B'bear, like Lloyd I'm still gobsmacked by the effects of Entreq. It's just totally enhancing the listening experience. I'm detecting so much dimensionality, and air around instruments, with a real rock solid stability in the soundstage, that's moving my system a quantum leap closer to the goal of imitating reality. My concious mind is really switching off the analysis of the music making experience, and my subconcious mind is wallowing in the sheer enjoyment of music.
Expensive as our hobby is, it all becomes tenable with the stress busting effect my system is now producing.
PS running a full Symposium Acoustics Isis rack/supports for components/spkrs and this is contributing greatly too.

spiritofmusic August 24, 2013 21:13

I am no techie...I am told that both devices try to create a common earthing for the components and use materials inside to simulate a high quality ground earthing. All I know is...it works. Very impressed by Entreq and investigating Tripoint next.

lloydelee21 August 24, 2013 07:35

Hi Duane,

The audio world is very small indeed. I was at Goodwins a fews years back auditioning the Altair and the Magicos and I do remember meeting someone in one of the other listening rooms who was auditioning the Rockport Aquilas - obviously it was you - that's pretty amazing.

I don't use balanced power, but I do use an isolation transformer as part of my overall electrical distribution strategy for my audio system which does have a very high quality electrical ground for it. I have measured the impedance at my electrical outlets fed from the transformer and it is fractionally just slightly above 0 OHMS.

If you are also curious about the Entreq and Tripoint devices - I am as well. While they are referred to as grounding devices I am not sure that those names are all that correct as I am certain these boxes do not replace the electrical safety grounds of your power system. So, exactly what effect they will have in any given system remains to be seen. In talking to several folks who have heard either of these products, there seems to be a consistent theme that they make an improvement even in audio systems that have done some fairly extensive electrical system implementations. Hence my curiosity.

babybear August 23, 2013 20:10

Just curious, you mentioned running your power from a balanced transformer. What role does ground play in a balanced power set-up? Awesome room Arnie, (I met you very briefly at Goodwins when you were demoing the Altairs and Magicos I believe). I was auditioning the Aquilas at the time.

Duane

drizmond August 23, 2013 16:18

I am looking forward to getting both hear and hearing what they do and how they compare to each other. Should be great fun.

babybear August 19, 2013 03:21

Great stuff Arnie!!! Love it!!! Thanks for all the effort!!! Very excited!

lloydelee21 August 17, 2013 23:01

Babybaer,
I'm sure I speak for others when I say your effort in setting this up is very much appreciated. Users of both products seem more than satisfied with the results they've achieved.
Charles,

charles1dad August 17, 2013 13:31

Should be informative. A comparison of the aesthetics of the two boxes is amusing, and its not hard to guess which one costs more. Demo Miguel's Orion PC while you're at it. I heard that demoed after hours at Axpona in Atlanta along with the standard Troy. Shocking. You have not heard your system yet....

agear August 17, 2013 13:25

Hi Agear and Charles,

I have no doubt that someone must have done the comparison between these 2 products already, but like most of us, I would of course want to compare them in my own system and to understand what they do to the overall sonics of my system and how they compare in performance.

I have gone to great effort at this point to make the 2 foundational elements of any audio system - electrical power and the room itself, as good as I know how to make it. But, I also believe, especially with the power aspect, the right product or products can still bring real sonic improvements so these 2 products are intriguing to me.

I am working to see if I can arrange an audition of both products here at the same time. I have heard back from Entreq already and one of the Tripoint Troy dealers so it looks like it will be possible to do this (just not sure of the timing yet).

babybear August 17, 2013 12:41

Agear,
I agree with the idea of developing a foundation first and then proceed from there. The issue of cost can work in two directions, the DIY mentality is valid in some cases. On the other hand there`s a mentality that says it "must" be better because it more expensive.The fact that some asian buyers are willing/eager to spend considerable money is no indication of smarter/wiser purchasing.

I personally have found that there isn`t a linear relationship between cost and performance. Each component has to be judged on its individual merit rather than hype and expectations based solely on price.This upcoming comparision between Entreq and Tripoint should prove to be interesting based on actual direct use in the same system.
Charles,

charles1dad August 16, 2013 23:38

Lharasim, as the founder of Fidelity Forward and apparent manufacturer of audio equipment, you are selling yourself indirectly through your opinions. What do you manufacture again and what proprietary products have you developed to improve our audio world?

agear August 16, 2013 20:23

I believe the comparison has been done, but every experiment should be duplicated IMO. Price point and affordability is a strong potential source of bias though. Just look at the DIY world and their perceptions of the hi end. If you cannot afford it, the cheaper solution will be predictably competitive or even "better."

