Eversolo CD edition
The CD Edition includes a built-in Hitachi/LG CD-ROM drive that can rip CDs into a data buffer before playing them back, but it also plays CDs directly without needing to rip them first.
The new Eversolo Play is one of the most exciting all-in-one music solutions we’ve seen in a long time. Up until now, if you wanted to use Eversolo gear, you had to buy something like the DMP-A6, A6 Master Edition, or A8 streamer/DACs, or their Z8 or Z6 DACs, and then pair that up with an amplifier of your choice. Eversolo does make a matching AMP-F2, but in our opinion, it wasn’t always the best option to pair with their units. They also released a higher-end AMP-F10 that is a great amplifier but is best paired with their matching flagship streamer/DAC/preamp, the A10. So, in many cases, people mixed and matched their own amp to go along with the Eversolo units. In fact, we’ve seen a lot of music lovers use Eversolo's streamers as standalone DACs or streamers added into an existing high-end system just because they look great, have one of the best interfaces out there, and feature that beautiful touchscreen that really adds to the experience.
Now, with the Play, Eversolo gives people a much quicker and easier way to build a full system with just one box. It’s a complete system that brings together a music streamer with a high-quality DAC, a Class D amplifier, and HDMI eARC for direct TV integration. And for vinyl lovers, there’s even a phono stage that supports both MM and MC cartridges.
So, whether you’re just getting into high-performance audio or if you want to put together a great secondary setup in a bedroom, office, or den, the Play makes it incredibly simple. Just grab a pair of speakers, log into your streaming services, and you’re good to go. You can also use it with your TV setup, add a turntable, use it for multi-room audio if you already own other Eversolo units, and more. It makes things easy because there is no need to match components or deal with multiple boxes and cables. It gives you everything in one easy, plug-and-play solution.
If you’re already sold on this new unit, you can order or pre-order the Eversolo Play right now at AudioAdvice.com. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your main system or set up something new in another room, our team is here to help you get the most out of it.
Alright, now that we’ve got a good sense of what the Eversolo Play is all about, let’s take a closer look at the design. Like other Eversolo gear, the Play has that same sleek, modern style, but with some key features that make it stand out. It keeps the same clean, modern look we’ve seen across other Eversolo products, but with some notable upgrades that set it apart. The front panel is finished in brushed aluminum with CNC unibody construction, giving it a solid, premium feel. The entire base is designed as a heatsink, ensuring efficient heat dissipation to keep the unit running cool even during extended listening sessions.
Front and center, or more accurately, to the left, is a 5.5-inch color touchscreen. It’s the same style of display found on the DMP-A6 and A8, but here it’s running a more refined version of Eversolo’s customized Android interface. The layout has been updated based on user feedback and now simplifies device controls into six main sections: Music Services, Functions, Apps, Connect, Cloud, and Settings. This makes navigating your music, settings, and sources faster and more intuitive. The screen is still super responsive, bright, and beautiful. We also just love the options for different album art, VU meters, and more that are available when playing music.
To the right of the screen, you’ll find the volume knob, which has a subtle illuminated ring that you can customize for both color and brightness. It’s a simple but effective design touch that adds a bit of visual interest while keeping the overall look understated.
Around back, the Play is packed with inputs and outputs that give it some serious versatility. You get HDMI ARC and eARC for connecting to your TV, and this is one of those features that can really elevate your setup if you’re still using your TV’s built-in speakers. With just one HDMI cable, you can run the audio from your TV to the Play and hear everything through your main speakers. Not only do you get way better sound, but you can also keep using your TV remote to control the volume, which keeps things easy and convenient.
There is also a built-in phono stage, so you can connect a turntable directly to the Play using the analog inputs on the back. It supports both MM and MC cartridges, so whether you're just getting into vinyl or already have a higher-end turntable, the Play has you covered. You can connect your turntable directly to the analog inputs on the back without needing a separate phono preamp. Just keep in mind, like most modern digital systems, the signal from your turntable is ultimately converted to digital inside the Play before it's amplified Now, if you have a really high-end turntable, you might still want to use a separate phono stage to get the absolute best performance. But for most people, having one built in is a nice touch. It also gives you a way to save some money when you are buying a turntable, since you can go with one that does not have a built-in phono stage, which are typically a little more affordable.
You also get coaxial and optical digital inputs for bringing in additional sources, plus a subwoofer output with bass management. You can customize crossover settings directly from the Play, allowing for better integration with your speakers and more controlled bass response. We love that they included this as adding a subwoofer to your system, especially if you end up using this with your TV to watch movies, can make a world of a difference.
