Eversolo DMP-A8 Owners & Discussion Thread

[jeromelang]

3 hours ago, Snoopy8 said:

I am aware of many streamer/dac/pre-amp but the requirement for both ARC HDMI input and analogue input has drastically cut the list down.

 

Besides the Lumin P1 that @maximus mentioned, there is the NAD M66, Matrix Audio Element X2,  X2 Pure, Simaudio Moon 791, 891. The Eversolo A8 is certainly value for money...

 

On both the 791 and 891 webpages this feature is mentioned as "1 HDMI with ARC"

 

When i look at this phrase being mentioned like this my immediate interpretation was that it has a full-fledged HDMI input and there's another HDMI output with ARC capability

 

But then when I see the back view photo I only see one single HDMI connection labeled as "HDMI ARC"

 

My understanding is that you can't plug the HDMI outputs from any Blu-ray/DVD players into this.

It can only received the audio coming reversed  off from a TV's ARC-capable HDMI input connector.

So it is kind of wrong for Sim Audio to call it a HDMI input, even though they add the "with ARC" behind it.

 

I already have the Essence HDACC II-4K HDMI DAC / Preamp  which has 4 x HDMI inputs and 1 separate HDMI output with ARC capability.

 

For some unknown reason(s), the Essence HDACC II-4K and my Sony UDP-S1100ES cannot properly together with HDMI connectivity. The sound is wrong and very much softer than when I use the analogue output from the S1100ES.

 

It is fine with me even if the A8 doesn't have any dedicated HDMI input (ideally it would be good to have it)

 

My plan is to use only the analogue outputs from the S1100ES into the A8 for playing SACDs.

 

The ARC-HDMI connectivity will be used to get 2-ch content from the TV (like youtube videos) when I want them played through the stereo speakers.

 

I had the emm labs NS1 streamer, the DAC2Xv2 dac with ST optical connectivity before in the system that I thinking of putting the A8 in. I am not harbouring any hopes that the A8 will beat them. But if the A8 can fully unfold and play MQA files from Tidal it will already be a step-up!

 

  

Edited December 12, 2023 by jeromelang

[pjohn]

Wholeheartedly disagree! Many of us who have done the research and have acquired a DAC we are happy with don’t want to buy a unit just so we can bypass the DAC it came with. We want to build on the investment we have already made. If the pre packaged unit suits you thats fine. But some of us like more flexibility to customise our gear, I think there is a market for just a streaming transport with a touchscreen. As there is a market for the Streamer DAC .

[Ehrmantraut]

2 minutes ago, pjohn said:

Wholeheartedly disagree! Many of us who have done the research and have acquired a DAC we are happy with don’t want to buy a unit just so we can bypass the DAC it came with. We want to build on the investment we have already made. If the pre packaged unit suits you thats fine. But some of us like more flexibility to customise our gear, I think there is a market for just a streaming transport with a touchscreen. As there is a market for the Streamer DAC .

Well both A6 and A8 have digital out, so can be used as streamer only. A8 has I2S which many people like. 

[pjohn]

Sure ! As I said there is obviously a market for the Streamer DAC as there would be for just the transport ! 

[Guest]

@jeromelang   I  did not realise you were looking for devices which had multiple HDMI ports. The A8 has only a HDMI ARC input, but the A6 also a HDMI output but no analogue input. And please ignore my list.

 

Suggest starting a new thread with your requirements....

Edited December 12, 2023 by Snoopy8
Typo

[jeromelang]

7 hours ago, Snoopy8 said:

@jeromelang   I  did not realise you were looking for devices which had multiple HDMI ports. The A8 has only a HDMI ARC input, but the A6 also a HDMI output but no analogue input. And please ignore my list.

 

Suggest starting a new thread with your requirements....

 

No worries. 

 

I am not the least perturbed right now that the A8 doesn't have any HDMI dedicated inputs. For now I am quite satisfied that there is a arc-HDMI that my TV's sound can be routed into. I look forward to having the A8 arriving at the Singapore distributor next week.

 

I just postponed purchasing the Ondekoza vinyl boxset indefinitely...

[powerav]

HDMI ARC is in my opinion the most over hyped connection type ever.

There’s a lot of hifi reviewers on YouTube that rave about it but what you need is a HDMI output to go to an AVR.

