In this video the A6 is "flat and boring". In the video of the A6: "resolving without becoming boring, I like this pinch of elevated bass which is fun, Overwhelmingly Addictive". In this video: " with A8 you dont need a dedicated preamp, unlike A6". In the video of the A6: "I do not see a reason to use a dedicated preamp"
You do have a strong point. I would never call A6 boring if A8 didn't exist, but A8 makes the A6 thin sounding and just as you said - quite boring, but only when comparing them. A8 has a thicker overall tonality and while A6 did sound great directly with a power amp, A8 performed better, simple as that. Dedicated line-amp circuitry versus an attenuator makes a (major) difference. In a ~2K - 3K setup, A6 punches above its weight, which is still valid, but when you start playing with separates and the cost of the system goes up, A6 is no longer doing justice to the rest of the system.
Moreover, even the preamp in the A8 was considered inferior to dedicated preamps around 1K eur. All is relative... therefore the most useful reviews are the comparative ones, even if at the expense of relativization of superlatives :). So if the A8 sounds better than the A6, that is better info than relative/corrected superlatives.
Lifeless could be the correct word. And you can't get that with an ESS chip. Period. AKM is a master when it comes to Music emotions especially the AK4499EX semi conductor. But still ESS can keep trying...
@@JustBrowsing777 I know that. But even then this new AKM 4499EX has it's own signature sound to it. Now all that matters is how you can improve that signature sound.
@@wcg66 I am aware of that too. But as I posted earlier there is a sound signature difference between the new AKM4499 ex and ESS chip apart from the implementation. I have owned both chip based dacs and I prefer the AKM more.
Congrats on the world premiere review! Great review and I'm totally with you when you say that the gear is released too often and that manufactures should focus more on software/firmware updates and development!
Why didn't development develop and the display panel didn't grow from the previous generation? An absolutely incomprehensible arrogant mistake! There is now the entire area from the front panel FULL OF WASTE SPACE! Also, that volume control knob (too small even for children's fingers) makes such a sound that a sane hifi player can't bear to hear it for a very long time until he gets really bored and annoyed. This product is now made completely wrong, in contrast to dmp 6 and the master version, which made some sense in terms of ease of use and efficient use of the surface area.
Well, this time you crossed the finish line first 😀 Thanks for the review, it's excellent. I am the owner of a DMP A6 Master, I also tested the standard version and in my opinion the Master sounds better, I had a DAC Gustard X 26 Pro but I don't miss it. A8 has many advantages, but now we will stay with A6 Master for a while. They also announced a power amp and I hope you will be the first to review it. And I'm waiting for the DAC with AKM to arrive, I'm sure it won't be long until it appears.
As for me, the main problem of this thing is that it is impossible to activate several outputs at once (for example, analog and one or more digital), while there is no parallel linear (unregulated) output, that is, this thing is suitable only for those who have only one zone and there is no need to output sound anywheresomething else. You have an error (or inaccuracy) in the text version: you write that two AKM 4499EX DACs are installed here. However, he is alone here (and this is clearly visible on the board).
Nice review, thank you. I just pre-ordered the A8. Will be my first streamer, figured why not get a nice one that will last me for years!! Thanks again.
I have a DMP-A6 Master Edition on order and now this comes out! Very curious to know how that compares to the A8. If you've heard both, can you please comment on this.
I didn't know line amplifier was so rare. The RME ADI-2 FS has this feature and is up to 10v output. So you heard differences between the A6 and A8 when you only used it as a Streamer hooked to your own DAC?? Or only when you were listening to the output using it's own internal Dac?
I have a gustard r26 I would like to know how would you compare the A8 to R26. Let's say you use both as Roon End Point. How would you compare their sound?
I too was intrigued by the Eversolo DMP-A8's all-in-one promise and eagerly awaited the Eversolo DMP-A8's arrival. Streamlining my setup with a single unit that boasted high-fidelity streaming, DAC, and preamp capabilities was incredibly enticing prospect. Following a thorough review of online resources, including written reviews and video demonstrations, I eagerly embarked on a three-day audition of the DMP-A8 within my established home audio system. My Parasound PLD/2000 - Class-A direct drive preamp, Gustard A26 DAC, and Audiolabs 6000CDT CD transport served as my benchmark for comparison. Prior to the evaluation, I meticulously reviewed the DMP-A8's 100+ page manual to ensure a comprehensive exploration of its functionalities. This methodical approach aimed to uncover the unit's full potential. However, the results proved to be rather underwhelming. Extensive A/B testing across various configurations - the DMP-A8 acting solely as a digital source, analog source, DAC, and preamp - consistently yielded a comparable outcome: a presentation that lacked vibrancy and dynamic range when contrasted with my established setup. The DMP-A8's portrayal of music felt sterile and compressed, regardless of the employed digital filter settings or digital/analog input/output combinations, including the balanced XLR outputs. This consistency across configurations suggested a more fundamental limitation within the unit itself. Considering the $2,000 price tag, this lackluster performance fell short of expectations. While a price point closer to the DMP-A6 might have softened the blow, the sonic shortcomings remained undeniable.