The Asian audio community is so far ahead of us in the power game. They are gobbling the Tripoint stuff up whereas we are still deciding if its relevant while still playing on the equipment merry-go-round. Foundations first IMO.

agear August 16, 2013 20:01

charles,
Quote:I also look forward to the comparison of these two well engineered

how do you know these are well engineered products when you have no idea whats in them LOL...

you people should be in sales :)

lharasim August 16, 2013 17:14

I also look forward to the comparison of these two well engineered and highly regarded components that address the same issue of electrical grounding. This has the potential to be very informative and worthwhile.
Charles,

charles1dad August 16, 2013 14:32

This will be very interesting!! I am also going to try to listen again to Troy. The good news is I have heard both and know they both work...really well...which is better is another matter for the moment.

lloydelee21 August 16, 2013 11:53

Hi Knghifi,

I have been thinking along those same lines as well - try both of these products at the same time and see what I hear and then have John try them in his system and see what conclusion he reaches and then let's compare our results. That would be an interesting experiment.

Hopefully I will hear from Entreq very soon. The designer responded to my email and told me that he was traveling in Asia but would be back home tomorrow and then would contact me. Then I can contact Tripoint as well.

Arnie

babybear August 15, 2013 14:17

Hi, If Arnie decided to try one or both of these...I'd be game to try it at my home also...Arnie and I have have different power cords/conditioning...so our results "may" vary...

jfrech August 15, 2013 12:56

Hi Spirit,

Thanks for the information. I would like to try at least 3 connections - from the preamp, the dac and the phono stage, starting with the preamp and then adding the other 2 sources one at a time to see what I hear. Hopefully I will be able to arrange a home audition.

babybear August 14, 2013 18:36

Hi John,

I haven't heard either yet but they have definitely piqued my curiosity. Just need to find out how to audition them in my system and see what they can do. I'll let you if I manage to get the home audition.

babybear August 14, 2013 18:34

I will contact Stillpoints and see what they can do for an in home audition.

Babybear, you should also contact Tripoint for home audition at the same time and do a comparison. Have Jfrech join in and I will be very INTERESTED in your results.

knghifi August 14, 2013 17:50

Hi Bear, when I ran my previous carts (Transfiguration Orpheus, and ESCCo modded Zu Denon 103) thru my Tom Evans Groove Plus SRX phono stage, I found that running an Apollo ic from the phono to the Entreq actually muddied the sound, thickening it up, although Fraser thought it better than me.
In the meantime I installed a Soundsmith Straingauge cart, hence getting rid of the phono stage. Now running an Apollo from the SG200 energizer has been a revelation. Go figure.
An example of YMMV.
Additionally I'm running an Apollo from the spare balanced out of my EMM Labs CDSA SE X upgrade cdp to great effect, and am going on to try Apollos from my newly-installed Audion Black Shadow SET monoblocks. If I go on to running Apollos from the two Nordost distribution blocks which sport earthing posts that I'm planning possibly to buy, this will mean a rig of Entreq Silver Tellus box and 7 Apollo ics.
Has all been revelatory so far, really complementing my move to 4kVA balanced power I've been running for a couple of years now.

spiritofmusic August 14, 2013 09:29

Arnie, I"ve been curious about the Entreq or Tripoint also...just hearing a lot a great stuff about both units...but I've yet to hear either personally...

Lloyd...yeah I am going to have to try some still points soon...not sure they synch with my Grand Prix Audio SilverStone F1 rack...but if I get new amps soon..they likely wont fit..so the Stillpoints become a easy add...

jfrech August 14, 2013 04:11

Good luck, Arnie. I also emailed you to provide further color.

lloydelee21 August 13, 2013 17:48

Thanks Lloyd,

I will contact Stillpoints and see what they can do for an in home audition.

babybear August 13, 2013 16:09

Hi Arnie,

From theaudiobeat.com, it looks like Stillpoints distributes Entreq in the US now...so you should have no problems getting an audition. Good luck. Definitely go for their top of line: Silver Tellus and Apollo grounding cables...Entreq distributor here recommends Preamp and Source...and not to 'over ground' the system. 2-3 grounding cables is what they find is best.

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/ces2013/ces2013_stillpoints.htm

lloydelee21 August 13, 2013 13:18