Not sure why they advertise multichannel audio where it looks like it’s impossible to get multichannel audio out of it.

[powerav]

10 hours ago, powerav said:

HDMI ARC is in my opinion the most over hyped connection type ever.

There’s a lot of hifi reviewers on YouTube that rave about it but what you need is a HDMI output to go to an AVR.

Not sure why they advertise multichannel audio where it looks like it’s impossible to get multichannel audio out of it.

Thanks for the thumbs up Snoop, sometimes I think I’m the only one that cares about this stuff.

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

11 hours ago, powerav said:

HDMI ARC is in my opinion the most over hyped connection type ever.

There’s a lot of hifi reviewers on YouTube that rave about it but what you need is a HDMI output to go to an AVR.

Not sure why they advertise multichannel audio where it looks like it’s impossible to get multichannel audio out of it.

What format are you hoping to output?

Can the I2S output do multi channel?

[powerav]

35 minutes ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

Can the I2S output do multi channel?

No I2s only for 2 channel, just frustrating that they advertise for multichannel DSD etc but how do you get it?

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

6 minutes ago, powerav said:

No I2s only for 2 channel, just frustrating that they advertise for multichannel DSD etc but how do you get it?

From Darko re the A6, not the A8. If its true maybe the A6 is for you?

 

"One unique benefit of the DMP-A6 is the fact that it offers an HDMI output. While we do see more and more transports using HDMI as a “container” to carry I2S signals which certain DACs are capable of recognizing, that’s not the case here. Instead, the device uses the traditional HDMI format which makes it compatible with things like home theater receivers and processors. What makes this situation unique is that the DMP-A6 can handle multi-channel DSD over HDMI, and can even do so via Roon. This allows for the best possible quality during the playback of ripped multi-channel SACDs. I’ve seen folks searching for these capabilities for years and while it is without a doubt a rather niche situation, I’m glad there’s finally a product out there which delivers. Unfortunately, my Anthem processor is quite clear about converting incoming DSD to PCM so I am not able to fully take advantage of this feature – and I don’t do multichannel music so I wouldn’t really have a reference point anyway."

 

https://darko.audio/2023/08/second-opinion-eversolo-dmp-a6-review/

[Ehrmantraut]

On 11/12/2023 at 2:23 PM, Ehrmantraut said:

Initial thoughts. 

• Build quality is the same as A6 - so good
• Interface and setup like the A6 - easy
• Not Roon ready! - yet!
• I'd say tonal quality and overall SQ is quite similar to A6 - the Eversolo "house" sound. 
• R2R Preamp is quite lovely to use, tactile and exact. No obvious improvement in SQ over digital volume in A6 though
• Need to find time to use DSP function

TLDR - If you have an A6, you'd be pushed to find dramatic improvements with the considerable $$ increase in A8. If you're using A6 as a streamer/end point only, then it's no contest. The preamp function on the A8 is very good but I'm unsure if it's any better than the digital version in the A6 or things like Leedh. SQ impressions are similar to the A6, perhaps more space and fluidity - whatever that means. I need to use the DSP.

I need more time with it and it may need to burn-in too, if you believe that sort of thing.

I’ve put 50+ hours of continuous music through this now. Brain or physical burn-in and I’m liking it a lot more. I guess, the DAC and clock chips have thermally stabilised. If you want the DAC function, then the A8 is clearly more musical and analogue sounding than the A6 (which I thought was always a bit flat). Definitely some toe tapping going on. And the R2R preamp, that is sweet. 

[powerav]

Yes exactly, DM6 has HDMI out which is great, but the DM8 doesn’t  it still sprouts multichannel audio?

[michaeljohn1234m]

39 minutes ago, Ehrmantraut said:

I’ve put 50+ hours of continuous music through this now. Brain or physical burn-in and I’m liking it a lot more. I guess, the DAC and clock chips have thermally stabilised. If you want the DAC function, then the A8 is clearly more musical and analogue sounding than the A6 (which I thought was always a bit flat). Definitely some toe tapping going on. And the R2R preamp, that is sweet. 

Thanks Ehrmantraut That's what I wanted to hear,clearly more musical and analogue sounding. Now all's I need is to find a dealer who has one.

