A Very Useful New Discovery--EON Digital Filter from Network Acoustics


I've been on a year long quest to upgrade my stereo system, hopefully for the last time. As a senior "Luddite", I have been a late adopter of steaming capability. But now I'm converted. And just in time it apparently. In August 2020, DG released a new recording of all four Charles Ives Symphonies with the LA Phil and Dudemel conducting....with no CD format available!
Currently I'm listening to music through an Auralic G1 steamer/ Benchmark dac 3 DAC B into a newly built Audible Illusions Modulus 3B preamp and a Parasound A23+ power amp. CD's are played on an Audiolab 6000 transport into the Benchmark via Toslink. Speakers are Vanderstein Treo CT's. Oh there's still vinyl. I upgraded my trusty Well-Tempered TT with a Hana ML cartridge into a Sutherland Insight phono amp. Power supplies are a Furman PTS-8 with a Greenwave for devices switched on/off and an Audioquest 1200 for the devices left on, like the amp and the pre-amp. Everything is sounding really good (mostly acoustic jazz, Americana and Classical....lotsa acoustic piano).
I read on the 'Gon about a device from the U.K. called, EON from Network Acoustics. It is an EMI/RFI filtering device. We live on the Westside of LA. There's plenty of stray noise around. The one thing that worried me was the thirty foot run of contractor grade ethernet cable I was running from the office to the Auralic G1. I generally run mid-price cables, (Audioquest Carbon USB, Rocket 88 bi-wire speaker cables with DBS, Signal silver cables to the Sutherland, etc). Researching the EON, it seemed like this unit could be an asset, or at least save the money of 30 feet of Audioquest Cinnamon cable. And it was reasonably priced (under $500.00)!
I traded e-mails with Rich. He thought I would really like it but made two modest suggestions. He suggested that I add a D-Link DSG 1008G network switch (under $30.00)  and add a short link of good cable to the EON. (I ended up using the Audioquest Cinnamon ethernet). And he also suggested I pick up a IFI 5V power supply. ($50.00)
So.....what happened?
Suddenly the bass information, seemingly missing, was deep and powerful. I can actually feel the low bass strings on Christian McBride's acoustic bass pressing on my chest. And the percussive drive of Brian Blades drumming is being felt, not just implied. (Joshua Redman, Round Again, Nonesuch). The overall focus of everything is sharper. Like when you are tuning a guitar and the last little turn gets the top E string exactly right..... not just close. Brad Mehldau on, April 2020, sounds exactly like he is playing in my living room on a well cared for Steinway. Wow! Just Wow!!!!
I foolishly, but honestly, told my wife that I don't know to make this system sound any better.  I'm all done. Back to listening to music!
Important P.S The D-Link requires a male USB 2.0 Mini-B 5pin connector. Even though the IFI comes with many connector options, this isn't one of them. Nancy had one from an old I -Pad, keyboard connector.
mwgreene
@rareace,

I am on my 2nd day of listening and that’s my impression too about ENO Ag. These are of course preliminary impressions as this thing is still breaking in....

@milpai,
First thing I’ve noticed how the sound is more life-like with ENO in the mix. I am hearing noticeable reduction in mesh noise, more texture around vocals and instruments. The sense of realism is spooky good, bass is slightly more textured and a bigger soundstage.
@lalitk Wow! Stunning system. I love Tannoy's but the only one I've heard are the Sterlings which sounded awesome.
So glad both of you are basically hearing the same improvements I heard. We speak the same language with different dialects! I have neglected to mention that I have added the Network Acoustics CU UBS cable since I wrote the original post .Although I can't swear it was an enormous improvement, it certainly tightened everything up a tad...and it is a substantial piece of work for a very reasonable price. Lately, I have been listening to a lot of piano music. Besides Brad Mehldau, a perennial musical voice in this house, I've been on a Yuja Wang kick lately. We kick things off with Yuja bangin' out a ferocious take on "Why Must The Devil Get All the Good Tunes" and the ethereal "China Gates" followed by the Berlin Recital album. (Both available on Quobuz in Hi-Res). To me, acoustic piano is the greatest test of digital sound. I hear overtones, tightness and rightness of image, speed and most importantly, a lack of "digital ringing" on the treble side of the keyboard. Plus the increased focus of the bass clefs. And, I made the same mistake when I told my beautiful bride, "Honey I don't think I can't get the system to sound any better" LOL.