Executive Tweak! Enacom AC Noise Eliminator Limited Edition.

The new Limited Edition executive tweak, for AC Noise Elimination, by Enacom.

The last time I tried on the Enacom AC Noise Eliminator(see Odiosleuth's review dated 08 July 2010 and my over view dated 26 September 2010), I ended up buying the review sample and still enjoying it's wonderful, if less than subtle effects in my system today. When I got a call from MK Lai of Nova Hifi, asking if I am keen to try out the just arrived Limited Edition? And why not!

The Limited Edition is a further refinement of the concept with the use of high grade Harmonix power cord, and audiophile grade Wattgate US style plug, as pictured above.

My original version Enacom AC Noise Eliminator, with standard 2 pin plug and thin diameter power cord. Still in use for this comparison.

The new version Limited Edition come with audiophile grade Wattgate US Nema style plug connected to the Enacom tweak via thick black, and stiff Harmonix power cord.  It's so stiff the Enacom can do the "Negara Ku!" Ha! Ha!

What ever sonic observations I note in this review is basically comparing between the basic version, of which I already use and the Limited Edition executive tweak! The new premium version sounds even more silent in the musical back grounds, over the already dark original. The main difference I immediately heard was the tightening of the imaging outlines. While the original version had a rather organic presentation of the imaging outlines, the executive tweak highlights the outlines in a more striking manner. It's not unlike using a pencil to draw around an object we wish to highlight from a piece of art paper back ground, back in our junior art classes!

That very sonic property alone makes for more stable imaging across the sound stage, in the right system. I however suspect that in another system that is already strong on this aspect, adding the Enacom AC Noise Eliminator Limited Edition, priced at RM$950/pc, may prove to be too much of a good thing, which in this case, the regular Joe version may be a better option, value proposition aside. As with all tweaks, try before you buy is well advised.

The packaging of the Limited Edition looks standard though!

Enacom products is sold by Nova Hifi, contact MK Lai at 019-2226129.

Enacom Trilogy. Enacom AC Noise Eliminator, Speaker Noise Eliminator & CSS-1 Speaker Tuning CD.

From left: Enacom AC Noise Eliminator, Enacom Speaker Noise Eliminator and Enacom RCA Noise Eliminator. Neither my self or Odiosleuth use RCA connections on our systems, so we have precluded that from our review.

These Enacom, by Combak Corp. Japan, products are not new in the market place. I've always been curious about them. So when MK Lai of Nova Hifi said "yes, please try it!", I am eager beaver.

Since Odiosleuth has did a detail and comprehensive report on them individually, I thought I'd just run through all three items quickly. First up is the AC Noise Eliminator, it's so easy to use that all I had to do is plug it in to a spare outlet feeding power to my hifi system. I plugged the Enacom in to a spare duplex outlet of my recently acquired Sine SA-6 power bar, which supplies power juices to my source components and pre amps. Now, I already had an Isotek Isoplug in used prior to the arrival of the Enacom. So what ever sonic comments noted below would basically be on comparison basis between the Enacom and the Isotek.

With the Enacom, the sound took on a darker background signature. While it's probably not as quiet as the Isotek, the Enacom had a more fluid and softer presentation to the music. The sound stage took on a more laid back signature. Imaging outlines softened and seemed more organic. One can say the Enacom made a big difference or the difference is subtle, depending on one's outlook, hifi journey, and one's intended objective going in to such tweaks.

Next up, I added the Enacom Speaker Noise Eliminators. These require a little more care during install in the sense of making sure both speakers are connected identically. Enacom says polarity is not a concern. I switched back and forth and found no sonic difference what so ever, as long as both speakers are wired in the same polarity. I found the Enacom speaker contraption to build on the sonic qualities of the Enacom AC. I felt a little more warmth, or colouration was added to the music, depending on how you look at it. High frequencies start to roll off a bit, resulting in high hats and cymbals losing some of their rightful sparkle. I felt at this point, in the context of my system and preference, the additional qualities of the Enacom became just a little like "too much of a good thing" perhaps? The Enacom set packaged and ready to be unleashed.

The final step is the Enacom CCS-1 Tuning CD, which I am told, works only with the Enacom Speaker Noise Eliminators. Apparently using the Enacom speaker contraption without the aid of the CSS-1 Tuning CD produces only half the desired results. It is advised that one plays the CSS-1 CD every now and then to maintain the performance of the tuning. Upon playing the CSS-1 CD in my system, I found my hifi system to sound totally relaxed, just like how one would feel after a genuine session of traditional Thai message! There's no urge for excitement and using optical lens analogy, each musical note is magnified, zoomed in to and allowed to expand it's full cycle, before evaporating in to nothing-ness. The listening experience becomes overly surreal. I had found it hard to further describe the sonic sensation post CSS-1 CD treatment to my system. Thankfully, the effect slowly wears off after a few weeks. One of the reasons why I did not want to do much reviews in the past month or so.

