Eversolo DMP-A8 Balanced Streamer/DAC Review

[AudioSceptic]

I didn't time it but I say in the order of 10 seconds. Definitely faster than a computer and then app starting.

Well, it *is* a computer with app(s), isn't it, albeit a single-purpose one, like any other streamer?

 

[AudioSceptic]

For people worrying about longevity of supported app, avoid using them! This is why I advocate for "push streaming" such as how Roon works. The streamer then becomes a simple endpoint. As long as that protocol remains the same, the device will not be obsoleted. In contrast, using the local app relies on that app being around ("pull streaming"). This is why I waited to review the DMP-A8 until it had Roon support.

Doesn't that depend on the OS/app running in that "simple endpoint" remaining Roon-compatible? (Crazy price of Roon is another matter.)

 

[AudioSceptic]

I have changed my mind about it due to it being "pull steaming" (even though I am not very likely to stream at all, I may change my mind further down the road).
It just seemed that it had the potential to be a one box solution, no computer needed in the system.

If you install a large SSD and put all your music on that, it becomes a player, not a streamer, like a CD player with a near-infinite stack of CDs, doesn't it? Of course, you still have the "remote" streamer functions if you want them.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Around half of participants either chose the dongle or couldn’t tell a difference.

This needs to be stressed, regardless of any quibbles of how Archimago ran the test. We are talking about Apple's $10 adapter vs $3k Linn streamer vs $20k Linn streamer, and don't forget that only keen listeners are likely to take part in the first place.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Having both a PC with Roon as well as this all in one streamer and server would seem a bit pointless. Either one or the other for simplicity. For this money I would want it to do everything and not use a PC or NAS with it. It would also have to be able to stream to and sync with all my other streamers in the house. Definitely needs a bigger screen in that case although maybe I would be looking to control this and all my streamers from my chromebook instead. Tablets don't really cut it due to the lack of built in keyboards and phone screens are too small (for me).

Yeah. Completely talked myself out of wanting one of these now.

So you want it to be a NAS as well?

 

[Ein]

Masterpiece. I review first products EverSOLO ie DACs Z6/8 and no more, no less fantastic audio eq. Look under the hood - this is Apple hardware vibe. KUDOS

 

[Ein]

I wish someone would post results of double-blind listener testing to show that someone can hear the difference between a system like this with near-perfect measured performance and a DAC with "merely good" performance like the Schiit Modi 2. Can anyone hear the difference in performance? If not, then what's the point of product designers and manufacturers chasing these numbers?

Mhm, but not only performance here. And also - look under the hood. You see? Thats this is the way for build audio eq. No less, no more. But you have right - human ear are not good enough to fell difference here.

 

[goat76]

This needs to be stressed, regardless of any quibbles of how Archimago ran the test. We are talking about Apple's $10 adapter vs $3k Linn streamer vs $20k Linn streamer, and don't forget that only keen listeners are likely to take part in the first place.

While I find his blind tests fun exercises, I must say I'm a bit skeptical about what we will actually hear in such a test.

1. Isn't the quality of the A/D converter in his RME ADI-2 Pro FS set the “limit” and “color” the recordings of the signal coming out of the 3 DACs, and by that introduce some “sameness”?

2. Aren’t the different DACs in all the different systems used to listen to the recordings of the 3 DACs set the “limit” and “color” the sound in their ways, and therefore possibly reduce any differences and introduce “sameness” even further?

Maybe I should visit my local HiFi store and see if I can borrow a Linn Klimax DSM with the Organik DAC for a week, make recordings of my favorite albums with the excellent A/D converter in my Prism Sound Titan, and with that make my Linn Akurate DSM with the Katalyst DAC sound like the Linn Klimax DSM.

 

[Ein]

I have a silent Windows PC in my main system. Frequent updates of Windows means often it is down and I have to remote log into it to start roon, etc. At times i have had very odd issues with Windows firewall security, not allowing Roon to see remote DACs. It lacks a volume control or remote which I consider essential. So I have been using an external pre-amp. I wish DMP-A8 supported Roon core in which case, I would have removed both my desktop and DAC.

But thats the point. You need raw power for that. Big CPU and lot memory if server/core. Roon is very hungry. So, A8 with powerful computing much more complex and costly much more ofc. Look new Nucleus series from Roon Labs. I think it is impossible for multirole, not dedicate, market audio eq to do that thing. Sad but true.

 

[Ein]

The main thing companies making streamers must be prepared for is the ever-changing things third-party companies can come up with at any moment of time, they should never use a software platform that is dependent on solutions that they don't have full control over themselves.

If I buy a streamer for $2000, I don’t think it's too much to ask for that the core functionalities (streaming music from Tidal, Qobuz, etc) I bought it for will continue to work as long as the hardware doesn’t break. That may not be the reality of mobile phones, but I do expect a streamer to continue to work as a streamer for a way longer time than an app on my phone (but I like to see a change for that too).

I use a Linn DSM streamer and they are expensive as hell (if you don't buy them second-hand). They have most of the functionalities as the Eversolo have but even more connections. But the best part is that even if I had bought it 17 years ago, it would still get the same updates and new functionalities as the recent models do, well, except DSD playback which was a hardware limitation of the older units. That is a thing that I have come to expect from HiFi companies making products for handling ever-changing internet-based platforms. I should not have to buy a new unit just because the company abandoned the unit, or didn't have a forth-sight plan of making sure they have full control over the software platform it uses.

