Eversolo DMP-A8 Balanced Streamer/DAC Review

[jiji]

I'm facing a strange issues with V 1. 4.32 in my DMP A8 . All my playlist was vanished today. There were around 15 playlist I had until yesterday evening. Now only one playlist is visible. This doesn't sounds good, as I need to recreate all the playlist from the scratch now. ( I tried restarting 3 times, but it doesn't help). Don't know if anyone experience the same?
Also files in the library are missing sometimes , and then coming back after restarting.

 

[jiji]

Today i tried to do my FIR again in A8 and found if only using L and R sweping seperately, then the response is flat from 12 to 20kHz, but if i tried to sweep L+R combined, then it seems to be from 12 to 20 KHZ, its rolling off slowly. Don't know why? It doesn't seems to be cancelling out, but rolling off only in combined L+R response. Any suggessions why? May be due to independent eq selection?

 

[kumizi]

Today i tried to do my FIR again in A8 and found if only using L and R sweping seperately, then the response is flat from 12 to 20kHz, but if i tried to sweep L+R combined, then it seems to be from 12 to 20 KHZ, its rolling off slowly. Don't know why? It doesn't seems to be cancelling out, but rolling off only in combined L+R response. Any suggessions why? May be due to independent eq selection?

I found the same thing when doing L+R measurements unless the UMIK is exactly in the middle/equidistant to the left and right speakers, measured by a laser. If I just eyeball it, the L+R rolls off a lot.

 

[Stereoed]

Hello, is here anybody who knows the output impedance of the preamp of the Eversolo A8.

It is important to choose the right poweramp.
Thanks

 

[Purité Audio]

Your choice of power amp is determined by your choice or loudspeaker.
Keith

 

[Crash Alpha]

Something so well equipped and no sub out? too bad, that's a deal breaker for me.

 

[ProgRockin]

I have used REW and Equalizer APO to apply DSP on my stereo and workstation studio monitors successfully but I am struggling to understand how the AMP-8 handles FIR filters and gain on my dad's setup. I've generated left and right .wav files, 32-bit floating point, 2k taps, and they do not apply any gain, only remove db. I have confirmed this in Equalizer APO. However, when importing to the Eversolo, they show almost +15db gain and we are getting clipping. We already have headroom issues so I'm trying to remove as little gain as possible in the DSP settings, but I do not know exactly how much to remove. It looks like the Eversolo is finding the "midpoint" of the gain on the FIR filter and calling that 0db, any ideas how the Eversolo is handling this?

 

[Eulipian]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Eversolo DMP-A8 balanced DAC, Streamer, HDMI ARC, and Analog/digital Preamplifier with DSP support. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $1,980.
View attachment 381739
The DMP-A8 is stylish and functional in every sense of the words. Running Android with a high-speed processor, navigation is smooth and very rich. I am assuming the same CPU is used for DSP implementation of equalization, delay and compression as it works for all inputs (output must be analog however). The usual App is provided for the control but I was disappointed that a hard remote was not. Back panel shows the very rich connectivity:

View attachment 381741

Really, I can't think of a thing that is missing there. The DMP-A8 can easily be the heart of a modern system with support for legacy analog inputs as well.

Volume control provides excellent channel matching courtesy of stepped relay control.

Beauty extends to the insides:
View attachment 381744

There are many features available such as per input volume preset.

The unit was sent to me many months ago but I wanted to review it when Roon was implemented and it is now.

If you are not familiar with measurements that are about to follow, please watch my tutorial:

Eversolo DMP-A8 Digital Measurements
I streamed my reference test signal over Ethernet from Roon, capturing balanced output:
View attachment 381743

This is within shouting distance of state of the art stand-alone DACs:
View attachment 381746
View attachment 381747

Surprisingly, there is no hit to using RCA output:
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There is a slight difference in dynamic range however:
View attachment 381750

Performance gets a bit better if you crank up the volume to max:
View attachment 381751

Multitone performance is superb:
View attachment 381752

As is linearity:
View attachment 381753

Jitter is nearly so and is input independent:
View attachment 381754

IMD vs level shows a slight rise in noise in mid-level but it is inconsequential:
View attachment 381755
Looking at the spectrum (not shown), noise floor moved up just a hair at -37 dB.
Driving an unrealistically low impedance of 600 Ohm doesn't bother the A8 at all:
View attachment 381756

Nor does it care what frequency you throw at it:
View attachment 381758

The DAC in use is AKM and we have the usual set of filters available:
View attachment 381759
View attachment 381760

Eversolo DMP-A8 Analog Preamplifier Measurements
I stayed with XLR input and output to keep the measurement set manageable. I selected volume control at 0 dB (it allows excursion well above that):
View attachment 381761
Wow! I was not expecting this. This is amazing performance. I thought it is digitizing the input but it is not (which sadly means DSP is not available for it either).

Across every measurement, performance is superb:
View attachment 381762
View attachment 381763

Reducing level to just 50 mv still provides excellent dynamic range:
View attachment 381764

That good noise performance translates into IMD vs level as well:
View attachment 381766

Making sure nothing bad happens when volume is reduced, here it is at -10 dB:
View attachment 381765

Crosstalk is superb:
View attachment 381768

And no frequency dependency:
View attachment 381769

Conclusions
In just about every area you look at, the DMP-A8 brings class leading performance combined with functionality that is not available elsewhere. All is put together in an elegant packaging with extensibility and openness of the Android OS. Critical features such as equalization and compression are provided. The only misses are lack of included hard remote and absence of DSP on analog input. The latter does translate into better performance than any digitizing analog preamp.

