2. digital
  3. 180953-496

Where should I go from here with my digital front end?

Good morning

My digital front end consists of a recently purchased  Lumin U2 Mini hard wired with Supra ethernet cable from an Eero mesh unit. Modem and Eero router located on 2nd floor. My listening room is in the basement.

My listening is 100% streaming from Tidal and Quboz with a budget of under $1k

should I:

1) upgrade the supra cable

2) add an Etherregen or Eno filter

3) add an audiophile switch such as the English Electric

4) other

Thanks!

 

emil
fthompson251's avatar
fthompson251
291 posts
 

The Eno filter made a big difference in my system. (Router>.5 ft Cat 8> switch > 30 ft Cat 8 > ENO > Streamer)

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,055 posts
 

@emil 

Another vote for ENO passive filter, they do offer 30 days return policy. 

dynamiclinearity
233 posts
 

If you haven't used good feet to isolate your gear, that can be a significant improvement. When I tried it under a DVD player used only as a CD drive it was like I bought a new unit for at least an order more magnitude. And while that was the biggest improvement, isolation under every piece of electronics was audible.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,165 posts
 

@emil I also use EERO and had Lumin U1 Mini. I highly recommend Purist ethernet cable. It’s a sleeper.
If you can pick it up used its insane value. New retail is around $370. I A/B’d it with Supra ethernet cable(stock and the telegartner terminated versions) and there’s a significant difference. I sold the Supra.
Purist gives you lower noise floor, much better details and soundstage and more vivid presentation. 
If you want to spend more, the Network Acoustics Eno streaming system is very good but it’s more of a different flavor than the Purist in that the Eno does everything that Purist does but in a slightly more relaxed way. I like both the Purist and Eno.

I tried the fibre optic solution with Lumin U1 Mini and while it did lower the noise floor and presented a more detailed soundstage, it didn’t sound as natural as the purist or the eno. I ended up sending that stuff back. I would not recommend a switch as the Purist or the Eno will be enough of an improvement and result in less clutter. 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,839 posts
 

Upgrade everything if possible , a good usb or Ethernet cable are at least $750 each , ether regen helps  most critical Ethernet cable is where the hub is 

buy the best dac you can afford ,by far the most important component 

for all detail and resolution, sound signature start here . For your budget I would Highly recommend the Denafrips Pontus2 , ifyou could come up with $4500 the 

the New Denafrips Terminator2 12 th anniversary  but for $2k the pontus 2 beats 

many dacs at 2x the cost.

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