Entreq Silver Tellus grounding/earthing system


Hi A'goners, I'd like to tell you all a little about this component which has taken noise elimination in my system to a whole new level.
I run a Trans Fi Salvation/Terminator tt/arm, ESCCo modded Zu 103 cart into a Tom Evans Audio Design Groove Plus SRX phono, Emm Labs CDSA SE, Hovland HP200/Radia pre/pow, and Zu Definitions Mk4 spkrs. This set up is (now) effortlessly dynamic and transparent.
I live in a semi industrial area with broadband on in every apartment, internet booster stations and light engineering nearby.
It became apparent some years ago that apart from the hours of midnight to 5am, I could not rely on a good sound, and research led to conclusion that mains borne noise was likely the culprit.
This led to my first partial success, the installation of the Burmester 948 mains conditioner/filter 7 years ago. This resulted in an immediate reduction in noise and increase in transparency/delicacy ie a major improvement, even in daylight hours. BUT it became apparent over time that dynamics were seriously pinched, and the conclusion I've correctly drawn is that peak current demand was restricted by the unit compromising the power amp output.
This led to my next upgrade, and now real progress: an 8kVA pro studio Westwick 8K balanced power transformer. Now I got all the previous improvements with no current restrictions to the power amp - transparency AND NOW dynamics in spades.
But as with all things audio, the awareness of the Entreq grounding/earthing system piqued my interest further in eliminating mains issues. Entreq are a Swedish audio engineering company with a couple of decades experience, and provide a variety of mains and interconnect products.
The Entreq Silver Tellus is a wooden box, the size and weight of a small power amp. It contains inert minerals and a grounding plate. It's a passive device ie NOT powered from the mains, and sits adjacent to the system. In my system, one Apollo Eartha interconnect runs from one of 4 terminals on the back of the Tellus, to an unused input of my preamp. It is possible to connect another 3 components to a single Tellus.
In effect, it provides an ADDITIONAL earth/ground to the system, NOT replacing the existing protective earth. This then provides an uninterrupted drain for RF/EMI/other hash from the system to the Tellus.
I was expecting a minor improvement at most. What I wasn't expecting was a transformation of the system.
Firstly, soundstage deepens dramatically, so much so that the stage seems totally independent of the spkrs. Phenomenal reduction in noise really enhances the blackness between notes, and brings micro detail to the fore. This reduction in noise has the amazing side benefit of relegating vinyl surface noise way into the background. The overall effect is a fantastic increase in dynamics and transparency, taking what balanced power brings to the party and sending it off the scale.
Vitally, the nature of the system sound hasn't changed, since the Silver Tellus enhances performance, doesn't change it; in many ways is the best system wide upgrade to optimise performance I could make.
My conclusion from the last 7 years is that noise is the major limiting factor in my system, and the installation of Westwick 8k balanced power ($7000) and Entreq Silver Tellus/ Apollo Eartha grounding/earthing ($3000) has led to improvements that even a total overhaul of the system and buying new at 5x the cost could not surpass.
If anyone is getting frustrated with their system, address the mains first before you go down the merry-go-round of endless component upgrades.
In the UK, Kog Audio are the go-to guys for Entreq. I have no affiliation, just an extremely content audiophile, now so much closer to the end point on improving my system.
spiritofmusic
I added the Entreq (silver minimum) to my K-03 and it was like putting it on steriods. Great analogy-like when I aded my VPI recrord weight to a platter.
11-08-14: Cerrot
I added the Entreq (silver minimum) to my K-03 and it was like putting it on steriods. Great analogy-like when I aded my VPI recrord weight to a platter.

Based on Dragon_vibe's experience, sounds more like a herbal supplement to me unless something has changed. Dragon, did you figure things out?
Hi,

I'm about the try Entreq and, like you (spiritofmusic), I have balanced power supplying my system. This is an Equi-Tech 2 kVA unit. I briefly had a Westwick - it's a long story! So, the places I can connect the Entreq to are: the grounding terminal on the back of the Equi-Tech; an unused digital input or output on my dCS player; the unused input on my Sennheiser headphone amp; or an unused input of my power amp.

What's your recommendation for what I should try first? I'll probably borrow a Silver Minimus from the local dealer.

Thanks,

SLC.
Hi S, I wouldn't try connecting to the EquiTech just yet, I'll check w/the Entreq dealer on this. My biggest bang for $/£ was grounding my tube preamp. Maybe go for your headphone amp first? Worth experimenting on going thru the different options if you can hold onto the stuff for long enough, you can get varying results depending on the individual system/how "dirty" a particular component is.
Silver Minimis is deffo a worse option than Silver Tellus, since the additional grounding mass in latter is really advantageous, and ability to hook up multiple components l/t is more flexible than just the max of two poss w/Minimus.
Btw, what was your issue w/the Westwick? In the UK there is little chance to hear Equi=Tech, Westwick is the only high end way to go.
Hi spirit,

I was only going to use the Minimus for a trial because it's conveniently small. I assume that, if Entreq is any good I ought to be able to hear an effect even it is less than the Tellus. Is that your experience? I'm happy to try and follow your recommendtions. I thnk my local dealer has both Tellus and Minimus, silver versions I think.

My story of Equi-Tech vs. Westwick is told in a post of mine (I am "Simon C") here:

http://forum.hificritic.com/yaf_postst1420p3_Has-anyone-experience-increased-pace-from-reduced-mains-impedance.aspx#post17148

I'm happy to discuss further, if you like.

SLC.