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Eversolo DMP-A8 Balanced Streamer/DAC Review

Rate this streamer/DAC/Preamp:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 5 1.2%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 12 2.9%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 79 18.9%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 321 77.0%

  • Total voters
    417
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?
The problem there is that it takes a LOT of negative findings on well run experiments to give statistical confidence to no difference. And as more and more companies figure out how to do it right the cost of getting "too good" keeps going down, so there's really no reason not to.
 
Is there any chance we will experience app problems in future because android becomes outdated?
Why would it stop being able to do what it currently does? "out of date" os only affects your ability to install new general-purpose software onto the device. It doesn't stop it from doing what it already does.
 
Android is based on Linux ... is based on Unix ....
Basically one can adapt the 'firmware', that is drivers and apps, very individually to the hardware, as far as drivers and/or API for all components an programms are available. Then you can just 'Make' a fitting Kernel for the hardware and are done.
That's what most hardware firmware is (except my Philips ultrasone, it's based on Win Home 98 :facepalm:)
 
Others say it's possible to plug the amp into either XLR or RCA and subwoofer into the other one - that could work, but since there's no HPF / LPF separation on the A8, would it even be worth it (perhaps some specific subwoofers would work better with that)?
IMO, yes. In that case you'd be running your main speakers full-range and adjusting the sub's crossover control to blend with the natural bass roll-off of your mains.

Doing it this way, you'd lose the ability to adjust the crossover frequency since that's dictated by the mains, and you won't be able to take the bass load off them for potentially cleaner playback.

Still, you'd gain better low frequency extension all the same.

Or is there a way to take the signal from the A8 and move it through some sort of box that'd do the filtering before redistributing to power amp and subwoofer? My head is spinning - I'd love some help!
You could do A8->Digital->miniDSP->Sub&Amp and program the filtering and bass management into the miniDSP.

That would mean completely bypassing the A8's built-in DAC and Preamp, so those would've been purchased for naught.

1. how would I actually connect this? Does it go from A8 and then a) back to A8 -> amp, b) subwoofer?
A8->Toslink/SPDIF->miniDSP->RCA/XLR->Sub+Amp
 
See for example here.
the dev tools don't disappear when a new version comes out. You can still update the software the same way you made it before the next version came out.

It's only if you need to integrate with things that require newer versions. And that's true no matter what platform you're on. Has nothing to do with android.

Newer android versions just stop you from loading arbitrary third party software that has no interesting older verions.
 
I'm looking to replace my NAD C658 (which is currently my streamer and preamp). I'm tempted by the DMP-A8. Is it the best choice for under $10k or would a dedicated streamer + separate preamp be better? Perhaps with the Wiim ultra for streaming?
 
You can hook up one or two subs either via XLR or RCA outs. Unfortunately when you apply a filter it goes to all outputs. So you cant apply a high pass filter to the mains without it also going to the subs. I really hope they fix this with a firmware update if possible. As its stands now all you can do is send a full range signal to the speakers and subs and use the low pass filter on the sub. I would be great if you could apply a filters to XLR and RCA outs independently.
Thanks for the info. I had been wondering if I could use subwoofers with this as well. So, is that what the XLR/RCA setting is for? So both outputs are active at the same time?
 
Why would it stop being able to do what it currently does? "out of date" os only affects your ability to install new general-purpose software onto the device. It doesn't stop it from doing what it already does.
The big issue in the future might be security concerns when Google stops supporting the current Android system. If you don't connect it to the internet then you will be fine but then what is then the meaning of a device like this. And if you do not care about security concerns then it is also not relevant.

I wish Eversolo could come out and say if they intend to upgrade to a newer Android version if/when Google stops supporting the current one.
 
For me, a system based on Android would never be an option. The years go by far too quickly.
 
The big issue in the future might be security concerns when Google stops supporting the current Android system. If you don't connect it to the internet then you will be fine but then what is then the meaning of a device like this. And if you do not care about security concerns then it is also not relevant.

I wish Eversolo could come out and say if they intend to upgrade to a newer Android version if/when Google stops supporting the current one.
okay, but what about some other system that doesn't get upgrades ever? It feels like people are putting requirements on this amp that they don't have for others.
 
For me, a system based on Android would never be an option. The years go by far too quickly.
How do you determine if other options are acceptable? How would you know if they are even mildly secure right now, much less in the future?

Feels like people are creating higher standards for this device vs others. I'll take something that's a known quantity that isn't perfect vs an unknown quantity.
 
okay, but what about some other system that doesn't get upgrades ever? It feels like people are putting requirements on this amp that they don't have for others.
I don't think hackers will target proprietary software the same way as a widely used operating system to steal user data, probably because it is to small amount of data to steal. And the "hackers" will not target Eversolo per se but the outdated Android system if a bug is found and Google have stopped supporting it with patches.

I have nothing against Eversolo on the opposite! I am looking to upgrade my system and the DMP-A8 popped up as it had the functionality I wanted, and I would probably buy one if Eversolo would came out and say something about their plans to upgrade the Android version they are running.

If I understand Eversolo A6 (A8, A10?) uses Android 11 and end of live for it was last year 05 Feb 2024. So for me this is unfortunately a no go unless they upgrade Android version.
 
I don't think hackers will target proprietary software the same way as a widely used operating system to steal user data, probably because it is to small amount of data to steal. And the "hackers" will not target Eversolo per se but the outdated Android system if a bug is found and Google have stopped supporting it with patches.

I have nothing against Eversolo on the opposite! I am looking to upgrade my system and the DMP-A8 popped up as it had the functionality I wanted, and I would probably buy one if Eversolo would came out and say something about their plans to upgrade the Android version they are running.

If I understand Eversolo A6 (A8, A10?) uses Android 11 and end of live for it was last year 05 Feb 2024. So for me this is unfortunately a no go unless they upgrade Android version.
no matter what version they upgrade it to it will eventually go EOL. And it's not like IoT devices aren't targeted all the time -- there's NO standard for security in those devices, unlike an EoL android that actually had one.

If you're worried about android devices then you need to worry way more about random IoT things and put them on VLANS. And if you're doing that you can just vlan off your eversolo and be at least as secure.
 
no matter what version they upgrade it to it will eventually go EOL. And it's not like IoT devices aren't targeted all the time -- there's NO standard for security in those devices, unlike an EoL android that actually had one.

If you're worried about android devices then you need to worry way more about random IoT things and put them on VLANS. And if you're doing that you can just vlan off your eversolo and be at least as secure.
I do worry about everything security wise! Probably why I investigated the product I was interested in.

And I am not worried in the Android system, I actually like it runs on Android, not just the fact it uses an end of life version.
 
A setting that does not need a internet (streaming) connection but only streams from local media could not be affected, except imported malware via firmware update (via USB). And that is independend from net-connection.
 
I'm almost bought A6, as my first ever streamer, price was good, about 450€, but after that I've realised, that after I gonna upgrade lpsu, which 200+€, and then I gonna buy better external dac, I guess 600+€ and then... A8 for 1350€. Think it can be good source and dac for a long time. Am I right? Building a budget friendly set-up, for now i have only Buchardt i150 amp. Planning Buchardt S400MK2 speakers, maybe SVS micro 3000 sub...
 
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