@grannyring
Thanks for sharing your impressions. Their USB and SPDIF cables are on my wish list :-)
Thanks for sharing your impressions. Their USB and SPDIF cables are on my wish list :-)
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
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
Showing 26 responses by lalitk
@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/7054 Let me know if I missed or overlooked anything. |
Once you get ENO setup in your existing chain (as outlined in your first post), I would like you to experiment by simplifying the chain i.e. 45foot CAT8 from Orbi mesh router to Silent Angel Bonn N8 switch ➡️ ENO ➡️ Mojo server. |
@milpai You would need another USB cable to complete the loop with Intona. The device has host-side USB-B; device-side USB-A connectors. Or better yet, you could try iPurifier 3 risk free from Amazon. https://ifi-audio.com/products/ipurifier3/ https://www.amazon.com/iPurifier3-Audio-Signal-Filter-White/dp/B07DLMZP5Y/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2C4LGH4BNQ... |
“I’ll still maintain the most beneficial network improvements come post server, which means two computer setup, aka separate server feeding usb renderer/roon endpoint/streamer.” I respectfully disagree. There are other streamlined options to isolate the noise without ‘cluttering’ your space. Choosing a good server or streamer that specifically designed for audio is fundamental to the approach of clutter free streaming experience. Once you get that out of the way, then you can focus on DAC and noise filtering devices. |
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. |
I’m well aware of your somewhat idiosyncratic system approach. My point is simple, it is very easy to get carried away in our pursuit to improve performance to nth degree. There is this breaking point where adding more ‘tweaks’ will only result in marginal or subtle improvements if your baseline is weak. It’s like putting a ‘lipstick on a pig’ :-) Streaming is no longer in its infancy, it has matured. I see some of the posters here regularly peddling their convoluted biases like setting a good streaming system is equivalent of setting up a science lab. The way I see, it’s not very helpful to readers that are trying to venture into streaming. |
@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 :-) |
@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 agree with @grannyring. The USB III is one of the finest cable I’ve had the pleasure of auditioning in my system. They do come with no question asked return policy should anyone wants to try them out. As far multiple listings, people switch out gear and cables all the time for various reasons. Doesn’t mean it’s no longer worthy of your consideration. It could just mean that component or cable was not the right fit in your system or to your liking or as pointed out no longer needed due to a change in your system configuration. |
Welcome back to the pursuit of great audio. IMO, you have a decent streaming setup with iFI Zen combo. My question is what is your time line in terms of upgrading the streamer and DAC? If you planning to keep the Zen combo for a while, then i would replace the wall warts power supply (SMPS) on both to a LPS (linear power supply). You can get a very nice LPS that can power both Zen’s. This is where you get the most bang for your buck and improvements in SQ. |
“Do you have any particular LPS's in mind to recommend that can power the Stream and DAC?” I have used iFi and JCAT LPS. The are so many other brands, I suggest that you start a new thread on LPS recommendations if you prefer not to weed through threads here :-) Please be sure to state your budget and voltage specs of Zen combo. I would pick a LPS manufacturer that doesn’t cheap out on DC cables. The quality of DC cables matters too! |
Muon Pro has been designed to work with streamer that requires 1Gb/s Ethernet connection speed. Your JCAT Net XE is seeing ENO as bottleneck hence the connection/speed issues. There are few here who experienced the same issue as you and switching to Muon Pro not only got rid of the problem but also further enhanced the performance. |