Better than a $9000 DAC? A HiFi DAC Review of the Eversolo Z8

What streamer do you recommend, best user interface. I have the vega g1 streaming my music from nas with minimserver. Tried the Eversolo , not as good as the vega, but found also the user app a let down. Roon ok but expensive

Again, Andrew is selling me salt while stranded in the ocean. 🤦🏼‍♂️
Or to put it so people understand, "selling me sand at the beach." I take your thoughts to heart. I am looking for a DAC. Don't know if I need one or but you sold me on this. Kristi absolutely has me looking for a nighttime music companion. ❤ Thanks guys.
Love it.

These days i just use my FiiO X3 II as a dac and I'm perfectly happy with it. It sounds great.

Sure, its not a dedicated unit. But it does the job as well as I want it too.

As an added bonus, its also a DAP. So i get the same sound on the go.

So you bought a "Dad " no a " Dax" oh finally a "DAC" . Looks like my captions are having trouble hearing. And you speak so articulately. Keep up the good work. I like your channel. The reviews with Kristi are really good. I always took my wife's input and always ended up with better sound.

I played with so many DACs, then I got the Cord Qtest and my hunt was over.

Bifrost 2 (OG) or EF400 are my go-to DACs. Once you graduate from delta-sigma to Multibit/R2R, you can't go back. You get thicker and more layered 3-dimensional sound that makes delta sigma sound thin and 2-dimensional by comparison.

great video production. check out the RME ADI-2

How about comparing to the Denafrigs Ares II?

IS THIS TRUE XLR? OR GAIN..

how about matrix mini i4?

I use DACMagic for my PC speakers and for my vintage Marantz amplifier that has no digital inputs. Every flaw I've actually been able to hear can be traced to 1) source music - bad mastering; 2) speaker/speaker placement/room issues; or 3) dac built in to cheap consumer devices and computers. By far, bad mastering is the most common villain. The DACs built into my Denon AVR and my NAIM Cube v2 speakers are fine. I believe I'd have to have much better ears and better sources before I'd get better results that I'd actually noticed.

DMP A6 review please..!

I use the dacmagic and is very happy with it... But what you said about sound made me curious... hmm... New DAC? Now? Maybe...

Noooooo

The DMP-A6 looks cool. Especially if it competes with Node 2i

Please, a need an answer. Can you youse RCA and XLR of this DAC at the same time? I want to use mu subs along with the RCAs for the amp and that's how I use my Topping E50. I will buy this one straight away, if it can do this

Jus bought a Fiio R7…totally happy with its built In DAC

Love my EverSolo Dmp-A6!!! alternative to the HifiRose Rs250

I wanted you to test the Ferrum WANDLA DAC on your channel - I'm curious about your impressions

I am still listening to the brilliant ESS Sabre 9010K2M DAC from my Yamaha active powered bookshelf speaker and these released in 2013. Still sound great still going strong even now Sept 2023....

I've never heard a bad DAC, my RME ADI 2 is dead silent, have lot of options, included PEQ and a built in headphone amp for $800, what more could you possible want?

Audiophile delusion, a terrible disease. Did you know which player was playing or was it done sighted? I've never heard a bad DAC.

Yes, there is EverSolo A6 - Sound Generator- and another A6, Music Streamer. Both products share the same A6 but two completely different products. I am confused with their marketing department.

Let’s go 10 thousand!!

In market for new DAC and line amplifier. Looked at Chord Dave, Bel Canto, Mytek, Esoteric, and then I saw Benchmark DAC3. I hate the look, it’s manual is a whopping 75 pages, has a lot of functionality but you have take the top off and move jumpers, but it’s a recording engineer’s DAC representing transparency, no coloration just passes the recorded music through and at $1,900 a deal. I haven’t listened to, plan on listening to the above DAC’s too but Benchmark has made it to my list and so has their preamp. Still hate the look but the black cover plate is a slight improvement. Remote is the same for both DAC and preamp and has an aluminum case. Nice to have a non cheesy non-plastic non-cheap remote!

Andrew, you are a sucker for design and construction. Would you recommend this device if it wasn't so cute?

My DAC life up until now has been really basic. I have been using a Yamaha WXC-50 streamer for all my digital needs but….. it didn’t sound great. I figured that since I’d had it since 2017 maybe it was time for an upgrade. Enter the FiiO R7 and while there are not usually huge differences in how current gen DACs sound, the difference between the Yam and the FiiO are significant. The R7 is just brilliant sounding. I’m a happy dad!

If you need to connect an HDMI output from a newer Surround Sound or multichannel SACD player to an older model receiver with multiple (6 or 8) channel analog inputs, check out the Essence Evolve II-4K HDMI v2.0b Multi-Channel DAC. This has allowed me to keep my Yamaha RX-V2300 receiver in service.

