I love it when well-educated and seasoned audiophiles gush about a new product. You know that there’s real substance behind the accolades and not merely newbie exuberance. Very well written review indeed!
I want to give a shout out to the owner (Rich Trussell of Network Acoustics) for exemplary business ethics. I use a Sonore opticalRendu streamer in my digital chain where the opticalRendu utilizes a fiber optic interface for noise reduction. I sent an email to Rich a few weeks ago asking him if ENO would add value. He basically told me to save my money since the opticalRendu is already doing a similar job. How refreshingly honest! |
Yes, I have to agree that shows Rich at Network Acoustics is a man of integrity. |
+1 for the ENO Ag. I added the matching Ag cable which is the best I've ethernet cable I've had in my system as well. Great product and allowed me to sell my EtherRegen which was giving me dropout issues. I now paired with a Gigafoil V4 no longer have connectivity issues and better SQ.
-Alex |
Try www.small green computer.com |
Hi Alex. I also sold my EtherRegen. In ENO sounded best and by a good margin in my system. Hooking the EtherRegen ahead of the ENO in series did not sound nearly as good as the ENO alone
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Boo on SGC. They couldn’t ever get a UltraRendu to stream anything. Sent it back after wasting time.
+1 On the ENO. I went with the CU. Hand wound OCC. Definite improvement. When I went with ViaBlue AG RJ-45’s it took the music to another dimension. I grabbed a VisBlue USB A/B too.
Made me question buying 3 new carts in the last year. A cartridge in this price range doesn’t make anolog sound as good to me. |
Another vote for ENO Ag Filter and Ag LAN cable. Rich is a class act, nothing but great customer service experience.
I want to give a shout out to @mwgreene for introduction to ENO. |
@grannyring I see that you also have an English Electric 8Switch in the chain, which I'm assuming was added prior to the ENO. I was just wondering whether you noticed any noticeable improvement in SQ when you first added the 8switch. If yes, how would you rate the 'wow' factor compared to the addition of ENO later on?
Also, have you tried to remove the 8Switch from the chain to evaluate the ENO on its own? |
So the ENO is basically an RF reduction device that uses chokes to filter the input. In the post by @arafiq below, he reports that the ENO designer told him a fiber optic interface does basically "a similar job" of noise reduction as the ENO.
That comment leads to my question of whether any ENO users have directly compared it to
a fiber optic interface - and how did the two compare sonically?
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If I may, the OpticalRendu is the only device I know of that has an optical SFP port actually built into it, so that you can plug an optical cable directly into it. I’m sure there are others.A fibre optic interface that uses two media converters going from RJ45 to optical and then back to RJ45 to the streamer is a different thing.
All active devices emit noise, including optical to RJ45 converters. We have users with these media converters that get a big improvement, as eloquently described by Bill, by adding an ENO filter between the media converter and the streamer. |
Thanks for the clear answer Rich, and for weighing in on this forum. I am actually using 15M of fibre optic for my main link between my router and my system. There is one converter at the system, which I power with a large (overkill) LPS and then a very short Ethernet/CAT8 cable from the converter to the streamer/server. When you say, All active devices emit noise, including optical to RJ45 converters. I assume you include switches too? Therefore, what I believe I hear is the optimal set-up is to have the ENO be the last device prior to the streamer - correct. I have gotten to know Bill over the years through these forums so I do have a level of trust in what he hears, which is why this thread interested me. Where would be a good place to purchase the ENO in the USA? |
Very much so, noise and switches. Switches are great, they do partially isolate noise from an input to an output, they are your friend. An ENO filter on the output of the switch to your streamer is the ultimate place.
You can buy from us directly on the website. Free postage. 30 day returns. We’re open to suggestions for a good US distributor.
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Yes the ENO filter is right before the Innuos server. The EE 8Switch was added first and I really liked it on its own. Better than the SOTM switch I sold and better than the EtherRegen. The ENO after the 8Switch really was the game changer. The two work great together based on my experience. |
@grannyring (Bill), thank you very much for taking the time to detail all the products you've evaluated (owned in most cases) in pursuit of better and better streaming SQ. It helps so many of us evaluate our options.
Like Mitch2, I've come to know Bill and very much trust his ears. He modded my Lyngdorf 2170 and 2-way floor standers with simply outstanding results. He chose the parts (caps, wires, resistors, inductors) but explained to me the rational for each. Prior to doing the mods, he described the ways in which the SQ would improve and by how much. Each mod turned out exactly as he described or, if anything--better. I have Bill's Acoustic BBQ brand power cords, a usb and Duelund speaker wires also.
