a minimalist I suppose. I would like to have heard some thoughts about its vinyl performance given that it has phono preamps and no internal DAC. Just the amplifier and the turntable and the speakers. You mentioned the difficulty of arranging that but did you try?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yes I did try the MC on the 180 but because I didn't have the right setup I couldn't trust my findings to report on them, and I don't have a step up to use the MM. I need to look into sorting that for the future but its all time and money. Its been an expensive year for me, my partner just turned 40 and I am now very poor :)

[@CinemaDemocratica]

My teeny-tiny SMSL AO300 sounds fantastic and has never strained running any of the tricky loads to which I've connected it. Good enough that I can definitely wait until some other poor bastard has funded most of the depreciation on one of these.

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

WOW TERRY 🤗😎💚💚💚

[@hushpuppykl]

I had the opportunity to run the RA 180 in my own system. I like the looks and the functions/features a lot, I also like how they did the outputs BUT the sound did not impress at all. It's just average sounding to me. When you factor in the price, it makes things worse for HiFi Rose. I enjoyed the much cheaper Choco EMEI more. 😊

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Did you run it in bridged mono mode or just in the standard mode? The bridged mono mode sounds different to the normal mode, with what speakers also out of curiosity? And what dac too please?

[@hushpuppykl]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem … I did not run it in bridge mode. If it’s that off the mark in normal mode, I’m gonna kinda write it off. Bearing in mind I am not into EDM etc. Speakers: Rogers LS 3/5a Classic & Graham Audio LS 8/1 DAC: Matrix Audio X Sabre Pro Source: Lumin U1 Mini (Tidal, Hi-Res & DSD files) Room: medium small and treated. Listening semi-nearfield.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yeah its a confusing amp, I think in normal mode the super tweeter part of the amp is activated and then the freq response goes up to 100Khz and then it sounds very toppy, in bridged mono mode its more of a normal freq response. But yeah I think this a big power big energy type of amp, not delicate like you might want to those speakers nearfield.

[@stonefree1911]

I like hifirose products in general, but these int amp don't really do it for me.

[@revelry1969]

I tried the ra-280 with mofi sourcepoint 10. It was excellent for classical and acoustic type music. But the rock and heavy bass stuff very veiled and off. Terribly off. In a vacuum it sounds good. But comparing it back to back with other amps in a quick swap…it had issues. It lost against a 10w class A tube amp. It sure looks cool…. But don’t waste the money. Go get a black ice audio FX10H…. It looks cool and smokes the ra-280. The black ice fx10 is 1/3 the cost. Like your channel but need to do back to backs more often. I am hearing a lot of these “review “ channels are now getting paid. So they ate now adverts. Once you add money… there is bias. How many amps have you actually said…. No it’s not good. A lot of the KZbin reviewers love everything…. Which can’t be true.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Like I said in the video, the bass is a little bloomed however you get around that by lowering the input voltage and raising the master volume then you get more bass control much more than any tube amp. It’s not veiled it bloomed on purpose and then the treble needs a little adjustment to get the full clarity out of the amp. It’s not about not liking anything it’s about working out how you get the best results and I explained this throughly.

[@revelry1969]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem sure I could futz with the knobs etc but it’s just lipstick. Go get a black ice audio FX10H or the higher F35 and hear the difference. The rose 280 is a ripoff. The 10 watt tube amp required no tweaking. Just plug in and go. Do a true a/b. This GAN thing is just the hype….. in. Vacuum…. Good but in actual comparison nope. Flat the ra-280 bloats the bass and puts a wet blanket over the highs.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I do more A/B comparisons than normal people including the super high end gear I have here all the time - your mistaking a design choice for a design flaw, they chose how they wanted the 280 to sound. If could easily sound as clear and clean as the 180, but they have instead given it a warmer sound by design. But your given the controls to adjust this including graphs showing you what the controls do. Its easy and simple to do. This allows you to tune the amp to the speakers and room and preference which is a huge advantage. You completely missed this by the sounds of it which is a shame. A cheap tube amp is very unlikely to outright better this amp as you are suggesting, but you might prefer it which is totally fine. Your A/B seems very limited to me without properly exploring the amp - did you even check what output voltage your dac is feeding into the amp? I heard it straight away was an issue and fixed it and that was huge for getting better sound. Either wayI think your experience with the 280 is not reflective of what it can really do which is get you close to the 180 for the half the money while sounding warmer in the mids. That is intended design, I had fantastic sound out of it, much better than the Audiolab 9000a which is no slouch at all.

