HiFi Rose RS130 Network Transport at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY USA

The RS130 is a reference network transport from HiFi Rose (Seoul, South Korea), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York, USA. Designed as a streamer-only source component for audiophiles who already own a high-quality external DAC, the RS130 brings HiFi Rose's precision engineering to digital signal transmission with a high-precision OCXO (Oven-Controlled Crystal Oscillator) clock, fiber optic Ethernet and USB isolation, and dual BNC master clock inputs for integration with external reference clocks. A 15.4-inch TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen delivers HiFi Rose's acclaimed Ultra HD 4K interface at 60 FPS, and a built-in SSD caches music files during playback to allow connected hard drives to spin down, further reducing mechanical and electrical noise. The RS130 outputs digital audio via SPDIF RCA, AES/EBU XLR, optical, HDMI ARC, USB, and two I2S ports.

Fiber Optic Ethernet and USB: Eliminating Network-Borne Noise

Network audio components are constantly exposed to high-frequency interference propagated through standard copper Ethernet and USB connections. The RS130 addresses this at the infrastructure level by equipping its primary network input with a fiber optic Ethernet SFP port, which is an optical connection immune to electrical interference and ground loop noise. Similarly, the USB output to a connected DAC can be routed through fiber optic USB using an SFP-compatible connection such as the HiFi Rose RSA720 Optical USB Hub, physically breaking the electrical path between the RS130 and the DAC's sensitive analog circuitry. This approach allows the RS130 to sit on the network without compromising the audio signal path. A secondary copper Gigabit Ethernet port is also provided for conventional connections.

OCXO Clock, External Master Clock Input, and Built-In SSD Caching

The RS130 uses a high-precision OCXO for its primary clock reference, maintaining temperature-stabilized oscillation to minimize jitter in all digital outputs. For users with dedicated external master clocks, the RS130 accepts reference clock signals on two BNC inputs: one for 50-ohm master clocks and one for 75-ohm types, allowing SPDIF, AES/EBU, and I2S outputs to be governed by an external reference for true ultra-high-end performance. A built-in 2.5-inch SATA SSD bay allows music files to be cached internally; during playback, connected hard drives can spin down, removing a source of mechanical vibration and electrical noise from the listening environment. The 15.4-inch Ultra HD 4K touchscreen with a wide viewing angle and 60 FPS video playback provides intuitive control and high-definition album art display. Unit-top controls for mute, play/pause, favorites, and power complement the included Bluetooth remote control and the ROSE Connect app for iOS and Android.

Key Features

• OCXO High-Precision Clock: Oven-controlled crystal oscillator provides temperature-stable, near-zero-jitter clock signals for all digital outputs.
• Fiber Optic Ethernet Input: SFP optical Ethernet input eliminates network-borne electrical interference from the audio signal path.
• Dual BNC Master Clock Inputs: Accepts external reference clocks at 50 ohms and 75 ohms, enabling SPDIF, AES/EBU, and I2S outputs to sync to an external master clock.
• Built-In SSD Bay for Caching: Internal 2.5-inch SATA SSD caches music during playback, allowing noisy external hard drives to spin down and further reducing jitter.
• Comprehensive Digital Output Suite: SPDIF RCA, AES/EBU XLR, optical, HDMI ARC, USB, I2S-HDMI, and I2S-RJ45 outputs cover virtually every DAC connection type.
• 15.4-Inch Ultra HD 4K Touchscreen: TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen with wide viewing angle, 60 FPS video, and high-definition album art display.
• Roon Ready: Full Roon endpoint certification enables seamless integration with Roon music management and playback software.
• AirPlay and DLNA Support: Streams from AirPlay sources and NAS drives via DLNA/UPnP for broad ecosystem compatibility.
• Bluetooth Remote and ROSE Connect App: Physical Bluetooth remote and free iOS/Android app for full remote control.
• Special Processed Aluminum Chassis: Purpose-designed aluminum enclosure minimizes fine vibration and acoustic noise.

Technical Specifications

What's in the Box

• HiFi Rose RS130 Network Transport
• Power cord
• Quick Start Guide
• Bluetooth remote control
• AAA batteries (x2)
• SSD mounting screws (x4)
• Screwdriver
• Wi-Fi USB dongle
• SFP RJ45 Copper Transceiver Module

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HiFi Rose RS130?

The HiFi Rose RS130 is a reference network transport from Seoul, South Korea, designed to stream music to an external DAC with the lowest possible jitter and noise. It features an OCXO precision clock, fiber optic Ethernet and USB isolation, dual BNC master clock inputs, a full suite of digital outputs (SPDIF, AES/EBU, optical, USB, I2S, HDMI ARC), a built-in SSD cache bay, and a 15.4-inch Ultra HD 4K touchscreen. It is Roon Ready and available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York, USA.

How does the RS130 compare to the Lumin U2?

The HiFi Rose RS130 and the Lumin U2 (from Hong Kong) are both transport-only network streamers targeting external DAC owners. The Lumin U2 uses a fiber optic network input and an LEEDH Processing volume control for direct power amplifier connection, and integrates tightly with Lumin's own app and TIDAL Connect. The RS130 adds dual BNC master clock inputs for external clock synchronization, an on-screen OCXO clock, and HiFi Rose's 15.4-inch touchscreen interface with 4K video and album art. The RS130 offers a wider range of digital output formats including I2S-HDMI and I2S-RJ45, which some audiophile DACs prefer as the lowest-jitter input.

What is the benefit of fiber optic USB in the RS130?

Fiber optic USB transmits the USB audio signal as light rather than electrical pulses, completely breaking the electrical connection between the streamer and the DAC. This eliminates ground loops, high-frequency switching noise, and USB bus power interference that standard copper USB cables carry directly into a DAC's circuitry. When paired with the HiFi Rose RSA720 Optical USB Hub and SFP fiber modules, the RS130 achieves galvanic isolation of both its network input and its USB output, creating an electrically silent signal path.

Can the RS130 accept an external master clock?

Yes. The RS130 provides two dedicated BNC clock inputs: one for 50-ohm master clocks and one for 75-ohm types. When a reference clock signal is connected, the RS130 locks its SPDIF, AES/EBU, and I2S outputs to the external clock, replacing the internal OCXO reference. This is the configuration used in professional and ultra-high-end audiophile installations where a dedicated master clock such as the Mutec MC-3+ USB or an Antelope Audio device governs the entire digital chain.

Does the RS130 support Roon?

Yes, the RS130 is fully Roon Ready certified, meaning it appears as a networked Roon endpoint and accepts playback control and audio from a Roon Core running on a separate device. It also supports AirPlay, DLNA/UPnP for NAS drive access, and Bluetooth, and can be controlled via the ROSE Connect app for iOS and Android.

Where can I buy the HiFi Rose RS130 in Buffalo or the USA?

The HiFi Rose RS130 Network Transport is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York, an authorized HiFi Rose dealer serving customers across the USA. Vinyl Sound also carries the RD160 DAC and the RSA720 Optical USB Hub for customers assembling a complete fiber-isolated reference source system.