Eversolo or Aurender: Options and Opinions


As the title implies, I am in the market for a new digital transport and some feedback would be greatly appreciated. I am currently using a Lumin D1 with SBooster LPS into a Denafrips Ares II. I have upgraded the Ares II to a Denafrips Iris DDC feeding a Pontus II. Because of this I need a streamer with USB digital output. My first choice is either an Aurender N100C or N100H, but recently I added Eversolo to the options. Eversolo came into the picture because of the early hype and the reasonable cost of new products. However, recently, along with a noticeable absence of used Aurender products, there has also been a noticeable uptick in Eversolo products on the used market.

I have two questions.

1. Assuming that Aurender is my first choice, are there other USB transport options in the under $2,000.00 range that I should consider?

2. Why did the initial Eversolo hype seem to age so quickly, if the number of recent additions to the used market is any indication?

Please understand that the additions of the Iris and Pontus have significantly impacted my retirement's disposable income, so suggestions of much more expensive options aren't of any use to me.

Thanks in advance.

Tony

128x128tony1954

I bought into the Eversolo A6 hype early on, but when the product arrived it was very disappointing. While it delivered lots of high-end detail, it was due to an overly hot – and bright – top end. Other aspects of the spectrum were mediocre in my opinion, especially the bass. I kept mine for a few weeks hoping that break-in would improve things, but it didn’t. I haven’t heard the A8, but I understand the streamer section is pretty much the same as the A6 (I stream into a Benchmark Dac, so I didn’t use the internal Dac of the A6). I, personally, can’t’ recommend the A6 if it’s solely for streaming. I would go with the Aurender or some other brand.  

Software support from Eversolo is pathetic.   Still will not recognize USB DAC after latest FW.   Unit was working fine for 51 weeks and then a bad FW made USB out unusable.   Does not recognize other DACs like Chord and Accuphase.  Waiting for 3 months and no resolve is frustrating.  There are much better streamers with great support.   

I replaced a RPi running PcP, ARC LS3 preamp and a fully upgraded Schiit Bifrost with an A8. Really easy to use and great SQ.

Was expecting the A6 to work properly but again there are more problems than solutions in the latest firmware...    Real amateur software development at Zidoo.   Maybe next firmware.....    

It's all about support with streamers , the best hardware is useless without good software...