Okay i would like to go from using 2 remotes, 1 for my TV and 1 for my 2 channel Adcom preamp to just having 1 remote for both... since my Samsung TV only has optical out and HDMI ARC for audio i had to get a digital converter to run audio to my Adcom, problem is i can't control the volume with my TV remote, always having to using the Adcom remote... from what i can tell i have 2 options, get a new preamplifier brand that may have a code that works with a universal remote to operate both TV and preamp volume, or get a new preamp with HDMI ARC hookup... will i need to be messing with this room correction filter stuff if i get a preamp/DAC stand alone?? i just want to be able to hook things up and hope i get the same sound as i currently do from sitting on my sofa about 10 feet from my 2 channel only stereo system... would be so nice to find a newer universal remote that has a code to operate my Adcom, but the newer universal remote codes i have found don't have Adcom listed... any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, Thank You...

I am just glad I can't tell the difference between a $9000 dac and $90 dac! I actually pity those who can hear a difference. That probably means they can hear the short comings of that $9000 dac. Completely keeps them from enjoying the music.

What's the best portable Bluetooth r2r DAC amp?

Thanks again for a great video Andrew. Quick question. Do I need the DMP A6 if I am getting the Z8?

I just added the Eversolo DMA-A6 and replaced my old Bluesound Node 2i i've had since 2016 and noticed it sounds much better than the BS Node. I have not yet connected it to Roon but will in the next day or so.

I'm thinking it will sound the same as the Z8 since they both have to same DACs. The difference is the DMA-A6 is a streamer and DAC. Let me know your thoughts when you have a chance to review the DMA-A6.

Thanks

PM

The Master version way much better and worth the price ❤ although I still use my R2R dac

WIIM Pro Plus needs a comparison to the Z8

Great video, Andrew!...Just purchased the Eversolo DMP-A6 streamer and looking forward to possible review...PLEASE!

My DAC/Streamer has no screen, WiFi, Bluetooth, headphone socket or volume control and it sounds great...to me. Life is sweet when you simplify.

I do not buy products that support MQA ( Marketing Quality Audio ) a UK Company in Administration.

Most of the features of DACs are baked into the XMOS input chip, so gripe all you want that you want more, but it ain't happening unless XMOS v4 does so, but honestly, why do you really need HDMI input to a 2 channel DAC...

kindly suggest me emotiva basx 5 and emotiva xpa 5 which one is better for Denon X3800h ?

Can some I tell me how to connect a DAC with a multichannel receiver? What is a DAC for?

Complete with MQA, 😜😜😂😂 Perfect timing there. Only $700, (only $700!) what a bargain, cuz DACS do sound different. 😜😜🤣🤣

Ever solo built better than Naim😮. You don’t have a clue

Hello Andrew, Could you review the Graham Slee "Majestic" dac with the upgraded power supply?
I ordered this from the company in England (waiting for delivery) and this will be the first dac I have ever purchased. I agree with you about the endless dac variations flooding the market these days. I settled for the Majestic hoping it will serve my audio requirements for years to come. I will be using the Line Magnetic LM-215CD for a transport (bypassing the burr brown chipset) going into a McIntosh MC312 amp and out to my older pair of Revel floorstanding speakers.
Your thoughts please. Thank you.

Be careful Andrew she gets on camera you might not get her back off again not that I think anyone would complain

The DAC magic and Eversolo use the ESS chip. You are correct about most DACs and especially chip based DAC’s. There is very little difference and chip manufacturers all follow a similar philosophy of chasing specifications. As many will point out to you here, R2R DACs and especially NOS DACs are where some differences can be obtained. In general, they won’t be as impressive on specs as a chip DAC (higher SINAD) but some can sound significantly better. The reason is not well understood but the anecdotal evidence of countless listeners is not easy to dismiss. The chip manufacturers all use averaging or random sampling techniques to improve S/N and there may be a drawback to this technique. I suggest you try the T+A D200 with a high rate DSD input and the result will likely shock you.

Hello Andrew, I noticed the DMA-A6 in you latest review of the BW 70x speakers. When can we expect a review of that device? And I am not talking about the Sleep machine A6... Ha Ha. Thanks.

Thanks Andrew! I’m in a pickle. I’m a drummer setting up audio recording and mixing equipment. I’ve got an Avid MBOX Studio Interface with lots of I/O, but I’m lacking one for a specific need. I want to use the Optical Output from my MBOX and connect to a Yamaha EAD10’s 3.5mm Aux Input. I’m told I need a DAC to accomplish this. I looked at the Modi, but it doesn’t seem to have a 3.5mm Output. Is there another DAC you’d recommend, or would it be a bad idea to use an RCA Y to 3.5mm cable on the Modi? Great videos, as always! 😎👍🏻

Newbie here. People are recommending that I get a blue sound streamer to plug into my Rotel Michi x3 amp. But others are recommending I get a separate Dac like this one. What should I get and if a DAC like this, how would I connect to my amp? Thanks!