Eversolo DMP A6 Gen II Master Edition Review
By Steve Huff
Today I will be writing about the all new DMP A6 Gen II Master Edition which is quite an improvement vs the original that I reviewed. It may look similar but this small well made box now does everything better and the sound is remarkable when we consider the cost of this all in one “wonder” box. This one comes in at $1,399 USD,
A few weeks ago I received a box from Eversolo that houses the latest version of the popular A6 streamer/DAC/preamp. This one was the Gen II and was also labeled as a “Master Edition”. This basically means that better parts were used and yes, it does sound better due to this. When I unboxed the device I was impressed as always with the packaging. It comes with a power cable and the unit itself all wrapped inside of a very nice looking box. This time, no remote is included and I feel this was a let down. It’s a $10 remote and I feel it should be included here, even if they have to charge $10 extra for the package. Even though the remote is missing, you can buy one from Amazon for $10-$11 and I recommend anyone who buys this to add the remote at checkout. It does come in handy.
When I reviewed the original A6 it was before we had all of the affordable streamer madness going around that we do now. Now we have cheap streamers from Wiim that perform very nicely. We have Bluesound as well other brands making affordable but great streamers that allow us to stream our fave digital tunes anytime we want to. What I love about streaming vs other formats is the vast amount of music available at our fingertips. I’d never listen to as much music if all we had were vinyl and CD’s just due to the cost of the media. Streaming is where it’s at for me.
Today we have multiple streamers from Eversolo like the A6, A8, A10 and master editions mixed with non master editions. I have tested streamers and DACs that are in the $75k range and I have also tested the same in products that cost a few hundred dollars. There are differences, for sure when it comes to streaming and DACs.
Streamers do not all perform or sound the same when we start talking about a well set up room and system. What I was hoping to see in the Gen II ME was an improved sound from the standard original A6, meaning less of the digital nature that the 1st one had. I was hoping for less lag when skipping songs from Tidal or Spotify.
One reason I love the HiFi Rose RS130 and Nagra Streamers is due to the 100% lag free performance. I can skip, scan, scrub all without a lag or freeze up. Solid performance is a must for streamers when it comes to using them in my systems. The A6 II ME has been very solid over the last few weeks that I have been using it. While it is not as lag free as the Rose or Nagra, it’s been improved drastically due to the memory and processors used in this one. This being a master edition also uses a better higher quality clock vs the standard edition.
FEATURES of the A6 II ME
The DMP A6 II ME is loaded with all kinds of amazing things for what it costs. This version is more mature, refined and polished than the 1st version when it comes to the use and all out performance. There is less digital hash to the sound, less lag when skipping and scrubbing streams and the near retina display looks to be brighter and crisper than before. There are new themes, new VU meter designs and various ways to display your music and with the remote. I can skip songs, change the display format and choose inputs and outputs all from the remote. One new theme I love fills the entire screen with the album art.
This is now a fully balanced design and brings with it an all new Linear power supply that takes the noise levels down to nothing and due to this the sound is also more refined and smoother than before. The volume knob has a halo light ring around it and yes, you can change it to almost any color you like using the Everoslo app. Loaded with two ESS SABRE ES9038Q2M DACs, a Quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor, OPA1612 op amps, and an extremely low-jitter femto clock synchronization system the DMP-A6 Gen 2 Master Edition supports up to native DSD512, 32-bit/768kHz PCM, and full MQA as well as Bluetooth 5.0, NAS drives, DLNA, and CD players by way of its optical input.
Qobuz, TIDAL, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and Deezer are supported. Also this one is Roon Ready.
The Eversolo app is also quite incredible when it comes to the realm of streamers and apps. I now can say with zero hesitation that the Eversolo app is the best streaming app made for any streamer. I prefer it to Bluesound, Innuos, Lumin, HiFi Rose and any other brands of streamers or DAC. The app is easy to use, easy to understand and allows you to customize everything with super ease. No glitches, easy too read and look at and very intuitive. This is a superb app experience with Eversolo, no instructions needed.
You can also add an SSD drive underneath the A6 Ii ME within minutes if you want to serve your own music. Just unscrew one screw on the bottom, insert the SSD and away you go.
