Eversolo DMP-A8 Balanced Streamer/DAC Review

[Salt]

If one could here it, I'm out for that

But besides, look at Amir's tests and you will recognize, that ultrasonic is filtered by setting a fitting filter, or is not, if filter is set to not.
What problem?

 

[Spyerx]

This comment from another review site. What is he talking about Ultra sonic noise?

Bollox and nothing? I didnt see that in any measured results from Amir, stereophile, etc. And i don’t know about you but i have pretty good ears and know i cannot hear 20k hz +.

And I certainly don’t hear any issues in my a6 or a8. Listening to the a8 right now with some Ornette coleman streamed off Apple Music at 44.1k lossless and it sounds really, really good.

 

[Salt]

A6 & A8?
Just curious...

 

[Spyerx]

A6 & A8?
Just curious...

In my office i have an old BAT Integrated amp (VK-300xSE) that I just had fully serviced by BAT, running some small harbeth p3esr xd speakers. I use the A6 as the source. I’d bought the A6 as an experiement to see if a streamer would work for me, really liked the device, features, and software.

When A8 was released i put that on my main system (luxman 509x integrated amp and harbeth 30.2xd speakers, yeah i like harbeth sound). I ditched my benchmark dac3, mac digital source and just use the a8 for digital now. I also have a vinyl front end. The A8 does everything i need for all various digital sources (mostly Apple Music lossless/high resolution and about 2500 or so CDs ripped lossless and stored on an internal 2TB ssd). It’s super easy to control and manage via my iPad or iPhone.

The latest update makes mixing and matching what you’re playing via the playlists really easy.

 

[danity_project]

Can anyone confirm that, when connected to a TV using HDMI ARC / eARC, can the TV remove control the volume of this unit? The unit is not advertising HDMI CEC compliance, but I'm never clear on if that is required for the volume control if ARC is supported. Sounds like sometimes with eARC this is possible?

 

[jiji]

Wondering how to connect a sub woofer to Ever solo A8? IF i select both XLR & RCA out, then the EQ will be same for both? If that is the case how the crossover will work for subs?
May be a minidsp can help for RCA out and then implement the x-over for subs?
ps - I'm not interested to send the RCA signals to sub RCA input etc.

Anyone have implemented sub using minidsp in eversolo a8?

 

[Purité Audio]

Yes RCA / XLR but you will need the sub to have built in eq.
Keith

 

[jiji]

ok thanks, in that case I will route the sub through mini DSP, since I don't have an inbuilt eq in my subs.
This is same as you mentioned, but minidsp will act as a front end eq.

 

[danity_project]

Can anyone confirm that, when connected to a TV using HDMI ARC, can the TV remove control the volume of this unit? The unit is not HDMI CEC compliant, but I'm never clear on if that is required for the volume control if ARC is supported.

I found someone talking about this a bit here, and it sounds like there's a problem with going below 50% volume using the HDMI eARC volume controls from the TV.

Anyone else experience this? And if so - could you modify the volume range in the device settings to help with this?

 

[steveoat87]

Hi Mirror, I tried both RAW and Auto and still having problems playing multichannel DSD for Roon Ready. No difference at all between the two settings.

Hi Mirror. I was able to fix the problem with playing multichannel dsd files for Roon Ready. Apparently, when I first set up roon the settings didn't take. I disabled and re-enabled the settings and am now able to play multichannel dsf. However, now I have another problem. While I am able to play multichannel dsf files via Roon, when I try to play multichannel flac files. I am getting predominantly loud white noise. Is there anything I should change in the settings to correct this?

 

[Doc_Octopus]

This comment from stereophile A8 review site. What is he talking about Ultrasonic noise? Subjective by all accounts!!!! No testing has revealed this to be an issue.

Is the reviewer a schnauzer?

 

[rocknroll]

I am looking forward to seeing how the soon to be released (November) Node Icon compares to the A8.

https://www.audioadvice.com/bluesound-node-icon-reference-music-streamer

 

[REK2575]

I've seen a few YouTube reviews (yes, from the usual suspects) claiming that the A8's audio performance is noticeably better than the A6's.

I get that there may be very subtle differences in how the A8 and A6 sound, based on their different DAC chips (AKM vs. ESS), and that one might prefer the sound of the A8 to the A6. But does the claim that the A8 offers much superior sound to the the A6 really hold up? "The A8 may cost more than twice the price of the A6, but the upgrade in sound alone is totally worth it" is the gist of a lot of these reviews.

 

[staticV3]

But does the claim that the A8 offers much superior sound to the the A6 really hold up? "The A8 may cost more than twice the price of the A6, but the upgrade in sound alone is totally worth it" is the gist of a lot of these reviews.

It's their claims, they'll have to provide evidence.

No evidence -> waste of time.

 

[Purité Audio]

I've seen a few YouTube reviews (yes, from the usual suspects) claiming that the A8's audio performance is noticeably better than the A6's.

I get that there may be very subtle differences in how the A8 and A6 sound, based on their different DAC chips (AKM vs. ESS), and that one might prefer the sound of the A8 to the A6. But does the claim that the A8 offers much superior sound to the the A6 really hold up? "The A8 may cost more than twice the price of the A6, but the upgrade in sound alone is totally worth it" is the gist of a lot of these reviews.

There isn’t any difference in SQ.
Keith

 

[Jole]

I have read on zidoo forum, there are requests from many people with chord.. accuphase..benchmark.. etc..mainly expensive dacs who ask evo support to insert their dacs info to evosound in order to stream dsd via USB to their external dacs. Roon - Evosound - chord dave for example....

 

[Purité Audio]

Generally listeners never compare unsighted or level matched, then when you add cognitive bias, which the vast majority of the industry will never mention, differences are perceived which in reality do not exist.
Keith

 

[Spyerx]

I have both units, if i get some time this week I’ll hook them up via balanced inputs on my luxman integrated, play the same file played at the same time on repeat off the internal ssd, and see if i can hear a difference. I have a mic and software i can use to level match them, so I only have to switch inputs. Maybe will level match using the A6 as baseline and then adjust the A8 (I dunno, digital vs. analog volume??) I’m not sure I will be able to hear it… they both sound really good to me.

 

[Spyerx]

I have read on zidoo forum, there are requests from many people with chord.. accuphase..benchmark.. etc..mainly expensive dacs who ask evo support to insert their dacs info to evosound in order to stream dsd via USB to their external dacs. Roon - Evosound - chord dave for example....

First think i did was stick my benchmark dac3 in a drawer when I got the A8.

 

[EJ3]

My 1 (one) beef (and for me, it's a big one): the absence of DSP on analog input.
If it had that, I would be willing to pay a bit more & buy it. But since it doesn't, I won't be buying it.
We
I'll see what in between now & Jan 1. Hopefully something will pop up that has that feature. I can't do it now, as I won't get any more income until after Jan 1.