Eversolo DMP 8 audition going poorly...

I am really happy with the A8 for streaming Tidal only .  I have the Laiv DAC and c2800 pre amplifier.  Maybe you are asking to much for the internal DAC?  The A8 with EQ filters and all streaming features(radio, youtube, Tidal, qobuz, roon ) is a great streamer in that price range specially with its I2S output.  You need to pair it with a decent DAC.

I am using the same power cord than yours. 

Macg19, there is setting in A8 audio menu to bypass internal sampling/processing .  When it is enable, the A8 will stream directly the flac files to and external dac without processing. I prefer this setting to on.  

Check for : Eversolo original sampling rate audio engine.

Now, let your A8 plays radioparadise for a week 24h/day and come back to us with your impressions. I would be really surprised to see that you still prefer the node steamer...

The A8 is a completely difefrent animal with EQ, DSP, I2S, features.  Personally, I prefer streaming pcm than listening flac files stored with the A8 but I upgraded all my network route with better switch, FMC, ethernet Cat8 cables etc,,,,

I upgraded from the A6 with LHY power supply to the A8.  The A8 is step up regarding soundstage size.

If you want to exprience deep, wide 3D soundstage with A8, you need to correct your speakers with DSP but it is another story...