Other than that, the Eversolo DMP-A8 seems like a very competent machine but the future will tell us what the longevity is for these units.

Yep, yep, yep long term support. Crucial. I have one example for very competitive piece of eq - NAD C658. Years, big changes, lots of new stuff… thats the thing!

 

[Ein]

How long does this unit take to startup from off and be ready to play?
If you pull the power plug and plug it back in, in a few days, does it remember the last set volume control or does it default to a preset level?

So you need to buy an internal SSD as well I see.

It looks like an awesome piece of gear, although you'd have to be prepared for it to become obsolete in not many years, as it will get marooned with Android updates/app updates. Realistically, how many years would we expect? 5 maybe if you're really lucky.

Mhm, big IF for support.

 

[AudioSceptic]

While I find his blind tests fun exercises, I must say I'm a bit skeptical about what we will actually hear in such a test.

1. Isn't the quality of the A/D converter in his RME ADI-2 Pro FS set the “limit” and “color” the recordings of the signal coming out of the 3 DACs, and by that introduce some “sameness”?

2. Aren’t the different DACs in all the different systems used to listen to the recordings of the 3 DACs set the “limit” and “color” the sound in their ways, and therefore possibly reduce any differences and introduce “sameness” even further?

Maybe I should visit my local HiFi store and see if I can borrow a Linn Klimax DSM with the Organik DAC for a week, make recordings of my favorite albums with the excellent A/D converter in my Prism Sound Titan, and with that make my Linn Akurate DSM with the Katalyst DAC sound like the Linn Klimax DSM.

I fear that we are drifting too much OT (my fault). Are there any threads for audibility and/or streaming?

 

[Roland68]

Great performance!

It's a shame almost nobody make multichannel devices with such features and level of performance at a realistic price.

This realistic price always results from the quantity that can be sold. For each device, you have an amount that has to be paid from the lead time (development time, development costs, company costs, etc.) before you have produced a single device for sale.
For small quantities, this can easily be €/$ 1000 - €2000 per device that has to be added on. For larger quantities, it is only €/$ 30-100.
That is why niche devices are always so expensive and the manufacturers are often wrongly suspected of charging too much money.
Apart from that, the risk is much greater and many manufacturers do not want to take it. The development effort for a multi-channel device would be much greater, the costs much higher, the number of units much smaller and the device price would not be less than €/$ 4000-5000 but probably more like over 6000.
Would you buy it for that?

 

[JakeK]

So you want it to be a NAS as well?

The point is that it can be the NAS for all your music as well isn't it? That's what I assumed the ability to add NVME drives to it is for. If it can't stream or at least serve music files to other players then it has less use for me.

 

[Rottmannash]

Well the Denon has optical in. I have all the internal amps turned off and use outboard Purifi. But I'm pretty sure I have read that using an outboard DAC won't help because the Denon is still going to process it through its own DAC before outputting for amplification. I think for people using receivers something like a Wiim it's probably about as good as it gets.

Would a RCA level signal from the A8 be routed through an AVR's DAC if one used "Direct" mode which bypasses DSP?

 

[Rottmannash]

You don’t have to use a PC or NAS with it, you can simply add internal storage 4TB to the A-8, Wiim doesn’t ‘beat’ as streamers they sound identical, just ta question of features.
I use mine with Roon which is undoubtedly the best playback software I have used.
Keith

I have the A6 and plugged a 2 TB SSD into the USB input and that works just as well.

 

[AudioSceptic]

The point is that it can be the NAS for all your music as well isn't it? That's what I assumed the ability to add NVME drives to it is for. If it can't stream or at least serve music files to other players then it has less use for me.

I know what you mean. I assumed that this is so it can be an all-in-one *player*, but if it can also serve (be "seen" by) other devices, so much the better.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

…Wiim doesn’t ‘beat’ as streamers they sound identical, just ta question of features.

I was about to say that, in this case surely the WiiM wins, due to subwoofer out and bass management.

However, the Eversolo has balanced outs.

Trying to be as objective as possible, I suspect there are more people with subwoofers, who’d benefit most from the WiiM, tgan there are with ground loops, which require the Eversolo’s balanced outs.

In addition, the WiiM can output to a DAC with balanced outs (if you don’t already have one, which uf we’re discussing this, you probably have) only takes the WiiM up to less that $500.

But I’m happy for anyone else to note a flaw in my logic.

Analogue input performance, maybe? Phono stage, perhaps? Both can be health with by adding an external ADC and/or phono stage, I suppose.

 

[Purité Audio]

It really just a question of features that you require, thankfully sota is available inexpensively.
Keith

 

[Raxumit]

For people worrying about longevity of supported app, avoid using them! This is why I advocate for "push streaming" such as how Roon works. The streamer then becomes a simple endpoint. As long as that protocol remains the same, the device will not be obsoleted. In contrast, using the local app relies on that app being around ("pull streaming"). This is why I waited to review the DMP-A8 until it had Roon support.

I'd like to see Eversolo support LMS as Wiim has done. There should be ample horsepower on an Android device to run Squeezelite. As I once pointed out on a Wiim forum, the engineering necessary to support LMS is modest compared to the user base it makes accessible, it's surely going to be a financial win for any streaming device manufacturer.