One of the best compliments I can give you is that I watch your videos even when I’m not remotely interested in the product being reviewed. And thanks for introducing me to Kings of Convenience as well as so many other artists.
I recently purchased the DMP A6 master edition. While I'm not a big fan of the DAC compared to other options I have at home, I was utterly floored how good the A6 is as a transport / streamer only. Coming from a BlueSound and Wiim, it's a big upgrade as a streamer and transport. The functionality is excellent as well and I do love the interface, but to me the sound quality is #1.
I agree sound quality over features, recently got the A8 to upgrade from the WiiM Pro. I was using the DAC in my integrated (ESS SABER), LAN wired and high $ SPDIF to give the most performance from the WiiM. Using Analog out (A8's DAC's) with nice RCA cables, the A8 is another level up. Also loading my whole uncompressed CD library to the SSD card I installed really makes this a complete digital solution for me (My far bigger investment has been into the turntable/Analog part of my system). Oh yeah, I also upgraded the power cable, probably needless, but I want all my components wiring to match.
Thanks for the review. I agree with your opinion having tried the A8 and returned it quickly since the A8 does many things and ticks many audiophile boxes but simply doesn’t sound audiophile enough when the dac is engaged. It is indeed very soft at the edges and if you like music with attack this is simply not adequate.
What most reviewers dont mention: be careful choosing the DAC filter. If you have a decent resolving set up the differences arent night and day but clearly comrehensible. I ended up at "Slow Roll off" and use the A8 (as the full package:streamer, DAC, preamp) on ADAM Audio S3Hs (plus Sub 12) and couldnt be happier:) It blew away my Linn Majik DSM. But be patient and let the A8 run in for at least 3 full days. Fresh out of the box you wont have that magic resolution, pace, bass definition and 3 dimensionality. Hope that helps!
Been a few months but I think I have decided on this DMP-A8. This unit fits my 4 simple requirements, the best. Decent sound, looks good sitting atop my Pioneer SX-1080 receiver, built in streaming apps, and analog inputs for my Rega TT. Albeit, 2k is a tad bit costly for those 4 things...it works for me. ✌
Hi John Darko, just thought you should know with regards to the Eversolo's A6/A8 input, DSP and EQ processing After communicating with Eversolo they have confirmed the following; 1. The software EQ of A6/A8 processes up to 192K but doesn't resample. 2. The DSP of A8 is a hardware DSP, only effective for the internal player, digital audio inputs (coaxial/optical/USB-B/ARC), and outputs through RCA/XLR analog audio interfaces. The DSP of A8 (not A6) asynchronously samples (ASRC) to 48K when processing internally.
The A6 is capable of playing multichannel SACD types via an HDMI out. The A8 doesn’t have a HDMI out. As I have 100’s of multichannel recordings in these formats, I returned the A8. Very disappointed Eversolo removed this feature
I had the opportunity to test the A8 with my Ampandsound tube headphone amp. With an old, classic Sennheiser HD600, the sound was excellent. The built-in parametric E.Q. was very useful. Thank you for sharing. P.S. I'm in love with Tofu
Interesting vid. I bought the DMP-A6 master edition last year and I love it. I went for the master edition after a couple of reviewers such as yourself talked about the brightness on the normal A6. I'm not able to compare them side by side, but I have no regrets. I have it connected to a pro-ject amp box DS2 to power my speakers. I bought the Eversolo due to the sheer number of inputs (its a desktop solution and i wanted it to play sound from my PC), its Apple Music Hi-res capabilities - and yes, the VU meters!! ;) The only thing I haven't managed to get working yet is my Zen Dac v2 for headphones - need to spend some time trying to figure that one out.
I bought the A6 when it first came out and was somewhat disappointed until the updates started coming out. Now I can’t see upgrading as it does everything I would need. I have a new Marantz stereo 70 for my hdmi needs and analog needs
Watching this through my A8 connected to my TV through HDMI eARC on Apple TV 😂😂😂 A few observations in comparison to my earlier daily driver before this which was the Ifi Zen Stream + RME ADI-2 DAC FS - the DAC on the Eversolo is more refined and resolving than the RME. The Streamer section is also ever so slightly more resolving than the Zen Stream. The soundstaging on the RME is more forward with slightly better dynamics and mid bass punch but loses out a bit on detail retrieval, top end refinement and depth of soundstage. However, these differences are very minor indeed and it'd be safe to say they are at par and sound very similar.