The A6 ME II has digital inputs as well as being able to use the A6 ME II itself as the source. This can be used as a streamer only, a DAC only or a preamp, DAC and streamer. As a preamp this little box SHINES. I will have more on this below.
The DAC inside of the GEN II ME is comprised of two ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M DACs. This allows one for each channel and in use the DAC here sounds VERY good. It’s open, detailed has some slight warmth and body as well. This one is not etched or hard sounding at all. Im fact, it sounds more refined than it should for this price point and sounds gorgeous. Seriously, DACs have gotten so so good lately I am finally hearing higher end refined sound from lower cost DACs.
The A6 Gen II ME also has bluetooth 5.0 as well as HDMI Arc. The unit comes with 4GB DDR Ram and 32 GB of internal storage for snappy operations. The unit is also Roon Ready and works with Tidal and Spotify connect. Dual chips, clocks and an ultra low noise linear power supply is also included in the A6 GEN II ME. A large 6″ touchscreen and all metal build round out the features here.
Compared to big money DACs what we lose out here in the A6 II ME DAC is we have slightly less details coming forward vs exotic DACs along with a less open sound, less 3D, etc. It costs a lot to get a much better sound from a DAC which is why I have been playing around with DACs in the $20k-$70k range lately. Curiosity and to gain knowledge, to learn. The bottom line is that the DAC here in the A6II ME is much better than the one in the 1st gen. It sounds more refined and less digital but still has some of those traits. For the $1400 this costs, I give it zero faults. Zero.
READY TO LISTEN
When I placed the A6 Gen II ME into the system I first tested it with my Nagra HD Pre and Classic Amp. I doubt anyone on earth would use tis combo but it was here, so why not? Sounded glorious but a bit leaner than the Nagra DAC with Nagra Streamer. I hear no digital signature with the Nagra HD DAC X but I hear a slight edge with the A6II ME. Anyway, this is not a piece I would pair with Nagra so let’s see what it does when paired with something more in line with where it will do best.
Speakers I used were the O Audio Icon 12, Pure Audio Project Duet 15 (Horn Version) and the Buchardt E50.
The A6 II ME then went into the Luxman 509Z.
When I went from the big Nagra setup of DAC, Amp and PRE to the Luxman and A6II ME I was expecting to hear a difference and I sure did. The Luxman was a tad brighter, more dynamic and seemed to have more sheer immense power. I was really enjoying this setup with the Icon 12 speakers. To be honest I feel the Luxman 509Z made a better match to the Icon 12 speakers vs the Nagra. Synergy is a thing.
The A6 II MASTER EDITION was sounding pretty amazing with the Luxman. With the Eversolo in place say vs my Nagra Steramer and LAIV Micro DAC (A $6k combo) going into the Luxman there is still magic, and lots of it. I lose a little of the refinement, a little of the warmth from the LAIV and gain more transparency and yes, the A6II ME is slightly leaner than the Nagra and LAIV combo.
In all reality the sound with the A6 II ME was all I would “need” and lacked nothing in this configuration. I then switched it up. I placed in the Buchardt E50 speakers which are smaller but premium bookshelf sized real wooden boxes. The sound was tighter, cleaner and had more of a quick attack than the gentle giant Icon 12’s. They sounded smaller than the Icon 12, sure, but these are impressive speakers. Some of the most impressive I have heard from a speaker of this size. The details, clarity and kick were insanely good.
I then took out the Luxman 509Z and placed in a set of mono amps from Orchard Audio. The Starkrimson Ultra Premium mono amps are GaN Class D and are so good. These are refined, smooth, extremely detailed but bring some warmth as well. This combo was better to me with the Buchardt E50’s than using the Luxman as the Orchard amps have real synergy here. The Luxman still sounded outfight awesome but the Class D design really made the E50’s sing and with the A6II ME, the sound was damn great. The Orchard amps just took full control, were deadly silent, had zero heat and weighed only 13lbs a piece. The sound, with the A6II ME directly connected to them was STUNNING in all ways. So much so it was my fave combo with the Buchardt speakers.
