Entreq are the forefathers of Hi-Fi grounding. They have been developing and refining the process for more than 20 years and have recently released some new products.
With this in mind, Steve, our UK Sales Manager decided it was time to have a play at home with his Modest, old Hi-Fi.
The Entreq components tested with Steve’s system
Protectus Level 2 – a new shelf designed for chassis grounding which is placed underneath components.
Macro Twin Kit – a complete ground solution, used to ground the negative loudspeaker terminals on the amplifier in this case.
Macro Kit – a ground box used in this case to ground the audio circuit of the amplifier.
The upgrade
Step 1: Place the Protectus under the amplifier, and connect the ground wire (which comes with the Protectus) to the earth terminal on the Amp.
Result – Instant change to the sound – Less sibilance on vocals, and less tizzy on cymbals.
The change of shelf material from glass to the Protectus which has layers of cross-laminated timber with cavities made in a strategic pattern, filled with mixed metal spheres of various materials and sizes, meant that mechanical and magnetic energy to moved away from the amp and dissipated. The Protectus absorbs energy which otherwise would be re-amplified along with the audio signal.
The chassis ground is effective in controlling RFI and magnetic fields, it draws them away from the amplifier, again reducing the amount of unwanted noise being re-amplified.
Step 2: Apply the Macro Twin Kit to the negative loudspeaker terminals on the amplifier.
Result – Instant improvement in resolution. It’s easier to hear inflexions in voices, and percussion has more snap. The soundstage seems bigger, more ‘in the room’ and less flat to the speakers.
Step 3: Add the Macro Kit to the audio ground on the amplifier.
Result – Instant change to the soundstage and presentation of sound – bigger and more 3D. Vocals are really well defined, and have space to breathe.
Steve’s final thoughts
I need to remove bits to see what happens, but first I want to listen for a bit (a lot) longer. Entreq Grounding, although instant differences are apparent, it often takes time for the full effect to settle in. So I left the system playing quietly overnight, went back in the morning and pressed play.
Oh my! That is a different beast altogether. Inky black quiet bits, full, weighty, textured – cultured even. The same tracks I played yesterday just play so well. This is a hugely effective upgrade of a modest system.
For the relative cost of the upgrades, I could buy a new amplifier, however, this has given my trusty old Pioneer A400 a new lease of life. It has no right to perform like it is. It does beg the question, what would a new amp and speakers sound like in my room? And what effect would the Entreq add-on boxes have with new components?
A brief history of the Pioneer A-400
First launched in 1990, the Pioneer A-400 was the first of the Japanese brand amplifiers squarely aimed at the audiophile. No frills, just a well-designed, simple amplifier with a big power supply and a modest 50w power output. In reality, A-400 punched well above its weight, besting amplifiers sonically costing many times its modest £240 price tag. Pioneer sold 25,000 A-400’s in the first 18 months, and it became the first Japanese amplifier to take What Hi-Fi’s prestigious Product of the Year Award. Production ended in 1996, with the amplifier still being in hot demand.
One interesting design element employed by Pioneer was the implementation of a vibration-damping chassis. Move on 3 decades and this attention to detail should be viewed as remarkable. This simple detail is not lost on us at Airt as Mechanical Energy control is a cornerstone of LTNF. As we know, small details make the difference between good, and great!