I am under the impression that the a8 doesn’t have CEC in its hdmi implementation. Does your setup allow power control (a8 power on when you power on your tv from couch) and auto source switching ? Looking forward to hearing your experience!
@daverose515 - you're correct in your assumptions inasmuch as the A8 does not allow power on through CEC and auto source switching. Thankfully, volume control does work through the AppleTV/TV remote control.
So it's safe to say using the A8 as an all in one is not a great improvement across the board vs say the Zen/RME pairing? We would still have compromises & subtle differences between them? Resolving with more detail & slight depth but losing some dynamics & midrange forwardness?
Well done John. A lot of info here to digest. Streamer/dacs for just about everyone. I’m still new to streaming coming up on one year. My Node X is all I can handle at the moment. So many options as usual.
The node x is a great streamer! A couple months ago I got the dmp a6 master edition and I love it but I still have my nodes 130 and 2i and those are great too. The node x is no slouch at all compared to the eversolo in sound quality, the eversolo is a bit prettier but your not missing much. For your 1st streamer I’d say you chose very well! Enjoy!👍🍻
Node x is a great start. Especially when using a separate DAC. Eversolo IMHO is for the looks and that touch screen. the a8 should have better sound but would think a dedicated DAC with streamer would sound better than the 8 with its DAC.
Love that you flash a Lee Perry Blackboard Jungle track in an ‘audiophile’ review. Easily one of my favourite producers but it certainly challenges the definition of audiophile, which I love.
I purchased the A8 based on your (and others) review. It is definitely one of the best streamer/dac/pre on the market but I had to send it back. Its I2S output reversed my channels. I guess the pinout is not entirely compatible with PS Audio Stellar Gold DAC. I didn't mind much as I inverted the XLR inputs on my Parasound JC5. However, what unfortunately made me to give up on it, was that the ARC input stopped working for a mysterious reason. I contacted Eversolo but they haven't respond yet and I didn't want to miss my return window. PS Audio sent me their I2S over HDMI implementation diagrams and I could see differences in their pinouts. I REALLY loved the A8's sound and I was willing to overlook the pinout differences, but I couldn't pass on the ARC connection problems after trying different cables and TVs. I'll get a new one down the road, they might fix the I2S, making it more compatible with other DACs brands. I hope so, because I loved it. Thanks for your reviews. I watch them all. PS: The A8 is already Roon certified
Love seeing the Plexamp coverage. I streaming via a Intel NUC out via USB to my DAC since I'm leveraging Plex for video as well which I'm sure most people are but it would be interesting to see a comparison to using a PC to stream vs a dedicated streamer with Plex since some people say there is a quality difference.
I hope that Plexamp will be adopted by more HiFi manufacturers. Lots of promise and relatively easy to set up. Also worth mentioning is that one can pair Tidal with Plexamp and, like Roon, add Tidal-hosted and streamed titles to libraries. I love how easy it is to have multiple libraries and switch between them. Also, if one doesn't have the facility to set up a local server, there are many very cheap, super fast seedbox solutions with enough storage to upload one's own library and stream remotely anywhere, including at home.
How will the DMP-A8 be dealing with about 30 000 flac files on an SSD? Which database does this device / firmware use, and how user friendly is it? Just asking because I'm considering to get rid of my Cocktail Audio X35 after Novatron ruined their own products by introducing a new firmware that simply cannot handle compilation albums (and looks like they ignore all customers complaints about it or are not able to fix it)
PlexAmp for the win :) I'm experimenting with PlexAmp on an old Nexus tablet controlled from smartphone - dac taking output from usb port....... (cheap dac dongle until I can afford a 'big' dac )
Just weird it resamples everything to 192 KHz. I wonder if Eversolo are working on full embedded implementations of Plexamp seeing as though WiiM are now.
Offtopic: waiting for the review of its competitor, the FiiO R9. At least Eversolo includes Gigabit ethernet as it should, since Fii0 is still inexplicably stuck on 10/100 ethernet.
And yeh, there is no excuse for that considering the cost of these products. We are talking $5 difference. That being said, 100 mbit is more than enough to play even the highest bitrate audio files.
@@NeilLavitt You're right. In fact, even 10/100 would be enough to use the new HDMI function to play 4K videos. As you say, in this price range, and in a product with such a premium finish, it is the only spec that, IMO, falls behind compared to the competition.