I will speculate that these Enacom tweaks are great for systems leaning on the brighter side of neutral tonality. The tweaks alone cannot solve the problems of a mis-matched system or major room acoustic issues. They are not design for that. They do however, like the humble aspirin in the pharmaceutical sense, be used to cure minor symptoms of cold and influenza, or perhaps even used as a gentle pain killer. And like the good aspirin, one must always be mind full not to over dose, as too much can certainly do more harm than good!
Just the right medicine to cure my symptoms of audiophilia nervousa! The Enacom AC Noise Eliminator.

Perhaps my system needed just that, an aspirin! I kept the Enacom AC Noise Eliminator. By the way, here's the price break down for each Enacom tweak:

1) Enacom AC Noise Eliminator, RM$299.00

2) Enacom Speaker Noise Eliminator, RM$399.00(per pair)

3) Enacom CSS-1 Tuning CD, RM$200.00

Note: Some DIY-ing buddies have questioned my purchase of what is basically a filtering capacitor in a "glam case", something which we can build our selves for a just fraction of the asking price. If you're a DIY-er? Great, then go ahead and build one!

For others who do not have the required knowledge, skills or time to do so, then the decision to purchase will largely depend on the perceived sonic benefit from the use of the Enacom tweaks. I have my reasons which shall remain private and I'll leave the value judgement to your own thinking devices.

Enacom is sold by Nova Hifi, contact MK Lai at 019-2226129.

Zapping the Nasties from Your Speakers - Enacom CSS-1 Speaker Tuning CD

This is my third and last write-up on an Enacom product. Before the interruption of the KLIAV2010 show, I wrote about the AC Enacom and Speaker Enacom, both of which had the ability to give you a smoothened, refined sound from your system. The CSS-1 Tuning CD is the last item and I tried, it is of a mini CD size, smaller than the normal CD that we are used to. The CSS-1 is listed for RM200.

Ths size of the CSS-1 disc (right) compared to a normal CD

Is the CSS-1 the same as those 'demagnetizing' CDs? I don't know. Literature from Enacom did not mention anything about 'demagnetizing'. The signal on the CSS-1 is also different from those demagnetizing CDs that I have. The CSS-1 contains 2 tracks, with a total of 10 minutes of play time. It is to be played just like any CD. The signal is a series of throbbing sound in different patterns. It is rather noisy when played at the normal listening volume, which is, I am certain, an experience that no one would like to sit through. The best policy is to press play, leave the room immediately and come back 10 minutes later to sample the result.

The instruction from Enacom says that the CSS-1 is to be played once every 6 months and is best to be used together with the Speaker Enacom. This also means that I had only 1 shot in listening to the effect of the CSS-1 in my system, as after I ran it once there was no way for me to repeat the process to confirm the result for another round (i.e., no multiple A-B comparisons was possible).

The CSS-1 did show an effect on the system's sound. The effect was different from my experience with 'demagnetizing' where the effect was a smoothening of the treble and, if overdone, the system would sound dark due to rolled-off highs. With the CSS-1, the effect showed up as a heightened clarity to the sound, details in the music were highlighted. If you were a photographer, you would understand it when I say that the effect was like turning up the exposure level by around 0.5 stop. If a system was a bit dull or veiled, I believe the CSS-1's effect would be very beneficial.

This sense of heightened clarity lasted for a few days. Then the sound gradually shifted, something I would describe as a mellowness or a gentleness showed up in the sound slowly. Music sounded more comfortable than challenging, the artists' performance took on a gentler swinging quality rather than urgency. The difference was not very prominent but did give a different listening impression.

Unfortunately, like I mentioned earlier, I could not carry out multiple tests to see how consistent the results were. Just like any another accessories and tweaks, it is best to test the CSS-1 in your own system to see whether the effect suits you.

No doubt about it, the Enacom trio is a set of interesting and effective products for fine tuning your sound.

Enacom is carried by Nova Hifi, contact MK Lai, tel: 019-2226129

Cleaning Up the Grunge Part II - Speaker Enacom Noise Eliminator

Deja vu.

That was my feeling when I was listening with the Speaker Enacom in my system. What I wrote about the AC Enacom here could be applied to the Speaker Enacom verbatim.

Just like the AC Enacom, the Speaker version also made my system sound smooth, calm, relaxing. Harsh moments were banished from the highs.The sound was slightly darker. Again, depends on the magnitude of change in your system, you may need to make some adjustments to the acoustics of your system.

Similarly, it is possibly an excellent match for speakers that have some excessive brightness.

