Eversolo DAC-R8 – High-End DAC with OriginR2R Technology, Analogue Preamp and Extensive DSP
The Eversolo DAC-R8 swaps a standard converter chip for the company's own OriginR2R design, controlled by an FPGA and clocked by a 10 MHz OCXO. A fully analogue R2R volume control, XLR and RCA connectivity and a headphone stage with three gain settings let it stand in for a separate preamp in many systems. DSP tools such as a parametric equaliser and FIR filters are configured through a web interface, and the DAC-R8 is designed as the partner to the Eversolo T8 streaming transport.
- The Eversolo DAC-R8 is a high-end DAC, analogue preamplifier and headphone amplifier built around the in-house OriginR2R architecture, which uses 5+20-bit segmentation, FPGA control and a fully differential layout, and handles PCM up to 32 bit and 768 kHz as well as DSD512 via USB Audio and I2S. Alongside a 10 MHz OCXO clock, three playback modes, browser-based DSP and HDMI eARC/ARC, it has been announced as "Coming Soon" with no confirmed date or price for Austria and Germany, while US pre-orders are open at $ 1.280,-.
Most DACs in this class are built around a converter chip bought in from a specialist supplier. Eversolo has taken a different route with the DAC-R8. The company has developed its own discrete R2R converter, designed so that the digital processing and the analogue stages work as one coordinated whole. The result is a unit that does far more than convert: it also serves as an analogue preamplifier, a headphone amplifier and a heavily configurable control centre for the digital signal. Eversolo is also keen to give owners unusual freedom over how the DAC-R8 sounds.
Key Facts – Eversolo DAC-R8
- In-house Eversolo OriginR2R architecture with 5+20-bit segmentation, FPGA control and a fully differential design.
- PCM up to 32 bit and 768 kHz and DSD up to DSD512 via USB Audio and I2S.
- Precision clocking with a 10 MHz OCXO and PLL, plus an external 10/25 MHz clock input.
- Three playback modes: NOS, OS with 2×, 4× or 8× oversampling, and BEST.
- Fully balanced, purely analogue R2R volume control built from stepped precision resistors.
- Browser-based DSP with a parametric equaliser, 20-band EQ, FIR filters and per-channel adjustment.
- Digital inputs including USB-B, I2S, AES/EBU, S/PDIF optical and coaxial, and HDMI eARC/ARC.
- Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive, plus analogue XLR and RCA connections.
- Built-in headphone amplifier with three gain settings and a 6.3 mm stereo jack.
- 5.2-inch IPS touchscreen, remote control and operation via the Eversolo Control app.
Three playback modes, six filters
The DAC-R8 lets the listener choose between three fundamentally different ways of handling the digital signal, so the converter can be tuned to personal taste rather than to a single house sound.
In NOS (non-oversampling) mode, no additional oversampling is applied, which keeps processing as close as possible to the sample rate of the incoming signal. Eversolo expects this to deliver a particularly natural, relaxed presentation.
OS mode oversamples by a factor of two, four or eight. According to the manufacturer, this is meant to benefit detail, transparency and spatial precision.
The third option, BEST, tries to merge the strengths of both approaches, aiming for a balance of naturalness, resolution and dynamics. On top of the three modes there are six digital filter options, which shape the behaviour of the filtering and, among other things, the impulse response.
A home-grown take on R2R
At the heart of the DAC-R8 sits what Eversolo calls OriginR2R, an architecture the company designed entirely itself. It is built on a discrete resistor network whose individual elements are driven by FPGA-based signal processing. That sets it well apart from designs that rely on commercially available, highly integrated converter chips.
R2R conversion is far from new, but it has enjoyed a remarkable revival in high-end HiFi in recent years. Instead of leaving the conversion to a delta-sigma modulator, the signal is reconstructed with precisely defined resistor networks. What matters most here is how accurate the resistor values are, how the individual switching elements are controlled and how stable the whole signal chain remains.
The DAC-R8 uses a segmented layout that combines 5 bits of coarse resolution with 20 bits of fine resolution. An FPGA coordinates the different converter units. Positive and negative signal components travel along separate paths from the very beginning, so the conversion stage itself is fully differential.
Separate routes for PCM and DSD
PCM and DSD are not treated identically inside the OriginR2R design. PCM data passes first through programmable digital filtering and then through the segmented drive of the resistor network, whereas DSD has a dedicated processing route of its own.
