EverSolo Z8 DAC & Amp Review

[voodooless]

You don’t need another DAC, you need EQ for your headphones. It seems like you like processed sound better than the plain and honest rendering. Nothing wrong with that,

In fact:

I tested with HD800s and utopia 2022 , both just sound sad and empty.

They both need to be EQ'ed to sound good. Please test here with your favorite headphones: https://autoeq.app/ (and make sure to disable any additional processing)

 

[lasagnemonster]

As of yesterday Im a happy owner of this Z8 dac in my desktop setup. Coupled with the xDuoo TA 20 plus. All I can say that I think I can hear Jesus Christ talkiing to me.

Eversolo DAC Z8 can be happily run solo(uhu) aswell. Enough power to run dynamic low impedance modern headphones with its amp section, ran my Hifiman Edition XS even.

I dont think I'll be upgrading this quickly. I am at peace and no buyers remorse present. Cheers to everyone & to Amirm

 

[sbronf]

You are joking, right?!?!?

I was just asking

 

[sbronf]

È solo un ingresso digitale (USB).


.....no, nessuna differenza nel suono.

Thank you

 

[Airofly]

Good afternoon, is it worth changing my rotel a12 mkii to this dac? I listen to genelec g tree and use my rotel as a dac. Will there be an increase in sound if you replace it with the eversolo z8

 

[voodooless]

Will there be an increase in sound if you replace it with the eversolo z8

Probably not. Buy it if you need the features.

 

[Airofly]

Probably not. Buy it if you need the features.

Thanks for the quick response. There are enough functions in rotel and it is reliable.

 

[restorer-john]

There are enough functions in rotel and it is reliable.

It can be hard to resist "shiny new things" early in your Hi-Fi journey, but trust me, you will be better off if you buy sensibly (like the classic Rotel you already have), use and enjoy each purchase for many, many years before committing to something new.

 

[voodooless]

classic Rotel

Is an almost 3-year-old model already classic nowadays?

 

[Airofly]

Oh, yes, we live in an amazing time, the guys from China, every month they make a new device for us, more screens, more sockets. At the same time, they are all the same. Thank you for your advice, you stopped me from wasting money chasing ghosts)

 

[Airofly]

Is an almost 3-year-old model already classic nowadays?

Given China's speed in hi-fi release, this rotel is already vintage)

 

[VintageFlanker]

Oh, yes, we live in an amazing time, the guys from China, every month they make a new device for us, more screens, more sockets

Not sure I would call this situation "amazing" at all...

My two cents.

 

[restorer-john]

Is an almost 3-year-old model already classic nowadays

Rotel's amplifier design topologies are essentially unchanged from the early 1990s. Sure, features, D/As and frills are added, but the 'guts' are the same. Classic to me.

 

[voodooless]

Rotel's amplifier design topologies are essentially unchanged from the early 1990s. Sure, features, D/As and frills are added, but the 'guts' are the same. Classic to me.

Except that with a Genelec speaker, all he'll be using is the DACs and frills added

 

[Airofly]

Except that with a Genelec speaker, all he'll be using is the DACs and frills added

Yes, it works as a dac, I can't find official information about what exactly is in it, it's just said everywhere that it's texas instruments. So I thought maybe there's something better in terms of sound.

 

[lasagnemonster]

This Rotel looks sweet too. Get your hands on a demo Z8, compare. If you can hear a massive upgrade then go for it, the unit alone is sweet to interact with or look at even. But youd need an amp to couple it with. So you might be the only person to learn how these 2 devices gonna sound.

 

[Jimster480]

This Rotel looks sweet too. Get your hands on a demo Z8, compare. If you can hear a massive upgrade then go for it, the unit alone is sweet to interact with or look at even. But youd need an amp to couple it with. So you might be the only person to learn how these 2 devices gonna sound.

I would imagine they both sound the same as the device measured here is transparent.

 

[gjm]

Oh, yes, we live in an amazing time, the guys from China, every month they make a new device for us, more screens, more sockets. At the same time, they are all the same. Thank you for your advice, you stopped me from wasting money chasing ghosts)

I'd not describe buying a Z8 as wasting money... It's a superb piece of kit and in terms of function, features and performance, probably knocks the Rotel into next week.
Does it sound 'better' to you? That's a whole other question. I recently heard a slightly modified EAD DSP9000 in a tube-powered system, playing through Infinity RS2b speakers. That sounded absolutely amazing, but there wasn't a component in the system less than 25 years old.

Of course, no 25 year old DAC is going to provided DSD, and most won't touch anything in resolution higher than redbook. You'd need other kit or software to do that.

Caveat - I have a Z8. It is a fabulous piece of kit.

 

[Jimster480]

I'd not describe buying a Z8 as wasting money... It's a superb piece of kit and in terms of function, features and performance, probably knocks the Rotel into next week.
Does it sound 'better' to you? That's a whole other question. I recently heard a slightly modified EAD DSP9000 in a tube-powered system, playing through Infinity RS2b speakers. That sounded absolutely amazing, but there wasn't a component in the system less than 25 years old.

Of course, no 25 year old DAC is going to provided DSD, and most won't touch anything in resolution higher than redbook. You'd need other kit or software to do that.

Caveat - I have a Z8. It is a fabulous piece of kit.

Well the key takeaway is that most of these devices are good. So you can buy one that you like, or buy multiples to fit in different places with different needs and then you should be done unless something comes out that has a feature you WANT to have.
I have a Topping EX5 which I am currently listening to here on my 2nd desk, my main desk has a D70S Feeding a THXAAA 789 & a Geshelli Archel3 Pro.
I have my old DX7 which will be setup in my bedroom in the near future... I replaced it after 7 years of use because I broke the USB input messing around with cables behind my desk...

 

[lasagnemonster]

Personally Im hyped over this Eversolo Z8. Upgraded from an Aune X1S Ive been rocking for like 5 years. Tried a dozen different solutions within the price range. Got the Eversolo DMP A6 Masters for my living room... plugged it into my desktop setup once and thats how I ended up with the Z8. I like that sound.
Eversolo + xDuoo TA20 plus is my desktop reference now. Gotten a sweet deal from my "dealer" and told myself this is it... for now. Theres not much else out there for the money unless you can get some nice gear from your respective domestic market.
I think if you have already exhausted the options just wait for novelties. The chinese are getting better and better at it competition is tight. And thats good for us.