Eversolo DMP-A8 Gen 2 Music Streamer, DAC & Preamplifier
Bring out the expression in a voice, the body of an instrument and the space between them, without complicating your stereo.
Getting Music Playing Is Only the Starting Point
Once streaming becomes the main way you listen, choosing a source is about more than which music services it supports. You want voices to have body, bass lines to be easy to follow and instruments to remain distinct when the arrangement gets busy. A source upgrade needs to help you hear more of that performance, not just add a screen and a longer list of features.
A Music Source Worth Building Around
We chose the Eversolo DMP-A8 Gen 2 because it combines two-chip AKM conversion, a dedicated linear analogue supply and R-2R analogue volume control in one component. The AK4191EQ digital processor and AK4499EXEQ DAC handle separate stages of conversion, while dedicated analogue and digital power sections are designed to keep electrical interference from obscuring quieter musical information. That is the engineering behind the listening goal: less to distract from the tone of an instrument, the way a singer shapes a phrase and the sound of the recording space.
It is also a fully balanced analogue preamplifier, with RCA and XLR inputs and outputs. Connect it to an existing integrated amplifier, or let it handle source selection and volume directly into a power amplifier or active speakers. You do not have to replace the rest of your stereo to make use of its source circuitry, and you do not need to use every connection to justify choosing it.
We can adjust the output to suit your amplifier, then compare settings at the same listening level rather than assuming full output is the best match.
For a living-room system, HDMI ARC/eARC brings a compatible TV through the same speakers, while the 8.6-inch screen gives you artwork and playback control without reaching for a phone. The Eversolo app and remote keep control available from your chair. It is a source and preamplifier, not a speaker-driving amplifier, so passive speakers still need separate amplification.
TIDAL Connect and Qobuz Connect let you choose music in those services' own apps, rather than learn a different way to browse just because you changed the source. Downloaded albums can sit on an optional internal M.2 NVMe SSD up to 8TB, so a laptop does not need to stay beside the stereo. The SSD is sold separately; plan for it if you want the A8 to hold your local music library.
What the Specs Won't Tell You
Let the Recording Keep Its Texture
The DAC chip is only part of what determines the quality of a digital source; its power supply, clocking and analogue output stage matter too. The A8 Gen 2 combines its AKM conversion architecture with dual low-phase-noise clocks and a linear supply for the analogue circuitry, separate from the digital power section. Those choices target timing accuracy and electrical noise, with the aim of preserving the difference between the strike of a piano key and the quieter resonance that follows it. When comparing sources, listen for whether you can follow that whole note, rather than just noticing a sharper attack or a brighter sound.
Keep Proper Control of the Music Level
The A8's R-2R resistor ladder adjusts volume in the analogue domain rather than relying solely on digital attenuation. This is the volume-control circuit, not an R-2R DAC, and it makes the A8 a genuine preamplifier for a power amplifier or active speakers. For quieter evening listening, the goal is to retain small changes in a singer's delivery and the separation between instruments as you turn the level down. If you already have an integrated amplifier you enjoy, keep its volume control in charge and have us help you choose the appropriate output setting on the A8.
Get Bass Back Into Proportion
A better source cannot, by itself, stop your room from making certain bass notes too prominent. The A8 Gen 2 includes evotune PRO room correction and a 20-band parametric EQ, so adjustments can be based on measurements rather than on changing components and hoping for the best. Start with speaker placement and your listening position, then use correction to work towards bass that lets you hear the pitch and movement of the line without covering the vocal. Eversolo supports smartphone-microphone measurements, but recommends a dedicated USB measurement microphone for greater accuracy.
The Audio Two Verdict
We would look at the A8 Gen 2 when you are happy with your amplifier and speakers, but want more from the music you stream. The reason to spend more on a source is to hear more of the performance: the texture of a voice, the separation between instruments and the way a note fades into the room. You do not need to use every input or replace your preamplifier for that to matter. The extra connections and control options make it more versatile, but sound quality is the reason to consider it in the first place.
Tech You Can Hear
| What You Hear | Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| Hear the resonance after a piano note, not just the initial strike | AK4191EQ digital processing and AK4499EXEQ conversion, with dual low-phase-noise clocks |
| Low-level musical information has less circuit noise to compete with | Separate digital and analogue power sections, including a linear analogue supply |
| Volume and source selection stay together when using a power amplifier or active speakers | Fully balanced analogue preamplifier with R-2R volume control and RCA/XLR connections |
| Bass can be adjusted when the room makes certain notes too prominent | evotune PRO room correction and 20-band parametric EQ |
| TV sound can use the same stereo speakers as your music | HDMI ARC/eARC input for audio from a compatible television |
| You can choose an album in the music app you already use | TIDAL Connect and Qobuz Connect support |
| Your downloaded albums remain available without a separate music computer | Internal M.2 NVMe SSD expansion up to 8TB; SSD not included |
Technical Highlights
- DAC architecture: AK4191EQ digital processor with AK4499EXEQ DAC.
- Clocking and power: Dual low-phase-noise clocks and separate analogue/digital power sections, with a linear analogue supply.
- Preamplifier and analogue outputs: Fully balanced analogue design with R-2R volume control and RCA/XLR inputs and outputs; published output levels of 4.2V XLR and 2.1V RCA.
- Display: 8.6-inch LCD touchscreen.
- USB audio: Up to stereo native DSD512 and PCM 768kHz/32-bit.
- Room adjustment: evotune PRO room correction and 20-band parametric EQ.
- Dimensions: 388mm wide × 265mm deep × 88mm high.
Music Services and Streaming
- Music services: Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, HIGHRESAUDIO, IDAGIO, Presto Music, SoundCloud, Calm Radio, TuneIn and Radio Paradise
- Direct app streaming: Spotify Connect Lossless, TIDAL Connect and Qobuz Connect
- Network playback: DLNA/UPnP and Network Audio Adapter
Service features and availability depend on subscriptions, platform certification and firmware updates.
Why Choose Audio Two
Audio Two ships across Canada. That said, a system at this level is worth a conversation before you commit. We can make sure it's the right fit for your room, your source, and how you actually listen. Reach out and we'll help you get it right.