Amazon Music - DMP-A6

Hi,

I just received my DMP-A6 and it updated immediately on setup.

The DMP-A6 is running version 1.1.80.

I don't see Amazon Music as a choice for Streaming.

Is there a procedure I can use to add it? Or is there another upgrade I require?

Thanks!!

 

It's available in Cast Mode, it's not natively installed like Tidal. You'll find more info searching Amazon in the Eversolo threads.

 

http://forum.zidoo.tv/index.php?threads/amazon-music.96321/

Here's one thread

 

Currently cast mode is hard to use because the screen jumps like crazy. It's hard to dial in what you are after. The play button is also so small its hard to use.

 

Thank you Riley. I was going through the manual and discovered that Music Apps screen...then figured out to just scroll down further in the Streaming section on the screen on the A6 itself. I was able to install Amazon Music from there and then was playing with cast mode. And yeah, Bonzo, cast mode is pretty wonky. The reviews you read make it sound so amazing. lol
I was looking over that thread earlier too and wasn't sure about installing the APK. I am an iPhone user and don't have any real experience with the Android OS. But, after living with the A6 some more, I am sure I will become braver.

 

Once I started paying real attention to the reviews, it became apparent none of the people reviewing the A6 are actually testing the ergonomics of how things actually work. If they do, its a quick run through and done. None of them are using it for a solid week trying to actually play specific songs etc. Because if they did, the A6 would not get 10 out of 10 from anyone.

BUT, from what I've also learned in the last few months, is that none of the others out there are 10 out of 10 either. Even the big boy name brand streaming services have some wonky flaws. And a lot of people are saying things like, "well if you think the A6 is bad you should really try the others." Wow, if that's the case, I don't want to try the others because they must really really suck.

After all these years, and people just raving about streaming, it simply amazes me how many things could be better, about all of it. So the A6 very well may be the best streamer for the money on the planet. But I just wonder how truly remarkable it would be if it did things the way they really should be. Perhaps I'm asking for more than what is possible in this modern world?

 

My casting has never been anything other than rock solid.
For streaming using simple RCA output into a preamp, I have had no problems worth talking about.
Tidal works seamlessly and the sound is fantastic for the price point.

 

Well...I am coming from using the internal streamer in my PS Audio Stellar Strata. That was my first official taste of streaming properly. Though I do love my Strata dearly, it does have some weak points to the streaming portion.

But...after only living with the A6 for 24 hours, this unit is really very nice. The ability to have access to the full resolution streams offered by Qobuz. Just wonderful. As well as gapless streams by default. The unit has been rock solid with Qobuz AND it has increased the sound quality of my listening coming from the Strata. Even just with 44.1 KHz streams. The soundstage is wider and more defined. Something very important to me.

DoctorF, while I have had good luck with my short use of casting TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music is jerky in its feed and I did loose my connection to it after about 45 minutes of play. I have not had that issue using the "native" Qobuz.

Still...I am really really happy with this unit. It is a keeper.

 

Maybe casting is just a problem with Amazon music?
I agree it does sound great.

 

That is what I am thinking. lol Only having had this for 24 hours...I have much to explore.

Let me add, it has also added a fullness to the music and even more of a naturalness. I do have a strong belief in the products from PS Audio and I think that the A6 just feeds the Strata better material to really make it shine.

 

When I refer to issues, its not the electronics part the A6 is having trouble with. In that way it works great and sounds good.

The problem is with the apps and how they work ergonomically. With the latest firmware, trying to use Amazon via cast is a pain because of the way scrolling works. Its not smooth at all. One swipe takes you from A to W. Its very hard to dial in. Its herky jerky and hard to manipulate to get where you want to be.

Others have described a similar issue with on board stored music from the memory card. They have said its very rudimentary, and scrolling down either doesn't go down, or it bounces back up to A. I haven't tried that yet but will soon.

