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
Paul, I believe Entreq works at the level of the signal ground (hence the RCA leads that insert into spare terminals), Tripoint Troy works on the chassis ground (hence the leads that screw into the component bodywork).
Please post your experiences with your friend's Entreq rig. It's a little hard to do a simple a-b dem since the effects of Entreq take some time to bed in, even when reinstalled after a short break, but hopefully you'll get a flavour of what it has to offer.
Together with 8kVA balanced power, in my system, Entreq grounding has been totally transformative.
Msom,

What order did you end up with on your QB8? I've the following equipment - what order would yo recommend I plug it into the QB8?

- Meridian MS600 streaming endpoint (with switching power supply)
- Simaudio 650D dac/transport
- Simaudio P8 pre amp
- Simaudio W8 power amp
- 2 Nordost Qv2 units

Thanks!

Cam
Hi Camb, please check my reply to your QB8 thread. I hadn't been around here for awhile...
SpiritofMusic: interesting. I am a very happy balanced power user and my local dealer has been trying to pursuade me to try the entreq "earth boxes". I will have to have a go with them now. You've pushed me over the edge!

My balanced power experience was that it seemed to remove edge from the treble while at the same time increasing detail and naturalness. Bass definition also improved. It was a step closer to reality. I was surprised.

By the way. I have a spare Westwick 2kVA unit for sale. It's a long story how I ended up with two (my other one is an Equi=Tech), I'm happy to tell it if anyone is interested.

Simon C.
Slc01 - let us know what you think. I think they are tremendous and most everyone I can think of considers them a 'I will never take them out' kind of product.

Very much looking forward to your thoughts. Good luck.