Eversolo T8 Digital Transport!

[grgppsc]

Tidal has many more subscribers than Qubuz so surely Eversolo making sure that the T8 works seamlessly with Tidal is a basic requirement for a streamer especially at that price.

In my group (Qobuz users too), Tidal is also known as having more titles than Qobuz, sound quality being the only theoretical advantage...
My guess is that the "digital output problem" I'm experiencing with T8 and A8 is the same on every Eversolo streamer used as a digital transport only.

Eversolo S/PDIF output problem

Hi there, I have DMP-A8 and now testing T8 (demo unit from my dealer), as digital streaming transports, feeding external DACs and I'm experiencing the following issue with both devices on S/PDIF (coaxial and optical) outputs: - No track is playing exactly from the beginning, 1 or 2 seconds are...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Purité Audio]

Clearly that is not the case, as the T8 outputting digital works fine here, the issue here at least is with Tidal.
Keith

 

[grgppsc]

Clearly that is not the case, as the T8 outputting digital works fine here, the issue here at least is with Tidal.
Keith

I'm only talking about Tidal on any streamer, that being my sole interest!

 

[Purité Audio]

I have tried Tidal here on four ‘streamers’ doesn’t work on any of them.
Keith

 

[grgppsc]

England seems to have a more severe Tidal related problem then. That has nothing to do with Eversolo...
What I'm describing is just a small but annoying streamer problem (just Eversolo), which I can't guarantee it won't happen with other music service like Qobuz or Spotify...

 

[Purité Audio]

If I can get Tidal to work at all, then my Eversolo equipment should display the same faults, if they don’t then the error may be specific to your set-up.
Keith

 

[Thighsofsteel]

I have tried Tidal here on four ‘streamers’ doesn’t work on any of them.
Keith

I am currently listening to Tidal connect via my Lyngdorf MP40, in the UK obviously, Some Dolby Atmos recordings.
Apart from taking two or three attempts to get it connected, works fine.

 

[Soniclife]

I have tried Tidal here on four ‘streamers’ doesn’t work on any of them.
Keith

Tidal works fine here, sounds like a PEBKAC error . Do you have a fancy firewall or VPN in the router?

 

[Purité Audio]

Quboz works fine, exactly the same set-up.
Keith

 

[grgppsc]

If I can get Tidal to work at all, then my Eversolo equipment should display the same faults, if they don’t then the error may be specific to your set-up.
Keith

How many times do I have to repeat myself? It cannot be a set-up related error as long as when using the A8 as a whole (streamer-DAC-pre, network in-analog out), everything works well. I only have the "imprecise/glitchy track start" issue when using an Eversolo as digital transport (A8 or T8, network in-digital out-external DAC in), all with Tidal. Using Tidal Connect and S/PDIF is the worst, Eversolo app and USB is the best but still not perfect as with Node or Wiim. The last has even a "fade in-out" function that spares me of that pinch/clipp when skipping tracks but without losing the very beginning of it...

 

[TTT15]

Suggest trying the Zidoo forum. Hopefully just firmware teething problems which they will rectify.

 

[grgppsc]

Suggest trying the Zidoo forum. Hopefully just firmware teething problems which they will rectify.

First thing I did was to change a few emails with Eversolo customer support and I also gave these links to oficial @eversolo user in here...

 

[grgppsc]

The DAC inputs of the D900 and D90 III discrete do not sound the same with instantaneous switching.
Of course, doing so requires sending the same source to identical DACs, so you need two of them (which I have done).
Roon linked zones is useful synching the sources, that can also require two sources, RPI5/PI2AES and even two Eversolo T8s (yes, I have done this test).

So having done these listening tests, I am absolutely certain that all DAC inputs on the D900 an D90 III Discrete do not sound the same.
Specifically, USB, AES, and I2S sound different. This could be a Topping thing, there is different processing on all these inputs.
This seems perfectly reasonable since nothing is really known about the implementation and there are no measurements comparing them.

But if I am correct, that means that all DACs do not sound the same. A dangerous thought experiment, indeed.
I have put far more effort than most to have valid A/B testing.

If one believes that digital inputs always sound the same, then the it makes sense to subtly deride the T8.

The T8 is a much better experience for Roon that the RPi5/PI2AEs.
The integration with Roon and display, WOL power on, trigger support makes this a great addition to my systems.

There may be environments, where the T8 isolation is beneficial.
This could be tested in a LAB environment but is not tested on ASR.
With no testing of the T8 isolation indicating otherwise, it is certainly possible this product could provide a beneficial in some installations.

- Rich

Hi Rich, is there a way for you to audibly compare the T8 and a Wiim Pro/Plus using the same coaxial S/PDIF on the same DAC? My streamers make the Qutest sound obviously different (broken or not)...

 

[Rewind]

Only 2046 taps for FIR. Why bother, this is just a toy.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Only 2046 taps for FIR. Why bother, this is just a toy.

Exactly which device are you referring to?

 

[Rewind]

Exactly which device are you referring to?

You are right, I was tricked by A.I. It must have meant the Eversolo A8. The T8 does indeed not bother, which I believe was a correct choice if only 2046 taps was gong to be offered. Still waiting for a more powerful FIR to come standard on devices. I would like to try the DEQX, but a bit expensive.

 

[grgppsc]

I wonder what would happen if we also use DSP within T8 or A8, as long as they can't handle anything but RedBook 16/44.1 files properly and they hiccup at the beginning of every hi-res Tidal track (digital transport only). I can also hear minor glitches in the first seconds of playing, repeating it gives me a different story every time...

 

[RichB]

Hi Rich, is there a way for you to audibly compare the T8 and a Wiim Pro/Plus using the same coaxial S/PDIF on the same DAC? My streamers make the Qutest sound obviously different (broken or not)...

If you can stream simultaneously to the both devices, then you can connect them to your DAC and switch inputs.
Since it is digital, there should be no issue with level matching, but make sure both are not attenuating the signal.

- Rich

 

[grgppsc]

If you can stream simultaneously to the both devices, then you can connect them to your DAC and switch inputs.
Since it is digital, there should be no issue with level matching, but make sure both are not attenuating the signal.

- Rich

I already did that but I'm curious if you can also hear the difference.

 

[RichB]

I already did that but I'm curious if you can also hear the difference.

I can hear a difference with Roon -> T8 to the Topping D900 and Topping D90 III discrete DACs.
For this experiment, I had to switch the T8 inputs and the DAC which takes about 5 seconds to get Roon to regain control.

I can also setup a test with two T8s and different inputs with the D900 and instantaneous switching when I have time.
In any event, this is really an observation of these DACs inputs not the transport.

- Rich