Eversolo DMP-A6 Streamer Review

[The Moog]

https://music.eversolo.com/dmp/ota/DMP_A6/v1.3.05/DMP-A6_R_v1.3.05_202408281824_ota-package.zip

As reported in the Zidoo forum, it looks like its not fully baked, as the long-promised (was going to be released back in April) digital volume control is still vey broken.

The volume display now shows a range of -100dB to 0 rather than 15 steps, but between -100 to -55 is completely silent, and then the volume goes up in big stepped increments after that, with the same volume output over a range of settings before jumping up to the next level.

Volume synchronisation with LMS is also more broken than it was previously, with the whole volume range in LMS covering just -100 to -92.5 on the A6 (all currently completely silent, so max volume in LMS sets the A6 to -92.5db), and then volume changes on the A6 are not being reflected back to LMS at all.

Seems like this won't be ready for release 'soon'.

 

[zhenek1983]

As reported in the Zidoo forum, it looks like its not fully baked, as the long-promised (was going to be released back in April) digital volume control is still vey broken.

The volume display now shows a range of -100dB to 0 rather than 15 steps, but between -100 to -55 is completely silent, and then the volume goes up in big stepped increments after that, with the same volume output over a range of settings before jumping up to the next level.

Volume synchronisation with LMS is also more broken than it was previously, with the whole volume range in LMS covering just -100 and range -92.5 on the A6 (all currently completely silent, so max volume in LMS sets the A6 to -92.5db), and then volume changes on the A6 are not being reflected back to LMS at all.

Seems like this won't be ready for release 'soon'.

Added only 2 new music services: IDAGIO and PrestoMusic , with a focus on classical and opera music

 

[Cepi]

https://music.eversolo.com/dmp/ota/DMP_A6/v1.3.05/DMP-A6_R_v1.3.05_202408281824_ota-package.zip

Careful!!! This update causes the loss of PEQ and Internet Radio (among others).

 

[zhenek1983]

Careful!!! This update causes the loss of PEQ and Internet Radio (among others).

And also deletes all settings and local music

 

[Cepi]

Et supprime également tous les paramètres et la musique locale

I really regret having done this update, I tried and I lost...

 

[zhenek1983]

I really regret having done this update, I tried and I lost...

the only good thing is that this firmware has added more low frequencies, which makes me very happy

 

[Purité Audio]

More low frequencies!
Keith

 

[Cepi]

Will an official update fix these issues?

 

[Gremlins]

Everything is explained very well here https://housecurve.com/usage

Basically five steps:

1. download the HouseCurve app
2. download the sine sweep file to the A6, in order to play the test tones
3. use the HC app to generate response plots of your room (by «listening» to the sweep tones)
4. following this, use the app to create filters, e.g. to Harman or B&K targets. You set the frequency range and number of filters as well as max dB and Q for each correction
5. on the A6, enter these filter values as a correction in the PEQ-section

Advice on full range vs. low-end PEQ only varies. Read around on Schroder frequency for an idea of issues. Lower limit should be roughly the lowest extension of your speakers. From my very limited experience, and in my room, PEQ up to around 450hz and no more than 4db corrections seem to work the best. The good thing is that once measured (save the measurement in the app!), you can play around with different assumptions and generate a truckload of filters to test. Also, don’t forget to remeasure after applying filters to see effect. Also remember that cutting peaks is significantly easier than filling troughs, which in some cases may be nigh impossible.

Bear in mind that there is a lot more to serious-level PEQ, and that the real experts here will probably laugh at the banality of the above. Nevertheless, one has to start somewhere. I have found a huge improvement in sound (ie. the music I play is closer to what I would like it to sound like) by tinkering around in this fairly simple manner.

Perfect for me, thanks
Will attempt as soon as i reach Home

 

[zhenek1983]

Will an official update fix these issues?

the main thing is that it's not like last time, the beta had low frequencies, but in the official firmware they were cut

 

[Cepi]

l'essentiel est que ce n'est pas comme la dernière fois, la bêta avait des fréquences basses, mais dans le firmware officiel, elles ont été coupées

What bothers me is that I lost all my PEQ settings, I hope they will come back during the official update...

 

[Gremlins]

Perfect for me, thanks
Will attempt as soon as i reach Home

I have Android

 

[mags65]

Ah, then you are out of luck in respect of HouseCurve. REW on laptop/macbook w/microphone (e.g. UMIK) is probably the way to go. Unfortunately I don’t have any experience here.

 

[thegeton]

Maybe this is off topic for the current thought stream, but what are the DSP capability differences, if any, between the A6 and the A8?

 

[mirror88]

Do not upgrade unofficial versions, which are internal versions used for streaming service certification and verification of other functions, and usually delete many functions.

 

[Cepi]

Ne mettez pas à niveau les versions non officielles, qui sont des versions internes utilisées pour la certification des services de streaming et la vérification d'autres fonctions, et supprimez généralement de nombreuses fonctions.

I didn't notice that it was an internal version, usually I update with beta versions....

 

[davlynam]

I have had the Eversolo DMP A6 since its release. It replaced a Sonore optical rendu with linear power. I have very good Revel speakers, all vintage tube electronics. Internet is all fiber. The A6 streams to a Okto Stereo 8 via USB. Firmware is currently updated on the A6 and the Okto. The A6 has, since its arrival, sounded bright and digital. Oddly enough, I am spending more time listening to Radio Paradise (FLAC) streaming via my Roku Ultra/Oppo 205 than via the A6. The Oppo sounds really good playing Redbook CD's, fantastic playing SACD's via the Oppo's HDMI outputs. The A6 is the weakest link in my setup.
Proposed solutions: adding Roon; the Beatchnik linear power upgrade for the A6; trying a new dedicated streamer.

 

[bargainguy]

@davlynam, my experience of the A6 is the opposite. Easily the best component in my system.

Are you relying on sighted comparisons of the A6 to substantiate bright and digital?

One thing which becomes very clear the more time you spend here - people aren't so interested in subjective sighted assessments as they are blind level-matched assessments, as sighted assessments lead to all kinds of subjective reasoning errors. Plenty more on that topic here if you want it. Kind of the mantra of the place, if you will.

Now if you do a blind level-matched assessment of the A6 vs a level competitor, and you can consistently pick out the A6, you have amazing hearing. Have you done this yet?

 

[davlynam]

@davlynam, my experience of the A6 is the opposite. Easily the best component in my system.

Are you relying on sighted comparisons of the A6 to substantiate bright and digital?

One thing which becomes very clear the more time you spend here - people aren't so interested in subjective sighted assessments as they are blind level-matched assessments, as sighted assessments lead to all kinds of subjective reasoning errors. Plenty more on that topic here if you want it. Kind of the mantra of the place, if you will.

Now if you do a blind level-matched assessment of the A6 vs a level competitor, and you can consistently pick out the A6, you have amazing hearing. Have you done this yet?

I was hoping for some guidance from the community on options to improve the sound of my setup.

 

[Purité Audio]

Remove the valve stuff?
Keith