Eversolo T8 vs Lumin U2 and Laiv Harmony DAC


Tested the Eversolo T8 for a couple days now.

Some quick points: 

In a stereo setup with USB to Fezz Audio Equinox tube DAC with Fezz Lybra 300B amp and Harbeth HL5+ XD speakers against the Lumin U2. The Eversolo is compressed between the speakers. Sound stage is just within each speaker and vocals very centered. The Lumin U2 extends the sound stage about 10 feet outside the speakers either side and much more 3D depth. Instruments and vocals much more in real positions rather than compressed to center.

In headphone setup with LAIV Harmony DAC to Woo Audio WA22 balanced tube amp and Focal Utopia. USB sounds more organic but a little less clear. I2S sounds more detailed but has a slight harshness. Almost like the I2S connection is not perfectly matching to the LAIV I2S input. Compared to Denafrips ARCE into Ares 15th with I2S I would say the Denafrips is a little warmer and more musical with good sync between streamer and DAC. 

Just some initial thoughts. Overall for the price it is a good streamer. Lumin U2 is much much better.

I'll wait for the LAIV streamer and return the Eversolo.

calieng

Leaving it on isn’t the same as playing music through it.  I’d give it at least 100 hours of playing time before making any conclusions if at all possible. 

Yes Roon was streaming the whole time.

I do not believe in burn in for solid state digital devices other than an hour or so for capacitor forming. Maybe the linear power transformer warms up after an hour.

Now for vacuum tubes they can change their tone as they age.

The rest of it is just your ears getting used to the sound.

Your ears are not deceiving you, Eversolo is just OK.   Way overhyped.  Terrible support 

I don’t expect what you heard to change after 200hrs but I’ve had DAC that took 200-300hrs to settle. Power supply, analog stages. 
But no the streamer won’t blow out to additional 20 feet of soundstage. 

So you are saying that the Eversolo compresses the soundstage? I was looking at getting one to replace my Node 2i but if it compresses the wonderful soundstage that the Node 2i has, I may reconsider.