T8 drops sync to DAC over coax during pause/skip/stop playback

With all due respect to the technical points regarding the IEC 60958 protocol, I have personally experienced these issues and have spent a significant amount of time testing various scenarios to understand the root cause.

I’ve tested the T8 (and other models like the A6/A8) with a vintage DPA Bigger Bit DAC. My findings are quite revealing:

Internet Radio Works Perfectly: When streaming Internet Radio, where the digital carrier remains constant, there are no pops or clicks at all. This proves the DAC can handle the signal just fine when it is continuous.

The Roon Proof: Using Roon to force a constant sample rate (e.g., 48kHz) and a continuous clock signal also eliminates the issue.

This suggests that the problem is not the DAC's failure to handle the protocol, but rather the EOS Engine dropping or destabilizing the signal between tracks in apps like Apple Music or Tidal.

If Roon and Internet Radio apps can provide a stable stream that works perfectly with my DAC, why shouldn't the native Eversolo player offer a 'Constant SPDIF Clock' option? This would make the T8 a truly universal transport for both vintage and modern equipment.

 

GrzegorzP hello my friend

I disable the eos engine with no luck.

I am using only tidal.

 

The fact that disabling the EOS engine changes nothing confirms that this is not just a software layer issue, but a fundamental behavior of how the T8's digital output driver handles the SPDIF session. My tests with Internet Radio and Roon (forced 48kHz) are the 'smoking gun' here. They prove that when the T8 is forced to maintain a continuous digital carrier, the DAC works flawlessly. The moment we switch to Tidal or Apple Music, the T8 drops the SPDIF lock between tracks—likely to reset the state or 'save' the session—causing the pops and clicks.
This is a clear firmware oversight for a device marketed as a high-end transport. We don't need workarounds; we need a 'Constant SPDIF Clock / Keep Alive' toggle in the system settings. If the T8 is to be a truly universal streamer, it must support the timing requirements of external DACs via Coaxial by maintaining a constant carrier signal, rather than allowing the session to drop.

 

OK, will try to get one.

 

When a signal is interrupted or the sampling rate changes, the IEC958 header includes a flag to notify the DAC so that it should mute appropriately. However, many older DACs do not follow this protocol. As I mentioned before, we will do our best to ensure compatibility with these older DACs, such as maintaining signal continuity. But please refrain from unnecessary speculation.

 

We will provide a test version. When playback is paused, the device will continuously output silent data so that the lock will not be lost. However, if the sample rate changes—for example, from 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz—we must reinitialize the clock, and the receiver may briefly lose lock.

 

Thank you for the update. I’m glad to hear about the test version!
To clarify: on my T8, manually pressing pause does not currently cause clicks, which suggests the clock remains active in that state. The issue occurs specifically between tracks in apps like Apple Music or Tidal, where the system seems to terminate the audio session for a split second before the next song starts. If your 'silent data' fix ensures that the SPDIF carrier remains active during these gaps between tracks (and not just during a manual pause), it will perfectly solve the problem for my vintage DAC.
I fully understand that a sample rate change (e.g., 44.1kHz to 48kHz) will still require a reinitialization—this is acceptable.

I am ready to test this beta version on my T8 as soon as it is available. Please let me know the best way to access it.

 

Thank you for looking into the compatibility with my older DAC. I truly appreciate your effort to ensure signal continuity.
It’s worth noting that many music enthusiasts still use vintage DACs, and there is a large secondary market for these devices. Often, these older units offer exceptional sound quality that can surpass modern entry-level DACs at a fraction of the cost. By providing robust support for these 'legacy' devices, the T8 becomes an even more attractive option for people who want a modern, high-tech streamer like the T8 but wish to keep their beloved vintage analog sound. This compatibility is a great selling point for the T8 as a universal transport.

 

https://forum.zidoo.tv/index.php?th...are-volunteer-group.101395/page-8#post-281127

 

Who will upgrade to the test version first? Please send me the MAC address of your T8 device and the current firmware version via private message, and we will push the test version to your device.

 

Do we have any news yet about the test firmware?

 

Hello there
The test firmware installed
It works now flawless with spdf. No recloking any more on what ever you do with control buttons. Play stop pause skipping change track I have a STEADY CLOCK. No RECLOKING ANY MORE.
Eversolo team you nailed.

 

Hmmm I found a glitch in 1.5.64 test firmware

The issue is only when you switch from 16bit to 24 bit and vise versa. There is no sound at all. If you for example playing a 44k 16 bit track and then the other track is 44k 24 bit then .... No sound. Silence. All of these occur only if I enable the continues output in spdf setting. If I leave it off then all ok as with 1.5.60 except you have the recloking issue..

 

After a more detailed research in test firmware 1.5.64 with the new setting "spdf continues output" about the bit depth issue I found that only happens with tracks with same sample rate but only with different bit depth. For example you have 2 tracks with 44k. One is 16 bit and the other is 24bit. If you play the 16 bit ok. The going to the other 24 bit NO SOUND. But if you have 2 tracks for example one 44k 16 or 24 bit and another let's say any different sample rate 96 192 k 24 or 16 bit change between them working flawless all ok.

The issue occurs only with same sample rates different bit depths tracks.

Obviously you understand that for this to workaround you only have to force the dac to reclock one more time to play the track with no sound. For example you play 44k 16bit. Then try to play 44k 24bit NO SOUND. For this you have find a random track with only different sample rate to force the dac to reclock then back to 44k 24bit recloking again and you have sound with this 44k 24bit track.

Ohh God I found another issue

If you select from settings not "original sample rate" but a fixed sample rate you are not possible any more to play anything different from the sample rate you set.

For example let's say you select the 44k continues output. Then its impossible to to play anything above the 44k. ONLY 44K is possible.