Eversolo Play Music Streamer and Amplifier
Introduction
The Eversolo Play (CD Edition) is an all-in-one music streamer, DAC and integrated amplifier aimed at listeners who want a compact, networked hi‑fi solution that can act as a standalone music server, preamp, and power amp for bookshelf speakers. Priced around $799, the unit is built by EVERSOLO and is designed to simplify high-resolution music playback — offering streaming services, local library management, a touchscreen UI, room correction and a built-in Class D amplifier capable of driving common passive bookshelf speakers.
Product Overview
Manufacturer: EVERSOLO
Product category: All‑in‑one streaming amplifier / DAC / music streamer (CD Edition)
Intended use: Compact hi‑fi for two‑channel listening, network streaming (Tidal/Qobuz and others), local music library playback, multi‑room setups, and light preamp duties. Best suited to bookshelf or small-monitor speakers with recommended sensitivity and impedance ranges.
Appearance and Build
The Play CD Edition is visually minimalist and compact. The chassis is low-profile (approximately 9.05 × 9.05 × 2.96 inches) and finished in black for the CD Edition. The front is dominated by a 5.5‑inch HD touchscreen (“magic screen”) and a clean, simple control surface. Build quality is generally good — solid-feeling controls and a well-executed screen — but some users have reported a soft, rubbery coating on the top panel that feels pleasant to the touch initially and may age differently depending on environment and wear.
Unique design elements:
- Large integrated 5.5‑inch HD touchscreen that enables full operation without a phone.
- Compact footprint that fits into most AV racks or small shelves.
- Minimalist aesthetic with on‑device VU meter and clock/screen options.
- CD Edition branding implies bundled or supported CD functions (model naming), while retaining the core Play-series feature set.
Key Features & Specifications
- D/A conversion: AK4493SEQ DAC chip — specified >=109 dB SNR (A‑weighted), THD 0.0037%.
- Amplifier: Class D, 60 W × 2 @ 8 Ω, 110 W × 2 @ 4 Ω (suitable for many bookshelf speakers).
- Display & control: 5.5‑inch HD touchscreen with a new UI; all operations can be completed on‑device.
- Room Correction: Built-in room correction that measures acoustic characteristics and applies corrections to reduce room reflections.
- EQ & Filters: Multi‑band professional‑grade EQ, FIR filters and 23 genre‑specific presets (Dance, Blues, Classical, Jazz, etc.).
- Intelligent Bass Management: Integrated bass management for better low‑frequency balance and subwoofer integration.
- Streaming & services: Supports mainstream services including Qobuz and Tidal; hybrid playback queues and global search via Eversolo Control app.
- Connectivity highlights: PHONO input (MM/MC), Trigger In for synchronized device control, coaxial SPDIF and USB outputs/inputs, Ethernet/Wi‑Fi (network streaming), Wake‑on‑LAN, screen mirroring, and multi‑device management for multi‑room playback.
- Local library: Supports local storage (SSD/memory card options reported by users), music library management and a built‑in player for many high‑res formats (some very obscure formats, such as a few Blu‑ray audio files, may not play).
- Form factor & weight: ~6.38 pounds, compact dimensions noted above.
- Price: Approximately $799 (CD Edition).
- Recommended speakers: Sensitivity ~85–88 dB, impedance 4 Ω or 6 Ω, power handling 20–100 W. Not recommended for large floor‑standing speakers.
Using the Eversolo Play — Real World Experience
The Play is flexible: it can function as the heart of a two‑channel system (streamer + integrated amp), a networked preamp feeding a larger power amp, or a dedicated streamer/DAC feeding external digital or analog inputs. Below are experiences across common scenarios.
1) As an all‑in‑one integrated streamer + amp (bookshelf speakers)
Setup is straightforward. The built‑in amp delivers clean, punchy output for most compact bookshelf speakers within the recommended sensitivity/impedance range. The AK4493SEQ DAC provides a neutral, detailed presentation with low noise. Room Correction and the Intelligent Bass Management noticeably improve clarity and bass control in small to medium rooms, especially when speaker placement is constrained.
The touchscreen lets you browse local albums and control playback without a phone, which is convenient. The unit also supports local storage (users have installed 2–4 TB drives/SSDs and large microSD cards), so collectors of ripped CDs can keep an accessible library.