The funny thing is, when I put the Icon 12’s back in with the Luxman gear I heard what the Luxman was delivering and it was awesome. I did notice the more luxurious juicer sound, larger sound, slight warmth and huge musical flow with the Luxman in place with the Icon 12’s. With the Buchardt E50’s though, I preferred the GaN amps with the A6 II ME. It’s that synergy thing again. With my Duet 15’s I prefer the Nagra setup as it sounds the all out best with these speakers. At the end of the day, it all sounded great with slight improvements due to synergy.
Synergy is real and the combo of A6II ME and Orchard or Luxman/Nagra amps was delivering one of the funnest and enjoyable streaming experiences I have had in a while. Everything just jelled, synced up and sounded as if it was made to be together. Using the Eversolo DMP A6 II as a pre was pretty awesome as it was also deadly quiet and sounded sublime. The details were all here, the imaging was a bit three dimensional, the vocals and mids so clean and clear. I was very impressed.
Every few days I would switch out the A6 II ME with the Nagra gear and enjoy it for a bit. After a while I would go back to the A6II ME as the streamer, dac and pre and I would enjoy this setup for a while. I’d the pop in the Luxman, All was awesome.
All in all, the A6 ME Gen II sounded so lovely driving the Orchard Amps and made for a stunning one source setup. A just about perfect streaming setup for less as it is all based around the A6 Gen II ME.
Wiim vs Eversolo vs HiFi Rose
Last year I also reviewed a streamer, DAC and preamp from Wiim called the Wiim Ultra. This one, the Wiim, comes in at around $1k less than the Eversolo DMP A6 II ME at under $400. It also has a display screen but it is in no way built to the same level of the Eversolo. Yes, I put Eversolo well above Wiim for build quality, app and sound quality today. Wiim is great for those who want to spend the least to get great sound in a lovely package.
The Wiim Ultra HERE is a device that does most of what the A6 II ME does. It’s a streamer, it’s a DAC and it serves as a preamp if you want to use it in this way. The jacks on the back where you connect cables to the Wiim are made to a cheaper standard vs Eversolo. In fact my 1st Wiim Ultra’s coax jack busted after a few cable swaps. The Eversolo jacks are made much more solid and do not feel that they would break like that. Eversolo also has a more detailed open sound vs Wiim, which will sound a bit more colored and closed in. Still sounds awesome, but not as refined as Eversolo.
As for HiFi Rose they are usually placed a ring higher than Eversolo for me but today I place Eversolo above Rose due to two reasons. First, the app experience with Eversolo is indeed better than the Rose app experience, for me. Eversolo also works with Tidal connect, Rose does not. Finally I have heard from three people over the last couple of months that they received Rose products that were DOA. Three. I love HiFi Rose but I believe Eversolo is starting to advance past them when it comes to performance for the money spent. Maybe I am wrong here but yea, Eversolo is ramping up.
MORE ABOUT the A6 II ME
The unit houses four nice feet, has small vents on the side for airflow and cooling and overall runs slightly warm. This piece is also able to be used in a few ways. If you do not need a preamp, you can set the volume to fixed and use it just as a streamer and DAC. You can also use this as just a DAC or just a Streamer if you like. My fave way to use it was just as it is, as a DAC, Streamer and preamp. I loved the A6 II ME when going into a power amp and using the A6 II ME’s remote to skip songs, change volume or even change the display.
This unit also allows for full EQ and has a graphic EQ built in. You can EQ this to your hearts content though I prefer it with the EQ off, as is. There is also an EQ style display option if you do not feel like looking at album art or VU meters. The meters are digital of course but the new additions look quite nice and there are no larger options on board for those who want a big old meter look.
The bottom houses an SSD drive which is an option for you if you want to serve music you own on a drive vs streaming it.
When setting up I had a firmware/software update that took only 3-4 minutes. When there is an update the unit will auto update, or let you know one is available if it has access to your internet. It seems Eversolo is always trying to improve the experience with updates and they have done a great job since the original A6 updating products so they perform even better.
My Fave Streamers
I like my streamers to be easy to use, to work with Tidal and Spotify connect, to be small but lag free and to look nice. My fave streamer no is the $5k Nagra Streamer. Why? Well, it’s a small silver box without any display at all. It has two inputs only, a coax and N link. It uses NO APP. It works with Roon and Tidal/Spotify connect. It has no lag at all. It has never froze up on me. It sounds amazing, as good as one $20k streamer I had in the room at one time. The Nagra streamer is $5k.
