Eversolo DMP 8 audition going poorly...

Return it while you can.   Support from Eversolo is abysmal....  worst I have ever experienced in this hobby in 40 years.  

Or, give it a bit more time to settle in.  Eight hours ain't much!

I have the A8 and before this the Wiim mini and the pro. The problem is streaming in general. It just doesn’t sound as good as CDs.   Even on Qobuz. The CDs that I have ripped and in the internal SSD of the A8 sound great. Best digital sound I have ever gotten. Same DAC and should be same bit rate. They should sound the same. They don’t. The streaming is duller and has less sound stage. If you search on Youtube "streaming vs CD" you will find that several reviewers have found the same thing and on high end gear. One audio dealer even did a polled comparison over YT and about 40 out of 50 picked the local CD as sounding better than streaming.

My own experience with the A8 has been great. To improve your streaming experience, I recommend upgrading your internet connection by using a product like the Ifi galvanic isolator between your router and your A8. I also use a Puron AC Power Conditioner by Greg Voth on my quality power strip. In addition, I recently upgraded with jumpers for my speakers. All of this gives me very good dynamics, soundstage, and resolution. I pulled out my well known vintage pre-amp to use the A8 as my pre and haven’t looked back. I also moved from RCAs to mid grade XLR interconnects from the A8 directly into my LSA Warp1 amp which sounds dynamite. I stream using Qobuz and some Amazon Music.

This combination is the best my system has sounded.

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.