For DSD, the pulse-density data is analysed and mapped directly onto the individual elements of the resistor matrix. Both paths end up at the same R2R converter core; only the digital processing in front of it differs.
The DAC-R8 handles high-resolution PCM up to 32 bit and 768 kHz as well as DSD512. These maximum values apply to the USB Audio and I2S inputs.
Timing first: the OCXO and PLL clock
Eversolo also puts considerable weight on timing accuracy. The central reference is an in-house clock system built around a temperature-stabilised 10 MHz crystal oscillator, known as an oven-controlled crystal oscillator or OCXO. Paired with a PLL circuit, it is intended to provide a very stable clock with low phase noise.
Timing accuracy matters a great deal when digital audio is converted. Fluctuations in the clock show up as jitter, which is why Eversolo aims for tight control over the entire clock chain.
For demanding installations there is also an input for an external clock reference. It accepts 10 MHz and 25 MHz at an input impedance of 50 ohms, so the DAC-R8 can be slotted into systems where several digital components are synchronised to one shared external clock.
Analogue volume control without digital level reduction
Eversolo applies the R2R principle to volume control as well, but here it is a separate, purely analogue circuit. It works with precisely stepped resistors and has a fully balanced layout.
Because the level is adjusted in the analogue domain, the digital resolution is not eroded by a mathematical reduction of the signal. The manufacturer states that dynamics and fine detail should therefore be preserved as completely as possible, even at low listening levels.
OPA1612 operational amplifiers are used in the analogue stages. They are meant to keep distortion and self-noise low, so that the quality of the conversion survives all the way to the outputs.
The analogue volume control turns the DAC-R8 into a full preamplifier. Alongside balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs, it has analogue inputs in both formats, which means analogue components can be connected as well as digital sources.
DSP in the browser
It is in digital signal optimisation that Eversolo goes its own way most clearly. The DAC-R8 has extensive DSP functions, configured through a web interface. The unit is connected to a computer via USB-B and the relevant configuration page is then opened in a browser, so no separate desktop application is needed.
The toolset includes a parametric equaliser, a 20-band equaliser and FIR filters, along with options for adjusting dynamics and for delaying individual channels in time. Settings can be made channel by channel, which makes it possible to compensate for differences between the left and right loudspeaker or for an asymmetrical room layout. Stereo balance can be adjusted as well.
That makes the DSP section useful for personal tuning, but equally for targeted corrections within an existing HiFi system. Most DACs offer little more than a handful of switchable digital filters; the DAC-R8 opens up a much wider range of configuration. Pairing R2R conversion with such flexible digital processing gives the unit a distinctive profile.
Connectivity for HiFi and home cinema
The DAC-R8 is generously equipped with interfaces. Besides USB-B there is an I2S input with eight selectable connection modes, an AES/EBU input and S/PDIF in both optical and coaxial form.
The coaxial S/PDIF and AES/EBU inputs are galvanically isolated, which is intended to reduce interference travelling through ground connections between different components. Optical and coaxial S/PDIF and AES/EBU accept PCM up to 32 bit and 192 kHz, while DSD64 can be carried via DoP. USB Audio and I2S support the higher resolutions mentioned earlier.
For modern living rooms, HDMI eARC/ARC is a useful addition. It allows the sound from a compatible television to be played through the DAC-R8 and a connected HiFi system, with stereo PCM supported at up to 24 bit and 192 kHz. Bluetooth 5.4 covers wireless playback from smartphones and tablets, and the Qualcomm QCC3095 module supports aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive.
A 12 V trigger output lets compatible amplifiers switch on and off together with the DAC-R8, and a separate grounding terminal offers further scope for optimising more complex setups.
A headphone amplifier on board
The DAC-R8 is not just a converter and preamplifier. It also has an independent headphone amplifier, with headphones connected via a 6.3 mm stereo jack on the front panel. Three gain stages cater for headphones with different demands, and automatic impedance detection is intended to make operation as convenient as possible.
At the highest gain setting Eversolo quotes an output of 1 W into 16 ohms and 32 ohms, and 160 mW into 300 ohms. The recommended impedance range runs from 16 to 300 ohms. The DAC-R8 can therefore also work as a desktop audio solution that drives quality headphones without an extra external amplifier.
Power supply, build and operation
Power comes from a purpose-designed linear supply with an O-core transformer. Multi-stage voltage regulation is meant to feed the digital and analogue sections as stably as possible, and internal shielding limits mutual interference between the different circuit areas.
