Outboard DACs

Search online and you’ll discover a groundswell of cheap DACs and streamers playing to every (hardware) whim, making it easy to overlook Eversolo’s efforts. But the company, which is the dedicated audio department of Shenzhen-based Zidoo, known for its EISA Award-winning Neo S media player, follows a different, more quality-focused strategy, as the affordable Z8 DAC and DMP-A6 have so far proved.

The DMP-A8 streamer/DAC/preamp sees Eversolo aiming higher. Selling for £1890, it offers an astonishing range of features controlled via a large touchscreen, while AKM’s new dual-chip AK4499EX/AK4191EQ DAC solution, plus dual ‘femto’ clocks and two power supplies, are part of a mix designed to arouse an audiophile’s interest. However, while the DMP-A8 is ‘multipurpose’ like few others, in practice it’ll likely be used in a more limited role, putting some features aside. Otherwise you might consider taking a day off work to get to know the many capabilities on offer.

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Because of its streaming capabilities, it’s tempting to call the DMP-A8 a ‘streamer’. As a shorthand, that’s okay, but it does the unit a huge disservice. While it can be pressed into a pure streaming role driving an external DAC via multiple digital outputs (including a configurable I2S port), the built-in AKM DAC also allows you to task it with delivering music to an amplifier or active speakers via its RCA and XLR outputs. The DMP-A8 also includes a slick R2R stepped volume control – an expensive component for this price point – that ‘clicks’ the volume up or down in 0.5dB increments, so pairing direct into a power amplifier is another possibility.

There’s a plethora of digital inputs too, including USB-B and HDMI eARC, while analogue line ins allow the DMP-A8 to serve as a conventional preamp. Control over each input and output makes the DMP-A8 into more than a ‘switchboard’, and ties into powerful, customisable DSP filters that you can apply to each output.

Eversolo’s interface makes a distinction between ‘EQ’ and ‘DSP’, the former being applied to digital outputs and the latter when using the internal DAC and analogue outputs. Both broadly offer the same thing – sonic tweaking – but ‘EQ’ is more powerful. It’s also possible to apply bespoke FIR filter coefficients, created in REW for example, which will facilitate a level of room correction. You can also define a time delay per speaker, compensating for sub-optimal placement, or create high- and low-pass filters when a subwoofer is added.

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Add an HDD/SDD internally or via USB-A, and the DMP-A8 becomes a fully fledged music library/media player. Hook up a USB CD drive, and it’ll also copy your discs to this storage, allowing you to set the preferred file format while metadata is added automatically. And when it comes to general file format compatibility, Eversolo’s DMP-A8 ticks all the boxes up to DSD512 and 768kHz/32-bit PCM via network and USB connections, and will output digital files in the same quality over I2S and USB.

With the exception of Chromecast, nearly all mainstream and niche streaming options are present. There’s AirPlay, Bluetooth (with aptX HD support), Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, next to a bunch of built-in apps including Qobuz, Tidal and Amazon. I liked the Radio Paradise integration, which offers several FLAC-based stations. Missing in action is Roon Ready status, which is rumoured to be on its way. Perhaps it’s telling that a recent firmware update added Squeezeconnect, a hack giving control via the optional Squeezebox support in Roon.

If the DMP-A8’s industrial case design looks ‘unassuming’, that’s because your attention will be drawn to the colourful 6in/15cm touchscreen – the only physical control is a large volume knob, surrounded by a dimmable circle of light. Otherwise this unit is meant to be controlled via its screen or the Eversolo Control app and while a BT remote is provided, it’s mainly useful in preamplifier mode for changing volume, VU meter mode or input.