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When it comes to music, there are some artists that just have it. You know that

every album they perform, every concert they deliver, is going to be a

masterpiece. Their albums are timeless. Their music respected by even people

that may not be fans.

There are a few audio brands like that too.

And I think one of them might be Eversolo.

No matter what they produce, it seems to always be masterfully executed.

They began with two gorgeous DACs, the DAC -Z6 and the DAC -Z8.

Then there was the streaming range, the DMP -A6, DMP -A8, Play, and then

recently the streaming transport, the T8.

There are other Eversolo products that I haven't tried, but they all seem to

have been very well received.

And now, they've released the DAC -Z10.

This is a flagship DAC.

And I guess even masters can make a mistake.

Thankfully, the DAC -Z10 isn't it.

Eversolo sent me the DAC -Z10 for review, but as always, have no influence

this video.

Normally, I like to highlight the fact that retailers or manufacturers have no

influence over the reviews by trying to draw attention to and call out any and

all issues I can find with the products.

The problem with the Z10, though, is that I don't have much negative to say.

In fact, my biggest complaint about the DAC Z10 was that it doesn't seem to have

a fixed line output mode.

The Z10 has a lovely R2R volume control built into it.

and it has a separate memory for each of the individual inputs as well.

So when you go from, say, the I2S to the optical, it can have different memory

volume levels for each of those inputs.

The only problem with that, and it's a very minor problem, is that it meant for

me, when I was using the DAC -Z10 as a pure DAC with external volume control in

my Birth & Followers Voyager headphone amp and preamp, I needed to turn the

volume up to 0 dB, which is the maximum volume, for each and every one of the

inputs that I wanted to try.

Now, it is possible that I've missed something in my testing. I turned this

review around fairly quickly so I could share it with you as soon as possible,

but I did search through the menu system twice looking for something to set the

line output to fixed, and I didn't see anything that looked to be a fixed line

output option or a volume bypass option. I just couldn't see anything to do with

the volume levels other than the ability to change how small or large the volume

steps were.

And so, if you think I have missed something, if you've got a DAC -Z10 and

know that the ability to fix the line output levels at maximum does exist,

let me know in the comments down below, and let everybody else know in the

comments below, how that's achieved.

But at the same time, that was really the only issue I had with the DAC -Z10,

and once you've turned the volume up to maximum for whichever inputs you're

using, it's going to stay there anyway.

And so, everything else about the DAC -Z10 is pretty awesome.

It looks amazing, and it's got lots of different display options, from things

like VU meters, spectrum analyzers, a full overlay that explains each of the

different steps of the input and output path.

And I think regardless of which of the display options you choose, the DAC -Z10

always looks classy and delivers its information very clearly. But the DAC

also isn't just about looking good. Inside, it's packing some seriously

impressive tech.

The DAC circuitry is split into a dual mono design for maximum channel

separation, and on each side of that circuit is a pair of DAC chips, the

and the AK4191 from AKM. Those DAC chips work together to produce some of what I

think of as the best decoding you can hear, without going down the path of

premium R2R designs or some of the custom programmed DAC chips.

Then there are multiple independent power supplies to isolate and control

in the system, as well as a temperature -controlled clock system to eliminate

the fluctuations in timing precision that can be caused by variations in the

temperature in and around the DAC.

And then on top of that, there's also a custom program processor that's going to

further improve the timing accuracy from any of the different sources, whether

it's using the internal clock or external sources that deliver the clock

information along with the data.

As you might be imagining though, none of this innovation and technology comes

cheap. The design and technology in the DAC Z10 will set you back $1 ,980.

That's about $200 more than the amazing Topping D900 DAC.

So the competition here is strong. As for how strong, we'll get to that pretty

soon. First though, let's talk about just a few more features.

In addition to just about every digital input you could possibly want, the DAC

-Z10 also has analog inputs, RCA and XLR, to take an input from an external

analog source and to be able to act as a preamp for that. Its performance as a

preamp, I would say, is solid, but keep in mind that the DAC -Z10 is a $2 ,000

DAC. and it's a DAC first and foremost.

And so you shouldn't expect it to perform like a $2 ,000 preamp, because

DAC first and foremost.

And so if preamp performance is a priority for you, you'll want to buy

a dedicated premium headphone amp and preamp, or just a dedicated preamp. And

mentioning headphone amps, the same is also true for the headphone socket on

front of the DAC -Z10.

The DAC -Z10 has a built -in unbalanced headphone amp, capable of outputting 1

watt into 32 -amp headphones, and it's a good colored inclusion.

