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Eversolo DMP-A8 Balanced Streamer/DAC Review

Rate this streamer/DAC/Preamp:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 5 1.3%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 12 3.1%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 74 19.0%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 299 76.7%

  • Total voters
    390
I only correct room gain derived from standing waves, in the minimal phase region, which are generally in the low bass.
The Vinyl medium just can’t handle very low bass, I am always surprised how little bass there is on my old 80s/90s favourites, compared to the contemporary stuff.
Keith
 
That's only 6 yrs away, I don't see $2000 investment in a DAC/streamer as worthy for only a 6yr usage - 6yrs flies pretty fast!

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. :)
 
I seriously didn't expect it to perform this well! this outperforms quite some standalone DACs or Preamps, not to say it's a AIO system
 
I only correct room gain derived from standing waves, in the minimal phase region, which are generally in the low bass.
The Vinyl medium just can’t handle very low bass, I am always surprised how little bass there is on my old 80s/90s favourites, compared to the contemporary stuff.
Keith

Most music productions made for digital formats are still using high-pass filters for filtering out the lowest bass frequencies, so it will not make a significant difference, from a room-correction-view, if your source is a digital file or a vinyl record.
 
Coincidentally, HI Fi News has also published a review their measurements aren’t quite as comprehensive!

Keith
 
Most music productions made for digital formats are still using high-pass filters for filtering out the lowest bass frequencies, so it will not make a significant difference, from a room-correction-view, if your source is a digital file or a vinyl record.
Perhaps try some modern music, I don’t believe Billy Eilish has been filtered.
I don’t really see the point of those ‘hi-end’ eg Linn streamers what a Wiim Pro is as good as it gets, I suppose they give you a warm glow when you see them on the mantelpiece
Keith
 
Perhaps try some modern music, I don’t believe Billy Eilish has been filtered.

I don't have to believe it, I know the Billie Eilish songs use high-pass filters. Just look at the “Normalized average spectrum” window and you can see the dive at different point depending on at what frequency they applied the filters in the songs.

IMG_0053.gif


I don’t really see the point of those ‘hi-end’ eg Linn streamers what a Wiim Pro is as good as it gets, I suppose they give you a warm glow when you see them on the mantelpiece
Keith

I already said it. The point is high-quality build and longevity of updating the products which keep them up to date in the same even if you bought your unit 17 years ago, and they will likely still do so for a long time after Eversolo has abandoned their current product line and jump over to the next. The time will tell, I hope Eversolo has a plan to keep the current line updated and working as intended as long as there are users still using them. If not, these streamers are more expensive than most people realize.
 
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. :)
Did you see Archimago's blind test <https://archimago.blogspot.com/2024/06/high-end-dac-blind-listening-results.html>?

I've got mostly Linn gear, and always liked the look and build. The Klimax products are just too much for me, even used, which is a shame because they look something special and I know they will work for a *long* time.
 
Assuming the pure audio you guys have been quoting is pure direct mode, @nawfal07 is 50% correct:), the fact is, if he uses the RCA output of an external DAC with the Denon's analog input, he could use direct mode, or pure direct mode to bypass the Denon's ADC, DSP, and DAC, but the signal will not bypass the Denon's volume control IC, so even if the external DAC such as the top Eversolo model, the volume IC will limit it to no better than may be around 104 to 106 dB maximum, likely lower.

Based on Amir's measurements though, even in stereo mode, if DSP is not used, not even bass management, the signal will also bypass the ADC/DSP/DAC. That's made it convenient for him to do his tests/measurements but it is a moot point because stereo without any DSP function is effectively direct mode anyway.

It really doesn't matter because even if you feed the Eversolo directly to a power amp, assuming it has it's own volume control, or a super high quality preamp is used, SINAD will still be bottlenecked by the power amp anyone, there isn't too many power amp that can do SINAD better than 106 dB at any output anyway, only the Benchmark AHB2 and a few Hypex, or Purifi based amps (example: Apollon may have one) can achieve that kind of high SINAD.
Thank you, Peng!! (And yes, Pure Direct). Any ise of DSP or Bass management would feed the signal through the Denon DAC though...So if you want DSP and Bass Management with a Denon receiver, best is just something like Wiim to feed the bit perfect signal via Toslink, right?