I always wondered why brands like Eversolo or Cambridge Audio don’t make an TV app that works like the phone and tablet app. Like this the audio can be pulled by the native streaming app inside the streamers and the tv can display all the controls and the art cover.
Dear friend… can’t understand why you don’t mention a word about the Fiio R9, considering it’s the natural comparison. Specially having seen you’ve already used it for some videos ! You’ ve done so in the A6 review, putting it aside to the R7.
I really love the sound of the CA cxn100 but really curious about the A8 but not sure whether it’s worth the jump in price, would I really hear much difference? Apple Music hi res sounds good though and great news about Plexamp too
While Roon may stream to any device, if it is not Roon ready, I noticed that Roon is down sampling the stream to 44.1 kHz when sending to a Nuprime Stream 9 for instance.
The point is that this player runs Android apps designed for a portrait screen. Some have been adapted to run in landscape mode, and others, like PLexamp, run naturally in landscape on the phone.
Been thinking about the Eversolo A8. Currently have the Marantz sr8015 and a home built Roon Server that i use to send HEOS/Airplay to the AVR witelessly or via an HDMI output from the Roon server via cable to the AVR. Will the $1900 really make that much of a difference? I do seem to notice better quality when I plug the ROON servers hdmi into the reciever rarher than sending wirelessly through HEOS/Airplay. Is the wired conection better? Is yhe DAC in the Eversolo A8 better than the DAC built into the Marantz SR8015? One other question will the A8 work with multi channel like Aura 3D? Any comments appreciated. Thanks
I bought the A8 and love it . Way better than my Bluesound node 2I.. only wish Apple Music was native like Amazon music ect , I mean Apple Music works but it's not a native app... Apple just make your stuff landscape compatible already . It's annoying
Solid review John. Would be good if they did just a basic but high quality streamer - sans DAC, pre, and even screen. Especially if they have and continue good support and development. The relative value is killed when elements are redundant, and the higher the price/quality, the morenusers are likely to have their preferred DACs/amps etc?
has anyone who has purchased a dmp A8 here had the problem of the volume being too low? i have to have my amp turned to full volume and my A8 turned to 75% to get a decent volume. up to 50% the sound is barely audible through my speakers. any insight would be appreciated
No matter what you can use as a preamp or just a network streamer into a stack. I'd definitely add one to my Burson timekeeper monoblock amps. My Devialet expert 400 integrated amplifier was worth every cent of the $16k it cost
Hi John, Long time watcher, love the show! It seems like AirPlay 2 support has been dropped? Would it be impossible to confirm? I note that your video calls out that it does have support for this? Cheers Carl
have had a DMP -a6 ME and it had allot of background noise running the chip inside but running it HDMI to My Anthem AVM90 and having it do the processing was no background noise, Have sold the A6 ME and just got A8 and the A8 running the A8 with it processing has no background noise like the A6 but running it pure analog with no analog processing at the AVM90 i lose the ability to have my sub play.
Nice review. Eversolo seem to have been "crushing it" as the youngsters say. Wonder what they will come up with next? A turntable with a holographic representation of the artist floating above the platter? A cd player you control with your mind? A clock which also has a radio and makes tea? The sky is the limit. Actually you can already get the last one. How about a clock which also has a radio and makes a hologram of tea.
Makes me think they could have upgraded the screen but it would need to be handing off preamp/processing could be put on the second screen eg bouncing vu meters one side and album / plex/ tidal/room data on the other. A quirk of single screen Android formatting....
I wish we can get you an Aurender N30 and a Taiko Extreme, a Burmester 911MK3 and 088 preamp and a pair of rockport technology atria II's to do reviews with to compare stuff.
I returned the A8 and I prefer the A6 master edetion in combination with the power supply upgrade from Beattechnick LPS-A6. It sounds more analog and works better for me. It would be better to compare the A8 in this review with the A6 master edition, there is a big difference between the normal A6 and the master edition.
Hello. I was thinking of getting those Zu speakers. May I ask what stands you are using and do you like them better than the linton stands? Thank you for your review.