2) As a streamer into an external DAC or pre/pro (coax/USB output)
The Play’s SPDIF/coax digital output is excellent as a transport. Many listeners find coaxial SPDIF out to an external DAC slightly cleaner and more dynamic than USB in some configurations. When used as a pure transport, the Play competes well with standalone streamers in its price range — its transport and networking stack are competent and stable for continuous playback.
3) Streaming services and app control
The Eversolo Control app and touchscreen provide overlapping control options. Streaming from Tidal and Qobuz works well and gapless playback is supported. The app offers useful features like global search, hybrid queues and multi‑device management, but some reviewers note the app trails the best competitors (Innuos and Sonos, for example) in polish and navigation speed. The touchscreen itself is responsive and reduces reliance on the smartphone app.
4) Multi‑room and system integration
Multi‑room playback works as advertised for grouping multiple Eversolo devices. Trigger In and other integration features make it possible to link with other gear. Wake‑on‑LAN, screen mirroring and multi‑device management are handy for more advanced setups.
5) Format support and quirks
The Play supports a broad range of file types and high‑res audio. In practice, most users report very few playback issues; a handful of obscure Blu‑ray audio or niche container types may not play. If you have rare or unusual file types in your collection, confirm compatibility first.
6) UI, aesthetics and small annoyances
The screen’s visuals and album art presentation are excellent. Users have flagged a few minor UX shortcomings: the mobile app could be more polished, some users experienced hiccups with initial app pairing (camera QR scan problems reported), and the bundled VU meter and clock screensaver options could use more variety. The top-panel rubberized finish looks and feels premium but may be susceptible to wear over many years.
✅ Pros
- True all‑in‑one design: streamer, DAC and amplifier in a compact chassis.
- AK4493SEQ DAC delivers very low noise and clean resolution for its class.
- Sufficient real‑world power (60W×2 @ 8 Ω / 110W×2 @ 4 Ω) for most bookshelf speakers.
- 5.5‑inch touchscreen allows full standalone operation without a phone.
- Room correction, FIR filters and multi‑band EQ with many presets — powerful tuning options for real rooms.
- Good connectivity: PHONO input (MM/MC), Trigger In, SPDIF/USB, network streaming, Wake‑on‑LAN.
- Multi‑room capable with Eversolo ecosystem integration.
- Compact footprint and attractive, minimalist industrial design.
- Strong local library management and support for large local storage.
⚠️ Cons
- App is functional but not as polished or easy to navigate as some competitors’ apps.
- Not designed for large floor‑standing speakers — limited headroom for very inefficient speakers.
- Some minor UI/customization items (VU meters, screensavers) feel limited and could use more variety.
- Top rubberized finish may be susceptible to aging or cosmetic wear for some users.
- Very occasional format or exotic file compatibility issues reported (a few Blu‑ray audio files).
- If you plan to use the unit strictly as a DAC/preamp and rely on a different amp, expect differences depending on connection type (SPDIF often preferred over USB for dynamics in some setups).
Who is this for?
The Eversolo Play is ideal for buyers who want a compact, attractive all‑in‑one hi‑fi solution that can stream Qobuz/Tidal, host a local music library, and directly drive bookshelf speakers without adding a separate power amp. It’s also a strong choice for those who want built‑in room correction and EQ tools. If you already own a high‑end power amp or floorstanders with low efficiency, you may be better served by separate, higher‑power amplification.
Conclusion
The Eversolo Play (CD Edition) is an impressive and versatile all‑in‑one music streamer/DAC/amplifier at its price point. It delivers a clean, detailed sound thanks to a high‑quality AK4493SEQ DAC, offers useful DSP tools (room correction, FIR filters, multi‑band EQ) and convenient on‑device control via a large touchscreen. For most listeners using bookshelf speakers and seeking a compact, networked hi‑fi hub, it strikes a compelling balance of features, performance and value.
There are tradeoffs — the mobile app could use refinement, it isn’t suitable for driving very inefficient or large floor‑standing speakers, and there are minor cosmetic and UI details that could be improved. Still, for the typical two‑channel user who values an integrated, easy‑to‑use system with room correction and streaming service support, the Play is a strong contender and a product I would recommend trying if it fits your speaker partners and listening environment.
Product snapshot: EVERSOLO Play (CD Edition) — 5.5″ touchscreen, AK4493SEQ DAC, Class D amp 60W×2 @8Ω / 110W×2 @4Ω, room correction, multi‑band EQ & FIR filters, multi‑room and mainstream streaming support. Approx. $799.
