Comparing the Eversolo Z10 with the Naim ND5XS
Contents
The CD transport serves as the source. The CD ‘Dislocation Blues’ by Chris Whitley and Jeff Lang is chosen for a particular reason. This CD is a real torture for DACs, with the National Steel Guitar and close microphone recording. The CD by the Van Baerle Trio was chosen for its excellent recording, which allows good comparison of the placement in the soundstage and the depth of sound in grand piano, cello and violin.
The Eversolo Z10 overtly shows much more fine detail in the reproduction. Also, the soundstage is wider but equally deep. Instruments are much more clearly carved out in the soundstage and the grand piano and cello gain much more layering and variation in sound in the low registers.
The surprise is that with the Naim, the instruments and voices are much more interconnected and the nature of the instruments comes into its own. The double bass used in a number of tracks on ‘Dislocation Blues’ sounds more like a wooden instrument. Voices are given more depth and humanity.
The output stage of a DAC largely determines how a DAC sounds. This is especially noticeable in how the microdynamics of instruments are reproduced, in the liveliness voices get. It is sufficient with the Eversolo Z10, but it does not grab you every time you turn on music.
You feel as a listener that there is potential left unused. Perhaps these were conscious design considerations to stay below a certain price point, but just that little bit more would have taken the DAC to a much higher level.