I've been doing some homework on ENO Ag this week and will be placing an order for the filter and possibly the cable too. I have a Zenith MK3 and think it sounds incredible, but there seems to be a consensus forming around the notion that steamers sound even nicer when noise is removed from the network (if that is the right way to say it).
Also, thank you very much to @lalitk for his advice. Messaging him about ENO was part of my 'homework'. He gave great guidance based on his experience.
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I also incorporated the ENO Ag into my system. Rich was extremely helpful in explaining some of the aspects involved. I went about it a little different. My router is 50' from my EMM NS1 streamer. CAT 8. I placed a switch at the router and another switch before the ENO Ag. Do two switches isolate more? I don't know. I do know with the ENO the noise floor is now lower, more articulation, darker background, and overall better musical presentation. @lalitk turned me on to this, and I am grateful. |
I had put this product on my watch list after @lalitk 's recommendation. Now @grannyring also recommends it. Two long time A'goners can't go wrong. Makes it more exciting.
I currently use a laptop to stream my audio file from a NAS and stream from Tidal - via a ethernet connection. Will the ENO make a difference, or should I not bother till I get a streamer?
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@milpai, I do recall our conversation about you stepping up to a dedicated streamer. I recommended ENO in that scenario or if you’re using a wired Ethernet connection (router to laptop). ENO’s potential is best realized when it goes between a dedicated streamer and your router or a switch. A quick review of your virtual system tells me you’re using a USB cable between your laptop and Oppo DAC/player. I recommend using a device like Intona USB isolator would provide a uptick in SQ. https://intona.eu/en/products/7054Let me know if I missed or overlooked anything. |
Thank You for the details @lalitk.
So I have the laptop connected to the ethernet and then it sends the digits to the DAC via USB cable.So to use the Intona, we have to connect laptop the the intona and then the Intona to the DAC? The existing cable I have has USB Type-A on one end while the other is USB-B. Does this work with the Intona or does that need to be replaced as well?
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@lalitk,@lalitk,
+1 on Intona, their cables are in a class of their own, too |
I just added the Network Acoustics USB cable and to say I am impressed is a huge understatement. Easily the finest USB cable I have heard in my system. Their products are world class and a great find for those of us with streaming front ends.
Great night of music! |
@grannyring
Thanks for sharing your impressions. Their USB and SPDIF cables are on my wish list :-) |
I have been listening to USB III for about a week and concur with @grannyring recommendation. Anyone shopping for a USB cable, they should not settle for any other cable unless they have auditioned the NA’s USB III. The USB Cable III delivers exceptional levels of realism, all very naturally and effortlessly. The construction is first rate and you would appreciate its flexibility. |
Yes indeed. I am so enjoying the NE USB cable. Wonderful ease and a sense of noise. My dac does not need the 5V conductor so mine was built without it. Easily the finest sounding USB cable I have had in my system.
I also love the flexibility of this cable. |
Is the NE USB cable designed to work optimally with their components, e.g. ENO, are can it work on its own? I would like to try it between my Sonore opticalRendu streamer and DAC. |
@arafiq
The USB cable from Network Acoustics comes with most common industry standard terminations, i.e. Type A on streamer output and Type B on DAC input. |
@lalitk Thanks. This will be a contender when I decide to upgrade my USB cable. |
The NetWork USB cable better then Bills latest Helix and Sablon Audio ! |
@grannyring I'm considering their Digital SPDIF cable and I currently use your Helix Dueland. Is the Network Acoustic cable a significant improvement?
-Alex |
While I have not heard the ENO I’m using 3 Accustics Revive LAN Isolater from FMC to switch, switch to server and server to dac.
Both are passive devises that have a big impact on cleaning up the sound of digital. |
I have not heard their digital cable as I don’t use one in my system. However, everything I have heard sounds best in class so I image that cable will also. |
@grannyring
I initially preferred the EE8 between a SOtM switch and Innuos server with the NE ENO-Ag between the EE8 and Innuos while placing an ER between the home router and SOtM.
After adding fiber between the SOtM and ER with an external clock I found it was better to swap the positions of the EE8 and ER.
