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Sound performances
For this review, I picked my old Audeze LCD-X and Audeze LCD-3, the all-new FiiO JH5 and the mighty Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X, a good setup that should fit all genre and needs.
As for the source, music was streamed directly from my computer with Apple Music (Hi-Res), my own Plex library (Hi-Res), and Spotify (Lo-Res)
Overall signature
So, how’s that fancy DAC performing? Quite well, in fact—even remarkably so at times!
Plugged to my Audeze LCD-3, the green Rose managed to extract much more information that I hope it would, even in medium gain. It’s sweet when needed, hard when you want it and, I’d even dare to say that the Rose RT-5000 could be a solid alternative for anyone in need of a prosumer solution – even if an XLR-EBU input would have been a plus. With crisp highs, deep lows, surprisingly clean layering, and a wide soundstage, the RT-5000 ticks all the right boxes and feels like my Hifiman EF400, minus the R2R typical signature.
Signature-wise, the Rose doesn’t sound flat by any means, but its warm signature isn’t a flaw either. It’s somewhat predictable, and a quick tweak on an EQ—specifically, lowering the low-mids by 2-3 dB—should yield the flat signal many audiophiles crave. However, I found the default rendering quite delightful, and paired with the Audeze, I enjoyed all my favorite tracks without any issues.
A rendering starkly different from that of my SMSL DO400 – featuring a neutral tone that prioritizes dynamic range over any sound coloration – that leaned more toward the Cayin i-DAC6 / i-HA-6 combo I previously used.
On my usual electro track list, paired with the Audeze LCD-X, the combo outputs good headroom and hard-kicking lows, even at low volume. I could immediately hear the enhancement on You Make My Life A Better Place from the Mammas Gun, a small ring only heard on high-grade stack was also found here. And, if my Hifiman EF-600 sounds more “organic”, head-to-head the Rose was able to deliver more air, with a render that should fit a broader audience – even more if you favor planar headphones as I do
Switching up to the DT900 Pro X, the difference was even easier to spot, with mellower low-mids and softer transients, even on Spotify. On The Weekend – Funk Wav Remix, the pan-effects weren’t as accurate as the SMSL, but they also tend to sound more… natural, without the dizzying effect that occurred with the DO400.
For those asking, I didn’t hear any difference between 3.5mm and 6.35mm output, once I maxed out the volume, but there’s a clear improvement going balanced with a 4.4mm Pentaconn cable. First comes power, then follows depth and, quite honestly, I see no reason to use unbalanced connections with this device, unless absolutely necessary. In balanced mode, the stereo panning effects feel more natural, the nuances are more pronounced, and the higher output outlines details in a great way.
I couldn’t really grasp the differences made by the embedded tube (nor did I found the device particularly hot) but emulating the peculiar render of vacuum tubes seemed to make a real difference over time. I mostly stuck with the USB ports, but even when connected as a Bluetooth endpoint, the Rose RT5000 delivered a flawless signal and allowed the music to shine, especially on Hi-Res track.
Paired with the FiiO JH5, the combo exhibits the same behavior I found on my FiiO Q15 : exquisite detail retrieval, with fast decay and rapid transients, with that satisfying bump around 100-120Hz – just enough to make the sound “fun”.
I also paired it with the old-but-mighty ALO Audio Studio-6 – an amp that I bought a few years ago now – and was pleasantly surprised to see how new, and old blood, match quite splendidly. It sound – as expected – great but I think that I prefer the flat tone I get with my DO400, this RT-5000 being a better match to my Auralic amp.
Overall, a superb performer and a very nice surprise!
Tonality
Bass: warm, fast, accurate. The RT-5000 managed to reach deep notes with ease on my LCD-X and, paired with DT900 Pro-X, the combo was able to overthrow many higher priced setup that own. Clearly, in this price range, the Rose manages an awesome job and with planar headphones, the result is amazing!
Test track : April’s Loop – Numcha
Mids: flat and natural. Good dynamic range combined with good accuracy and flawless background make the RT-5000 unsurprisingly good in this regard. That said, its most impressive feat remains how musical it sounded, even with difficult tracks, the DAC/Amp delivering an entrancing result with most of my headphones.
Test track : Customer is King – Meute
Highs: lovely. If everything seems flat to my ears, some might find the Rose RT-5000 a bit too pushy around high frequencies, but, the DAC always displayed excellent control and definitely exceeded my expectations in this regard, matching the Cayin most of the time!
Good test track : Omnia – Anyma
Conclusion
For a first attempt, Rose Technics pleasantly surprised me with a marvelous device that exceeded all my expectations, especially considering its relatively modest price compared to the features offered.
Build quality is excellent, I/O is great, and either as a pure DAC or a DAC + preamplifier, the device is just flawless, as long as you’re okay with the design. Sure, it’s a bit on the warm side, but I consider that more of a feat, than a flaw, giving the RT-5000 a real “signature” instead of just following the habitual “linear” design.
The only flaw? It could have been more powerful, but that’s really just me nit-picking!
Pros
- superb sound and good output level
- warm signature and well-designed gain levels
- extensive I/O with USB, Pentaconn 4-Pins, XLR, Coaxial, etc…
- great build quality with real gold
- excellent performance/price ratio
Cons
- sound signature a bit too warm for some genre
- the design might be too much for some
- external power supply
