EverSolo DMP-A8 Master Edition Gen 2

Eversolo DMP-A8 Master Edition Gen 2: the network player that plays back your CDs

Fitting a network player, a DAC, a preamplifier and a CD player into a single enclosure often sounds like a marketing brochure claim. Yet Eversolo has taken this route with the second generation of the DMP-A8, and the Master Edition goes one step further by bringing the physical disc back into the equation. Network playback, CD ripping, high-resolution conversion: everything now goes through the same touchscreen front panel.

An integrated top-loading CD player

This is the most visible difference from the standard version: a direct-loading CD mechanism sits on top of the enclosure. Eversolo says it has not repurposed a computer optical drive, but developed a dedicated mechanism designed to run without unwanted vibration and read discs with advanced error correction.

The player does more than simply play discs: it rips them to internal storage. Cover art, tracks and metadata are retrieved automatically, with duplicate detection to avoid importing the same album twice. For those who still own a physical collection, it is a way to transfer it to files without using a computer.

Two AKM chips to separate digital and analog

Conversion is based on a pair of AKM chips: the AK4191EQ handles the digital signal section, while the AK4499EXEQ takes care of the actual analog conversion. Separating these two stages onto distinct components keeps inherently noisy digital processing away from sensitive analog circuits. The intended result: a quieter background and better instrument separation.

AKM’s Velvet Sound technology also comes into play for vocal rendering and spatial placement. In terms of formats, the DMP-A8 Master Edition Gen 2 plays lossless files such as FLAC, WAV and APE, and supports up to DSD512. Its stated measurements—0.000075% distortion (THD+N) and a 129 dB signal-to-noise ratio—place the conversion at the level expected from a device of this class. A dual power supply, with a linear section dedicated to analog circuitry and a stated noise floor of 20 µV, completes the package.

A temperature-controlled clock to combat jitter

Here is the other major difference compared with the standard model. The Master Edition features an oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO): the quartz is kept at a stable temperature, limiting frequency drift caused by ambient variations. The aim is to reduce jitter, the tiny timing shifts in the digital signal that blur the clarity of the soundstage. Eversolo states jitter is kept below 50 femtoseconds.

A phase-locked loop (PLL) further stabilizes and synchronizes the clock. And for those who already have an external reference clock, a 10 MHz input (50 Ω impedance) allows it to be connected. This level of refinement will mainly appeal to already highly developed systems; in a more modest setup, the benefit will remain subtler.

A balanced preamplifier with R-2R volume control

Where many network players are limited to a line output, the DMP-A8 Master Edition Gen 2 incorporates a genuine fully balanced preamplifier, with XLR and RCA inputs and outputs, plus adjustable analog gain up to +10 dB. Volume adjustment uses an R-2R resistor network, an analog method that preserves dynamics and channel balance even at low levels, where purely digital attenuation tends to sacrifice bits.

In practical terms, you can connect a power amplifier or active speakers directly and control the entire system from this single enclosure. In pure transport use, in-house digital control (EVC engine) takes over without audible loss. The preamplifier also accepts an analog source through its inputs, allowing you to connect, for example, a turntable fitted with its own phono preamp.

Optical fiber, HDMI ARC and subwoofer output

The rear connectivity is extensive. An optical SFP network port sits alongside Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6: fiber galvanically isolates the network stream from electrical interference, a solution for setups where the network pollutes the signal. SFP modules are sold separately, however, in single- or dual-fiber single-mode versions.

For TV use, an HDMI ARC/eARC input retrieves sound from televisions and projectors in lossless quality, allowing the DMP-A8 Master Edition Gen 2 to serve as the centerpiece of a Hi-Fi home theater system. A dedicated subwoofer output, with an adjustable crossover frequency between 40 and 500 Hz, reinforces the low end when a subwoofer is added.

The rest follows suit: coaxial and optical inputs (up to 192 kHz/24-bit, DSD64 in DoP), USB-B input (DSD512, 768 kHz/32-bit), AES/EBU, IIS and USB audio outputs for use as a transport with an external DAC, plus Bluetooth 5.4. The IIS output offers eight configurable pinouts, a workaround made necessary by the lack of a single standard for this connection.

