I believe in Asia there are a fair number of users employing Troy grounding on the chassis side AND Entreq grounding on the signal side. Maybe Lloyd is going to be our man over here doing the same.
So I have received a 2nd Entreq Atlantis grounding cables
I installed them as follows:
- Tripoint Troy grounding everything.
- 3 Tripoint standard grounding cables to the chassis of 3 Zanden boxes.
- 1 Tripoint Standard grounding cable to the RCA input of the back of the CJ (grounding signal).
- All 4 Tripoint cables are all on 1 of the 3 binding posts on the back of the Troy.
- 2 Entreq Atlantis grounding cables are on the RCA jacks of the CJ and Zanden (so both are grounding signal again).
- Because 1 end of an Entreq Atlantis cable actually splits into 2 cables the end that goes to the grounding box, I have separated those split ends across the other 2 binding posts on the back of the Troy. This increased clarity.
Observations:
1. I am 90% sure to be keeping these 2 Atlantis cables and this specific configuration. Will go thru the weekend to listen more in the background while working.
2. If anyone decides to play around with this and ends up grounding 2 different RCA jacks on the back of one unit (ie, grounding the signal twice)...make sure to put both grounding cables on the same channel. I had them placed on different channels (left and right)...and it blurred in comparison for some reason. no idea why.
3. You are NOT supposed to use different cables to ground signal on same unit (I am)...but for some reason, removing the Tripoint grounding cable from the CJ reduces absolute clarity. Removing the Entreq Atlantis cable from the CJ removes extraordinary levels of 'timing details' which, in deep house/electronic music, are HUGELY important.
4. By the way, on the back of the Troy, since each Entreq Atlantis cable splits into 2 cables on the end that goes to the grounding box, I placed the 2 ends either towards the front of each binding post or the back of each binding post...the reason is because I am using 2 Entreq Atlantis cables so there are FOUR ends for the 2 binding posts. And I found that putting ONE CABLE's 2 ends towards the back of the binding post, and putting the SECOND CABLE's two ends towards the front of the binding post...actually makes a difference. Do NOT alternate front/back in my experience. (And definitely take the split ends of 1 Entreq Atlantis cable and put them on 2 different binding posts if you can...it improves clarity.)
5. Grounding chassis and grounding signal (thru RCA jacks) ARE additive...no idea why. Grounding more chassis units did not change past a certain point...but then grounding the signal thru the RCA jacks moved things forward a LOT again.
Overall, what do I hear?
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Tripoint grounding cables are still unmatched in absolute clarity. A bit of a higher-end spectrum balance
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Entreq Atlantis Cables are more mid-weighted and when combined actually bring the tonal balance down...a personal flavor thing. But where they are far superior is the timing thing and BEATS. Entreq Atlantis cables do BEATS like no body's business. Its like watching a bunch of great talented street dancers in a club do their thing...and then comparing to professionals who actually do music video choreography. (I have witnessed this personally). Same moves, same timing...but there is something so SHARP about the pros, every slide, every move is just that shade more perfect and it makes a BIG difference in the final presentation.
When I play electronic deep house, all of those random noises, clicks, (sounds of ocean waves in the background, LP static or whatever)...I realized for the first time in listening to them for over 3 years...that those waves, bits of teeny "LP static" noises are actually ALL placed there in an incredibly complicated syncopated rhythm to the main driving beat. Sometimes the 'random noises' even play off of each other. I honestly can say I NEVER noticed it before. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I can also confirm when I UNDO this specific cabling set up, or even switch the cables...I can no longer hear these subtle little syncopated rhythms. Its gone. The ocean waves, LP static noises, etc are ALL still there, but they are just random noises in the background.
I suddenly appreciate how much more thought has gone into this music than I ever could hear before.
Again, on the back of the Troy, since each Atlantis cable splits into 2 cables on the end that goes to the grounding box, you need to place the 2 ends either towards the front of each binding post or the back of each binding post...the reason is because I am using 2 Atlantis cables so there are FOUR ends for the 2 binding posts. And I found that putting ONE CABLE's 2 ends towards the back of the binding post, and putting the SECOND CABLE's two ends towards the front of the binding post...actually is better than alternating and having 1 split end on the front and the other split end on the back. Do NOT alternate front/back in my experience.
Also taking the split ends of the Entreq Atlantis cable and placing each split end on a different binding post IS clearer.
...alternating even these stupid little things made a difference which honestly makes almost no sense to me. A connection should just be a connection. But for some reason, I suppose the quality/consistency of the physical contact (to the front of binding post or back of binding post)...apparently makes a difference again. Is it like when people say a quality plug grips the outlet better? No idea.
What changes occurs between alternating front/back or having the same front/back? Specifically, in this super-subtle timing thing, being consistent makes it apparent that all these 'random' electronic noises are not random at all.