Once again though, this is the DAC first and foremost. The headphone stage is a

nice addition for convenience, but it's not going to compete with a dedicated

external headphone amp. And because the quality level of the DAC Z10 is so good

as a DAC, it does warrant being fed to a premium dedicated preamp, headphone

amp, etc.

But I don't want to spend too much time talking about preamp functionality and

headphone amp functionality, because ultimately, the DAC Z10 is a DAC first

foremost. And so let's cut to the core of this review, which is how the DAC

sounds as a DAC.

And I'd say that its sound is clean and pure, but also enjoyable and musical. It

produces excellent soundstage width and focus, as well as a good amount of depth

and layering as well.

Playing with the clock shaping technology I mentioned earlier may also

further deepen and space out the soundstage a little bit further.

Having played around with that clock taping circuit a little bit, what I

was that when I engaged it, I did feel like I was getting a better sense of

image focus, a bit more space around the sound, and a more refined sound overall

as well. That's when it was switched on.

However, it's worth noting that the specific gains you might hear will

vary depending on the inputs you're using. Not all input types and not all

sources are created equal.

and some input types bring the clocking information from the external source,

such as a streamer or a CD transport, whereas others will rely on the clock

inside the DAC.

And so in situations where the clocking information is maybe of lower quality,

you might get even more benefit from that clock shaping tech built into the

-Z10. Whereas when it's using its own internal clock, that's already very good

and the differences might be minimal. On top of all of that, I can't really see

any reason to not just leave the clock shaping circuit switched on all the

I don't see any drawbacks, only improvements.

However... All of this playing around with clock shaping and the different

inputs did get me wondering which input is the best input to use with the DAC

-Z10. And so I took the Eversolo T8 Streamer and I paired it up with a

U26 digital -to -digital converter.

That was so I could have multiple different digital connections running

DAC -Z10, all running simultaneously.

I then switched between all of them and found some slight differences between

the various inputs.

None of them were bad.

But I felt like perhaps the AES input was the best, and that's including

compared to I2S. I've talked before about the fact that when it comes to

and digital sources, that there is no guarantee that I2S will always be

I know that many people like the idea of using I2S, and many people assume that

it's just automatically the best protocol to use, but I've heard enough

to know that it can vary from DAC to DAC and source to source. With the DAC

-Z10, I heard a sound from AES, that was a bit more open sounding and a bit

smoother sounding than what I could get from I2S. And surprisingly, I'd say that

the sound with optical was as good as AES, therefore also better than I2S.

As always though, you should try all of the different input types that you have

access to between your source device and your DAC, because as I said before, it

can vary from DAC to DAC and source to source.

In other words, if you have a DAC -Z10, you might have a different experience to

me because you've got a different source feeding it. And I should add at this

point that none of the comparisons I've done so far include the USB input,

because I was already using the USB output from the T8 streamer to go into

U26 digital -to -digital converter, and so I still needed to do a test to see

how good the USB input was on the DAC -Z10.

This comparison was a little bit harder because it required switching both the

inputs on the DAC -Z10 as well as the outputs.

on the T8, which I now used as my source, direct into the Z10, so the

comparisons were a little bit harder, but I still did them. To my ears, the

connection coming straight from the T8 and into the DAC -Z10 was even better

still than the AES and therefore the I2S as well. The USB connection sounded a

bit more resolving and a little bit more spacious.

And once again, the differences were small, but they were definitely there.

I also decided to check if the I2S coming straight from the T8 and into the

-Z10 would be better than it was going via the U26, the digital -to -digital

converter, and once again, the USB was still the better sound over and above

I2S. And that might be because the T8 and the Z10 both have well -isolated USB

circuits, meaning that all of the noise of the system should be kept out on that

USB connection.

There's nothing in the marketing to suggest that the same level of isolation

being applied to I2F and or AES connections.

And so that might be why the USB sounds so much better. But all of this so far

is talking about the DAC Z10 in isolation.

And in isolation, it sounds absolutely brilliant.

Placing the DAC -Z10 into some competition, though, was very revealing.

Before I tell you about it, though, let me quickly heap just a little bit more

praise on the DAC -Z10 for some very minor things.

Firstly, the remote control is absolutely gorgeous.

It's the most premium -looking and feeling remote control I've come across

device at this level, perhaps ever, and in fact at most levels I've ever played

with. But then I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the DAC -Z10 also

comes with a 12V trigger cable in the box.