Does the Eversolo volume remote not work on RCA out?
 
Did you see Archimago's blind test <https://archimago.blogspot.com/2024/06/high-end-dac-blind-listening-results.html>?

I've got mostly Linn gear, and always liked the look and build. The Klimax products are just too much for me, even used, which is a shame because they look something special and I know they will work for a *long* time.

That test is flawed.
If you ask someone who thinks hes got great hearing to compare the same DAC to itself his ego will hear a difference when there is none. The test should have been ABX and the participants should have been asked which 2 samples are the same DAC, in other words first test to see if an actual difference is heard not imagined, which is very likely.

And why the need to quote Stereopile nonsense where price is the only thing that matters. "if you listen with trained ears through topnotch audio systems well set up, it's frankly hard to miss the improvement in sound achieved by expensive DACs "
 
Perhaps try some modern music, I don’t believe Billy Eilish has been filtered.
I don’t really see the point of those ‘hi-end’ eg Linn streamers what a Wiim Pro is as good as it gets, I suppose they give you a warm glow when you see them on the mantelpiece
Keith
I don't see why any music would not be HP filtered. Why add AC rumble and trucks passing the studio in the recording?
 
That test is flawed.
If you ask someone who thinks hes got great hearing to compare the same DAC to itself his ego will hear a difference when there is none. The test should have been ABX and the participants should have been asked which 2 samples are the same DAC, in other words first test to see if an actual difference is heard not imagined, which is very likely.

And why the need to quote Stereopile nonsense where price is the only thing that matters. "if you listen with trained ears through topnotch audio systems well set up, it's frankly hard to miss the improvement in sound achieved by expensive DACs "
Just checking but did you read parts 1 & 2 <https://archimago.blogspot.com/2024/05/part-i-high-end-dac-blind-listening.html> <https://archimago.blogspot.com/2024/05/high-end-dac-blind-listening-results.html>?

I agree that the tests aren't perfect but I feel that they are still useful.
 
Not a good idea at all nowadays I'm afraid - unless you define an update window to run it outside your streaming hours.
I prefer to do updates when/as they are worthy, convenient, both for me and my system.
I am not certain if these settings (below) are user-accessible in all versions of Windows11 -- as they are in Pro/Server editions.
202407_Win11OS-Update.jpg

if OT? I apologize.
 
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. :)
Excellent, I agree! The fact your old streamer is still supported because the company themselves have control over the software "OS" used on it, I think that's fantastic and I think it's a big mark down that this is not the case for the Eversolo A8 being reviewed here given it's high price.
 
Perhaps try some modern music, I don’t believe Billy Eilish has been filtered.
I don’t really see the point of those ‘hi-end’ eg Linn streamers what a Wiim Pro is as good as it gets, I suppose they give you a warm glow when you see them on the mantelpiece
Keith
I wouldn't narrow it to old and new or to what medium is played.
Here's a 70 year old recording going well into 30's :


1721505657643.png

DSP should be a choice in Eversolo's,that's the only weak spot that may have.
 
Thank you, Peng!! (And yes, Pure Direct). Any ise of DSP or Bass management would feed the signal through the Denon DAC though...So if you want DSP and Bass Management with a Denon receiver, best is just something like Wiim to feed the bit perfect signal via Toslink, right?
That is correct, though you can have the basic bass management even in direct mode, i.e. set speaker to small (X4800H don't call it "small" anymore though) and set XO, not sure how that works but it does, and had been confirmed by D+M before, any more than that, just as using Audyssey, it will route the signal to the ADC/DSP/DAC of the AVR. Safest bet is, as you said, go Toslink, and use Audyssey, or Dirac Live and enjoy the DSP functions. The RCA to Denon 's analog and direct/pure direct mode is for the "purist" lol..
Does the Eversolo volume remote not work on RCA out?
I do edit typo: don't own one, read about it before but don't remember if it has volume control and how it works, should all be in the manual though. I don't believe such a high price DAC is needed but that's just me.
 
Last edited:
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