Trying out ADOT fibre and Network Acoustics ENO

I’ve been trying two different solutions which are broadly designed to reduce noise on a LAN; the theory being less noise in, more music out. Since acquiring my 552, it has really shown what the front end can do and I’ve sometimes noticed a little sibilance/digital hash around high frequencies which I wanted to try and address.

The two options I have tried are the Network Acoustics ENO system and the ADOT optical fibre kit.
I’m not particularly technically minded, so I don’t really understand what the ENO does, but it is basically a passive (it’s not powered) filter. I understand that passive filters tend to be a combination of chokes/ferrites which can tend to dull things down, but this one has many good reviews on Trustpilot, and it had a 30 day money back option, so I decided to give it a go.
The ADOT was brought to my attention by a newsletter sent to me by my dealer. A little further reading and a chat with him indicates that placing a run of optical fibre in your network just before audio equipment, isolates all the noise on the network before it. My understanding is that optical only carries a digital signal but is not subject to all the RFI etc that gets picked up by copper cable.
So it could be seen that both options attempt to do the same sort of thing, but go about it in a slightly different way.

The ENO’s most noticeable effects were that it was warmer and it brought the soundstage forward more - closer to my listening position. There was a little softening of higher frequencies and it definitely refined the digital hash. The presentation was a little richer and the mid range a little more detailed. I found voices and piano in particular sounded better - more realistic. The one downside for me is that my system already has quite a forward presentation and the ENO could make this a little overbearing on some recordings. Overall, the jury is out on this one. I like it, but it is expensive… I’ve got a another week to decide!

I like the ADOT fibre kit! To me, you get more bang for your buck - and that’s just before you plug it in! Initially, I had the MC01 (the basic kit) plus and MC accessory. This is basically two powered modules which you run an optical cable between. You plug your streamer into one module and then connect the other module to the internet/LAN. I found the results quite obvious - clearly my network is noisy! There is simply more of everything - clarity, detail etc and it has completely removed the digital hash/sibilance I had been experiencing on My NDS. For me, this one was a no brainer!
I find the ADOT seems to effect no changes in character to the sound like the ENO did, it just seems to offer a clearer picture [Cliche Alert]: it’s like a window has been cleaned (sorry but it’s the simplest way I can think to describe it).
Now, with thanks to @james_n , I have managed to run the fibre from one of the ADOT modules directly into my Cisco switch for an even better solution which negates the need for the MC Accessory and this shortens the signal path.

So the ADOT will be a keeper. Now to try the ENO between the ADOT and my Melco…

I’ve not seen either of these talked about much on here, so hope this might help anyone considering these in the context of a Naim system. I would be interested to hear any other experiences with either of these products.

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Not sure if you’ve seen past posts about the ENO, but in case you haven’t:
https://community.naimaudio.com/search?q=Network%20acoustics%20eno
Three of those are in the Melco context, too

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Thanks Suedkiez, I hadn’t seen those. I will have a read :+1:

Very nice summary Jason……the ADOT when i briefly heard it just takes out some noise?, that was beneficial to my ears.

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Gazza,

I’ve been having a play with both units for most of the day and trying them with different leads. Both units offer a compelling listen in my system, but typically, the overall improvement is quite staggering when both units are used together!

From what I am hearing, the ADOT simply seems to clean things up; digital hash is removed and there’s more detail and clarity across the range. It doesn’t seem to change the character of the system, or inject any character of its own, but cable matching seems important. I have found it can become a touch clinical with some of the cheaper Ethernet cables I have, so matching appears important. Get it right though and it’s great.

Running the ENO just after the ADOT and before my Melco has been a revelation! I wasn’t sure about the ENO to start with, but it’s just got better and better the more I tried it. The ENO just builds on the good work done by the ADOT and I simply don’t want to take it out the system. The end result - both are staying - although I won’t be buying the fancy Network Acoustics streaming cable that I have on test with the filter - I haven’t found that to be worth the additional outlay in the context of my system.

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Glad you are liking these units, there is still a lot to be learnt about digital streaming, thats for sure.

