Lentek Entre 1 Phono Cartridge History
Lentek Entré 1
As I am close to replacing my steadfast 40+ year old Entré 1 cartridge I thought that I would just pen a few words about its pedigree before it takes a ‘back seat’.
The above image is of my beloved Lentek Entré 1 with all its packaging, response plot and specifications chart.
Sold by Lentek Audio Ltd. UK (out of business), I purchased this low output moving coil phono cartridge together with its dedicated Lentek head amplifier back in the late 70’s and it still shines today. Its design is based upon a hollow tapered aluminum cantilever, diamond elliptical stylus and solid silver coils. Its associated head amplifier was purpose designed by the legendary British audio designer Peter Baxandall who is probably best remembered, by many, for his active tone control design. I recently rebuilt this head amplifier, see link below.
Lentek Head Amplifier
Originally manufactured by Soltear Acoustics Inc. Japan. This phono cartridge was designed by Mr. Matsudaira who started his career as a designer at Tokyo Sound Co. in 1959 and went on to design various vinyl playback hardware including MC step transformers. He worked for NHK (Japanese National Broadcast) for ten years where he designed tone arms and cartridges and in 1967 he moved to SUPEX as their leading chief designer. From 1970 to the late 90’s he worked as the leading designer for many famous brands to include; Entré, Miyabi, Kouetsu, Audio Craft and Air Tight. In 2003 he founded his own company My Sonic Lab, where he continues to design and manufacture high end moving coil cartridges in the Signature and the Eminent series.
I also believe that there was a large range of Entré cartridges; EC1/10/15/20/25/30/35 etc. The ENTRE brand was a Japanese company that existed from the 1970s to the mid-1980s. I believe that the actual company name was Saltia Acoustic. As can be seen from the following image of the Entré EC-1 it has an almost identical appearance to the Lentek Entré 1 that was created by Mr. Matsudaira. Not too surprising as he worked for ENTRE for a while as their Chief Designer.
Entré EC-1
I believe that based upon the available technical specifications that the Entré EC-1, which was the first cartridge produced by ENTRE and released in 1977, is essentially the same cartridge as the Lentek Entré 1.
Lentek Entré 1 Technical specifications:
- Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 50.000 Hz
- Output Voltage: 0,2 mV (3.54cm/s, 1000 Hz, 45 degree)
- Channel Balance: within 1 db (1000 Hz)
- Channel Separation: better than 28 db (1000 Hz)
- Compliance: 10 x 10-6cm/dyne
- Impedance: 3.0 ohms
- Recommended Load Resistance: 100 ohms
- Tracking Force: 1.8 grams + 0.3 grams
- Vertical Tracking: 20 Degree
- Stylus: diamond Elliptical, with a radius of 0.3 mil x 0.8 mil
- Mass: 5.8 grams
- Mounting: ½” or 12.7 mm
Original Lentek UK costs in 1978 :
- Entre 1 cartridge £87.50 – approx. $170.00
- Head amplifier £49.50 – approx. $96.00
Here are three original reviews of this over achieving cartridge:
- Review 1 – Cartridge Comparisons – Entre 1 Review
- Review 2 -Gramophone, October 1978 – Entre 1 Review
- Review 3 – Hi-Fi for Pleasure, May 1978 – Clash of the Cartridges
Click here for My Sonic Lab
Thank you for the write-up and the articles. I purchased my Entre-1 back in 1979 while stationed at RAF Upper Heyford, UK. I still have my Entre-1 and after 25 years of idleness (being tucked away in storage) am pressing my entire system back into service. I was an American Airman stationed in England and became a convert to hi-fidelity reproduction. Ended up with a Meridian 101MC/105S, Gale GS401A, Rega Planar 3 with RB200 tonearm, and, of course, the Entre-1. Just now getting back into the audiophile world and love reading these old articles from the beginning of the hi-fi age.
As an Ex Pat now living in the States I hope that you enjoyed your stay in the UK, welcome back to vinyl and thank you for visiting my web site. Vinyl has certainly gone through a bit of a resurgence of late and there are some good re-relases and new pressings out there. Your stereo line up should sound excellent with the Entre, its still is a stunning cartridge for its age. I still have mine as a backup to my Hana SL which I love, and just as I thought that I would never change my Entre I now think the same about my Hana.
Welcome to the world of the audiophile, the advantage of the web is that its a great historical database for all those old Hi-Fi articles; and a few new ones!
Following our relatively recent communications via email, I decided to reinstate my Entré and am glad I did. It absolutely blew away my Ortofon blue in every way, so thanks for rekindling my interest.
Kind regards
Terry
Happy to hear that the Entrés’ reincarnation was well received. Interestingly enough I swapped my Entré for my Hana SL just to remind myself that I made the right decision and to be honest if it wasn’t for the Hana’s smoother and less aggressive mid-range and higher output, the Entré would still be in use, especially after I confirmed that even after all these years I could see no stylus wear.
So happy to have it as a backup.
Happy listening
Paul
I haven’t looked at the cost of a Hana, but I suspect it’d be more than I could justify – meanwhile I shall re-enjoy the Entré.