Edited December 13, 2023 by michaeljohn1234m
spelling

[michaeljohn1234m]

4 hours ago, Ehrmantraut said:

I’ve put 50+ hours of continuous music through this now. Brain or physical burn-in and I’m liking it a lot more. I guess, the DAC and clock chips have thermally stabilised. If you want the DAC function, then the A8 is clearly more musical and analogue sounding than the A6 (which I thought was always a bit flat). Definitely some toe tapping going on. And the R2R preamp, that is sweet. 

Have you had any issues with the software, As they have with the A6.the updates seem to make it worse

From Monkeyboi

(Well what an overwhelming disappointment V1.2.05 beta is for the eversolo DMP-A6.   None of the promised issues like HDMI incompatibility or the muting of the beginning of tracks when skipping tracks and or changing to or from tracks with different sampling or bitrates has been resolved.  If anything it is a lot worse than under V1.1.80.)

 

  Does the A8 run on the same software and is it a problem

 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, michaeljohn1234m said:

Have you had any issues with the software, As they have with the A6.the updates seem to make it worse

From Monkeyboi

(Well what an overwhelming disappointment V1.2.05 beta is for the eversolo DMP-A6.   None of the promised issues like HDMI incompatibility or the muting of the beginning of tracks when skipping tracks and or changing to or from tracks with different sampling or bitrates has been resolved.  If anything it is a lot worse than under V1.1.80.)

I think you are have selectively used Monkeyboi's words, not sure for what purpose?  Monkeyboi is often in the forefront of testing the software and does a good job.  While he may not like this particularly version, Monkeyboi is generally happy with the A6 and A8 and its software.

 

p/s not an owner, so I have no stake here...

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

14 hours ago, powerav said:

Yes exactly, DM6 has HDMI out which is great, but the DM8 doesn’t  it still sprouts multichannel audio?

Sorry, thought you were looking to buy one with multi channel output via hdmi.

[powerav]

7 minutes ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

Sorry, thought you were looking to buy one with multi channel output via hdmi.

One of these is definitely on my radar and if I have the budget for the dm8 I would still have to get the dm6.

 

[michaeljohn1234m]

Well I picked up an A8 the last one from Sydney Hi-Fi MonaVale this arvo

Looks good, ordered a Crucial P3 4TB arrives on Monday, now I just have to learn how to play flac music on it

Edited December 14, 2023 by michaeljohn1234m
subject

[jeromelang]

I'm impressed with the packaging

 

[jeromelang]

Whenever any new component is being added to the system, always there's a need to check how it will interact with the rest of the system just by sitting there without being plugged in and powered up.

 

 

 

My sound bar soundstaging sounds smaller when the a8 was added. When removed, the soundstage opens up again. 

 

Edited December 15, 2023 by jeromelang

[jeromelang]

Put it in the bedroom system and make sure that it is kept far away from the rest of the gears.

 

 

Just using a cheap USB cable to connect to the MPS-5. USB output set to fixed max volume. 

 

Running Tidal, and not supporting MQA mode.

 

WiFi only

 

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by jeromelang

[michaeljohn1234m]

On 01/11/2023 at 9:15 PM, JBO said:

How about this combo?

DMP-A8 as streamer and preamp

NAD C298 as the amp

I'm using the DMP-A8 as the preamp with my Nad C272 , only got it Thursday,Like the sound and I love the no clutter 

[michaeljohn1234m]

I've had it running since Thursday non-stop it runs quite warm to touch. on Sunday I had time to play some music, it sounds great through the Nad,and my 4T SSD has arrived so I'll set that up and I'll give a better up date

[Robbiefest]

On 13/12/2023 at 6:06 PM, michaeljohn1234m said:

Thanks Ehrmantraut That's what I wanted to hear,clearly more musical and analogue sounding. Now all's I need is to find a dealer who has one.

That's what I want too. Pity I bought the A6 Master Edition at the Hifi show in Melbourne. They announced the a8 2 weeks later. I'm considering a power supply upgrade for the A6 but who know if it will smooth it out and open it up. I find the A6 lacks a bit of soul, unlike my Bluesound which I find more musical. Node N130 with PD creative board and top end power supply. Very reminiscent of analogue ( vinyl )