Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Network Acoustics ENO filter

I have been using the ENO filter for several weeks. It is connected between my Router and my 818v3 using an AQ Diamond RJ45 cable (I have not yet tried the RJ45 cable built by Network Acoustics). What I hear when it is in the system is simply a great improvement in overall Audio Quality with no negative attributes. At this point, the ENO has found a home in my system. It allows me to hear more of what is in the stream and I find myself spending even more time listening and enjoying the music.

Out of interest, David, have you taken it out of the setup to test the reverse ? I always find this a valid check to confirm that the effect is consistent. IIRC the ID41 was designed to better protect for such interference vs the ID40. I tried and still have the little GISO unit from a few years ago, but, never really heard any difference.

That you hear something with this device into an ID41 is interesting.

Nick
I have removed the ENO from my system and the system returns to "Normal". The New Normal with the ENO is much better, there is quite a difference. I was skeptical about the ENO and probably would not have tried it without the 30 day trial. I have also tried it with a 218 driving 7200se's with similar findings. Apparently, the ENO filters beyond the ID41's capabilities. Whatever it does, or however it does it is a mystery to me, but it sounds very good and that is what I am looking for.

Thanks David. Good to know.

David Jackson,

I am interested to know details of the ENO filter spec in comparison with the ID41 capabilities.

Can anyone out there substantiate this claim, or is this just hearsay?

JAQ Hector

Hector,

The ENO claims to remove noise from the audio stream by filtering the signal. The ID41 also addresses noise. I have discovered that there are several places where noise is a problem, especially with active systems like Meridian with multiple DACS and Amps and there are various ways to address this noise.

Thus far, I have found the ENO to be the best solution that I have found to reduce noise on the network line and it does it passively while (to my ears) not causing any harm to the original SQ. It is in my system to stay as long as it keeps doing what it has been doing. I remove it every few days to verify and so far it keeps performing as advertised. It improves the SQ in all the ways we discuss and consider positive.

The specs are not available to us so I will have to accept the science with only the evidence that my ears present to me. There are several positive statements about it on this site as well as other audiophile sites. I have read no negative statements from anyone who has tried it. It has a money back guarantee so the best thing I can suggest for you or anyone else is if you are interested, give it a free try and let us know what you think.

David

I don’t wish to criticise the ENO filter, nor those that purchased one or more; but on my part it would have been an expensive proposition to have purchased three ENO filters for my 210, 218, and PrimeMini4 (NUC).

Why add x ENO filters to an existing Ethernet hub when you can just simply replace the Ethernet hub itself.

That is why I chose to buy the 8Switch. It’s an 8 port ‘audio grade’ Ethernet hub, produced by Chord, and powered by an audio grade PSU wall wort.

Good reviews on the 8Switch are available via theEar, The Sound Organisation, and, HiFi Choice.

I used to have a Bonn 8, a clone of the English Electric. It is a very good switch. But it will sound even better if you connect your NUC to the EE with an ENO and associated cable (part of a package offer). I think you only need to buy one ENO although I am obviously not familiar with your system configuration.

Asa Post

It would be illuminating to hear your impressions of the sound when the device providing the feed to the USB cable is connected via wi-fi, thus eliminating the chance of electrical nasties related to the switch and filters altogether.

I know Sooloos does not play well with wi-fi and am unfamiliar with Roon's capabilities, but Tidal certainly works over wi-fi.

Sorry Gianni, someone else will have to answer that. My system is router>switch>ENO>NUC running Roon core and all connected by ethernet>filter via USB>808 via USB. I am forced to use USB because my router will not work with the ID41.

What I mean is connect Router => wifi => laptop(TIDAL) => USB => 818v3

That way you would be performing a direct comparison between your switches/filters and no switches/filters.

This assumes that (i) you have TIDAL and (ii) that you are able to use the dedicated TIDAL app rather than Roon for this purpose. These assumptions may be wrong

My next question is as follows (by the way I don't dispute your findings).

How can we imagine the included ENO technology that differentiates between noise and the intended signal on the network. I still do not get how this is achieved.
As spinaltap suggests, if I understand his comment correctly, a high quality switch and good quality cabling should provide the same level of SQ, without further investment.

My network has 2 x 8 port switches din rail mounted with a din rail mounted LPS with 2 outputs (one for each switch). OK I lose 3 switch ports, 1 for connection to router and 2 ports to gang switches together.
This achieves 13 usable galvanically isolated ethernet ports for my LAN. I don't think I have the problem that the ENO filter is suggested for and claims to fix.

My mains supply is relatively modern and is fed from a sub-distribution building not more than 25 years old and less than 200 meters away.

Hector