Eversolo DMP-A8 vs iPhone plugged directly to integrated amp - why no difference?


I just got the Eversolo DMP-A8. Setup was very easy. Plugged it in and started playing some tracks and was not blown away. Admittedly, my system is nice to me but not high-end by any means. Primaluna Prologue integrated amp and Audio Note AZ3 speakers. Was previously streaming through a sonos port and using the Cambridge DacMagic. Always sounded fine to me as an amateur but had been curious to step things up a notch in my digital music.

Since I wasn't entirely sure if the Eversolo was doing all that it should (and the sonos and Cambridge are in storage so couldn't compare - been away for a while) I went ahead and plugged my iPhone into the amp through RCA adapter and there is literally no difference. I tried so many songs, with the A8 reading highest quality stream on Tidal, and I switched back and forth between the two with practically no difference in same songs. Even if the A8 doesn't have the greatest DAC on earth, shouldn't it still be night and day between that and an iPhone plugged directly into the amp with no DAC at all? Now I'm really curious to get the Sonos and DacMagic out of storage and see if that sounds any different at all.

I may not have the most trained ears on earth but surely there must be something I'm doing wrong in setup or connection, no? For what it's worth I added some IsoAcoustics GAIA III speaker feet and the difference in sound after that is immediately apparent. I know it's comparing apples to strawberries but my ears are hearing that difference and yet zero with an almost $2000 streamer/DAC compared to an iPhone plugged direct??

Is it possible the Primaluna and Audio Notes aren't good enough to feature the difference??? I'm open to any possibility. 

Can just as easily go back to the cheaper set up and get back my $2k? But would like to make sure I'm hearing this thing as it's meant to be heard if it's a user error.

Appreciate any thoughts anyone has.

juanitro

Showing 10 responses by macg19

I just tried this. I said "hello". The response was "stop listening to nutcases on Audiogon"

I’m no expert but my first question would be what is your streaming source and is the stream resolution set correctly. Also interconnect cables do matter.

But yes a $2K streamer/DAC should sound better than an iPhone. Heck, a $500 BlueSound Node sounds way better than an iPhone. 

@ghdprentice I have zero evidence but my gut tells me Eversolo is nothing more than a short-term private equity play. Maybe a HiFi Rose knock-off.

Their About Us page on their website is informative. Meaningless company description and the same stock pic of hands on a keyboard on Eversolo and their parent company Zidoo’s website.

 

 

 

@painter24 +1 And it stops playing music when I leave the house which really annoys my wife.

@jasonbourne71 Ha! A bit too quick on the draw there buddy, I said a $2,000 streamer/DAC SHOULD sound better, not WILL sound better. If it doesn’t send it back.

And you also missed the Node reference, which I own. $400. Sounds really good and yes, better than  my iPhone.

 

My wife has the aA 8  and forsure you need a good Ethernet cable from your router  ,the most important is going to the A8 at least a $4-500 (ethernet) cable

Where is @jasonbourne71 when you need him? 

@lanx0003 You're kinda helping my case...but my claim was that my gut (intuition) tells me the Company is in it for a quick buck as opposed to a long-term strategy of making high-quality gear and earning a good reputation. It is how I feel. I don't have to prove how I feel to anyone (actually I did by stating it), and of course anyone is entitled to disagree with me.

There is nothing illegal or even immoral really about any Company that want's to make a quick buck (as long as they aren't stealing IP). There are hundreds of such companies in this industry. 

 

@lanx0003 

Statements like the one you made could potentially destroy their dreams.

Let's bring this back to planet earth shall we.

The global audio consumer market doesn't give a hoot what I think. My potential to destroy anyone's hopes and dreams in an industry where I am just another consumer is akin to removing a grain of sand from a beach and suggesting I accelerated beach erosion.

But I'll give you a gold star and permission to pat yourself on the back for defending the capable young women and men who are potentially pursuing their dreams and aiming to become entrepreneurs and pioneers in the audio industry. Whomever they are, I sincerely hope they are paid well and treated fairly. 

However, a true hero would have sold the unsatisfactory product on the used market and allowed the Company to profit from the sale rather than incur a loss processing the return. 

Hi y’all

I’ve come back to this thread to correct a wrong and apologize to Eversolo and to anyone offended by my unwarranted opinion.

I auditioned the Eversolo DMP-A8 (as some on this very thread know from a recent post about the audition).

I think the A8 is a very nice piece of kit and likely competes very well against the HiFi Rose 150 (as one example), but $3K less money.