Ensemble is a core and store hence uncertainty whether it is GB or 10/100 which in general dictates whether NIC supports auto MDI/MDIX crossover support. You will know instantly whether neither end supports it.

Sounds like the test did not reveal anything new. It's a perfectly valid soak test, absolutely minimilist network rules out anything network related except that built into the 2 NIC's concerned. Had a crossover cable been available, or one end supported auto MDI/MDIX, it could have reconfigured on the fly and if quick enough, potentially without music interruption - hardly complex and pretty standard practice in IT when testing networks.

So after the test, there is definately an intermittent issue with ensemble and/or ID4x. Pretty conclusive if you ask me.

Meridian owner since 1992
Prime & PSU, Focal Elear headphones, Roon (ROCK 8Gi5 NUC), Explorer 1 & 2, F80. 200/203, various Sonos (via Roon).