Hi there - as a long time subscriber, I really appreciate your reviews and insights! I do have a question. I recently relocated to Singapore and my Focal Sopra 2s just arrived. I have been using the M33 to drive them, but I am not enjoying the M33. I am considering replacing the M33 with a streamer and amp. I am considering the eversolo A8, hifi rose RS130, unless you have a better recommendation. But the next question is which AMP would you recommend for this system. Many thanks, Nick
Thank you for this video. You hit the EXACT points I was wondering. I was wondering how the sound would compare with an NAD M12. I have been wanting to downsize and combine components but I am not willing to lose any of the fullness and spaciousness I get with my M12 and Purrifi amp. Thanks!
hi Sammy....i Just compared the m12/c298 against Sugden 21 signature on ls3/5a Graham...and to be honest the sugden/eversolo outperforms the nad combi....in mine opinion ofcourse
hey John, how you would arrange, for example space like a coffee shop?, where you need to put more than two speakers lets say four or five of them. i think it might be a good theme :) (space where you need quite decent quality of sound also not loud at same time )
are we going to see a comparison between the Kef lsxII LT and the psb alpha iq or a passive setup a similar price? at/under 1k usd?(lsxII. ii LT and alpha are about that price in the US) haha I sold my lsxII, loved them but could not stand the delay when you play/pause... It made movies unwatchable when doing so from my Macbook(at least M1 pro and iphone 12 pro as well as 15 pro) unless I went wired.
One of the best compliments I can give you is that I watch your videos even when I’m not remotely interested in the product being reviewed.
And thanks for introducing me to Kings of Convenience as well as so many other artists.
Four Tet, Matthew Halsall and Tom Waits in a single video; chapeau sir, chapeau!
Tofu is ADORABLE!!!!
A very informative and detailed review with elements not discused by others in the community.
Thanks John, always enjoy your content and love learning about all the new stuff. You make it very accessible and your enthusiasm is infectious.
On behalf of the community, please continue to include TOFU on ALL future content. Thank you! 😝
Thanks for the great videos and reviews . But this one was special. Tofu, Tofu..... Please keep Tofo in your videos. 🎉🎉
I recently purchased the DMP A6 master edition. While I'm not a big fan of the DAC compared to other options I have at home, I was utterly floored how good the A6 is as a transport / streamer only. Coming from a BlueSound and Wiim, it's a big upgrade as a streamer and transport. The functionality is excellent as well and I do love the interface, but to me the sound quality is #1.
I agree sound quality over features, recently got the A8 to upgrade from the WiiM Pro.
I was using the DAC in my integrated (ESS SABER), LAN wired and high $ SPDIF to give the most performance from the WiiM. Using Analog out (A8's DAC's) with nice RCA cables, the A8 is another level up.
Also loading my whole uncompressed CD library to the SSD card I installed really makes this a complete digital solution for me (My far bigger investment has been into the turntable/Analog part of my system).
Oh yeah, I also upgraded the power cable, probably needless, but I want all my components wiring to match.
@@pnichols6500 nice. I’ve heard a difference with power cables too. Once your system starts to get to a point where I can resolve the detail.
Tofu steals the show😍
Great review as always. I love the stands you use for your ZU DWX speakers 👌👌
I have a pair of DWX myself and really want to know who makes those stand. They’re fantastic.
They were custom made for me by a Patron.
@@DarkoAudioWell darn it, that’s exactly what I need for my crazy custom Zu speakers.
John, you got a beautiful cat that mixes well amongst that beautiful set of audio elements and deco!
Thanks for the review. I agree with your opinion having tried the A8 and returned it quickly since the A8 does many things and ticks many audiophile boxes but simply doesn’t sound audiophile enough when the dac is engaged. It is indeed very soft at the edges and if you like music with attack this is simply not adequate.
I value your opinion so much! Thank you for this review John!
What most reviewers dont mention: be careful choosing the DAC filter. If you have a decent resolving set up the differences arent night and day but clearly comrehensible. I ended up at "Slow Roll off" and use the A8 (as the full package:streamer, DAC, preamp) on ADAM Audio S3Hs (plus Sub 12) and couldnt be happier:) It blew away my Linn Majik DSM. But be patient and let the A8 run in for at least 3 full days. Fresh out of the box you wont have that magic resolution, pace, bass definition and 3 dimensionality. Hope that helps!
Been a few months but I think I have decided on this DMP-A8. This unit fits my 4 simple requirements, the best. Decent sound, looks good sitting atop my Pioneer SX-1080 receiver, built in streaming apps, and analog inputs for my Rega TT. Albeit, 2k is a tad bit costly for those 4 things...it works for me. ✌
That cat is so beautiful
Thanks Darko! Your video has convinced me to give the A8 a go.
