Eversolo DMP-A6

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I have been getting more and more curious about hi-res audio over the past year or so, primarily due to @Aadams and his excellent Streaming as a System Upgrade thread. I had been considering seeking out a dedicated streamer for hi-res audio, and decided now would be the time to do so (before tariffs significantly raise their prices).

After some research, I decided to pull the trigger on an Eversolo DMP-A6.

 

It's not a cheap streamer, currently $769 at online retailers. W/r/t looks, it's a sleek little box, roughly 10.5" wide with a 6" diagonal touch screen. Size was an important consideration for me as I wanted it to fit neatly between my living room Marantz NR1510 a/v receiver and the AR XA turntable. This is my setup feeding my AR-9LSi speakers.

The DMP-A6 is packed with features and supports about any digital format you please. See specs here: https://www.eversolo.com/Product/index/model/DMP-A6/target/7abWHw%2B%2BoHhKKmVViAFMcQ%3D%3D.html. It contains onboard apps for many streaming services, including Tidal, my primary source for hi-res audio.

Consider this write-up preliminary as I've been suffering through some bugs and frustration with the unit I received. There are numerous outputs on the back of the machine: RCA, XLR, HDMI, Coax, and Optical. Playback is possible through one output at a time and must be selected through a settings menu. Unfortunately the RCA outputs on my machine are not functioning, which took some time to determine was a problem with the unit and not my operation of it or a faulty cable. Because of this, I plan on sending this unit back this week for a replacement. I ended up using the HDMI output.

I wish I could say that was the only problem I've had with this. The A6 has 32 gigs of onboard memory for transfer of local media files and has an M.2 SSD slot which supports up to 4tb of memory. Along with the A6, I ordered a 2tb SSD to store my FLAC CD rips and downloads of hi-res files (most of which have come with vinyl purchases). Installation of the SSD is very easy with the slot being accessible via a hatch on the underside of the box. Eversolo even includes a screwdriver to remove the single screw on the hatch. When I restarted the A6 after SSD installation, the unit couldn't find the drive. This turns out to be a common problem. Apparently with many SSD drives, the A6 may not recognize one that is not pre-formatted.

A workaround for this is to install the SSD on a different device, format it, then reinstall it in the A6. Unfortunately for me, I have older computers with no M.2 SSD slot. I found someone in my town online that was willing to help me out with a quick format (thanks, Francisco). But after reinstallation, the SSD was still not recognized by the A6. That's another thing that needs to work on my replacement unit if I'm going to keep the device. I also plan on ordering an external SSD case so that I can experiment with formatting and transferring files faster from my computer (external SSD holders retail for about $20).

One last bug: last night after returning from a week-long trip, the A6 had developed an odd error while streaming in which an internal server error would be displayed and music would not play if the unit was left to idle for some time. That problem seems to have resolved itself overnight.

But let's discuss the good. The touchscreen is slick and intuitive to use. It sits at eye height for my daughter and allows her to select music. She's 2 and has mastered it quickly which speaks to how easy it is to select tunes.

Sound quality is excellent, especially on hi-res files. Hi-res is a major step up for this living room system and the LSi's are singing. Lately I have been dipping into the newest hi-res releases for the Charles Ives 150th anniversary. I also discovered that huge chunks of Harry Nilsson's discography has been recently remastered into hi-res, so we've been playing some of our favorites from that catalog. There is always the possibility of confirmation bias, but I think I can tell a sizable difference in sound quality between 16-bit CD quality and 24-bit hi-res.

I will update my impressions once I receive the replacement unit. I can't say this hasn't been a frustrating experience despite enjoying several hours of hi-res listening.