[@revelry1969]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem man. You are totally off base. “Cheap” is not the point. I messed with the knobs and spent several weeks with the amp. The decision that made with the sound is not “warm” it is muffled. Sure you can brighten it up but annoying to have to change this all the time. They made a “bad” decision…flaw or not. No good dude. The FX10H though 1/3 the cost is just as high of quality and makes the music sound real. This RA280 is lipstick on a pig to cover up that crap stream you are using. Get a black ice audio F35 comparable to the ra280 and watch your mouth drop in amazement. Gawd. You are captured man. Were you paid to do this by them?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I have lot of other amps here and I will be comparing then to the RA280 and 180 and others that is my job. the RA280 definitely doesn't sound muffled after you raise the treble to a higher amount about 2 as I explained, then its set and forget. That is not hard it took me about half a day on tinkering then done. Maybe the Black Ice is a miracle amp and your experience is what it is, but I have for my reference the gryphon diablo 300 which a 20 grander so that is what I base other amps performance off. I am offended by your accusations here as well but my experience does not mirror yours at all which could be down to 100 reasons, room dac speakers source.

[@garymayes4881]

Not a chance I would spend £5.5 K on that amp. There is so much choice out there now, but each to their own.

[@bigblueocean]

I really like it. What would you buy?

[@utooboobnoob]

Why would you not offer up your alternative(s)?

[@reserva120]

What a meaningless comment

[@garymayes4881]

@@reserva120 Ditto.

[@RozeRosy-f3l]

Much better than esoteric and hagel macintosh garbage

[@SuperMcgenius]

May I suggest that you use three different speakers when evaluating amplifiers, it helps viewers when they understand your references. Panel speaker like the Maggie LRS , a kef 50 and maybe the linton, all different speakers. 😊

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

In theory that is a good idea, except none of those speakers do everything, the SVS do everything, they are properly full range so I can hear exactly what the amplifier or dac source etc is doing.

[@francisdelacruz6439]

Its​@PursuitPerfectSystem it's not about doing everything but how the amplifier matches with various speakers. The performance with svs coukd be a synergy one off and not illustrative with other speakers. Only way to tell is using a variety of speakers.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I dont believe in that fact with mainstream amplifiers because they are designed to work with mainstream speakers. the SVS are mainstream speakers and they put a distinctive load on an amplifier because they have a lot of drivers and essentially subwoofers built in, so they easily show you how good the amplifier is at driving loads. They can image fantastically well if the amp can do it and have a fairly clean mid range so you can hear how tonal colour of the amp is effecting the vocals. So from this I can tell you exactly how the amp is designed to sound. From there someone has to decided if that is the sound of the amp they like and think will work well with how their system is in there room. Using speakers that show you less doesn't tell you anything different. Exceptions would be low power amps with higher efficiency speakers and such like but that is not main stream if that makes sense.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

In addition I think the 280 amp has been designed to work well with a lot of the more affordable streaming dac type products that can sound a little bright and a little bass light or bass thin. I think that makes sense as its what a lot of people use these days. However the tone controls allow for a little more flex, mostly in the highs with the 280, not so much the bass the baked character is always there, you can thin it out a little for a cleaner delivery but then it doesn't sound as good, so its how it is.