Hi! Thank you for the review! I have to decide quickly these days. A8 or the A6+Gustard R26. What should I choose? And if I go with the later combo, does it matter if I upgrade the A6 source or not? Thank you!
Thank you for the review. I already own a DM-A6 that I intend to keep. Maybe the next iteration, DMP-A10, not this DMP-A8, will be my next streamer but for now I am quite happy with A6. Not much to complain about it.
When you select both RCA and XLR analog outputs it cuts output level on XLR by about a third. None of the SMSL, Topping, RME or Benchmarks do this. Not much volume left at moderate loud level.
Another superb review, thankyou so much. I have the Dmp-A6 direct to my high end Opera Consenance DAC streaming hi-res Qobuz files and it sounds very good indeed. Stored files on the SSD via the A6 are much better though, very happy with my choice.
Nooo, no,nooo, local stored music doesn't sound "a little bit better" then streaming... IT'S A LOT BETTER! No streaming will ever rival that..not even Qobuz! The preamp stuff for this price though... AMAZING! Eversolo understood the market like no one else, their success can't be accidental. You can tell somebody did a lot of thinking.
And why should they sound better? A normal CD contains 600 - 800 MB digital data. With our current network performance you are able to stream easy this data in real time. Then you have studio quality files like MQA or Highres files with more resolition so this files are better then your cd at home. It depents on your devices. If you have a very good and expensive cd-Player, there is a very good DAC and preamp build in. So you need a very good streamer in the same price level with a similar quality of the DAC and preamp. Then you can compare.
@@ison8582 If you think MQA is better resolution...ok, you're a happy man! Listen to music, not numbers and I'm pretty sure you can tell the difference between local and compressed streaming. If you think Tidal is offering you uncompressed sound...
I would agree with you, if talk about an analog signal way. There would be electrical damping, electrical resistance and other effects. But if you are sending digital data you have schmitt trigger comparstor circuit, error detectuon and special realtime protocols. With a good internet connection, you are receiving the complete package on your device. And then you only have the influences of the device I spoke before. When I put in my cds into my cd player and play the exact same record on tidal or quobuz there is no differences audible. This is maybe a psychologic effect. Maybe you should do a blind test, somebody should switch between the sources. You are not able to hear an difference.
Having just bought the A6 master edition I am not happy they released the A8 already. I chose the better option of the two A6 only to find a new model released shortly after. You can think of it in different ways but as a customer I want to feel reassured I made the best decision for longer than a few mere weeks. Now I'll have this "what if" in the back of my mind.
They both sound the same. Don't buy the audiophile snake oil nonsense. The only reason to buy A8 over the A6 are the features. If you want the extra features, then pay extra.
@@amse9297 I wouldn't call these snakeoil because different dac chips and different implementations do sound different. That's where you get the sound characteristics from. We aren't talking speaker cable here.
@@JustBrowsing777 Whatever differences there are, they're imperceptible to the human ear. Both implementations are audibly transparent. Too many people get influenced by charlatans on YT who wouldn't have a reason to exist as YT reviewers if they told the actual truth. If they conducted unsighted, level matched experiments and found all these differences between dacs, then they would have a point. But they don't. So they get all that equipment from audio companies, use words like "refinement" and "weight" that mean nothing, and people all over the world believe them. As I said, if you think the extra features of the A8 are worth it, go ahead and buy it. Everything else is bs .
@@amse9297 I agree with you to some extent but not fully. It's kind of like saying that every car performs and behaves the same because they have engines, gearboxes and 4 wheels. I have heard vastly different sound from my own equipment and was astonished in particular when I exchanged my old Yamaha receiver with a Burr Brown dac which was highly regarded some 10 years ago, for a Marantz with a AKM dac chip. Obviously much else was different too. The difference exchanging that for an Audiolab amp was less except for sheer power, but also exchanging my Bluesound Node (which I was never that pleased with) for the Eversolo was a definite step. At the end of the day, to each their own.
@@JustBrowsing777 Recently designed dacs measure remarkably well. Now if we're talking about something that was released a decade ago, then it's a different conversation.
well then I could get rid of my A6, my Gustard A26 and possibly my line stage ? You did not cover the real selling point however, the DSP engine for room & recording correction ! I'm curious if this affects the Analog input and/or the digital output or only the internal DAC ??? @@Soundnews
They are giving away 50% of the market by not offering silver. An unforgivable mistake and the only reason I can’t buy their stuff even if I wanted to.
Thanks for your very good review So you still need a power amplifier and pair of speakers since there are no speakers connectors in the back So what suggestions do you have for amplifier and bookshelf speakers? Also I believe Andrew Robinson said one can rip CDs to its internal SD card in the bottom ? How can that be ? Is it by connecting a CD player digitally and how can it rip ? Also will it work with just Bluetooth or WiFi powered speakers ? Last There are actually units that do Streaming, gave DAC and have integrated pre amp et amp and CD ripper and Hard drive of up to 8 TB ( optional ) and those are the different models of Cocktail Audio ( yes the X50 and X45 are more expensive but the x 35 is in the same ball park. Also there are the X14 and X15 that are cheaper
No chromecast audio build inn. No matter what you say, it is a necessity for some programs out there. Soundcloud e.t.c . What about Amazon Music and Qobuz?