Eversolo has also added two USB-A ports. One is for USB storage devices, so if you have a collection of digital music files, you can plug in a drive and play them directly through the Play. The other USB port is for connecting to an outboard DAC. A DAC, or Digital-to-Analog Converter, takes the digital audio signal from your streaming services, USB drives, or other sources and converts it into an analog signal that your speakers can actually play. The Play already has a really good DAC built in that is known for its smooth, detailed sound. But some people like to upgrade to an even higher-end DAC down the line to fine-tune the sound or to get a specific sonic character they are after.
If you ever want to upgrade your DAC without replacing the entire unit, that second USB port gives you that option. It is a nice way to future-proof the system without losing all the other great features the Play has to offer.
Now, right out of the box, you get deep integration with major streaming platforms. The Play connects directly to Apple Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Deezer and more. Each service is accessible from the 5.5-inch touchscreen or through the Play app, making it easy to jump between platforms without needing to switch devices. The Play is also Roon Ready, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, and UPnP compatible.
It’s equipped to handle high-resolution audio with support for DSD, FLAC, APE, WAV, and more, giving you access to lossless and high-res files, whether they’re streamed from a service or played directly from a USB drive. Apple Music’s hi-res streams are also handled bit-perfectly, which is a big deal for anyone with a sizable Apple Music library.
At the heart of the Play’s digital audio processing is the AKM AK4493 DAC. This chip has been a go-to for its smooth, natural sound signature that leans slightly warm while maintaining excellent clarity and detail. Eversolo claims the DAC delivers a signal-to-noise ratio of 109dB and ultra-low total harmonic distortion of 0.0037%. These are impressive specs for a device at this price point, and they align closely with what we’ve heard from other AKM-based products — that warm, engaging sound that’s detailed without being overly clinical.
When it comes to the amplifier inside, it’s a Class D amp that delivers 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 120 watts per channel into 4 ohms. That should be enough power for most bookshelf or floorstanding speakers, and the Class D design keeps it running cool and efficient. It’s clear that Eversolo has taken the time to tune this amp for clarity and punch without the harshness that sometimes plagues lower-quality Class D designs. Whether you’re listening to delicate acoustic tracks or bass-heavy electronic music, we thought this unit maintained composure without losing definition.
Next we want to talk about one of the most important aspects when it comes to investing in any streamer, the app. This is especially important if you plan to use multiple of them within your home. The Eversolo app is one of the best we’ve ever used. It’s well-organized and easy to navigate, giving you full control over your music library, settings, and even volume adjustments, all from your phone. We love the ability to log in to multiple streaming services like Qobuz, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music, and use the Eversolo Global Music Collection to search across all your subscribed services and see tracks and albums from different platforms on a single screen. You can even build playlists that pull from multiple services, making it easy to find that one song or album without jumping between apps.
As we mentioned before, the interface on the unit and the app have changed based on user feedback, and we find it even easier now to navigate and find what we’re looking for. It also makes it easier to group and pair multiple Eversolo units together for multi-room playback if you have more Eversolo products in your home. While some might prefer the older version, we’ve lived with both and much prefer the newer one. We have to give credit to Eversolo for listening to the crowd and making an already great app even better.
Another unique feature is the screencast function, which allows you to mirror the Eversolo’s display directly onto your phone. This creates a fully interactive experience where you can see and control everything in real time. It’s especially useful for managing third-party apps or just having your phone or tablet mirrored on the album artwork as you play music.
Moving on, we want to also touch on the room correction that is built into the Play. We are huge fans of automatic room correction as it can make your system sound so much better. It analyzes your room’s acoustics and adjusts the audio output to compensate for things like reflections, standing waves, and other acoustic issues. This is especially useful for rooms with challenging layouts or hard surfaces that can cause sound to bounce around. You can use your phone's microphone to listen to the test tones, and the Play does all the work and automatically sets the correction for you. And if you want to dive in even further, there are EQ settings with some pretty in-depth options for those of you who want to geek out and adjust things to your liking.
Now, while streaming is clearly a major focus here, Eversolo didn’t forget about physical media. The Play is available in two versions — a Standard Edition and a CD Edition. The CD Edition includes a built-in Hitachi/LG CD-ROM drive that can rip CDs into a data buffer before playing them back, but it also plays CDs directly without needing to rip them first. This is a great feature for those who still have a collection of discs and want to integrate them into a modern streaming setup without adding another external component.
The Eversolo Play is more than just a streaming amp — it’s a complete music hub designed to handle everything from high-resolution streaming to vinyl playback and TV audio. It combines modern features, versatile connectivity, and great sound quality in one easy-to-use package, making it a compelling option for anyone looking to simplify their setup without compromising on performance.
For those just getting into high-performance audio, the Play offers an accessible way to experience premium sound without the complexity of separate components. And for more seasoned listeners, it’s a versatile solution that can integrate into almost any system while still delivering that signature Eversolo sound.