Eversolo DMP-A8 Gen 2 ($1,980) and DMP-A8 Master Gen 2 ($2,590) Add an 8.6-Inch Display, R-2R Preamp, and Top-Loading CD Drive
When Eversolo—the dedicated hi-fi division of media-player veteran Zidoo—launched the original DMP-A8, it combined an AKM two-chip Velvet Sound DAC, a balanced R-2R resistor-ladder analog preamplifier, and a responsive widescreen interface in a single chassis under two grand. Unveiled at High End Vienna 2026 and now shipping in North America through Forte Distribution, the second-generation lineup splits into two models: the $1,980 DMP-A8 Gen 2 (£1,949 / €2,180) and the $2,590 DMP-A8 Master Gen 2 (£2,489 / €2,890).
Why the Master Gen 2 Is Half an Inch Taller
Until now, Eversolo reserved the “Master Edition” badge for versions of the DMP-A6 and DMP-A10 with upgraded femoral clocks and op-amps. With the DMP-A8 Master Gen 2, the $610 premium buys three hardware additions that go beyond passive component swaps: a built-in top-loading CD transport and lossless ripper, an oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) clock system with phase-locked loop (PLL) synthesis rated under 50 femtoseconds of jitter, and a rear 10 MHz BNC external clock input (50 Ω / 75 Ω).
To make room for the top-loading optical pickup assembly and its removable smoked-glass cover, the Master Gen 2 stands 98.5 mm (3.88 inches) tall compared to 88 mm (3.46 inches) on the standard DMP-A8 Gen 2. According to Eversolo’s engineering notes and the DMP-A8 Master Gen 2 user manual, the drive uses C2 error pointers, drive-offset compensation, and multi-pass re-reading to rip scratched discs into bit-perfect FLAC or WAV files stored on an internal M.2 2280 NVMe SSD (up to 8 TB via the bottom bay) or network storage.
AKM Velvet Sound Verita DAC, R-2R Volume & SFP Fiber
Both Gen 2 models widen the CNC-machined aluminum chassis from 388 × 248 mm to 388 × 265 mm and expand the front IPS touchscreen from 6 inches to 8.6 inches, bordered by an RGB-halo volume encoder. Processing moves to a 64-bit octa-core ARM processor paired with 8 GB of DDR5 RAM, 64 GB of internal eMMC flash, and Eversolo’s in-house AuralEngine multi-core USB audio interface in place of an off-the-shelf XMOS chip.
Digital-to-analog conversion remains anchored by AKM’s two-chip Velvet Sound Verita architecture—an AK4191EQ digital modulator feeding an AK4499EXEQ DAC—coupled to Texas Instruments OPA1612 op-amps and a dual-supply power layout combining a linear toroidal transformer for the analog stage with a low-noise switching supply for the digital board. As outlined in the DMP-A8 Gen 2 user manual, volume attenuation is handled entirely in the analog domain by a symmetrical R-2R relay-switched resistor network with +10 dB of analog preamp gain, keeping dynamic range intact at low listening levels.
New to the Gen 2 rear panel are an SFP optical network cage alongside Gigabit RJ45 Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6, an upgrade from HDMI ARC to HDMI eARC, an AES/EBU input, and a dedicated subwoofer output with an adjustable 40 Hz to 500 Hz crossover. Built-in DSP includes Eversolo’s evotune™ Pro FIR room-correction engine (compatible with the optional EM-01 measurement microphone or a smartphone mic), a 20-band parametric equalizer, loudness compensation, and dynamic range compression.
Eversolo DMP-A8 Gen 2 & DMP-A8 Master Gen 2 Specifications
| Specification | DMP-A8 Gen 2 ($1,980) | DMP-A8 Master Gen 2 ($2,590) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 8.6-inch LCD IPS touchscreen | 8.6-inch LCD IPS touchscreen |
| Processor & Memory | 64-bit octa-core CPU, 8 GB DDR5 RAM, 64 GB eMMC | 64-bit octa-core CPU, 8 GB DDR5 RAM, 64 GB eMMC |
| DAC Architecture | AKM AK4191EQ + AK4499EXEQ (PCM 768 kHz/32-bit, Native DSD512) | AKM AK4191EQ + AK4499EXEQ (PCM 768 kHz/32-bit, Native DSD512) |
| Clock System | Dual ultra-low phase noise femtosecond crystal oscillators | Custom OCXO clock (<50 fs jitter) with PLL + 10 MHz BNC external clock input |
| Top-Loading CD Drive | None (supports external USB CD-ROM) | Built-in top-loading CD player & lossless FLAC/WAV ripper under glass cover |
| Preamp & Volume Control | Balanced XLR + RCA analog inputs; symmetrical R-2R resistor-ladder volume (+10 dB gain) | Balanced XLR + RCA analog inputs; symmetrical R-2R resistor-ladder volume (+10 dB gain) |
| Analog Outputs | Balanced XLR (4.2 Vrms, THD+N -122 dB / 0.000075%, SNR >129 dB), RCA (2.1 Vrms), Subwoofer Out (40–500 Hz crossover) | Balanced XLR (4.2 Vrms, THD+N -122 dB / 0.000075%, SNR >129 dB), RCA (2.1 Vrms), Subwoofer Out (40–500 Hz crossover) |
| Digital Inputs | USB-B (AuralEngine), HDMI ARC/eARC, AES/EBU, 2 × Optical, 2 × Coaxial, Bluetooth 5.4 | USB-B (AuralEngine), HDMI ARC/eARC, AES/EBU, 2 × Optical, 2 × Coaxial, Bluetooth 5.4, 10 MHz Clock BNC |
| Digital Outputs | IIS/I2S (HDMI, 8 modes), 2 × USB-A 3.0 Audio, Optical, Coaxial | IIS/I2S (HDMI, 8 modes), 2 × USB-A 3.0 Audio, Optical, Coaxial |
| Networking & Storage | SFP Fiber port, Gigabit RJ45 Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6; bottom M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slot up to 8 TB | SFP Fiber port, Gigabit RJ45 Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6; bottom M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slot up to 8 TB |
| DSP & Room Correction | evotune™ Pro FIR room correction, 20-band PEQ, FIR filter import | evotune™ Pro FIR room correction, 20-band PEQ, FIR filter import |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 15.28 × 10.43 × 3.46 in (388 × 265 × 88 mm) | 15.28 × 10.43 × 3.88 in (388 × 265 × 98.5 mm) |
| Price | $1,980 USD / £1,949 GBP / €2,180 EUR | $2,590 USD / £2,489 GBP / €2,890 EUR |