[@SuperMcgenius]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem well, that’s my point they don’t do everything and many people have those speakers , preference or size in their spaces so it’s relatable. Wishing you well and maybe try one or two, if it doesn’t work, then you can make a video of why. It could be interesting Contant for your viewers. Note, I have Vandersteen fives that do everything, but I also have other speakers that sometimes do others things better.🙂

[@kennethjrgensen2087]

Thanks for a very informative video. As I like yours reviews, I hope you will get the opportunity to review the new Danish speaker Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2. It,s designed by some of the best people from Denmark (0ne of them peter Lyngdorf). And it,s fantastic Thanks

[@SuperMcgenius]

You said little about the x-over , this a interesting feature that I would use with non-powered subs or a biwire set up.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

That’s because the cross over is for a super tweeter and I don’t have them to try

[@SuperMcgenius]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem ok, I just looked up on the web site , it is just for hi frequency, which puzzles me, because the super tweeter would draw less than 5 Watts at above 10 kHz peak, so triple that for headroom to 15 watts. That’s 185 watts wasted. So now I understand why you didn’t spend much time on that, my apologies.🙂

[@SuperMcgenius]

It’s still a very cool, looking piece of equipment, a bastard child of Niagara

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Maybe I got it wrong, to have a fully built in active crossover could obviously be great, but I dont see you would control with the settings. Its a little confusing the amp but I do have a simple brain and its why I said defo read the manual :)

[@SuperMcgenius]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I don’t think your brain is simple, there is a lot of complex physics in Audio. One of my old teachers in high school said a bee should not be able to fly due to its wing area versus the bees weight . Regarding super tweeters, unless they are designed into the speaker, they will generally have cancellations and comb filtering due to the distance to the main tweeter, it’s a wave length thing. 🙂😵‍💫

[@Dave30867]

looks ok .

[@they7991]

Is it like the Leema tucana mk2 anniversary edition?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

No very different to the leema, I think the goal might be similar but it’s a very different sound.

[@they7991]

I ment the 180​@@PursuitPerfectSystem

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yes that is what I mean, the 180 is very stand out and different to any other amp I have had in here before with the closest beign the Gryphon Essence, which is better in a lot of ways but the cloest to the type of presentation. The 180 sounds cleaner, tighter and more focused than the Leema, more analytical but you can manipulate it a bit with the tone controls as I explained. That is a massive stand out feature imo.

[@they7991]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem wauw, cleaner and tighter than the Leema. I have to audit this amplifier. Thank you🎶

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

remember what I said about getting the best sound out of it, lower signal in and amp volume up, I found this works well for the Leema too which is where I discovered this first. Also read the manual too as you could wire it up wrong and use it in the super tweeter mode and then it sounds super bright as the treble is up to 50Khz and then it sounds mental. I did that at first, its easy to get it wrong but its an experience to listen like that.

[@joegarzon4976]

Kind of hard to get excited of components that add so much energy to the music? My amplifier (Ayre AX5) only sounds like the instrument it's reproducing, not energized, not laid back; just music. I'd be wary of anything that imposes a noticeable sound to just music.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

To be fair if you went and stood next to a live band playing do you not think it would be loud with a lot of energy to the sound they create. I think they would. Also if you think about what hifi is, it’s the replying of music captured by a microphone that is often inches from the instrument. There would be a lot of energy in that recording too so it depends on how you view music and what is real and what is made to sound “pleasing” which is totally different. All of it is fine but one doesn’t make the other better or worse it’s just different

[@sarcese52]

Very Nagra - esque

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yes I was thinking the same thing, very rare to see

[@JamesCagney-g6z]

Way out off mt price range, for me personally, putting the price at the start off the video, or better still, on the caption, would save me 20 min into the video , to realize I'm not a barrister, a brain surgeon , or indeed a , 70 grand a year train driver, who can afford such a brilliant product .