The Nagra streamer is all about performance vs displays, options and features.
I also really like the HiFi Rose RS130 streamer and at $5k+ it is a beautiful larger box with large display and a jewel like build. Sounds awesome, as good as the Nagra really. I just prefer the simplicity of the Nagra. This is my #2 fave streamer as of today.
My third fave streamer ever (when used only as a streamer) is now the Eversolo DMP A6 Gen II Master Edition. Why? Well, it sort of blends the two above and costs $3600 LESS than either. No, it’s not as lag free as those above but it’s acceptable. No, it’s not quite as nice sounding as those above but it’s very close. I am talking about going into an external DAC, used only as a streamer. It gets super close in sound to those above and it looks as nice as the Nagra and almost as good as the Rose, just smaller.
So my three fave streamers regardless of cost as of April 2025 are the Nagra Stramer, Rose RS130 and the DMP A6 II ME.
Why would I prefer the A6 II ME to the A10 which is the flagship or “the best” streamer in the brands lineup? Well, I reviewed the A10 and technically it is the finest streamer in the lineup but it’s also larger, has a more angular design, has more flash and visual gimmicks. Yea, the DAC in the A10 is nicer and smoother and sounds super refined and rich. Technically, yea the A10 is a better streamer and DAC. For those reading, this one, the A10 does perform better than the A6 II ME.
I like the A6II ME due to its smaller size, design and the fact that it sounds and looks so so good for so much less. You can squeeze out more performance with the A10 but I am enjoying the music with the A6II ME just as much as I did with the A10. In the video at the top of the page I stated the A10 is my #1 fave Eversolo box with the A6 GEN II ME being #2. As I write this, I think it is pretty even but really system dependent. I feel both are fantastic all in one streaming boxes.
This little all in one wonder makes a great case for just using a single amp with it. No need for a preamp or a separate DAC. I had so much fun using the A6 II ME with the Orchard amps. It just worked and sounded so so good.
The A6 Gen II Master Edition is now my 2nd Fave Eversolo Streamer, sometimes #1.
This little box impressed me greatly. Yes, it’s an imppevemt over the Gen 1 non master edition and by quite a bit when it comes to all out performance and sound quality. The sound here when using it as an all in one is more refined than before, more open and detailed than before, and with less digital hash than before. As DAC tech moves forward we are finally now seeing performance in lower cost pieces that used to be reserved for big money systems. I have DACs here priced from $1000 to $70,500 and the DAC here in the A6 II ME sounds better than it should for what it costs. Add to that the streamer function with awesome app and preamp function and you have one hell of a music box here that sounds way better than the $1400 price point dictates.
If you are looking to set up a gorgeous sounding stereo music system that streams music from any service, does so with ease, has a gorgeous display that can be customized to your tastes and houses a very nice onboard DAC you must take a look at the A6 GEN II Master Edition. It comes in black or silver and is ready to stream music within minutes of hooking it up to your amplifier and speakers. Eversolo now has the best app experience of any streamer made IMO as it just works. It’s easy to understand and use and all makes perfect sense. You can also set it up using the touch screen that is bright, crisp and clear.
This one can be set up using WiFi or Ethernet hard wire connection. I recommend using hard wire if you can as this will always make for a more solid connection. During my time with the A6 II ME I had no drop outs, no freeze ups and no issues at all. It had one big software update and this brought some new VU meter options. It’s just getting better and better with each update. Easy recommend for anyone wanting an easy to use visually stunning package of digital music streamer, DAC and/or preamp.
There is so much to love here and nothing to hate or hate on. Worth every penny of its $1399 asking price and yes you can go up the ladder to the A8 and A10 and those will bring a larger chassis, refinement in sound and even more features. Not many would need to go higher than the A6 Gen II ME here though as it makes beautiful music in a gorgeous looking easy to set up and use package.
You can buy the Eversolo DMP A6 II Master Edition at Amazon Via Prime HERE
You can buy the remote for it at Amazon HERE
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