FWIW I initially powered the EE8 with an Uptone JS-2 and the ER with and Uptone LPS1.2 which was powered by their meanwell SMPS. Removing the SMPS and using the JS-2 to power the LPS1.2 was significant to the performance of the ER.
I replaced a Curious Cable with a NE USB cable. I dont remember it being called USB III, is that a new product? |
@anzaanimalclinic, you seem to have a lot of experience with these digital delivery enhancers, so what is the level of improvement you perceive from the additions and changes you described?
I struggle to justify the amount of improvement for the price with most of these types of enhancers. As an example, I changed DACs recently, which resulted in a pretty big difference in the sound of my system....not so much the "quality" since both DACs are good, but more in how the musical sounds are presented with differences in smoothness, frequency emphasis, sense of power, clarity, and dimensionality, moving things in the direction of my individual sonic priorities.
OTOH, with respect to small boxes, digital cables, optical connections, and other digital enhancers - I have tried many and in most cases the differences have been.....meh...whatever. In my experience, small boxes and digital cables have not made huge differences in my enjoyment of the music. Slightly different sound, sure, but "gotta have it"....not so much. I would love to try the ENO and associated NA cables, as well as a bunch of other stuff like the Sonore Signature Rendu SE, the Intona USB Isolator, and different digital cables, but at the end of the day I struggle to justify spending a bunch of money on more small boxes or cables that will likely wind up on the shelf next to my other small boxes and extra cables. I know many here with good systems and ears have promoted the ENO and the NA cables, as well as other digital stuff, but I have seen too many other products over the past 20 years here that go through the flavor of the day cycle of huge admiration/praise/promotion only to be surpassed by something else within 6 months to a year....particularly in the digital arena. I guess I am a skeptic, based on my experiences - guilty. |
@mitch2
I get what you saying. The level of improvement from cables and filters are very subjective and system dependent. I can only speak to my experience with ENO Ag Filter / Ag LAN and USB cable.
I can only encourage you to try ENO filter and LAN cable in your system. If you don’t get that “gotta have it” satisfaction, send it back. They are accompanied by 30 days risk free in-home audition :-) |
Great point on the 30-day trial lalitk. I have returned a couple of manufacturer's complementary trial pieces, but I cannot remember ever returning an item under a 30-day trial period. I hate to be "that guy" but in this case it may make some sense to give it a try and be ready to return. I am supposed to receive my new Mojo DAC (trading up from Mystique v3 to EVO B4B 21) any day so then would be a good time to try the ENO, instead of with the
Mystique v3
DAC I have now. I will strongly consider trying it but I need to check on when the EVO is getting here - they were delayed by a part that was hard to get. |
@mitch2
Congratulations on your new DAC. Mojo makes great sounding DAC’s. BTW, your system is amazing. I believe ENO filter with their LAN cable is worth a trial in your system. Reach out to Richard at Network Acoustics for one on one consultation. Based on my experience, you can count on his expertise and honesty.
Good luck! |
I have emailed with Richard a couple of times and he has been very helpful. One question I had that I would be interested in hearing more about from this group of users is, whether any of you have tried the copper version of ENO and what you thought about it. I noticed the copper and silver versions cost the same and when I asked about it Richard told me they use a special copper and because of the costs they need to charge the same amount for the copper and silver versions. He basically said the silver version would be more versatile and better for me to order. I have not heard of anyone who has ordered the copper version and have not seen any feedback on how it differs in sound from the silver version. |
I tried the Intona and a bunch of other stuff. The ENO is just in a different league in terms of sonic gains. Easily the best upgrade I have ever made in audio. For me this is the bottom line of the ENO products and my streaming enjoyment. A no-brainer IMHO. ✌️ |
I’m intrigued, but am unsure if I’ll enjoy the benefits of others. I have a Nighthawk router w/ the WiFi turned off. I connect a google router into the Nighthawk and operate a 3 zone mesh system so that I can plug my streamer into one of the WiFi points via Ethernet. I did this as i needed the extended range for work and can’t run an Ethernet cable from the nighthawk across the house.
I really don’t know if I’m isolating my streamer from the EMI/RMF noise others are picking up w/ a long cat 5 cable. I do have a lengthier Ethernet cable from the WiFi point than needed so will probably try the NA cable there.
I’m happy to reach out to NA but want to hear from experienced users first.
