UHD8000 vs DMP A6/A8

I'm delighted with my UHD8000 but just curious to know what the Eversolo A6 and/or the A8 can do/achieve that the UHD8000 can not - anyone?

 

A6 and A8 have local control using the front panel touch screen.

Just for the A8
- It got a truly high end DAC with now the AKM AK4191EQ (digital section) + AK4499EX (analog section) DAC pair of chips. AKM in this setup is often rated just a bit higher than top of the line ES9038(M)PRO. The DAC as a whole in fact is as good as it can get using standard available market components. The analog part got further enhanced using TI OPA1612 AMP's and redeploys the ACCUSILICON femto-clock crystals like the DMP-A6 Master Edition got.
- It got an unspecified DSP (up to 192 kHz) integrated. A blowup of the DAC panel shows a AKM AK7739VQ which should be it.
- It got an Integrated Pre-Amplifier coupled to a transparant R2R ladder step down attenuator for Volume Control. Extra Analog RCA/XLR Inputs connect to this Pre-AMP section of the streamer directly. The R2R ladder volume control uses quality OMRON relays which as a bonus (or nuisance) produce a firm clicking sound when changing volume.
- On the Digital side It adds an IIS Digital Output running via XMOS and doubles SPDIF Inputs. This IIS output can be fed from all digital inputs including SPDIF , HDMI (ARC) and USB! All those inputs then take advantage of the Accusilicon Crystals using an IIS connected external DAC!
- It got a HDMI (ARC) Input which is ARC (eARC backward) compatible up to 192 kHz. This is an excellent alternative for connecting a TV via Optical SPDIF.

 

Thanks @Nice Monkey but I was looking for a comparison, not just what the A8 is capable of.

Anyone else - say @mirror or @Markswift2003 ?

 

I have an A6 and it's an awesome bit of kit. Don't have an A8 but do have a UHD8000 - my opinion is, as always, horses for courses - I would use the 8000 as a movie player with the option of an audio player, but ideally I keep both - a separate player for each.

There's really no correct answer for this. Buy and use what you feel is right and within your needs and you'll b e good.

 

Yes this is what I need to work out. I did ask for a comparison.

Let me ask my question this way: - "What can't the UHD8000 do that the A6 and/or the A8 can" ?

 

It all depends on what you want to use it for. Let me explain better... If you have to use it as a pure streamer for transport only to an external DAC using the USB, coaxial or optical audio output, it doesn't change anything compared to an A6 or an A8. Everything changes if you have to use it with their internal DAC and as a preamp, at which point you have to opt for an A6 master edition or an A8. Personally I have an SMSL DO300 and the internal DAC of the UHD8000 does a great job, I didn't perceive all these big differences compared to the SMSL DO300. The audio playback features are the same in all three, nothing changes.

 

Thanks @enry184 I believe I'm grasping the nettle now. All my kit bar my speakers and turntable are housed in a single, horizontal door fronted twin shelf unit so useage can be limited but for meters of cable of one type or another lol! It's in a furnitur style - my late wife insisted upon it this way, so no steel racks etc

Reason for raising this thread is for some forward planning. I've currently 3 x DACs - the one in the UHD8000, my Eversolo DAC-Z8 and my Gustard X-16 for MQA playback. The latter has become redundant. I need to remove meters of cabling and make the residual kit more comfortable, not to mention the mass of wires behind it.

I love the versatility of the UHD8000 and loving the MCH DSD and the Atmos stuff I have. In summary, I now believe I have enough shiny toys. I'm still experimenting and later today/tomorrow I shall work out whether to install UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) and see what sounds it can generate relative to MP8

Thanks all for your support - it is much appreciated

 

The UHD8000 is an all in one machine that allows you to do everything (video and audio) with a single chassis. I am very happy with the purchase. The MP8 works great and everything is controlled from the tablet/smartphone like the Eversolo. There is no need and no reason to install UAPP.

 

I hear you - I have already tried Tidal Connect through the Controller app, but it won't play Tidal Atmos, you need the full App for that. I have been with UAPP since the beginning and feel some allegiance, so would like to compare. More recently though since MP7 was introduced on my Z1000 Pro, I haven't been using it so it will be interesting trying it - it does have better integration between files stored and your Tidal Favourites, stored on their servers though but I'll see how it works on the UHD8000.

 

Yes...unfortunately to use Dolby Atmos with Tidal, you need to install the complete app internally but fortunately the UHD8000 has the cast function and I can access the Tidal app from the tablet without problems and without any need to turn on the TV.

 

Ohh you can? I'll have to look more carefully - thanks

 

Of course you can!

 

I have Tidal on 2 month trial. I downloaded the inbuild app but it kept crashing. So I downloaded the Tidal app on my phone and used the Tidal connect method. Works really well with both Hi res and Atmos music.

 

How do you get Atmos to work with tidal connect? I'm left with stereo

 

Mark Swift: Don't know if you have tried Roon but the implementation on the UHD8000 thus far is faulty --everything is downmixed to 2 channels. Didn't have this problem with the A6 (which I retired when I got the UHD8000).

 

I don't know TBH -it just worked straight away - see screen shots. The inbuilt app did as well but it kept crashing or resetting.

 

But that's really absurd! It works for you and not for me! At this point I think it could depend on the edid between the UHD8000 and the amplifier. The strange thing is that with the internal Tidal app installed in the UHD8000, the Atmos works...booo?

 

Never used Roon so can't comment.

 

As I imagined the problem is in my Denon AVC-A1HD which is not Dolby Atmos certified. I connected the UHD8000 directly to my LG oled tv which is an Atmos certified device and using Tidal connect, it plays in 6-channel Atmos. To understand why instead with its app installed internally, everything works perfectly and the amplifier encodes everything in Dolby Digital Plus.

 

I think I was under the impression that by Casting you could play Tidal - ATMOS tracks/albums etc. As with Tidal Connect you cannot as far as I can see. I can when playing via the Installed Tidal App but not by Casting or using the Connect app