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
lollipopguild's avatar
lollipopguild
133 posts
 

As someone recently introduced to a proper streaming setup (Orbi satellite -> Zenith Mk3 -> Hegel H390), I’ve found this thread extremely informing and will no doubt soon try both the EE and the Eno.

Regarding streaming specifically, it seemed to me that Zenith owners neglected to mention one aspect of their streamed SQ - unless it was taken for granted. Namely, is it fair to say that the SQ from flac files stored on the Zenith is the benchmark against which streamed music is compared? Clearly, any flac file read from the Zenith’s SSD will not be governed by any router or switch or ethernet cable.

antigrunge2
1,426 posts
 

While I zapped my Cds on an Audioaero Capitole 24/192 MK2 and not on the Zenith directly, I believe my streaming to now be superior to the SSD. I don’t believe that ripping is entirely lossless nor is direct reading from disc.

lollipopguild's avatar
lollipopguild
133 posts
 

@antigrunge2, interesting point, but wouldn't that same logic apply to the source of the stream?  Surely Qobuz (for example) has to read from a disc somewhere, and their flac files must have been ripped from something.

antigrunge2
1,426 posts
 

My point is that consumer level cd players distort, pretty sure that Qobuz has direct streaming access from servers.

liangx5's avatar
liangx5
31 posts
 

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? 

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