The screen, app and room correction

An 8.6-inch LCD touchscreen occupies the front panel and acts as the control center: library navigation, input selection, settings, as well as VU meter and spectrum analyzer displays that Eversolo has carefully developed. The interface has been redesigned for this generation, with new animations synchronized to the music. The entire system can also be controlled via the Eversolo app (phone, tablet, browser, TV) or the supplied remote control, with dual Bluetooth and infrared connectivity.

The DMP-A8 Master Edition Gen 2 includes the evotune PRO acoustic correction system. A measurement microphone (preferably a dedicated USB model, or a smartphone’s microphone) measures the behavior of sound in the room, then FIR filtering corrects frequency response, timing and spatial distribution. Fine adjustments further expand the package: a 20-band parametric equalizer, FIR filter import and oversampling up to 16×. These tools are useful in a difficult room; however, they require a little method to be used without degrading the sound.

Local storage and platform access

Under the enclosure, an M.2 NVMe slot accommodates an SSD (up to 8 TB, not supplied), which can be installed without dismantling the enclosure; USB OTG expansion remains possible. Enough to store a large music library locally, indexed quickly thanks to the octa-core processor and 8 GB of RAM, with Eversolo mentioning the indexing of very large libraries in just a few hours. Network shares (SMB, NFS, WebDAV) provide access to a NAS or home server.

For subscriptions, the DMP-A8 Master Edition Gen 2 integrates Qobuz, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, HIGHRESAUDIO and Internet radio, while supporting Spotify Connect Lossless, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect and DLNA protocols. The in-house EOS audio engine bypasses Android’s resampling limitations to preserve a bit-perfect stream.

Technical Specifications

General

• Model: DMP-A8 Master Edition Gen 2
• Integrated functions: streamer, DAC, CD player and analog preamplifier
• Display: 8.6-inch (21.8 cm) touchscreen LCD panel
• Aerospace-grade aluminum chassis
• Dimensions: 388 × 265 × 98.5 mm (W × D × H)
• Net weight: 6 kg
• Gross weight: 8.45 kg

Hardware Architecture

• Audio processor: Eversolo AuralEngine
• Digital-to-analog converter: AK4499EXEQ paired with AK4191EQ digital processor
• AKM Velvet Sound technology
• Operational amplifiers: OPA1612
• Memory: 8 GB DDR5 + 64 GB eMMC
• High-performance octa-core processor
• R-2R volume control
• Fully balanced preamplifier architecture
• High-quality low-noise dual power supply, with separate linear and digital sections
• Electrical isolation
• External clock input: adaptive 10 MHz, 50 Ω input impedance

Storage and Expansion

• M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD slot, 2280 form factor
• Maximum supported capacity: 1 × 8 TB
• USB OTG expansion supported
• SSD not included

Network Connectivity

• Ethernet RJ-45 (10 / 100 / 1000 Mbit / s)
• Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
• Dedicated SFP optical network port
  • Compatible SFP modules: gigabit single-fiber single-mode, gigabit dual-fiber single-mode and SFP copper network communication modules
  • SFP+ not supported
  • SFP module sold separately
  • Recommended modules (pair of same-brand and same-model 1310 nm single-mode SFP modules): StarTech SFPGLCLHSMST, 10Gtek ASF13-24-10, TP-Link TL-SM311LSA-2KM, TP-Link TL-SM312LS-40KM
• Bluetooth 5.4 with Qualcomm QCC3095 flagship audio receiver module
• Wake-on-LAN
  • Requires a wired Ethernet connection or SFP optical network port connection
  • Control device on the same local network

