By the way, the Straingauges seem to be a truly unique design- just checked the site for the first time.
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.
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.
111 responses Add your response
Hi Spirit, Actually, I didn't get much of an improvement by connecting the phono amp (Clearaudio Reference) to the Entreq Tellus (or Entreq Minimus - I've got two of those). I got a great result by connecting the TURNTABLE ground to the Tellus. It's a Well Tempered Amadeus, 1st model, with a sturdy ground point separated from the signal outputs. I believe that by having the source signal already grounded through the preamp, connecting the phono to the Entreq units might have been overkill. And, of course, the preamp works as the central link between source and amplifier (which is why the Primary Earth plug on the Quantum QB8 is reserved for it). Speaking of which, I'm experimenting now with four QV2 Quantum units, with interesting results... |
Hi Msom. Revealing is the word. On a par with my move to balanced power, both really complement each other. However unlike you I didn't perceive an improvement with the Apollo Eartha i/c to the earth of my phono. Just switched to a Straingauge cart, so will try the ground on the SG200 energiser box to see if analog worth pursuing with. |
Spirit, I'm using a copper Tellus connected to the clean earth outlet of a Quantum QRT QB8 mains block and a second copper Tellus connected to the ground of my Well Tempered Amadeus tt, and to an unused rca input on my Pass Labs Aleph L pre. I agree completely with your comments. Listening has become fluid and engaging. It reveals a lot, so it's very useful for really getting to know your system. I see it as a tool to explore. Different connections lead to different results. I'm using silver Ertha cable for signal, copper Ertha cable for chassis ground. And Mr. Friberg is a very nice person! |
Entreq Silver Tellus continuing to weave it's magic. In conjunction with balanced power, I'm getting that "after midnight" sound 24/7. Convinced this combination is minimising the inherently high noise floor in my system re mains borne hash. One interesting side effect of the Tellus is a projection of the soundstage further into the room, hence increasing immediacy, and depth/transparency. Some increase in soundstage height. NOT the same as an artificially inflated soundstage as I've heard eg with Avantgarde horns, where instruments take on a gigantic perspective. Just a refined aspect of what I'm used to. |
Jea, yes maybe it is more accurate to describe Tellus as a grounding box, especially since it's separate from the grid, and is not meant to replace the (electrical) protective earth. The box is passive and standalone, and might best be described as a sump that mains borne and component generated nasties ie rf/emi etc drain into, isolated from the system and grid. Jaraa, the Silver Tellus has a calmer quality than the Copper, and does it's job even more successfully, that a certain warm colouration still present in vinyl with the Copper is absent with the Silver. Also, check out balanced power first, any cheap 4kVA isolation transformer will bring a transformation in corrupted mains areas. Then, try the Tellus. |
Spiritofmusic, Does the "Entreq Silver Tellus grounding/earthing system" connect directly to earth, the equipment ground, or main grounding system of your home? If the unit is not directly connected to one of the above, why the use of the word "earthing" in "Entreq Silver Tellus grounding/earthing system" An inherent problem with three phase electrical systems is the level of “stray currents” which are Entreq Silver Tellus grounding/earthing system . |
"I feel the Silver is a significant improvement over the Copper, well worth the extra cost." Can you shed some more light on that? I, much like you, live in a dirty mains area (city) and my system in the day is sometimes unlistenable! Thanks! In regards to power amps and speakers I thought entreq has a spade to spade connector that allows you to unscrew a screw on the chasis, slip in the spade and retighten it. |
Jarraa, have left it at only connecting the preamp to the Silver Tellus. We tried one from the earthing post on my phono stage, but this actually didn't enhance the sound. This may not be the case on every system, the dealer was a little confused by this, but kudos to him, he accepted the fact. And my cd player only has balanced jacks, and Entreq haven't yet released a balanced i/c, although this is imminent. When the system beds in, I'll try the cd i/c and possibly give the phono i/c another go. At present there is no way to try connecting power amps or integral powered subs, to the Silver Tellus in my system. The enhancement starts to work within about ten minutes, but really kicks in after about ten days, and then seems to stay consistent. I feel the Silver is a significant improvement over the Copper, well worth the extra cost. Dan, hi, we've spoken before. Just demolished my ESCCO stylus. GRRR! Great I'm in the queue for another. Yes, it's taken the system up several stages, I really believe more than a whole system swap. It's THAT dramatic. But I do live in an area with severely compromised mains. In the country etc, or other areas where mains is purer, the improvements may not be as dramatic. Insist on a home trial. |