As much as I enjoyed the A8, I like my HiFi Rose 150 way more... admittedly though, I haven't used either as a DAC, for that I have a Chord.
Almost spilt my tea when I saw New Fast Automatic Daffodils featured. That’s a welcome blast from the past.
Hi John Darko, just thought you should know with regards to the Eversolo's A6/A8 input, DSP and EQ processing
After communicating with Eversolo they have confirmed the following;
1. The software EQ of A6/A8 processes up to 192K but doesn't resample.
2. The DSP of A8 is a hardware DSP, only effective for the internal player, digital audio inputs (coaxial/optical/USB-B/ARC), and outputs through RCA/XLR analog audio interfaces. The DSP of A8 (not A6) asynchronously samples (ASRC) to 48K when processing internally.
Good to see some jazz in the mix , Matthew Halsall is producing some great stuff ! a cure for Jazz phobia ! thanks John and Olaf.
The A6 is capable of playing multichannel SACD types via an HDMI out. The A8 doesn’t have a HDMI out. As I have 100’s of multichannel recordings in these formats, I returned the A8. Very disappointed Eversolo removed this feature
I had the opportunity to test the A8 with my Ampandsound tube headphone amp. With an old, classic Sennheiser HD600, the sound was excellent. The built-in parametric E.Q. was very useful. Thank you for sharing. P.S. I'm in love with Tofu
Interesting vid. I bought the DMP-A6 master edition last year and I love it. I went for the master edition after a couple of reviewers such as yourself talked about the brightness on the normal A6. I'm not able to compare them side by side, but I have no regrets. I have it connected to a pro-ject amp box DS2 to power my speakers.
I bought the Eversolo due to the sheer number of inputs (its a desktop solution and i wanted it to play sound from my PC), its Apple Music Hi-res capabilities - and yes, the VU meters!! ;)
The only thing I haven't managed to get working yet is my Zen Dac v2 for headphones - need to spend some time trying to figure that one out.
Wonderful video John! I would say I do like the idea of streaming but only my collection of music. So far still sticking to my computer witha NAS.
I bought the A6 when it first came out and was somewhat disappointed until the updates started coming out. Now I can’t see upgrading as it does everything I would need. I have a new Marantz stereo 70 for my hdmi needs and analog needs
Watching this through my A8 connected to my TV through HDMI eARC on Apple TV 😂😂😂 A few observations in comparison to my earlier daily driver before this which was the Ifi Zen Stream + RME ADI-2 DAC FS - the DAC on the Eversolo is more refined and resolving than the RME. The Streamer section is also ever so slightly more resolving than the Zen Stream. The soundstaging on the RME is more forward with slightly better dynamics and mid bass punch but loses out a bit on detail retrieval, top end refinement and depth of soundstage. However, these differences are very minor indeed and it'd be safe to say they are at par and sound very similar.
Thank you for the extra data point! Most helpful. 🙏🏻
I am under the impression that the a8 doesn’t have CEC in its hdmi implementation. Does your setup allow power control (a8 power on when you power on your tv from couch) and auto source switching ? Looking forward to hearing your experience!
@daverose515 - you're correct in your assumptions inasmuch as the A8 does not allow power on through CEC and auto source switching. Thankfully, volume control does work through the AppleTV/TV remote control.
@@daverose515No, nor does it connect when the TV is activated. I’m not sure how I feel about this. My wife hates it.
So it's safe to say using the A8 as an all in one is not a great improvement across the board vs say the Zen/RME pairing? We would still have compromises & subtle differences between them? Resolving with more detail & slight depth but losing some dynamics & midrange forwardness?
I just ordered the A-8. It’s gonna be used as a pre-amp paired with a couple of Bridged NAD power amps and Bowers 703. s3
Well done John. A lot of info here to digest. Streamer/dacs for just about everyone. I’m still new to streaming coming up on one year. My Node X is all I can handle at the moment. So many options as usual.
The node x is a great streamer!
A couple months ago I got the dmp a6 master edition and I love it but I still have my nodes 130 and 2i and those are great too. The node x is no slouch at all compared to the eversolo in sound quality, the eversolo is a bit prettier but your not missing much. For your 1st streamer I’d say you chose very well! Enjoy!👍🍻
Node x is a great start. Especially when using a separate DAC.
