UHD8000 vs DMP A6/A8

Can't you always play them through Roon? I assume you mean flac files in pcm 5.1 anyway. I honestly don't have any individual flac files in 5.1. The only pcm 5.1 files I've listened to were inside bluray live and bluray audio, so I can't help you. I couldn't get Dolby Atmos to work with tidal through Roon.

 

I think you need to invoke the Main HDMI for Flac /PCM but you probably have done that

 

I have two devices DMP A6 Master with Z3000 Pro and the A6 sound better on my Onkyo Z70 AVR.

I just wish to interact between the two in the app and the audio. it will be amazing!

 

In fact, we are talking about the UHD8000 here, which is superior to the Z3000 PRO.

 

Yes I know, so if you give up the touch screen on the A6/A8 devices, it's probably the same device (UHD8000).

 

Yes exactly but compared to the A6 and the UHD8000, the A8 has both analog and digital inputs and can be used as a high-level PRE connected directly to one or more power amplifiers. It all depends on the type of use you need to make of it. Using digital sources, the A6 could also be used as a PRE but it is not up to the level of the A8

 

My friend has A6 master edition. And he is thinking about buying UHD8000 and worried about music quality.
I guess if we are talking about analog outputs A6 is a way more better. But he has external DAC as well. What about coax or optic outputs? Is there any difference between A6 and UHD8000 in case of using as music streamer?

 

Don't buy the UHD8000 as a Streamer that's not what it's positioned as. Use for local files. Audio quality is unsurpassed right now across the Zidoo & Eversolo ranges and is currently the Flagship model

 

If you only need to use it as an audio streamer, there is no point in buying the UHD8000. Buy the Eversolo A6 which is fine. If instead you need an all in one machine that also plays 4K video files and iso, etc etc, then the UHD8000 is the perfect machine that does everything very well and is also a very good audio streamer

 

No, he thinks about video as well. Video is not his priority right now, he has old Z9X for that, but if he need to buy one more streamer - it would be good to have and music and video in the same device. He has A6 already and he wants to purchase something else for the other room. Since he has A6 he just doesn't want to buy something that is not as good in audio as A6. If UHD8000 is capable to provide the same audio quality as a streamer - he will be happy to buy it and use as universal tool - as video player connected to receiver and as audio streamer connected to external DAC.
In case if A6 provides better sound quality he might consider to buy something else as sound streamer and use Z9X as video player for a while.

 

If you also need to use it as a video source, then you can safely buy it and have an all in one machine capable of processing audio and video at a very high level. I think that if both are used only as transport to an external dac, you will not notice any audio difference.

I do not know the dac of the DMP-A6 so I cannot tell you if the dac of the UHD8000 is superior or not but I can tell you one thing... As an external dac I have an SMSL DO300 connected via USB to the UHD8000 and doing the quick switch between the dac DO300 and dac UHD8000, I do not notice big differences, both sound very similar

 

I have yet to do a comparioson between my external DAC the Eversolo Z-8 and using the UHD8000. May I ask @Nice Monkey exactly what the DACs are exactly in the UHD8000, the Z-8, the A-8 and the A-6 please?

 

That would require making a table for: DAC chip(s) model, Crystals, Analog section and PSU deployed. These are the relevant factors. The crystals are the most critical component on that list in my hearing tests. Never heard the analog design or Sabre ESS model differences during A-B tests but yes you can measure those differences for sure. The PSU is more a general audio perception but for sure relevant.

In short A8 and A6ME rate highest (also listening to those myself). Designs scoring lowest on the PSU. Differences between SABRE and AKM are minimal and I couldn't pin them. Some audiophiles rate AKM marginal higher during their reviews.

A6SE , Z-8, UHD8000 have differences regarding individual strong points (never could compare those, just have an A6SE with upgraded Linear PSU). My guess is that they will sound very close and you will have a very tough job to find differences with selected albums and passages.

Just look at the new A10 which confirms my focus on crystals: It got even better ones.

 

Thanks @Nice Monkey , that explains a lot - very much appreciated

 

I have recently moved my Eversolo A6 to my work desk for a headphone setup. I’m thinking if UHD 8000 will make any sense purely as a video player/transport for my HT setup? As it will be running through my Marantz Cinema 50 for DLBC EQ which will engage the AVR DAC thus the superior DAC in UHD 8000 doesn’t make much sense right? In this case, will the cheapest Z9x 8k model works? I will not be using the HDD slot as I’m running a NAS for the setup.

 

A Z9X 8K will do just fine. I don't see any advantage using a UHD8000 here. Use my own Z9X 8K with a USB Docking and my Onkyo TX-RZ70 for the same reason.

The biggest problems left for my use:
- Time shift subtitles does not work mapped to cursor up/down yet. It can be mapped but does nothing.
- The BD menu processing has too many flaws making some discs unplayable (even without menu).