Inside Track: Hi-Fi Rose

Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, Hi-Fi Rose is the audio brand of Citech Company, Ltd., which was formed way back in 1967. It’s one of three divisions, the other two being responsible for designing and manufacturing set-top boxes and kiosk equipment, such as the touchscreen ordering systems you see in retail chains like McDonald’s. Hi-Fi Rose itself started in 2017, largely because the company Chairman Youngmin Kim was a passionate audiophile, and wanted to follow his dream…

According to Communications Director Sean Kim, “Our Chairman, Mr. Kim, has been deeply passionate about hi-fi since his university days over thirty-five years ago. When he realised that existing network streamers couldn’t meet his expectations, he decided to create one himself. With a talented team of engineers who already had expertise in audio and video technology, we were well-positioned to bring his vision to life.”

“Hi-Fi Rose isn’t just about technological innovation; it’s about delivering what music lovers genuinely value. Our engineers combine technical expertise with a deep passion for audio to develop products that set a new standard in performance and design. Above all, we constantly ask ourselves, ‘Why does this technology matter to the user?’ That question guides everything we do.”

Approximately seventy people currently work for Citech, with around forty of them now assigned to Hi-Fi Rose. “We started as a small team of just five,” says Sean, “but our passion and focus on quality have fuelled rapid growth. While this began as a passion project, we also understood the need to balance our enthusiasm with solid business strategies. Our team’s dedication has been key to our success.”

“We focus on the traditional hi-fi market while also appealing to modern listeners,” Sean explains. “Our core audience consists of classic audiophiles familiar with traditional two-channel hi-fi setups, including CD players. At the same time, younger generations who grew up with MP3 players are drawn to our products for their advanced streaming capabilities and sleek design. Currently, streamers make up about three-quarters of our sales, showing their broad appeal.”

USER FOCUS

Hi-Fi Rose places the user experience at the heart of its product development philosophy. “We don’t simply add features for the sake of it,” Sean says. “We aim to include elements that customers truly need and appreciate. This way, we seamlessly merge technology with the joy of music listening, enriching our customers' lives.”

This philosophy was evident from the brand’s first products, such as the RS150 network streamer. All streaming technologies were developed in-house by Hi-Fi Rose engineers without relying on external solutions.

Jun Gu adds, “Our approach goes beyond just selecting high-performance components. For example, our Rose audio server incorporates SSD caching memory to optimise signal processing before feeding the DAC. This ensures the highest level of precision and sound quality. We even design our own op-amps and custom circuits to control every detail in the audio path. By managing the signal flow from input to output, we deliver a level of performance that sets us apart.”

Although Hi-Fi Rose is best known for streamers, the company surprised many audiophiles with the launch of the RA180 integrated amplifier at the Munich High End Show in 2023.

“This amplifier sent a strong message, which is that we’re not just a streamer manufacturer but a comprehensive audio brand,” says Sean. “Its design combines modern aesthetics with analogue sensibilities, setting a new standard in visual appeal. Technologically, it features our proprietary Class AD amplification, overcoming the limitations of traditional Class D designs.”

Jun Gu elaborates on the technical challenges: “We focused on solving the sound quality issues associated with Class D amplifiers. By incorporating GanFET technology and our proprietary circuit design, we achieved a breakthrough. The RA180 and RA280 are just the beginning, as we continue to refine and innovate.”

INTO THE FUTURE

Looking ahead, Sean Kim tells StereoNET that Hi-Fi Rose doesn't see itself as merely a manufacturer of audio equipment. Rather, the company aims to redefine how people enjoy music by delivering experiences that go beyond sound. To achieve this, it seeks to maintain a balance between design, technology, and usability. According to Sean, the ultimate goal is to expand beyond streamers and amplifiers into new categories, such as lifestyle speakers—establishing Hi-Fi Rose as a total audio brand.

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