Audio Inputs

• USB-B audio input
  • Compatibility: Windows 10 / 11, macOS, Android and iOS
  • Supports up to stereo DSD512 and PCM 768 kHz / 32-bit
• Optical and coaxial inputs
  • Supports up to stereo PCM 192 kHz / 24-bit and DSD64 via DoP
• HDMI ARC / eARC input
  • Supports up to stereo PCM 192 kHz / 24-bit
• Analog audio input
  • Balanced XLR + unbalanced RCA (pre-input)
  • Input range: RCA maximum 2.1 Vrms; XLR maximum 4.2 Vrms
  • Gain up to +10 dB with the high-performance preamplifier circuit
• Bluetooth 5.4 input

Audio Outputs

• USB audio output
  • Supports up to stereo native DSD512 and PCM 768 kHz / 32-bit
  • Compatible only with UAC-compliant USB DACs
• IIS audio output
  • Supports up to stereo native DSD512 and PCM 768 kHz / 32-bit
  • 8 configurable IIS output modes
• AES / EBU output
  • Professional balanced XLR interface
  • Supports up to stereo PCM 192 kHz / 24-bit and DoP64
• Optical and coaxial outputs
  • Supports up to stereo PCM 192 kHz / 24-bit and DSD64 via DoP
• Analog audio output
  • Balanced XLR + unbalanced RCA (pre-output)
• Dedicated SUB output for subwoofer
  • Adjustable crossover frequency: 40-500 Hz

XLR Output Audio Specifications

• Output level: 4.2 V
• Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 kHz, XLR / RCA ±0.25 dB
• THD+N: 0.000075% (-122 dB)
• Dynamic range: > 129 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio: > 129 dB
• Crosstalk: > 133 dB

RCA Output Audio Specifications

• Output level: 2.1 V
• Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 kHz, XLR / RCA ±0.25 dB
• THD+N: 0.000086% (-121 dB)
• Dynamic range: > 127 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio: > 127 dB
• Crosstalk: > 131 dB

CD Playback

• Custom CD playback system, optimized for quiet and stable operation
• High-precision error correction
• Enhanced ripping system
  • Automatic retrieval of album artwork, track information and metadata
  • Intelligent error correction and compensation
  • Duplicate detection

Signal Processing and Audio Features

• Proprietary EOS audio engine (Bit-Perfect path bypassing Android SRC limitations)
• Support for third-party applications with the EOS engine for high-resolution Bit-Perfect output
• Supported audio formats: DSD, MQA, FLAC, APE, WAV, DSD512, PCM 768 kHz / 32-bit
• Audio upsampling up to 16×
• Global fade-in / fade-out for local music, integrated streaming services and third-party applications
• Professional 20-band parametric equalizer
  • DSP EQ adjustment range: 3.51 Hz-20000 Hz
  • Precise adjustment of frequency, gain and Q factor
  • FIR filter import, loudness control, dynamic range compression
• Proprietary EVC volume engine
• evotune™ PRO room correction
  • DRC-based modeling and FIR filtering
  • Supports dedicated USB measurement microphones and smartphone microphones
  • Custom correction filter generation

Interface and Visualization

• Redesigned user interface
• VU meters and dynamic spectrum visualizations
• Dynamic visual effects synchronized with music

Streaming Services and Protocols

• Supported music services: TIDAL, Qobuz, HIGHRESAUDIO, Amazon Music, IDAGIO, Calm Radio, Internet Radio, TuneIn, Radio Paradise, Deezer, SoundCloud, Presto Music, Apple Music, Spotify
• Streaming protocols: Spotify Connect Lossless, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, DLNA / UPnP, Network Audio Adapter
• File-sharing protocols: SMB, NFS, WebDAV
• NAS, private cloud and network storage device compatibility
• Automatic intelligent metadata classification
• Integrated streaming services depend on platform certification status and firmware updates

Control and Operation

• Control methods: touchscreen control, Eversolo Control app, remote control
• Eversolo Control app available on smartphone, tablet, Web and TV
• Damped rotary knob with micrometer markings
• Real-time synchronization of device status

Power Supply

• Voltage: AC 110-240 V, 50 / 60 Hz
• Rated power: 30 W

Included Accessories

• Dual-mode remote control (Bluetooth and infrared) with alloy housing × 1
• Power cable × 1
• Product manual × 1
• Screwdriver × 1