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
128x128grannyring

Showing 4 responses by liangx5

I am having trouble using ENO with Melco N1Z h/2. When I connect the ENO filter directly to Melco, there is no signal, network light not flashing. Changing cable from switch to ENO doesn't help. If I insert the ENO filter between router and switch, it works fine. Looks like the RJ45 connector of the ENO filter doesn't work when plugging into Melco directly. I wonder if any Melco N1 owner here is having the same issue? 

Thanks @lalitk for your reply.

Too bad that I cannot use ENO with Melco N1Z directly. I don't know putting it before the switch would be just as effective. Speaking of switch, doesn't Melco also sell a switch with 100mb/s ports just for audio applications? If that works with N1Z, then the ENO should also? Anyways, I ordered a RJ45 coupler so I can try using another short cable between ENO and the streaming device, see if that works...

Thanks @lalitk, @yoby and @grannyring. I just sent an inquiry to Network Acoustics. Shall see what they have to say. I also read in another forum that adding a 100mps switch in front of ENO should help. Since the switch I have is a managed one, Buffalo BS-GS2008, maybe I can adjust speed for the connected port down to 100mps, hope that would work.

Just got a response from Rich. What a nice and classy guy!

See below. So I will configure the switch to make the ENO work with Melco for the time being, and will definitely order a Muon in the near future.

"I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble with the ENO filter working directly between your switch and the Melco. I’ve had a look at Melco’s website and it describes that particular device as a 1Gb/s Ethernet connection. If the Melco server won’t ‘auto negotiate’ down to 100Mb/s then the ENO won’t work as it is a 100Mb/s device.

The reason it works between your router and your switch is that those devices will work at 100Mb/s.

If their is a dedicated 100Mb/s port on your switch, try using that to the Melco, or if your switch is a ‘managed switch’ you could configure a port to be fixed at 100Mb/s.

If it makes a worthwhile sound improvement in between the router and switch, then that’s where to use it, but if you wish to return it, then of course you can do that.

We do have one product that works at 1Gb/s, which would work in your situation and it’s a much better sounding filter, the Muon Pro filter, it’s not yet on our website but we can supply it. It is a bit more expensive though at £1495

I hope that helps?

Best regards,

Rich Trussell"

Network Acoustics