Eversolo Streamer Help!


I am here for two reasons:

To let people know of the 'challenging' product support situation for (my) Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer; and

To see if I can get help finding a solution.

 

A short Summary:

o  After reading reviews and recommendations, five months ago I purchased a new Eversolo DMP-A8. I did this for one principal reason; the ease with which I could assemble individual playlists of decades long favorite music tracks. [I did also install the recommended internal SSD drive.]

o  Also after looking at reviews and recommendations I chose the Tidal app as the system to use and proceeded to assembled a couple of playlists.

o  In about a month or so the playlist tracks began to suffer sound breakups; or 'stutter' as Eversolo named it. It was random at first but soon became unlistenable.

o  Being past the Amazon stated 30 day return date I contacted Eversolo by email and thus started a five months long troubleshooting process that has ended unsatisfactorily. [The extended time due to travel schedules.]

o Facts: the Tidal playlists play without a problem on my computer and phone. The playlists also work fine when using the Eversolo DMP's Bluetooth connection(phone), The playlists work fine on my auto Bluetooth system(phone). Albums ripped directly into the Eversolo streamer work without a problem!

o  Eversolo's R & D section conclusion: Tidal has an issue; "....the problem is due to the streaming media server rather than the[their] device itself."

o  My conclusion: My DMP-A8 has a bad Tidal app. [Wrong!][Logical thought.]

o  My action; this week, after months of frustration, was to switch to Qobuz.[Logical idea!]

o  Twenty songs into my 81 track playlist things went south into the same issue as with Tidal!!

o  Well, for not the first time, I asked Eversolo to take the unit back and send me a new one. Their answer; "If you still need to apply for a replacement or repair of the device, since our headquarters is in China,...", it is going to be difficult; costing a lot of money and time. 

I have a full and documented paper trail of all of the work I have been asked to do in the troubleshooting process. At all times Eversolo's rep has been responsive. But, it has led nowhere; an apparently well thought of piece of equipment that will not do what I bought it for!

I follow Audiogon's blog regularly and I have not seen this problem talked about before.

Does anyone have a recommended repair approach?

Thanks for listening.

 

dtgunn365

I had an issue with Apple Music. After two weeks or so, the unit installed an automatic firmware update. The firmware update caused Apple Music to stop working (which was the main reason I bough the Eversolo DMP A6 Gen 2). 

I reset the firmware to the factory settings. The Apple Music problem went away completely and I have not had a problem with it in the past year +. The unit does still do firmware updates when they are available. However, I think the particular firmware update that caused the problem must have been localized to just that particular firmware update.

I have had an Eversolo DMP-A8 for almost 2 years now. I use Tidal and Apple Music. To be honest, I did notice skipping sometimes when connecting via WiFi, but since I switched to a hard-wired Ethernet cable plugged into a WiFi repeater I did not experience any skips anymore. Overall, I'd say the A8 is working fine and sounds great, whether I use the internal DAC and analogue outputs as well as when I plug it into an external DAC like the LAIV Harmony. However, when I try to plug in the A8 into the external DAC via I2S, all of a sudden the analogue outputs on the A8 start distorting like crazy. When I connect via SPIDF/Coax, no problem. Switch back I2S, lots of static. Note: I did verify the correct I2S settings on both A8 and DAC, as I2S worked fine as long as you didn't have analogue outputs connected. I did find some other forums on the internet where this same issue was reported, so I was not alone. I spent countless hours with Eversolo support going back-and-forth on the issue getting the run-around on their basic troubleshooting script, until I gave up. They were not willing to admit that their system has this flaw. So, no I2S. Coax will have to do. But I have to admit, it sounds fine. Too bad about that silver-plated snake-oil I2S cable I bought. Sigh...

I have a DMP A8 in my living room system and a DMP A10 in my dedicated system. Fortunately I haven't had any problems but I have a couple of trouble shooting suggestions.

Qobuz has a lot of playlists that you can access ("New in Blues" for example). Does the same thing happen if you play a Qobuz playlist? That could help you clarify and perhaps narrow down the problem. I don't have any large playlists of my own but I'll try a Qobuz list in the next couple days and see what happens. In other words, does the problem occur with any playlist or just the playlists you create?

Have you tried the Qobuz forum? You may have to cast around to find someone who either has had the problem or can recommend more trouble shooting steps. Same thing with the Eversolo forum. They have a DMP A8 forum.

Congratulations - you have really come up with a mind bender. Your symptoms sound like a clocking error is compounding over time as you play your list. You don't say exactly how you are accessing Qobuz and the Eversolo. Are you using the Eversolo app on your phone that duplicates the front panel of the A8 or are you using Qobuz Connect?

Please keep us posted on your progress.

Wow; that is a lot to digest. Thank you for the informed responses!

An Ethernet cable...; yes there was a firmware update in the middle of the five months battle. Qobuz was set up the same as Tidal; computer based. I did not do the phone phone app installation as there is little point in having two platform apps. I listen via Bluetooth in the car but not at home as the fidelity loss is significant. As noted, I could rip albums into the -A8 but the point of buying it was my individual playlists.

I have not run Tidal's nor Qobuz's playlists. I will run that test.

I have concluded that buying components thru Amazon is risky with their 30 day return limit. Costco where are you...!?

I am trying to reach the Amazon seller. Will let you know if they are willing to step up (where Eversolo has yet to.)

I will also look at the Qobuz forum..

My system is very simple; an integrated tube amp; a CD player; a CD ripper and the DMP.

got an DMP-A6 around the holidays... added an internal SSD with all my music on it and it works well so far.