It is with my absolute pleasure to recommend the Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer and DAC. It is expensive but just doesn't get better than this folks.

------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Very late to the party here, but I assume this requires analog input to be a line levels? Thanks.

[EDIT]: Yes, it requires a phono preamp according to mfr.

 

[anthonymoody]

For current owners: would you place the A8 in an enclosed cabinet? There'd be some space around it (a few inches each side) along with an AppleTV next to it. Problem?

 

[Roland68]

For current owners: would you place the A8 in an enclosed cabinet? There'd be some space around it (a few inches each side) along with an AppleTV next to it. Problem?

It's never a good idea to place a device that consumes power and generates heat in a closed cabinet. Air circulation is recommended. Without testing it in your cabinet, no one can make a relevant statement. Test it freestanding and after several hours in the cabinet and measure the case temperature each time.

The device can overheat, resulting in malfunctions or premature failure, as well as significantly increased aging. Excessively high temperatures, especially in summer, are significantly worse.

 

[anthonymoody]

It's never a good idea to place a device that consumes power and generates heat in a closed cabinet. Air circulation is recommended. Without testing it in your cabinet, no one can make a relevant statement. Test it freestanding and after several hours in the cabinet and measure the case temperature each time.

The device can overheat, resulting in malfunctions or premature failure, as well as significantly increased aging. Excessively high temperatures, especially in summer, are significantly worse.

Reasonable, thanks.

Also, is the Airplay old Airplay or Airplay 2 please?

 

[Bob101]

It's never a good idea to place a device that consumes power and generates heat in a closed cabinet. Air circulation is recommended. Without testing it in your cabinet, no one can make a relevant statement. Test it freestanding and after several hours in the cabinet and measure the case temperature each time.

The device can overheat, resulting in malfunctions or premature failure, as well as significantly increased aging. Excessively high temperatures, especially in summer, are significantly worse.

True. Heat is the number one enmy of electronics. Many people just don't know this. A lot of things have gotten so much more efficient over the last decade(s) that we tend to forget they're never 100 percent efficient, and all the heat, or warmth, they produce should be, if in any way possible, dissipated ASAP just for good practice.

 

[Doc_Octopus]

Reasonable, thanks.

Also, is the Airplay old Airplay or Airplay 2 please?

old

 

[billou5767]

It's never a good idea to place a device that consumes power and generates heat in a closed cabinet. Air circulation is recommended. Without testing it in your cabinet, no one can make a relevant statement. Test it freestanding and after several hours in the cabinet and measure the case temperature each time.

The device can overheat, resulting in malfunctions or premature failure, as well as significantly increased aging. Excessively high temperatures, especially in summer, are significantly worse.

capacitor have lifespan : for exemple un computer psu you have principa composant who have 6000 / 8000 H life at ....105 degres INSIDE

but the psu is warrantie for 10 year because each 5 or 10 degree life is double

i have buy battery backup : its write : above 25 degres 50 % life down for batterie

in closed case .. eversolo not 25 but 50 / 60 in some part : dead in 2 years possible or protection its down

if you look manual its clearly write : operating 0 / 35 en general because it will be 50 /60 inside

 

[Deleted member 87496]

A bit beyond my budget, but I loved this stellar review of a stellar product. Any chance a review of the new, more affordable amp/streamer Eversolo Play is on the horizon? For my budget a compelling possibility. Thanks.

 

[Rottmannash]

A bit beyond my budget, but I loved this stellar review of a stellar product. Any chance a review of the new, more affordable amp/streamer Eversolo Play is on the horizon? For my budget a compelling possibility. Thanks.

Consider the DMP-A6. Less expensive and "transparent". I have one and don't feel the need to run the signal through an outboard DAC-matter of fact can't determine when it's running through the D90 SE or through the internal DAC.

 

[Deleted member 87496]

Consider the DMP-A6. Less expensive and "transparent". I have one and don't feel the need to run the signal through an outboard DAC-matter of fact can't determine when it's running through the D90 SE or through the internal DAC.

Thanks for the suggestion. I like the Play because it simplifies and streamlines my system with its amp, decent dac, and built-in cd player. It apparently has a good phono preamp (should I wish to dust off my old records) and good bass management. And I think it looks gorgeous, but all the Eversolo pieces do. There's a couple of reviews out on the Play but they don't include objective measurements. I'll have to ask Erin on FB if he plans a review...he's good at responding to inquires. Thanks, again, I appreciate it.

 

[Deleted member 87496]

Reserved for @AdamG to add the specs.

Manufacturer Specifications:

View attachment 381824
View attachment 381825

Hi Amir, Thanks for a compelling review about a wonderful product. I'm smitten. It's outside of my budget right now, but the new Eversolo Play is a possibility. Any chance you'll be doing a review of it anytime soon? Thanks. Btw, I appreciate how you begin each review, with your take on the build, aesthetics, etc. I've come to appreciate and highly value those aspects of a component in addition to its audio measurements. It's important to me to feel good and excited about my system in all its facets...well, as many as possible. . Thanks again for all your work and efforts.

 

[djgras]

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.

Use Glasswire to list any use of cn/ China servers.

 

[billou5767]

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.

i ask on facebook eversolo : no response

i buy a wiim amp pro , problem after 3 days , on manual it indicate 3 / 4 years on security patch ... it cold me

i see nothing on eversolo manual on net