Eversolo IMHO is for the looks and that touch screen. the a8 should have better sound but would think a dedicated DAC with streamer would sound better than the 8 with its DAC.
Hey Tofu Welcome to audio gear! Our Cat Mia loves to sit on my Dali Floor stands and look out the window.
Love that you flash a Lee Perry Blackboard Jungle track in an ‘audiophile’ review. Easily one of my favourite producers but it certainly challenges the definition of audiophile, which I love.
I purchased the A8 based on your (and others) review. It is definitely one of the best streamer/dac/pre on the market but I had to send it back.
Its I2S output reversed my channels. I guess the pinout is not entirely compatible with PS Audio Stellar Gold DAC. I didn't mind much as I inverted the XLR inputs on my Parasound JC5. However, what unfortunately made me to give up on it, was that the ARC input stopped working for a mysterious reason.
I contacted Eversolo but they haven't respond yet and I didn't want to miss my return window.
PS Audio sent me their I2S over HDMI implementation diagrams and I could see differences in their pinouts.
I REALLY loved the A8's sound and I was willing to overlook the pinout differences, but I couldn't pass on the ARC connection problems after trying different cables and TVs.
I'll get a new one down the road, they might fix the I2S, making it more compatible with other DACs brands. I hope so, because I loved it.
Thanks for your reviews. I watch them all.
PS: The A8 is already Roon certified
Love seeing the Plexamp coverage. I streaming via a Intel NUC out via USB to my DAC since I'm leveraging Plex for video as well which I'm sure most people are but it would be interesting to see a comparison to using a PC to stream vs a dedicated streamer with Plex since some people say there is a quality difference.
Oh the bloopers.. just love it! :D
I hope that Plexamp will be adopted by more HiFi manufacturers. Lots of promise and relatively easy to set up. Also worth mentioning is that one can pair Tidal with Plexamp and, like Roon, add Tidal-hosted and streamed titles to libraries. I love how easy it is to have multiple libraries and switch between them. Also, if one doesn't have the facility to set up a local server, there are many very cheap, super fast seedbox solutions with enough storage to upload one's own library and stream remotely anywhere, including at home.
Cannot slay giants, love your level headed approach. I do own a dmp-a8 and I think most people will be impressed
Hi John, can you compare the DMP-A8 with Naim's NDX2?
More Tofu please. 👍
Jana's voice is pure audiophile catnip
How will the DMP-A8 be dealing with about 30 000 flac files on an SSD? Which database does this device / firmware use, and how user friendly is it? Just asking because I'm considering to get rid of my Cocktail Audio X35 after Novatron ruined their own products by introducing a new firmware that simply cannot handle compilation albums (and looks like they ignore all customers complaints about it or are not able to fix it)
Great video! I’ve been stepping in audio file catnip recently, looking for a streamer! Thanks you have made a decision for me! 👍
PlexAmp for the win :) I'm experimenting with PlexAmp on an old Nexus tablet controlled from smartphone - dac taking output from usb port....... (cheap dac dongle until I can afford a 'big' dac )
Just weird it resamples everything to 192 KHz. I wonder if Eversolo are working on full embedded implementations of Plexamp seeing as though WiiM are now.
Tofu is adorable.
Nice to see Matthew Halsall
New Fads - ooh there’s a blast from the past!
Nice, but too many features I know I won’t use. I happy with just a Bluesound node for now. I do like your videos. I always learn from them.
Now I can actually say I like Tofu! I keep looking for a speaker that is the "cat's meow"....
I see a review of the KEF LSX2 LT coming 🤓😎
You made it!
Can someone explain the buzz about VU meters on streaming DACs? I don’t get it. 🤷♂️
Hi Tofu ❤❤
Can you compare the Fiio R9 in the near future? Keep up the amazing work. We all appreciate your feedback and passion for all things audio! Cheers
Offtopic: waiting for the review of its competitor, the FiiO R9. At least Eversolo includes Gigabit ethernet as it should, since Fii0 is still inexplicably stuck on 10/100 ethernet.
And yeh, there is no excuse for that considering the cost of these products. We are talking $5 difference. That being said, 100 mbit is more than enough to play even the highest bitrate audio files.
