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

I have recently bit the bullet and placed an order for ENO Filter + Cable ... no brainer with the 30 day trial.

Great dealing with a small company, love the personal touch with communications ... something lost this day and age I find.

Also very interesting to hear about a number of products due to be launched, Meridian specific and non-Meridian specific ... just as I’m looking to venture into the network/Ethernet/Switch upgrading side to things ... so perfect timing.

I'm hoping to get the same uplift in quality others have found from using the filter and cable combination.

Sofar the 818 has proved difficult to improve upon with cables alone (even some very high end ones) ... so I’m personally not expecting that much of a difference but I remain open minded and can’t wait for the set to arrive 😁

Nice Teaser Robert!

Hector

On my own journey to improved acoustic performance, I added a EtherRegen switch between a Roon Nucleus and our 818. The trial period expired before I decided I didn't like the sound - it just seemed harsh (with noticeable ear fatigue after a bit). With Bruce's assistance, I then added an ENO AG filter and cable between the ER and 818. Wow. Substantial improvement across the board. I admit that I was skeptical (bits are bits), but hearing is believing. (But I would still like to know what is happening in that little box to make the improvement.) I am now intrigued by what the M-specific filters hinted at on this thread will bring to the party.
John

As I understand it, currently the control signals and balanced SPDIF are passed together down a speakerlink connection to the DSP speakers.

The new Meridian specific product will separate the control and SPDIF signals and also pass through one of their passive filters to reduce RFI, so I believe.

I also heard they are working on a Network switch to complement the Filter.

Great to see and read about a small UK company getting such positive reviews sofar.

I also find that, if you happen to come across a brand that works for you, there products tend to work well with each other …..much like Meridian processors and their speakers do.

I for one would be very interested in a 30-day home trial when they become available of both new products.

So now the M-Link Filter has been released, what are the initial impressions from those that have had them in their system? At least one person on here has😉. Interested in what it adds/takes away.

I thought I’d post my thoughts on the ENO Streaming system now it’s been in my system for 20days and over 110hrs of playing time.

My network comprises:

Sky Q Router -> cat7 1m -> Nethear GS108 (multiple outputs used) -> cat7 7m -> Netgear GS205(in music room only used for 818)

I could go direct into 818 with the 7m cat7 but have heard that having 2x switches (even non-audiophile ones) helps reduce noise, not heard a difference myself but having the 2nd switch does enable me to try different cables quite easily into the 818.

I have previously tried quite a number of cables from this 2nd switch into 818, all with great reviews, ranging from £30 to £1500.

All cables I have tried up to a value of £500 have made absolutely no difference to the 818.

It’s only when i stepped up another level did I hear the 818 sound any ‘different’.

These expensive cables (one from a brand that I hold in high regard as I have had amazing results with their power cords) made the sound seem filtered. This was not in the high frequencies either, this was in the midrange and was making vocalists sound quite muffled.....so my reference cable at this point was still my freebie white Cat5e of unknown origin.

It’s at this point I came across some reviews of the ENO Streaming system and Hans Beekhuyzens video.....and also this thread.

From the very first note, of the very first track(infact before the first notes ended) I could hear a difference........a positive difference.....for the first time, Ive found a cable that has improved upon what the 818 can deliver.

Soundstage was slightly wider, higher, lower, deeper. Bass was tighter, percussion instruments now sounded ‘real’......I think that’s the best way to describe it.

This remained the case for the first 4 days of listening. Everything improved.

Heres the issue though, Going back to my reference Cat5e, wasn’t as night and day as I was expecting. At this point I would say that I was impressed with the ENO system.....but not £1000 impressed. Maybe £500 if I had to put a value on the upgrade.......comparing the percentage gains to the gains I’ve had with power cables.

As I had a 30day trial I persevered and continued to enjoy what I was hearing, every now and again reverting back to my Cat5e for reference.

It’s not until I got upto day 7 that I had somewhat of a revelation. I got up early one morning to have a listen......WOW.......
what just happened.

I was now hearing nuances between my listening position and the speakers that I wouldn’t call ‘forward’ as that can be perceived in a negative context but it was filling in the space that somehow just made it sound more realistic.

As time has gone on, the sound has never altered in a negative way as some cables can do with burn in, it just gets better and better.

I can now pick out instruments in space(as before) but now you can focus on the sound emanating from that instrument to you the member of the audience, when you then switch focus to a different instrument, you get the same sound emanating to you but you also hear the nuances of the instrument behind, it’s a real 3D space experience........writing this now I think that word sums it up quite nicely. I now feel like I’m having a musical experience and not just listening to a HiFi.

Okay it’s not real.......but it’s definitely quite a noticeable step in taking you closer to that experience.

Now........when I go back to my good old trusty freebie Cat5e, that has took on and won over some cables costing £1500, the demo tracks I know and love very well, sounds very flat and the soundstage in all aspects seems to shrink and bass becomes more bloated and less controlled. Vocals have a more noticeable sibilance and percussion just doesn’t sound as real........before having the ENO all these aspects sounded absolutely amazing........I just have a new level of amazing with the ENO re-installed 😀

Just to point out, this difference of swapping the ENO in and out, is now night and day difference to me after the 100hr playing time.....which it wasn’t in the first 4 days of playing.

I highly recommend you give this product a try (why not with the 30day money back offer).......but make sure you give it over 100hrs of playing time. It’s not until quite recently that I bothered to read the information they include in the packaging and they mention that for the Ag version give it 100hrs before it really start to shine......I’d go slightly more just to make sure.

So I’ve gone from being a bit unsure as to the ENOs performance vs cost ratio.....and also starting to wonder if any cable can make a difference to what the 818 is already delivering, to being totally blown away with the positive changes it makes, all within the space of a week.

I’m now intrigued as to what their M-Link filter can do from 818 to DSP’s.

This experience has made me far less skeptical as to what changes Ethernet cables can make to the sound of our systems by reducing the amount RFI/EMI......and not effecting digital representation of the analog signal.

The only problem now is I’m wondering IF a better switch would give yet a further improvement........just when I thought there were no more gains to be had.......that will have to wait a while though........I’ll just continue to enjoy this new uplift in realism that the ENO adds.

This is why I recommend (Chord’s) English Electric 8Switch (also available as 16Switch). I found that it made a substantive difference to my system.

While others here state that generic Cat5/6/7 cables are sufficient for Meridian inter-connectivity, I’ve always followed Edd’s (MrTechGuy) advice and utilised Meridian Cat7 custom cables - especially between my 8Switch, Roon Server and 210.

I agree, a switch can make a difference with an 818. Right through from the AQVox to the SOtM and, now, my favoured weapon, the Innuos PhoenixNet.

It seems to make less of a difference with dCS equipment, though, as (as far as I can tell) it buffers the whole track in the first second or so of it playing.