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Hi jmtennapel

I’ve not tried the D Link, but I really want to avoid having another power supply to plug in! The ENO is producing the goods without the need of a power supply, so that’s a bonus for me. It is expensive for what it is, you’re right; but the fact I really don’t want to take it out the system now it’s in place tends to justify the cost to me. I have spent around the same on cables before, but the ENO has had a far greater effect than any cable I’ve tried. Horses for courses I suppose.

Thanks Gazza,

Yes, I agree; things are moving on at a fair pace that’s for sure!

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Or, if you want less clutter and fewer PSUs just use switches (you probably need them anyway) which have SFP ports.

Yep. As I mentioned in the other thread, the only difference seems to be the DIP switches to dial down the link speed. At the end of the day, ADOT provide a plug and play kit and like most things you can do it cheaper with a bit of work yourself if you want to.

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Ah, I see, sorry. Yes, again there will no doubt be other options. The ADOT works well for me and my dealer was kind enough to loan it to me to test; as such I will continue to support him by buying this one. After this weekend, I’m not sure I have the time or inclination to explore other options anyway!! Thanks for the suggestion though.

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I hope this Adot media converter is much better vs the TP link one, at 15 times more expensive.
I agree with you at how much the sound improves when adding good linear ps on it.
I have been already there:

  • tp link converters on Ifi power, then on Hdplex 200 W linear ps.
  • Acoustic revive network isolator.
    Then tried an Audioquest diamond with Cisco 2960 and sold the tp links and Acoustic revive.
  • then had 2X Cisco in cascade mode
  • Then Uptone Etheregen, with its SMPS, with Farad 3lps, Uptone lps.2, MCRU pinnacle linear ps.
  • Innuos PhoenixNet and 3 X Audioquest diamond and a linear ps on the router.

Hopefully the tweaking is finished. :hot_face:

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The Sonore Optical module deluxe costs around 400 euros. It’s also a mini box of similar size. Would be interesting to know how it compares vs the Tplink and Adot.

Hello FR,

I am following in your footsteps, but still far behind except for the ENO Ag:
Cisco 2960 w/iFi iPowerX SFP optical out > EtherREGEN w/lps > 2nd Cisco 2960 > ENO Ag > Roon endpoint

While ENO is star of the show, somehow the second Catalyst tightens up the soundstage vs. connecting from ER directly. ??

Have you given the ENO cable a good burn-in? I think it and the filter need at least 50 hours in order to shine.

You will have to try and compare by ears. Like 3 tracks, 2 minutes each.
You start with the ER alone, hear. Then you add the ENO. Is it better?
Then you add the Cisco and so on.

For me, when I received the ER, I preferred first the Cisco with ER. But when the ER was fully burned in, maybe 100 hours after, I preferred the ER alone in the chain. Then adding a high quality lps on it was even better than going from Cisco to ER.
I found that adding the Cisco in the chain was giving out some colours and spontaneity of the sound. The sound was like more flat.

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I fitted fibre between two switches in my house, for convenience not hifi, however my hifi happens to be on the second switch.

Naf all difference as I would expect. But hey its all good fun.

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I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has used/is using the ADOT and/or the ENO in conjunction with a ND555 and EtherREGEN.

The ND555 and EtherREGEN already do a pretty good job of filtering/isolating noise, so I wonder if either the ADOT or ENO can add anything further in this regard.

Exactly
No need for audio foolery

With some advice from the resident network expert on the dCS forum (our version of Simon who happens to work for the largest switch OEM) I purchased 2 official CISCO SFP’s for $6 each to use in my CISCO 2960 gigabit switches (originally + $1000 purchased on the bay for $66 each).

My setup now is:
Router >> 2960 (which holds all house network components) with Cisco SFP
Optical cable ($12)
Cisco 2960 with SFP populated with a single BlueJeans CAT 6A UNSHIELDED (as specified by dCS) going to dCS Rossini

I think I am in for $150 total.

I have duplicated the exact same system in another room where multiple headphone systems are fronted by a Linn Klimax DS/3

LUMIN has already implemented optical and the new $40k Linn Organik DS has implemented optical as well. Linn are officially on record stating optical provides superior performance to copper for their unit. Some have hypothesized the upcoming dCS Vivaldi replacement will implement optical as well. I would not be surprised if Inuos is already working on an optical box. After all, the audio accessories manufacturers need the next best thing to keep the sales going :laughing:

Best
Gregg

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Reference? Source?

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