@@NeilLavitt You're right. In fact, even 10/100 would be enough to use the new HDMI function to play 4K videos. As you say, in this price range, and in a product with such a premium finish, it is the only spec that, IMO, falls behind compared to the competition.
Nice review, now I wonder how it sounds vs Fiio R9? So far I'm not liking the Eversolo Dmp A6 so the A8 and the R9 are in my sights.
I always wondered why brands like Eversolo or Cambridge Audio don’t make an TV app that works like the phone and tablet app. Like this the audio can be pulled by the native streaming app inside the streamers and the tv can display all the controls and the art cover.
Spring Heel Jack! Great album.
...and a big wahoo for Thomas Dolby! Those first four albums from him are quite remarkable.
I lean towards the first three. 😉
Dear friend… can’t understand why you don’t mention a word about the Fiio R9, considering it’s the natural comparison. Specially having seen you’ve already used it for some videos ! You’ ve done so in the A6 review, putting it aside to the R7.
I really love the sound of the CA cxn100 but really curious about the A8 but not sure whether it’s worth the jump in price, would I really hear much difference? Apple Music hi res sounds good though and great news about Plexamp too
I have a video idea: Rating your favourite streaming services in terms of the way they look on a connected TV (and general usability).
While Roon may stream to any device, if it is not Roon ready, I noticed that Roon is down sampling the stream to 44.1 kHz when sending to a Nuprime Stream 9 for instance.
Noticed you have a new set of speaker stands under the Zu DWX. Could you tell the brand please
Hair metal band Bulletboys recorded a pretty respectable cover of that Waits track back in the 90s.
I wish Roon would hurry up and certify this thing. I bought it for Roon months ago :(
I don't understand why reviewers insist against the landscape screen. Every computer have a landscape screen. I really don't get the point.
The point is that this player runs Android apps designed for a portrait screen. Some have been adapted to run in landscape mode, and others, like PLexamp, run naturally in landscape on the phone.
Your taste in music is an assault on my auditory system.
Been thinking about the Eversolo A8. Currently have the Marantz sr8015 and a home built Roon Server that i use to send HEOS/Airplay to the AVR witelessly or via an HDMI output from the Roon server via cable to the AVR. Will the $1900 really make that much of a difference? I do seem to notice better quality when I plug the ROON servers hdmi into the reciever rarher than sending wirelessly through HEOS/Airplay. Is the wired conection better? Is yhe DAC in the Eversolo A8 better than the DAC built into the Marantz SR8015? One other question will the A8 work with multi channel like Aura 3D? Any comments appreciated. Thanks
Shout out to Depeche Mode, Peter Gabriel, and Tofu! I'm holding out for the NAD M66. It is everything I've been wanting for the past 3 years.
I bought the A8 and love it . Way better than my Bluesound node 2I.. only wish Apple Music was native like Amazon music ect , I mean Apple Music works but it's not a native app... Apple just make your stuff landscape compatible already . It's annoying
Solid review John.
Would be good if they did just a basic but high quality streamer - sans DAC, pre, and even screen. Especially if they have and continue good support and development. The relative value is killed when elements are redundant, and the higher the price/quality, the morenusers are likely to have their preferred DACs/amps etc?
Those are pretty much the reasons why I just bought an Airlens.
Please review NAD C658
has anyone who has purchased a dmp A8 here had the problem of the volume being too low? i have to have my amp turned to full volume and my A8 turned to 75% to get a decent volume. up to 50% the sound is barely audible through my speakers. any insight would be appreciated
Love your cat!
I know no one cares, but I would never buy any of these all in one products. Upgrading separates is too much fun!
I agree
You're right. No-one cares.
Upgrading separates is a waste of time and money…
No matter what you can use as a preamp or just a network streamer into a stack. I'd definitely add one to my Burson timekeeper monoblock amps.
My Devialet expert 400 integrated amplifier was worth every cent of the $16k it cost
Great music taste John. 👌
Hi John,
Long time watcher, love the show!
It seems like AirPlay 2 support has been dropped? Would it be impossible to confirm? I note that your video calls out that it does have support for this?
Cheers
Carl
At the price quoted I will be comparing to the Audiolab 9000n as this in partnership with Lumin should provide a interesting comparable..
Thank you for such an informative presentation. Talking about Plexamp, you can do the same with foobar2000 mobile, right?