Best, |
@mgrif104
I would suggest inserting ENO Ag Filter between Google Mesh (located near) your Auralic G2.1 streaming / DAC. You are very likely to hear audible improvements from ENO there.
BTW, you have a very nice audio system. If you decided to get ENO, please post your feedback. |
@lalitk
Thanks much. I’ll reach out to Network Acoustics tomorrow to get a unit coming my way to try.
And, talk about a nice system - I looked at yours! |
I have my ENO Ag and cable coming. They’re back ordered, but I’ll report to the group my findings. I also decided to take the plunge on an upgrading my network and found a source to get the English Electric switch. That’s also back-ordered about 3 weeks. (I couldn’t pull the trigger on the Melco and SoTM switches which are really pricey). I’ll also report my findings on the switch as well.
Happy listening all,
mgrif104 |
@grannyring
"I just added the Network Acoustics USB cable and to say I am impressed is a huge understatement. Easily the finest USB cable I have heard in my system. Their products are world class and a great find for those of us with streaming front ends."
Seeing that I think that your Acoustic BBQ USB cable is the best of the several I have used in *my* system, that's really saying something!
More on topic: I have a Sonore Signature Rendu SE with the optical connection. I run copper to the etherRegen B side and, from its A side, optical to the Rendu. My system never has sounded better.
If I understand the posts in this thread, mine, with an optical to optical segment, is the one type of network wired connection that the ENO won't help. Am I reading this thread properly?
If I am, is the NA ethernet cable still useful and helpful between my RJ-45 wallplate connector and the etherRegen B side RJ-45 connection or does the subsequent optical segment make it as unnecessary as the ENO?
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I will let @richtruss answer this question. I just know his ethernet cables are spectacular and should indeed “help”. Yes, the ENO USB cable is indeed better than mine! Even better than my newer Helix design. |
@mikerubin
Having a purely optical connection from your ER to your streamer doesn’t allow for any ‘electrical’ noise to get through, but, inside your streamer there will be a conversion process back to electrical, and this may generate some noise which is hopefully managed internally.
We have no direct experience with the Sonore you have, so cannot say 100% for sure, but in this particular case I wouldn’t expect our cable to make a difference, but it’s a funny old world! |
Thanks to all who shared their experience. I just ordered the ENO AG. Front end chain will be: - Router - powered by Sbooster LPS
- Cat6 ethernet cable (long, Blue Jeans)
- Gigafoil v4 - powered by Sbooster LPS
- Cat6 ethernet cable (short, Sablon)
- ENO AG
- Streamer - DCS Network Bridge
- DAC - Mojo EVO
I'll try the ENO with/without the Gigafoil, and with/without the LPS's in the chain. Will report back. |
@veroguy I A/B'd with and without Gigafoil in my chain which is similar to yours with ENO Ag right before my streamer. I won't say anything to create bias for you. Looking forward to your findings!
-Alex |
My thoughts while reading the two previous posts....
“Veroguy’s report is gonna be so interesting and useful—regardless of the outcome. How great is it that folks evaluate stuff I’m interested in and report their findings?”
“Holy Moly, Raceace already did 2/3 of what Veroguy is going to do and is about to spill”
”Wait, there’s a twist. Now I’ll have two members’ findings in the coming week or so”
Delayed, gratification is on its way. Kidding aside, I appreciate it and very much look forward to your reports.
Rick |
Time to report my findings. As a refresh, I ordered the ENO Ag system (filter and cable) and an English Electric network switch.
I got the ENO a few weeks ago. The switch was on backorder and I just got it today.
Honestly, there was minor improvement with the ENO alone. However, with the addition of the switch - well I can say @grannyring was right.
Please don’t ask me how or why. I, too, was skeptical but figured it was a relatively minor investment - and equipment I could return if it didn’t make a difference.
Even my wife - who doesn’t care in the least - and didn’t know I had put it in the system said “it’s sounding really good” - unsolicited.
Needless to say, I’m not returning the gear as I’m pretty happy with the results!
Best,
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I hope you don't mind me joining in on the conversation. What is the significance of employing a network switch in between the router and the streamer? How does a switch improve the sound quality? Also, I've been reading about specifically using a Cat6 Ethernet cables between the switch and the Gigafoil v4 as well as between the Gigafoil and the ENO. Why a Cat6 versus a Cat7? Is there some significance there? I'm considering the ENO Ag as well as the Gigafoil v4, but I'm confused about adding the switch....Any thoughts? |
