2. digital
  3. 164400-25

Streaming Sound Quality - Want the very best sound quality? Network Acoustics ENO...

Like many of you fellow Agoners I am striving to get the best sound quality out of my digital streaming front end. To that end I have invested in various high end switches, re-clockers, ethernet cables, various USB filters/re-clockers, high end servers and delved into fiber optic conversion configurations. All of these measures did improve sound quality at varying levels. I felt my system sounded as good as a decent CD transport on many streaming recordings in Qobuz. However, I still felt there was something missing. I felt my system was still being held back. You can see my system under virtual systems here.

Well, I stumbled across something that has finally enabled my digital system to be all it can be. I cannot fully express the level of sound quality improvement realized with the addition of the Network Acoustics ENO Ag filter and ENO Ag streaming ethernet cable. It has been 10 days now since I added these to my system and I can now confidently say my streaming and system are all they can be sonically.

Here is the set up that has caused me to sell off and move past many other powered filters, reclockers, fiber optic options, and other streaming tweaks and gadgets. Frankly, the ENO additions are miles ahead of these other options sonically in my system and experience. Miles. This is my personal experience and please understand this perspective.

Netgear NighHawk modem/router power by an LPS > Supra cat 8 ethernet cable > English Electric 8Switch > Network Acoustics ENO Ag streaming cable > ENO Ag ethernet filter > Innuos Zenith III > Mojo Audio Evo dac

The English Electric 8Switch is also wonderful. Will a lower cost, standard switch sound as good in this set-up? Not sure as I have not tried. I am so ecstatic with my sound system that I don’t want to touch it!

There is a certain rightness from top to bottom that’s intoxicating. The tone is so beautiful and natural with no hint of electronic glare or digital artificiality. Music flows with far greater ease and has an uncanny, unforced nature to it. The stage is far deeper with the music flowing from a plane that is layered and completely separate of the speakers. This aural sensation, at this level of nuance, is new to my system and experience. The ENO products made this possible.

Instruments are presented with a new realism that is arresting to my senses. There is a wholistic presentation that spreads out all around me and my space. Just a joy to experience. Yes, the speakers seem to float the music into my space without any attention or localization of the speaker box or physical presence.

No part of frequency spectrum is out of place or forced. I am sure this has to do with the absence of noise. My music is equally articulate and resolved at low or loud volumes. Music stays controlled and enticing no matter how complex or bombastic the recording.

The ENO filter is passive, not powered, so there is no need of any power supply or plug. This is a huge plus.

Hope you streaming audiophiles find this helpful.

Bill
grannyring

Showing 4 responses by hchilcoat

hchilcoat
159 posts
 

@mitch2 I am following in your footsteps. Just recently added a Mojo Audio Deja Vu as well as a Mystigue EVO PRO to my system, as well as the Circle Labs P300/M200 Preamp/Amp combo. The Deja Vu is a refurbished unit with the JCAT XE USB and XE Net cards both with OCXO clocks . My router is far away and for a while I was using a wireless extender cpnnected to the music server to that with an ethernet cable. That worked ok I knew it wasn’t ideal. I recently moved to a new listening room that is on the other side of the house but not too hard to run a cable through my basement and through an existing hole in a listening room closet. Just got 100 foot run of terminated Cat 8 cable and rigged that up to get rid of the wireless set up and plugged directly to the Deja Vu from the Verizon router (I’ll shorten it when I get a more permanent hook up through in my wall). .

Very happy with the improvement in sound via ethernet cable via wireless. I will consider trying an ENO or perhaps the Muon to see if there is further improvement. Benjamin at Mojo didn’t think I needed any network switches with the JCAT XE Net card in place. but did suggest that I consider the ENO.

 

 

 

hchilcoat
159 posts
 

@debjit_g 

Based on what I see showing up in Roon settings, looks like a JL Sounds USB board. 

hchilcoat
159 posts
 

I've been using the ENO system running from an ethernet switch into my Mojo Audio Deja Vu server, which has JCAT Net XE and USB XE cards. When I reboot my Deja Vu with the ENO system connecting between the switch and the Deja Vu I don't get an ethernet connection, so no Roon, no streaming. If I reboot with the CAT 8 ethernet cable from my router (1000 mbs service) plugged directly into the Deja Vu, it reboots fine with ethernet connection. I then have to remove that cable from the Deja Vu and plut it into my switch and then hook up the ENO system (from switch to Deja Vu server and all is good (seems like once the ethernet connection to the Deja VU is opened up Ican change ethernet connections back and forth with no problem). I assume this issue is because the JCAT NET XE wants a 1000 mps connection when rebooting rather than the 100 mps connection of the ENO. At some point in the near future I hope to upgrade to the Muon Pro and I think that will resolve the problem.

Have others had the same issue and did the Muon Pro resolve it?

hchilcoat
159 posts
 

@lalitk Thank you. I look forward to the two-fer of having more convenience and improved sound!

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