Was definitely waiting to hear your thoughts on this one. Thank you for the video. Main question is does this DAC hold up to the R2R DACs?
have had a DMP -a6 ME and it had allot of background noise running the chip inside but running it HDMI to My Anthem AVM90 and having it do the processing was no background noise, Have sold the A6 ME and just got A8 and the A8 running the A8 with it processing has no background noise like the A6 but running it pure analog with no analog processing at the AVM90 i lose the ability to have my sub play.
Nice review. Eversolo seem to have been "crushing it" as the youngsters say. Wonder what they will come up with next? A turntable with a holographic representation of the artist floating above the platter? A cd player you control with your mind?
A clock which also has a radio and makes tea?
The sky is the limit.
Actually you can already get the last one. How about a clock which also has a radio and makes a hologram of tea.
Hi, Great review!
Where can I find the APK file & which port on the A8 do I plug the USB drive into?
Thanks
Hey Darko ..Any new on the Shanling sm130? I seem to recall they gave us a June release date?
Makes me think they could have upgraded the screen but it would need to be handing off preamp/processing could be put on the second screen eg bouncing vu meters one side and album / plex/ tidal/room data on the other.
A quirk of single screen Android formatting....
So you mentioned that Tidal is different in the Eversolo app. Does it not have Tidal Connect?
I wish we can get you an Aurender N30 and a Taiko Extreme, a Burmester 911MK3 and 088 preamp and a pair of rockport technology atria II's to do reviews with to compare stuff.
When Plexamp can be usb loaded; i am curios if Gentoo is als working on this unit.
I returned the A8 and I prefer the A6 master edetion in combination with the power supply upgrade from Beattechnick LPS-A6. It sounds more analog and works better for me.
It would be better to compare the A8 in this review with the A6 master edition, there is a big difference between the normal A6 and the master edition.
So you just use a better power supply?
I like the size of a6 master edition
What differences did you notice with the power supply upgrade?
Same here. I wish that was an i2s input.
John, do you know if Plexamp on the DMP A6/8 is bit perfect and uses the Eversolo Audio Engine?
Thank you for another great video! Would,really like to hear your take on the Silent Angel Rhein Z1 Plus
Hello. I was thinking of getting those Zu speakers. May I ask what stands you are using and do you like them better than the linton stands? Thank you for your review.
They were very kindly custom made for me by a Patron.
@@DarkoAudio Ah got it. Thank you for still kindly responding back. Much appreciated. Have a terrific day.
@@DarkoAudio, ask the patron if he sells them! They are really pretty, especially with those red Zus.
Hi there - as a long time subscriber, I really appreciate your reviews and insights! I do have a question. I recently relocated to Singapore and my Focal Sopra 2s just arrived. I have been using the M33 to drive them, but I am not enjoying the M33. I am considering replacing the M33 with a streamer and amp. I am considering the eversolo A8, hifi rose RS130, unless you have a better recommendation. But the next question is which AMP would you recommend for this system.
Many thanks,
Nick
Thank you for this video. You hit the EXACT points I was wondering. I was wondering how the sound would compare with an NAD M12. I have been wanting to downsize and combine components but I am not willing to lose any of the fullness and spaciousness I get with my M12 and Purrifi amp. Thanks!
hi Sammy....i Just compared the m12/c298 against Sugden 21 signature on ls3/5a Graham...and to be honest the sugden/eversolo outperforms the nad combi....in mine opinion ofcourse
Prefer the NAD M66 😊💯
Have you seen the Ian Canada stuff for Paspberry Pi? It's essentially streamers abd DAC hats, that are affordable but have a lot of audiophile catnip!
Hi Darko, about parametric eq part, is 48k still considered HIRES? or anything above? Thanks
hey John,
how you would arrange, for example space like a coffee shop?, where you need to put more than two speakers lets say four or five of them.
i think it might be a good theme :) (space where you need quite decent quality of sound also not loud at same time )
How is Eversolo DMP-A8 compare to Nad M66? Both also streaming+preamp.
are we going to see a comparison between the Kef lsxII LT and the psb alpha iq or a passive setup a similar price? at/under 1k usd?(lsxII. ii LT and alpha are about that price in the US) haha I sold my lsxII, loved them but could not stand the delay when you play/pause... It made movies unwatchable when doing so from my Macbook(at least M1 pro and iphone 12 pro as well as 15 pro) unless I went wired.
4:06 Glad to know that Apple TV no longer resamples CD Quality tracks to 48 kHz.