 

Bonzo you are on the money with your description of the cast function. As an Amazon Music Unlimited and Apple Music user I can only hope that native streaming is made available soon ... it was rather a misrepresentation by Eversolo to show Amazon Music in that way only to row back from it later saying it was ready to go but awaiting Amazon approval.
As for accessing the music transferred to an SSD I hope that your experience is better than mine and one or two others. Trying to access via the Music icon whether using Artists, Albums or Tracks the dmp-a6 is just unusable as is ... it jumps all over the place when trying to scroll up or down only to jump back to the top after a couple of seconds. Eversolo please sort this out in an otherwise superb streamer/DAC for the money.

 

I am exclusively an Amazon Music user. Having to use the Cast path is a bit of a pain, but not a deal breaker. Also, 192 KHz is always shown as the data rate even though many Amazon songs have a max much lower. I am using an external Schiit Bifrost 2/64 DAC. Easier to listen too for extended periods than the internal, but surgically accurate, DAC... no matter which of the many settings on the internal DAC I select.

Any update on when Amazon will become available in Native format? Would just prefer to see more accurate data and improved Amazon search.

Definitely prefer the DMP-6 over Cambridge CXN V2 (terribly poor app) and the Bluesound N130 with upgraded Power Supply (incremental sound improvement with a wider and deeper stage). The Bluesound App is also more difficult for me to navigate, although I have it on the theatre system (rarely used for music only), and the secondary stereo system in my son's room. Just an additional note: My son agrees the DMP-6 app has improved functionality over the Bluesound app. So it is not just an old guy's opinion.

 

Regarding Amazon, I also went into the cast and below installed Amazon music. I signed up for the Unlimited Ultra HD. Comparing say a tune from the Eric Clapton rarities album between Qubuz and Amazon, the Quboz is better sounding.
Both albums are in 24 bit in Qubuz and Ultra in Amazon. I have attached a screen shot as I am playing a tune it only says HD, and if I tap on it see the pix I took..this is in Amazon..is there a weird setting in DMP-A6 for Amazon?

 

When I was first casting with Amazon, I noticed the same issues in terms of HD vs Ultra HD. From the casting main Amazon screen, I went in to Settings > Playback > Streaming Quality and ensured that "Best Available" was selected. I then noticed that "Ultra HD" would be displayed and then, clicking on that icon, it would show a greater resolution than 16 bit/44.1 KHz.

I had thought that my settings from my main Amazon account would carry over, but it seems you have to check them in the DMP-A6 version of Amazon to be sure.

But, let me add that using the Amazon App via casting, though I might play an album at HD (16 bit/44.1 KHz.), my DAC is showing a 192 KHz stream. On Qobuz, when I play a 16 bit/44.1 KHz album, that is what the DAC shows. So, for the Amazon App, the DMP-A6 seems to be upscaling. I don't have any upscaling set on the DMP-A6. I have it set to output the resolution it is fed.

Hope this helps.

 

Ya I have it set "Best Available" and still just shows HD. I have tried all the settings no change..I get that same string info from the pix I posted.
I have 4 months free so no big thing..Qubuz works fine and I have a huge library on a NAS drive.
Would be nice to try the Amazon as it's only $9.99, where Qobuz is $12.99 in Canada.
Eversolo should add chromcast streaming also..my old Cambridge CXN V2 had it years ago.

 

What is your "External device" and what it is capable of ? The Amazon track on your screenshot is 24/96 so the source is UHD. But then DMP-A6 processes it as 16/44 and your external device is also set to 16/44.
Make sure that in "Audio Settings" Fixed sampling rate is set to Original sampling rate and Eversolo Original sampling rate audio engine is enabled.

 

My external device will only do 96/24 bit. No issues with Qobuz or local files. It seems Amazon related. I will check again...see there was an Android ap update this morning.
I just checked same thing on another song it is HD, then it goes to 16 bit/44 like the screenshot.
Everything is turned on as you mentioned. I have had this 3 months now, and only installed Amazon yesterday. I think it's because it's not a native ap like Tidal and Qobuz.

 

This is my Amazon screen display for the Modern Lovers 88 album:

 

I got mine to work now on some songs..looks like it's not a good Ap in the DMP-A6 compared to Tidal/Qobuz. Actually I don't even like the overall main screen from Amazon, but I have it free for 4 months so I will keep playing with it.