The chassis is made from an aluminium alloy and has a restrained, clearly structured look. At 315 × 230 × 75 mm including feet and a weight of 4 kg, the DAC-R8 stays comparatively compact.
The front panel carries a 5.2-inch IPS touchscreen that shows all key operating information, including the selected input, the current sample rate, the playback mode and the volume setting. If preferred, the display can show classic VU meters or dynamic spectrum views. Besides the touchscreen, the unit can be controlled with a rotary knob, a remote control and the Eversolo Control app for smartphones and tablets.
Made to match the Eversolo T8
Although the DAC-R8 is a self-contained component in the Eversolo range, it was not developed in isolation. Its dimensions and styling are deliberately matched to the Eversolo T8.
The Eversolo T8 acts as a streaming transport, supplying digital audio for further processing. The DAC-R8 completes that pairing with its own R2R converter architecture, analogue volume control and output stages. The result is a clean split between streaming transport and D/A converter, with each component optimised for its own job.
The DAC-R8 is by no means tied to the T8, though. Thanks to its many digital inputs it will work equally well with other streaming transports, CD drives, computers and further digital sources.
All benefits at a glance
- Own converter design: the proprietary OriginR2R architecture gives Eversolo far-reaching control over the whole D/A conversion process.
- Selectable signal processing: several operating modes and digital filters let the listener adapt the sound to personal preference.
- Analogue signal path throughout: the fully balanced R2R volume control makes a separate preamplifier unnecessary in many systems.
- Deep tuning options: equalisers, FIR filters and channel-by-channel adjustment go well beyond the usual configuration options of a conventional DAC.
- Broad integration: analogue and digital connections, HDMI eARC/ARC and Bluetooth suit a wide range of HiFi setups.
- Ambitious clock and power supply: an OCXO, external clock connection and linear power supply are meant to provide a stable foundation for precise signal handling.
- Versatile day to day: DAC, preamplifier and headphone amplifier in one box reduce the need for extra components.
- A natural partner for the T8: matching design and a clear division of labour make for a compact, capable digital source.
Price and availability
Eversolo has officially presented the DAC-R8, but the market launch is still billed as “Coming Soon”. There is currently no firm release date for the German-speaking specialist trade and no officially confirmed recommended price for Austria or Germany. In the United States the DAC-R8 can already be pre-ordered at $ 1.280,-. We will add details for the local market as soon as they are available.
Getting to the point
With the DAC-R8, Eversolo makes it plain that it no longer wants to be defined solely by convenient streaming products. The effort behind a fully in-house R2R architecture is striking, and the combination with an elaborate analogue volume control, a built-in headphone amplifier and an unusually extensive DSP section makes the new converter an interesting proposition. Bringing modern digital signal optimisation together with a classic R2R conversion principle gives the Eversolo DAC-R8 a profile of its own.
| Product | Eversolo DAC-R8 |
|---|---|
| Price | US$ 1.280,- |
Technical Specifications
| Product | Eversolo DAC-R8 |
|---|---|
| Characterisation | R2R DAC, analogue preamplifier and headphone amplifier |
| Device type | D/A converter, preamplifier, headphone amplifier |
| D/A converter | Eversolo OriginR2R, 5+20 bit, fully balanced |
| Signal processing | FPGA, Eversolo AuralEngine |
| Supported audio formats | Linear PCM up to 32 bit and 768 kHz, DSD512 |
| Playback modes | NOS, OS (2×, 4×, 8×), BEST |
| Clock system | 10 MHz OCXO, PLL, external 10/25 MHz clock input |
| Digital inputs | USB-B, I2S, AES/EBU, S/PDIF optical and coaxial, HDMI eARC/ARC |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Analogue inputs | XLR balanced, RCA |
| Analogue outputs | XLR balanced, RCA |
| Headphone output | 6,3 mm stereo jack |
| Headphone power | Up to 1 W into 16 or 32 ohms |
| Volume control | Fully balanced analogue R2R control |
| DSP functions | PEQ, 20-band EQ, FIR filters, channel adjustment |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | Up to 130 dB (A-weighted) |
| THD+N | 0.000316 % (XLR, 1 kHz) |
| Display | 5.2-inch IPS touchscreen |
| Control | Touchscreen, rotary knob, remote control, Eversolo Control |
| Power supply | Linear power supply with O-core transformer |
| Dimensions | 315 × 230 × 75 mm |
| Weight | 4 kg |
| Brand | EverSolo Audio Technology Co. Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Zidoo Technology Co. Ltd. |
| Distribution | audioNEXT GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