[@snskor]

중국산 앰프에도 욕이 별로 없는데.. 한국산 앰프에서는 왜 이렇게 욕과 비난이 많은건지???? 100년전 A클래스 앰프도 좋지만 기술이 발전하고 변화하는것도 좋은데

[@richardsaila8073]

Maybe TT2 is not the right match for RA180. The latter is screaming for a ladder. 😂

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

We will see for sure :)

[@jimdavis5230]

Bridge tied load halves the damping factor which is not good.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

On paper maybe but the flesh this amp drives and controls bass like no other I have experienced so far. I am surprised it’s not being used in subs, it likely will when the cost of the tech comes down

[@cobar5342]

$7,000! WOW

[@andrewbrazier9664]

Who knows one of us on here may get fortunate on the lottery one day 👍

[@stevesmyth4982]

My take on HiFi gear is that it should be heard but not seen. All that complicated pointless gearing on the front does what for the sound? The money would be better spent on a linear PSU with a generously rated transformer and several good quality capacitors or maybe a choke input PSU and huge heatsinks to keep things cool and reliable. Having built many high power amplifiers I can confidently say that the PSU has a huge bearing on the quality of the sound.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

It doesn’t need big heat sinks it doesn’t get very hot and yet it has immense power and sounds the cleanest of any amp you will hear around this kind of money. It drives speakers bass as good as any amp I have had here including big power supply class a amps. It’s an interesting amplifier technology that’s still in its early days

[@craigaust3306]

Given your background, I’m surprised you suggested additional cooling for a class D amplifier

[@williamhicks2763]

Some of us have to worry about the decor and wife acceptance factor. Not sure this is it but ugly lowers the budget in my home.

[@elderinmoi1571]

The materials used look cheap. Almost plasticy (Even though its not plastic).

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

The case is all made from solid aluminium, all custom made parts nothing plastic at all not even the remote. Normally its very expensive hifi that is made from solid aluminium, rather than a steel panel framework.

[@TrueAudio]

none of this fluff is necessary - way, way over priced

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

You cant say overpriced without touching the products with your hands to get a feel for the build quality and listening to them, they are far from over priced. The 180 has a solid aluminium build normally that would cost in the 10's thousands

[@Sir_Richard_Stewart]

I am still yet to see you Guys do a View on the Best Sound Reproduction Speakers in the world. Pyracoustic Pyramid Speakers. Single driver. And Dual driver. Good luck finding Dual Driver. 😊😊😊😊😊 I have a Pair

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

It’s just guy I am a complete one man production and to be honest I have never heard of those speakers before, I will look them up

[@Sir_Richard_Stewart]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Absolutely Brilliant. Dual 8" push pull drivers. Base reproduction is Second to non

[@Sir_Richard_Stewart]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I've heard 100k speakers that don't even come close

[@Sir_Richard_Stewart]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I have been following you for a while now. I do respect what you do

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

TBH every one says that about the speakers they own..... of course they do, but compare them to good horns or good panels or good box and its always pros and cons

[@StenIsaksson]

An ADHD amp. ;)

[@PhotographyInFlight4183]

Absurd design, no go for me on looks alone. Call me shallow.

[@sokrebis]

I don't care how it sounds, it looks like a kid designed it. A toy that costs too much.

[@barneyrubble9309]

Well isnt that a cluttered mess of a front panel 🤮

[@andrewbrazier9664]

Busy - makes a change from all the minimalist facias I guess.

[@jimfarrell4635]

I like it. But I love vintage. The more silver knobs and meters the better.

[@Wharariki]

@@jimfarrell4635Same, it’s cool, sorta rocking a steam punk crossed with a fine watch vibe…

[@OigresAviap]

Very, very ugly. Even if I lost my mind I will not buy nothing so ugly.

[@RozeRosy-f3l]

Garbage cheap low 10000uf 65 capiscstor, instead of 22000uf 100v x10, and twin 600v transformer

[@abdulmokta6585]

Nothing special, it's similar as Sony ES series in 90s 80s .

[@abdulmokta6585]

Garbage 10000uf 50v instead off 27000uf 50v x 12 No dual 700v transformer

[@Sir_Richard_Stewart]

@20:40. You convinced me it's junk

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Nothing junk here, far from it

[@Sir_Richard_Stewart]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem You plain outright said it produced distortion.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

The complete opposite, there is no filter, no distrtion its crazy clean with crazy power and control. Distortion is one of the filters I am referring to that is not present here