EverSolo Z8 DAC & Amp Review

[Bleib]

Subjective review

 

[delta76]

I'm not wanting to bring on the trolls - crikey I cannot understand what they are trying to achieve. A genuine review of a genuine product.

But I'll ask my question again but in a more general way - would this DAC benfit (and many others too) from using a quality Linear Power Supply. If yes, why?

I am pretty sure @amirm tested this with simply plugged it in an ordinary power outlet. Even if a quality Linear Power Supply helps to improve it (it does not), then any improvements are already out of audibility.

 

[rozel]

I doubt it would benefit from a quality linear supply. Any improvements in the dc output would be inaudible since the numbers are already great.
We need to stop this line of inquiry, as it's another snake oil point of sales. Lots of companies sell very expensive linear power supplies that offer no benefit to the end user, just profits to the manufacturer.

Amir, thanks for another review.

Thank you for a constructive response, much appreciated. This was and still is my own view but your knowledge far outweighs my own - cheers

 

[rozel]

I am pretty sure @amirm tested this with simply plugged it in an ordinary power outlet. Even if a quality Linear Power Supply helps to improve it (it does not), then any improvements are already out of audibility.

Thanks, again much appreciated.

 

[JayGilb]

Thanks, again much appreciated.

If a SMPS output dc is clean and does not droop when the supply is pushed to maximum output, then there is no reason to think a linear supply would make an audible improvement.

 

[prerich]

It's got a mobile phone control app as well.

Quick google shows some colours on the vu meters on the display on some of the images and no colours on the display on some of the images! So I assume it's configurable?

Wow!!!!! Love it!!!! Bravo Zulu....well done!!!!!!!

 

[D700]

VU Meters? Well hot damn.

 

[MuadDib]

Thanks amir for the review. And the M500 MK3 slightly loses to the Z8 when choosing a purchase

 

[uwotm8]

Seems an amazing product for me. The only "meh" is HP power output but its behavior is perfect, I mean no issues with low impedance such as Verum 1 planar magnetic cans.
Just amazing.

 

[Yasuo]

Gret. Performance + design. My latest obsession - huge OLED frontal display which allows skins and/or VU meters - it's almost like changing the "hardware" digitally...

 

[BostonJack]

Absolutely great stuff, sorry to be that party breaker, seeing this manufacturer just come out of the left field like that with such performance, makes me wonder how much of a matured and solved thing ESS reference design are at this point. Like, did anybody managed to really mess it up on a standard dac? Is it even possible if you just follow the instructions? Did we see any dac with that chip perform significantly less good. Are we at a point where just about anybody can do that and not achieving these number you would have to be really careless and incompetent? Just wondering, are there actual exemples?

I'm talking through my hat here (a bit, as I don't know the company): BUT, the reference designs are likely very performative if they are placed on PCBs with proper shielding, grounding, and signal integrity techniques which is an art form (almost). If the company's EE's are experienced in those areas with RF modems or similar equipment design experience and have proper lab instruments (RF spectrum analyzers, perhaps relectometers) and sophisticated signal integrity analysis software, then BINGO a good result is very likely.

RF design to high SNR requires care in layout, launch points, and component selection.

Given the high bus speeds of modern computer equipment, a lot of those considerations apply in that field.

TL;DR Signal integrity and board layout are a lot of the game and the tools and techniques are well known (but not cheap to apply).

 

[heraldo_jones]

Gorgeous design, great DAC performance ... an then that weak hp amp??????? I can't undeerstand.

 

[Veri]

Gorgeous design, great DAC performance ... an then that weak hp amp??????? I can't undeerstand.

Amp is just an add-on. It will just bottom out before clipping or distorting though so for sensitive headphones it will work, for greedy ones it will just not sound loud. No "bad" behaviour to be seen. Maybe you would expect more for the price though...

 

[sarumbear]

OK, one more wish: a spectrum analyzer in addition to VU meters!

With peak hold indicators and I replace my Topping D90SE

 

[sarumbear]

Gorgeous design, great DAC performance ... an then that weak hp amp??????? I can't undeerstand.

Would it be a bad device if it didn’t have a HP output?

 

[Gio]

Subjective review

I love Topping instead, who makes "no-frills" products.

 

[bkdc]

Wow. USB-C! LOL. The Z6 looks nice and my ears couldn’t tell the difference.

 

[maxxevv]

Do you have exemples of early ES9038 Pro implementations that did not extract top performance.

Here's one. A dual chipped one no less ....

Review and Measurements of Weiliang Audio 2019 DC300 DAC

Previously I saw someone in this thread @Kane1972 requesting a measurement of Weiliang Audio 2019 DC300 DAC.The device is easy to purchase in China and is guaranteed an unconditional refund. So I ordered one from Taobao for measurement. The manufacturer is known in China for selling many...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[GWolfman]

OK, one more wish: a spectrum analyzer in addition to VU meters!

Don’t go easy @amirm, we want PEQ too!

 

[Veri]

Here's one. A dual chipped one no less ....

Review and Measurements of Weiliang Audio 2019 DC300 DAC

Previously I saw someone in this thread @Kane1972 requesting a measurement of Weiliang Audio 2019 DC300 DAC.The device is easy to purchase in China and is guaranteed an unconditional refund. So I ordered one from Taobao for measurement. The manufacturer is known in China for selling many...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Ahh yes the infamous Weiliang