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
jabbaman
56 posts
 

Hi All,

 

Great thread, it's rare for me to read every post! There are very few "it's all just 1's and 0's" comments too.

Whilst I've never left music I have had a long hiatus from hi-fi but I'm now back and building up a pure digital system. I'm deliberately working at the budget end of the scale to see what's possible in terms of sound quality however I'm happy to add and remove components over time in pursuit of great sound (for me).

My setup is pretty simple and basic compared to all of you guys:

5G (Mobile) Router

certified cat 6a to TP-Link Switch

AudioQuest Cat6 Pearl to 10Gtek FMC

10Gtek Fibre to 10Gtek FMC

AudioQuest Cat6 Pearl to ifi Zen Stream (12v ifi iPower 2 SMPS)

WireWorld Chroma 8 USB to ifi Zen DAC v2 (5v ifi iPower X SMPS)

I also have a pair of ifi AC iPurifiers in the power strip.

 

Everything sounds pretty good, but I can tell there is more to be had here. I have over 30 years in a wide variety of IT roles but I'm not in the "it's just 1's and 0's" camp where audio is concerned.

With my "budget" hat on I have ordered a reasonably discounted EE 8Switch that I intend to place between the second FMC and the Streamer. I've also got a couple of other iPower X's on order one of which will grace the Router and my Zen Can.

My first (of many questions) for the experts here is: my Router has a spare switch port - should I plug the first FMC directly into this, or leave it in the TP-Link (along with the "rest of the house network")?

Secondly, what's the consensus on the FMC's - shall I leave them in the path or remove them? (I'm happy to experiment of course).

I've got my eye on various other upgrades but at some point, the dollars/pounds will be spent on the streamer or DAC rather than cables and digital magic boxes.

Other than this, thanks for a great post!

 

 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,570 posts
 

@jabbaman 

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. 

As far as upgrading the Ethernet signal path, It’s a hot mess. So many ways you can tweak the signal chain. My advise, keep on experimenting and find that sweet spot. I believe in ‘less is more’ in the Ethernet path. The EE8 on the way, experiment with and without the FMC. My experience with FMC’s is not great so I recommend trying ENO passive filter at some point in-between your EE8 and Zen stream. 

Have fun and share your findings! 

jabbaman
56 posts
 

@lalitk, thank you for taking the time to reply, much appreciated.

I'm sure I'll keep the Zen stack for at least six months, probably longer. Do you have any particular LPS's in mind to recommend that can power the Stream and DAC?

I'm aware that power supplies are a whole different rabbit hole of potentially infinite tweaking!

As an experiment today I have taken Ethernet out of the equation entirely and enabled Wi-Fi on the Zen Stream. I do have a fairly good Wi-Fi setup in the house and it's usually performant and reliable. What I have noticed is that the sound quality is absolutely flawless, the bass is strong, the vocals are clear and well-defined, the sound stage is wide and the silent moments on acoustic tracks are completely silent. I'm now wondering whether this might be the way to go as Wi-Fi itself has no interference. I could potentially further upgrade the Wi-Fi mesh and feed it properly with good power and who knows?

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,570 posts
 

“Do you have any particular LPS's in mind to recommend that can power the Stream and DAC?”

@jabbaman 

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! 

jabbaman
56 posts
 

Thanks @lalitk, I'm a fan of iFi Power so I will likely stick with them for the time being.

I've just wired in the EE 8Swtich. I really didn't want this to be better, even a notch.

But, I'll be keeping it. The only word I have is 'phenomenal'.

I'm not going to bother putting the FMC's back into the chain as this sounds wonderful right now.

For interest I'm going Router, Audioquest Pearl Cat6, EE 8Switch, included Chord C-Stream Cable to Zen Stream.

I will have to try out the ENO next I guess, and no doubt different power and Ethernet cables too! :)

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