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
128x128grannyring
cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 

@soma70 i know what i know. Most auidophiles (or phools sometimes) suffer from the "i paid more so i must be hearing better" syndrome, especially about wires , fuses and networking gear.

Listen to what @invalid has commented. That is almost always the issue.

99% of the so called audiophiles, and humans for that matter, once having reached about 40 years of age, will not hear anything above 16khz, let alone all the sound intricacies they claim they hear.

I invite everyone on this forum to be "real" with themselves and everyone else and comment accordingly.

soma70
153 posts
 

@cakyol so, you are never wrong and everyone else is a "phool". nice.

sns
3,299 posts
 

Ignorance is bliss, so they say.

cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 

Thank you, finally you are realizing it 👍

mitch2
4,036 posts
 

Just added another small box.  I have a DJM Electronics GigaFOILv4-INLINE Ethernet Filter on the way.  I will probably position it immediately after my Bonn N8 switch and just before the Network Acoustics ENO, which is right before my server.  The GigaFOILv4-INLINE uses Fiber Optic Isolation Link (“FOIL”) technology to prevent EMI from passing through the filter.  I suspect my use of fiber in place of Ethernet cable is already effective at blocking EMI but I like the idea of having the GigaFOIL just in front of the ENO so I will give it a try and assess the results.  I may also try going back to Ethernet in place of the fiber to assess whether the fiber is redundant with the GigaFOIL in place.

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