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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
fastfreight
810 posts
 
@markush :  from the thread entitled "Best Server To Run Roon Core"
fastfreight

386 posts

 

Hello!   I now have my Muon Pro Streaming System (which means includes the second cable, which is by the way distinct for the Pro version). 

Recall I have Gateway 1100 Verizon Modem > JCAT M12 gold cable > M12 Gold Switch w/ Jcat Optimo 3 power supply > M12 Cable > Nucleus +

                                                             >M12 Cable > JCAT Net Isolator (coupler) >

Supra Cat 8 20 M >(WITH OR WITHOUT MUON PRO FILTER SYSTEM) > Aries G2.1 Streamer w LPS > USB (K-S Realization)  > Mola Mola Tambaqui > Audionet Pre and amps.

 

So I tried with and without the Muon Pro directly in front of my streamer. I listened casually for a few days to run it in, then did some serious A/B switching the Muon Pro in and out.  My wife has good ears and for her it was blind as I was the wizard behind the components.

 

1)  I had no issues with turning the Aries on and off and changing the cables quickly, and the Aries connected immediately.  This is showing the Gigabit put through of the Muon Pro vs the bottleneck I had with the previous regular Muon.

2) The Muon Pro adds significant improvement to our ears vs the straight-in Supra cat 8.  The sound was bigger, richer, more enveloping and just plain more pleasurable.  There was no doubt to us, and it was immediate.

3) The Muon Pro is connected with another JCAT Net Isolator into the Network Acoustics Muon Pro cables, One is hardwired out of the Muon Filter; the other is the second Muon Pro Network cable going from the Net Isolator (coupler) into the Muon filter.  My point here is that the second Muon Pro cable AND the JCAT Net Isolator could be helping.  Certainly Rich at NA says the second Muon Pro cable is important.  An interesting test would be to simply use the Net Isolator and one Muon Pro cable (leaving the Filter out) and see if they help by themselves.  This is only academic to me, as I love the sound of the Muon Pro Filter.

4) I can soon test the original Muon Filter against the Muon Pro  in my Mola Mola Makua system.  The embedded streamer is less sensitive to the 1G requirement, and works flawlessly with the original Muon.

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4,308 posts

 

@fastfreight

Thanks for sharing your impressions. I am glad to hear you’re loving the Muon Pro, the praises are unanimous so far with streamers that are designed for 1Gb/s Ethernet. I find it quite interesting Muon Pro’s impact ahead of M12 switch which is pretty phenomenal on its own. I wonder if the long run of Supra CAT 8 is somewhat diminishing M12 efficacy over such long distance from Aries. An interesting test would be to remove M12 from the equation and listen to Aries with Muon Pro to access if you miss M12 performance.

I have been eyeing upcoming Telegartner’s OPT BRIDGE 1000M, according to Marcin (JCAT) using OPT BRIDGE ahead of M12 adds clarity, improves articulation while making the sound more analogue. He was skeptical given the price of BRIDGE powered by OPTIMO 3 DUO but the improvement

fastfreight

386 posts

 

Hello,  tonight I was able to do a head to head comparison of the original Muon Filter System and the new Muon Pro filter System.  Using my Mola Mola Makua  (the Makua is an amazing pre-amp with optional onboard Tambaqui DAC and Streamer), Audionet Max amps, Revel Salon 2 speakers and REL subs, I was able to easily swap in and out the Muon and Muon Pro.  My Makua (unlike my Aries G 2.1) easily accepts ethernet through either the Muon (100Mb/s) or the new Pro version (1G/s).

I listened each way for over and hour, then, formulating a clear opinion, I switched in and out for specific tracks. I was able to hear the difference each time within seconds.  The Pro is more engaging, more immersive, richer, tonally more pleasing, more relaxing, yet still just as resolving and tingly. I used Liberty; Alison Krauss and Union Station, It Doesn't Matter; Mark Knopfler, The Scaffolder's Wife; Old Genesis, and Chris Botte, Summertime.  The soundstage on Summertime is sky high with the Pro!

 I would like to experiment with placement of the M12 switch.  I do suspect it would sound best in front of ONE of my streamers.  But I need the switch where it is - between my Modem, Server and both Streamers.  Moving it around requires unhooking lots of things (specific M12 Telegartner cables), inserting an inferior switch etc.  Perhaps I will get to this.  Or perhaps I will order a Grimm MU1! 😜

grannyring's avatar
grannyring OP
6,504 posts
 

These Network Acoustics filters and cables are really the real deal. NA is much better known today compared to when they started just a couple of years ago!

I started with their ENO, moved up the Muon and will soon go Pro! Every move up the line has proven to be sonically worthwhile. Happy to see so many happy owners. 

markush
33 posts
 

Thank you @fastfreight !

My LUMIN is capable of 1GB/s Ethernet so the MUON Pro should be a nice improvement. Though the EtherRegen just hast 100 Mbit/s so is it recommended to no longer use the EtherRegen (putting the Muon Pro just between ISP modem and the LUMIN)?

 

fastfreight
810 posts
 

Hi @markush !

Yes, just in front of the Lumin.  Ken

hchilcoat
154 posts
 

I've been using the ENO system running from an ethernet switch into my Mojo Audio Deja Vu server, which has JCAT Net XE and USB XE cards. When I reboot my Deja Vu with the ENO system connecting between the switch and the Deja Vu I don't get an ethernet connection, so no Roon, no streaming. If I reboot with the CAT 8 ethernet cable from my router (1000 mbs service) plugged directly into the Deja Vu, it reboots fine with ethernet connection. I then have to remove that cable from the Deja Vu and plut it into my switch and then hook up the ENO system (from switch to Deja Vu server and all is good (seems like once the ethernet connection to the Deja VU is opened up Ican change ethernet connections back and forth with no problem). I assume this issue is because the JCAT NET XE wants a 1000 mps connection when rebooting rather than the 100 mps connection of the ENO. At some point in the near future I hope to upgrade to the Muon Pro and I think that will resolve the problem.

Have others had the same issue and did the Muon Pro resolve it?

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