I can get why as an overall machine A8 better then A6. But keeping just as a streamer is so much of a difference ? Will it be worth the upgrad in this scenario only ?
I don´t really understand the complains about the release. DMP A6 is a Mercedes C Class and DMP A8 is an S Class. So not really comparable and the price is more than 2x.
Great review Sandu - how do you think this compares to the A26? Same core chip but a fuller streaming and preamp side. Is it worth the extra money... and is it equal as a DAC?
The screen looks great in the A6. Here it looks ridiculous. If the DAC implementation in the A6 is totally transparent (measured) how can you notice a difference with the DAC in the A8?
In another comment he compares the DAC to the Gustard A26. I don't know what this reviewer said about the A6 DAC, but others didn't rate it so highly (as the Gustard).
I owned the a6 and after that the master a6 (sounded better) but stil there was something not nice about it. But the a8 sounds amazing analogue. Still not as good as my chord tt2 and dac with telefunken tubes. But way waaaaaayyyyyyyyy more musical, more stage, more holografic. Music is around you not stuck in the speakers
Good test Sandu, as always! One off topic question, is there any absorbent material behind the wood slats on the front wall? Or are they just some kind of diffuser, apart from looking beautiful?
The $20,000 question is how does this compare to its parent company's top dog Zidoo Neo Alpha... which brings pretty much every VIDEO playback possible into the mix but also add another grand in cost? With its top-of-the-line Sabre DAC, can it compare in sound quality to this AKM beast? One point of disagreement: this is *not* an upgrade for the A6 but a completely elevated product line tier. I own an early 2000s Infiniti...so it's kind of akin to a "G" series vs an "M" series in their line.
Great review. Question: I own a good amount of multichannel (including SACD, DVD-A & PABD 5.1 channel and other) content and have been looking for a streamer and overall player to manage the library I´ve stored in my NAS through DLNA. Reading the user manual for the A6 and A8, they do state that the A6 handles multichannel through its HDMI out port, whereas the A8 lacks such a port, and instead, it has an IIS out jack that could only be connected to an external DAC with an IIS input port. Am I missing something or it is true that the manufacturers of Eversolo did not include this functionality on the A8?
I can't see the headphones output! I think that is a deal breaker. My old SMSL DP-3 aall-in-one have two headphones output meanwhile quarter of the size of this.
Could I record the Analog Input pair (L/R) with a computer using USB Digital Output? I write some music and need a audio interface. I'd like to know if the SMP-8 could be my streamer, also my audio interface.
Thanks for the review. Did I see a Topping DX9 15th anniversary edition in the intro of your video? Are you going to review that too? I did not see any review of this Topping sofar. I am curious to know how it performs/sounds.
Here is my dilemma: I currently like the internal dac in my Hegel H190. Is the dac in the A8 that much better? If not, I had rather buy the a6 master edition and digital out to my Hegel dac. Thoughts?
Hi Sandu! I just bought a LAiV Harmony DAC, and was wondering if there was any difference between the A6 and A8 if you use them WITHOUT the DAC section as I'm considering using them as STREAMER ONLY to the LAiV DAC? The loss of I2S OUT is a bummer on the A6, but if there is no appreciable streaming-only difference between the 2, (Like soundstage, note separation, etc..) I'd like to know since you've run them side-by-side. [EDIT] Also, if you recommend a better streamer for the LAiV DAC aside from the Eversolos, I'm certainly open to that recommendation as well. Thank you so much for all that you do!
I really would like this device. The problem is, I want to use it on a desktop, sometimes in combination with my laptop, and with headphones. This device has no headphone connections as far as I know 😢.
Thank you for the nice review. I own an old Matrix Audio Element X. Years are passed but it is still a very good sounding dac/streamer. However, I'm considering maybe to upgrade to Eversolo A8. The features of the matrix are quite similar to eversolo (the only main difference is that Matrix Element X have an integrated headphone amplifier while the eversolo have a preamp circuit with line inputs). Is eversolo A8 in your opinion a substantial upgrade from Matrix Element X in term of sound quality? Please let me know. Thank you again! Alessandro
I own the Hifiman He6se v2 and I'm looking for amp/dac all in one that is powerful enough to run the he6. I'm considering the topping dx9 pro. Is there a better option?
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
Been through a few streamers including DMP-A6 output to a dac. I was neither impressed with SQ or the utility. It did not seem any different from a laptop with Usb out to DAC. it was easily beaten by iFi Neo istream. But all these does not come close to my mainstay setup which consist of Uptone ER and Sotm sms200 ultra neo with ext clock both powered by Uptone JS-2. For utility i repurposed an old ipad for the UI for controlling the Sotm and display
@@Trebleclefaudio There is, but it is a digital volume control. It bypasses the R2R. Hopefully, it is better than the digital volume control on the a6. The a6 has 3db jumps in volume instead of the usual 1db.
There is no ultimate all in one. Eversolo will likely release A8 ME soon. Product development takes years, the speed that they are rolling out new models suggest to me that they have a roadmap of models to roll out and take more money from our pockets. Lol