You don’t have to believe me you should ask your questions at ASR , I know you were gently mocked the first time you posted but it the place with real technical knowledge. Keith
After thorough testing, it’s clear to me—and should be obvious to anyone knowledgeable on the subject—that the Eversolo A8 lacks a proper preamp section. No amount of technical jargon or cherry-picked measurements can justify this flaw. 1. Inadequate Gain Structure – The A8 does not provide sufficient voltage to fully drive my amplifier, even at 0dB volume. While ASR measured 4.2V on XLR, real-world performance falls short. My amp requires at least 1.8V for proper dynamics, yet the A8 fails to deliver this at reasonable listening levels. 2. Poor Dynamics at Low Volumes – Quiet, high-dynamic-range music (e.g., Hotel California) sounds compressed and flat without an external preamp. Bass, treble, and vocals lack weight and clarity until the volume is pushed unnaturally high. 3. ASR Measurements Are Misleading – ASR’s data lacks critical context, such as output voltage vs. dB tracking. Bench tests don’t reflect real-world usability, especially when the A8 operates outside of amp normal envelope. When I bypass the A8’s weak preamp section and use a Michi P5, the difference is night and day. Dynamics, tonal balance, and overall musicality improve dramatically. This proves the A8’s limitation is a fundamental design flaw. Lack of preamplification when A8 is used as a steamer or with its digital inputs. ASR’s measurements are irrelevant if the device fails in real-world use. The A8 may work as a DAC/streamer, but its preamp function is subpar for demanding systems.
No it doesn’t it has an active preamp with outstanding Sinad 128dB and +10 dB of gain. The A8 has 2.1 and 4.2 output voltage double that of the Rotel Michi you replaced it with. You mustn’t blame a well engineered component for your own lack of understanding. Read and learn, first rate engineers post on ASR pose your questions directly to them. Keith
Your either blind, idiot or pretend to be idiot. Your choice. flower off to ASR - that is a place for animals like you.
Tut tut language, Eversolo’s A8 superlative measurements, https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...lo-dmp-a8-balanced-streamer-dac-review.55826/ Rotel Michi P5 Oh dear! https://www.stereophile.com/content/rotel-michi-p5-preamplifier-measurements Keith
And the Michi P5 completely outclasses the Eversolo A8 in preamp and DAC performance—it's not even close
That’s true the Michi is poor, Quote, ‘Michi P5 is let down by its digital inputs. While their distortion is not high enough to have audible consequences, especially in the right channel, the poor jitter rejection of the S/PDIF inputs is a matter of concern.’ Ouch and twice the price. Keith
And the Michi P5 absolutely demolishes the Eversolo A8 in both preamp and DAC quality—completely and utterly. Imagine how bad is A8.
Despite its output bring only half that of the A8? Only one volt, I thought it was the ‘low output of the A8 that you had an issue with? Keith
The Michi P5 demonstrates a fundamental superiority over the Eversolo A8 in both preamplification and signal integrity—and the reason is clear: the Michi is an active preamp, while the A8 functions as passive attenuator 1. The Michi P5 provides 1V at -100dB, gradually increasing voltage as the volume rises, reaching 16V at 0dB. This ensures proper gain staging and dynamic headroom at any listening level. The A8, in contrast, fails to amplify the signal—it merely attenuates it and struggles to drive amplifiers optimally, forcing the user into excessively loud volumes (-5dB or higher) to achieve full dynamics. 2. With the Michi, I can listen at moderate levels (45-50/100) and still experience full-frequency clarity, akin to a well-implemented loudness compensation. Bass, treble, and midrange remain articulate and dynamic. The A8, however, sounds muted and flat at low volumes, as if an EQ had rolled off lows and highs by -2dB to -4dB. Only at ear-splitting levels does it approach the Michi’s performance, a completely impractical solution. 3. Amir’s review of the A8 focused solely on maximum output (4.2V at 0dB), omitting voltage scaling across volume levels—a critical oversight. This selective reporting obscures the A8’s real-world limitations and its inability to maintain proper gain structure at lower volumes. The A8 is not a true preamp—it lacks active gain stages, crippling its performance in systems requiring voltage swing and dynamic headroom. Measurements alone are insufficient when a device fails in practical use. The difference between the A8 and Michi P5 is immediately audible to anyone with experience in high-fidelity amplification. For listeners prioritizing fidelity at realistic volumes, a dedicated active preamp (like the Michi) is non-negotiable. The A8 may suffice as a DAC/streamer, but its preamp functionality is fundamentally compromised .
If R2R really controls the volume of the signal from all inputs, then the bit loss issue is irrelevant. When I wrote in my post, let someone who understands this explain it to us, I didn't have you in mind.
No it has an active preamp with + 10dB of gain, just check the A8’s manual if you are not sure, I realise these terms can be quite confusing. http://music.eversolo.com/dmp/instruction/EVERSOLO-DMP-A8-User-Manual-v1.0.pdf Keith
Thank goodness, here is the Michi P5 manual. https://www.rotel.com/sites/default/files/product/manuals/p5 s2_om_en.pdf Note, page 19 the 1V ( RCA) output which less than half of the A8. Keith
Let's put it this way: the A8 as a digital music hub is in some cases not suitable for direct connection to a power amp. So Eversol's statement, which I quoted above, is not true.
No its output is completely standard ( not like the unusually low output of the Michi) and as such is eminently suitable for direct connection to a power amplifier. Keith
Despite its affordable price, the Eversolo DMP-A8's measured performance is state-of-the-art in both analog and digital domains. John Atkinson, Stereophile. This from a review in Stereophile June 2024. Which mirrored Amir's ASR review. John Atkinson has been reviewing and measuring HiFi equipment for much longer than most can remember. His first page of measurements outlines the preamp measurements: https://www.stereophile.com/content/eversolo-dmp-a8-streaming-preamplifier-measurements. The reviewer Rogier van Bakel ran the A8 into the Krell Power amplifier FPB 200c. The Krell FPB 200c amplifier has a balanced input stage with input Sensitivity: 1.92 Vrms and input impedance: 100 Kohms. Neither Rogier or John registered any issues with the A8's ability to drive amplifiers. Certainly in John's case he would have if it was an issue. In fact no A8 review I've read has raised this as a problem. Only online problems from a few individuals. Robert
In the Stereophile review the following equipment was used: Preamplifiers: Benchmark HPA4, BAT VK-90. Power amplifier: Krell FPB 200c (recapped). Integrated amplifiers: Anthem STR, PrimaLuna EVO 400. The reviewer didn't say that A8 was connected directly to his Krell. He wrote that the speakers were diven by Krell. On the upper list of equipment used in the review are also two preamps. So, the A8 was probably connected to the Krell via a preamp from the list. This fact changes the situation a lot. In my system I have a 15 years old digital hub with the volume control (Resolution audio Cantata Music Center). It was reviewed at Stereophile too. Its measurement results were not described as "state of the art", but I have no problems with its volume levels on the same power amp. It also sounds better than the A8. So, the listening experience can differ greatly from the measurement results.
Measurements just allow you to choose well engineered components, the listener has to decide between ‘fidelity’ and a component that adds audible distortion. The A8 is completely transparent, it is perfectly acceptable to prefer added distortion, you would have to compare level matched and unsighted to determine if the Cantata adds enough distortion to be audibly different from the A8. Keith