I often bemoan the fact that devices with 3 .5mm 12V trigger inputs and

don't come with the very cheap and basic cable required to connect them. The DAC

-Z10 does. I know it's a very little thing, but I think it's a great

However, it's not great enough to make the DAC -Z10 suddenly the best DAC on

market. If it wants that title, it's going to have to beat the best at the

price.

And to help with that, we should put this into some context.

When I reviewed the Topping D900 DAC, it was a match, or maybe even a little bit

better, than the much more expensive Live Harmony DAC.

In other words, the Topping D900 represents performance above its pride.

By pitting the DAC -Z10 against the Topping D900, I was able to see if the

-Z10 was really all that good. And I should make something clear before I

describe what I heard as I compared these two.

I felt like this was actually an unfair test in many ways.

After all, the Topping D900 is somewhat of an outlier with its performance.

This was more like pitting the $1 ,980 DAC -Z10 against the $2 ,500 DAC.

That's based on how the Topping D900 fared when compared to options like the

Harmony DAC, the shit Yggdrasil, and other DACs around that more premium

range. All of that's covered off in the Topping D900 review if you want to go

check that out. But the point is, The Topping D900 was probably a level above

performance what you should expect from a DAC around about the $2 ,000 price

point. And so it should come as no surprise that the D900 was a little bit

stronger than the DAC -Z10.

That's when it comes to things like the sense of three -dimensionality and depth

in the sound. The Topping D900 is also just a little tiny bit richer or

sounding thanks to its one -bit decoding approach.

But then what might also come as a surprise to you is the fact that the DAC

was equal to the D900 in other ways.

And in some ways, maybe even better.

I felt like the DAC -Z10 was just a touch more resolving than the D900, and

could be down to its slightly less rich sound.

And we're talking very small, but it's there. And it means that you might hear

things from the DAC -Z10 that are not quite as obvious from the D900.

But then, I also think it's important to put all of what I'm saying here into

some context.

I don't think that I could pick these two DACs apart in a blind test.

They do have differences, but the differences are absolutely minuscule.

I think the DAC -Z10 is actually just as good as the Topping D900, with just

some slightly different characters to their sound.

And that's awesome. It means that the DAC -Z10 is at least a match for the

Harmony DAC, which costs $2 ,700.

And it might even be slightly better.

And so what that means is that with the DAC -Z10 and the Topping D900, you can

be buying DACs that cost under $2 ,000 and get performance that used to cost

nearly $3 ,000.

And when we're talking about the DAC -Z10, you're also getting more inputs,

outputs and features at the same time. To bring things back to the D900

comparison only for a second though, I think these are the two to choose from

under $2 ,000.

And I think the way to choose between them is as follows. If you want a little

bit more focus on clarity and articulation from your DAC, you could

-Z10. If you prefer a touch of richness and extra depth in the soundstage, then

you should get the D900.

Or another way to look at it is that if you want a DAC with two pairs of XLR

outputs and no RCA outputs, then buy the Topping D900.

However, if you want a better looking interface, and a nicer to use interface,

and if you want an onboard headphone amp, an onboard preamp that includes for

analog inputs, not just the digital outputs, and if you also want it to have

HDMI arc, then the DAC -Z10 is the one for you.

The DAC -Z10 can also accept an external clock input, which the D900 can't do,

but I can't really talk about that here because I couldn't get it to work

properly, and I think that's due to the fact that you need both the source

device, say a 3D transport, and the DAC -Z10 to be operating on the same clock,

and I didn't have time to fiddle around and get that working properly.

All I got was silence when I tried to use an external clock with the DAC -Z10

its own. But on that note, if you want to know more about external clock

systems, how they can work, and whether or not they improve the sound, then make

sure you subscribe, because I've got a video all about that coming up pretty

soon, as well as my review of the Guthard U26 digital -to -digital

There's plenty of reasons to subscribe. Hit that subscribe button now. But for

now... Let's wrap this up by saying that I think the DAC -Z10 is an absolutely

brilliant addition to the DAC world.

This is now one of the two best DACs that you can buy for under 3 ,000 US

dollars. even though it costs under $2 ,000.

So grab yourself an Eversolo DAC -Z10 using the links in the description down

below if you've made up your mind, or if you haven't made up your mind yet, then

you'll definitely want to watch the video I've pinned here at the end,

that's the other choice, and I'll tell you all about why the D900 is the only

other choice beyond the DAC -Z10.

And so use the links, or watch the video, but until next time, peace, love,

music, and I'll see you again soon.