At the end of the day, the amount of change made by the Speaker Enacom, in my system at least, was less than that of the AC Enacom. If you want the Enacom effect and are looking for something where the effect is subtler, then try the speaker Enacom.

The Speaker Enacom's construction and looks is similar to the AC Enacom. The main metallic body is slightly smaller that the AC Enacom, both are constructed to similarly high standards. To connect to the speaker terminals, the speaker Enacom has 2 wires leading out from the main body. The insulation at the ends of the wires are first to be striped off, and the thus exposed cable ends can be tightened down at the terminals. The Speaker Enacom has no polarity, so either end can be tied to either terminal. The speaker Enacom lists for RM399 per pair. The instruction says that the speaker Enacoms are to be attached to the tweeter terminals if your speakers are bi-wirable, thus hinting at the frequency spectrum that they would work on.

That was the result when I used the speaker Enacom on its own. How then, if the Speaker Enacom is used together with the AC Enacom? I tried that.

The Speaker Ecanom above
The AC Enacom below

The effect was additive alright, but it was not just more of same. With the AC Enacom and speaker Enacom in my system, the sound gained body or 'thickness', as opposed to 'thin'. The sound had greater gravitas. In addition, it was swirling with more 'air'. All this reminded me of the classic tubey sound, the Enacoms took my system one big step towards that. The sound was tailored to sound rounded and smooth, the transient edge just slightly blunted to avoid any ear-poking tendency. The system would play in a more relaxed manner rather than challenging your aural senses.

Interesting results, I must say.

Again, the same caveat applies. Tweaks are best tried out in your own system to see whether they match and that you like the result.

Now, I have the 3rd and last step to go. Next up, the Enacom Tuning CD.

Enacom is carried by Nova Hifi, contact MK Lai, tel: 019-2226129.

Cleaning Up the Grunge, Part I - AC Enacom Noise Eliminator

Ok, for the next few weeks, I'm gonna be listening with Enacom. Enacom is a set of tweaks from Combak Corp, the Japanese company that has been pretty well known in this area, though in its lineup it also has a line of high-end electronics called Reimyo.

Combak coins the term Noise Eliminator for its Enacom line. It consists of 4 items - the AC Enacom, the Line Cable Enacom, the Speaker Enacom and a speaker tuning CD, called CSS-1. The Line Cable Enacom does not apply to Big E's or my system, as it is for RCA connection and we both use XLR. So Big E collected the other 3 items only.

I shall start with the AC Enacom, moving on to the Speaker Enacom and, lastly, try out the CSS-1 speaker tuning CD.

The AC Enacom is a little metal cylinder that felt pretty robust when I held it in my hand. On one end there is a protruding cable with a 2-blade plug attached, allowing it to be plugged into an American style socket. The AC Enacom works parallel to the power outlet that you use, you can just plug it into a socket that is on the same circuit close to the one you are using. Combak says that Enacom has no polarity, meaning that you can plug it into the AC line one way or turn it around, and it will give the same effect.


That was easy, I plugged it into the spare socket on the duplex outlet that fed my system. This little guy has an effect on my system, and the effect was easily heard. I'd say the effect was significant enough relative to the outlay required. The AC Enacom lists for RM299 per piece.

With the AC Enacom, my hifi sounded quieter, calmer. The background became slightly darker than before. I did not notice much effect on the bass. The mids, though, came off with much better clarity. The highs became smoother and more refined, details could be heard easier. Music, especially that from badly recorded CDs, had less ear-grating moments. Harshness, may it be from the system or the recording, was much reduced. A lot of CDs thus became easier to listen to. Complex music sounded better organized and more coherent.

The AC Enacom's effect is easiest to hear on the highs. With the dirt in the AC supply cleaned up more, the highs became less splashy and less bright. If some absorptive materials (heavy carpet, curtain, sofas etc..) have been put in the hifi room to rein the highs in, one could feel that the highs now were held back a tad more, music could sound slightly less lively and with a little less air. In this case, some reworking of the room's acoustic might be required. For me, I needed to pull the curtain in my room back a wee bit more.


I do not know what the AC Enacom's effect will be when it is used in conjunction with the multitude of AC filters / conditioners / regenerators out there. With my Shunyata Hydra 8 power line conditioner, it did make its presence known. I listened with the AC Enacom for almost one week, and its effect was always consistent, just as I described. I plugged it in and unplugged it numerous times, and heard the same effect. Its influence was rather immediate as you plug it in, no waiting was required.

I believe the AC Enacom would be especially useful for a system if it has a hashy, gritty treble, where you look to put a little polish, a little more refinement to it. I think if your system suffered from too much brightness, the AC Enacom would help too. Like any tweak, the best way is to try it in your own system.

The silver bullet to cure some power supply maladies? Quite so.

Enacom is carried by Nova Hifi, contact MK Lai, tel: 019-2226129.