Regards
Terry
Here in the states they are typically $750.00 but you can get a 10% discount if you trade in any other cartridge, working or not. For the money it is a very good performer but unless the overall system and arm are of similar audiophile level I am not too sure if the upgrade from the Entre is that huge. For me it was worthwhile as its output is higher so I get a lower noise floor and my Genelec 1038 studio monitors tend to be forward in their mid-range which compliments the slightly ‘softer’ mid-range of the Hana when compared to the Entre. The other issue to consider is that as the stylus has an SL profile it is more sensitive to poor arm and cartridge geometry. So setup is more taxing, especially in my unipivot arm.
Considering how old the Entre design is you have to spend a lot to get a worthwhile improvement, and that may also include a new phono amp…it did in my case!
Its interesting that its designer is still creating similar outstanding models but they are terribly expensive.
I do hope that you and your family and friends are all keeping well through this Pandemic.
Kindest Regards
Paul
Paul,
It had been some while since I’d dug my Entré out of it’s box, so obviously my memory was playing up (put it down to age, stupidity or both) because it is an Entré – 1, so don’t know where the two came from?
Anyway, it’s performance continues to delight, so that’s good news.
Thus far the pandemic has left us unscathed and hopefully will continue to do so, leaving us more guilt free listening time.
Kindest regards
Terry
Terry,
Sorry for the delay in replying but we seem to be spending our days just trying to order fresh food from “safe” sources, the rest of my time I actually have to work, even though I should be retiring in the next few months.
No problems about the “V2”. As I said I never found such a model and I almost asked my daughter, who speaks Japanese, to contact its designer just in case there was another version.
Anyway, I am glad you are enjoying your Entre 1 and that you are all well.
Be well.
Kindest Regards
Paul
Paul,
It would have been interesting hearing from the actual designer.
I have a very modest collection of guitars, one of which is a Japanese built Stratocaster. This was produced in ’95 but even after contacting Strat ‘experts’ I could find no information. Eventually I was able to contact the head guy at the Japanese factory who although tied by secrecy agreements with Fender, was able to tell me this model was indeed a genuine Fender model built for a short period in Japan.
When I informed the experts of this and the source, Tony Bacon said he’d include it in next print of the Strat ‘bible’. I don’t knoow if he did, but it gave me great satisfaction to put this model on the map.
Regards
Terry
Wow! that is an amazing guitar and must be worth a shilling or two! I am sure you are happy now that it has been documented. My musical talents are almost none existent these days even though as a boy I did ‘play’ keyboards and guitar. Now I have the pleasure of listening to my wife and daughter on one of our pianos (upright and baby grand) or our basement (electric) organ.
Regards
Paul
I have 2 defferent EC 1. One with black body and gold shield from 1978. The otter one with gold body and black shield. Just the opperoside. Does anny body know the defference? The latter I just bought latly as nos. The sound is as good as my ortofon cadensa and my dynavektor 17 d3. But importent Not to load over 100 ohms, at the riaa.
Yours, Ole from Denmark.
Ole,
I do not recall ever seeing an Entré EC-1 with a black main body and gold mount in the UK market. My Entré 1 has a gold body and black mount. Somebody might correct me on this. Nor was I aware that they ever made two versions of the Lentek Entré. Are you sure they are both EC1? Can you send me a picture of each one, the body of the EC-1 usually has it stamped on it or its label?
I agree that loading the Entre 1 with 100 ohms is just about right. Anything much higher tended to make it a little too bright for me and anything much lower tended to make the bass too tight.
Despite its age the Entré 1 is still, in my opinion, a great sounding MC cartridge.
Thanks for visiting my site.
Regards
Paul
Hi Paul,
my Entré 1 is gold/black
Regards
Terry
Hi Terry,
Clearly some confusion here by me. I have the Entré-1 with the gold body and black mount like yourself Terry. I think that the Entré EC-1 is just a different iteration of the same cartridge and it has a black body with a gold mount with EC-1 stamped on the black body underneath or on its label in the top of the mount. I have a feeling that the Entré EC-1 version was released by My Sonic Labs, but not too sure. I will add an image of my Entré 1 and make a couple of updates as my library photo is clearly incorrect.
Thanks for alerting me.
Regards
Paul
Hi Paul,
No problem.
Kind regards
Terry
Terry,
I have updated all my images and some text in this post and hopefully all is now “up to snuff”. I also confirmed that there was a large range of Entré cartridges manufactured by the Japanese company called ENTRE that was also known as Saltia Acoustic. Interesting as Mr. Matsudaira was the Chief Engineer for ENTRE for a while. Any information or updates would be gladly received so that I can update this post.
Kind Regards
Paul
Surely calling Peter Baxandall “infamous” is a typo. Your description on the upgrades page being more appropriate. His description of the operation of electrostatic loudspeakers in the Loudspeaker and Headphone handbook was so clear and concise, obviously a reflection of his mind.
I always thought it bad luck that Peter was not even more successful.
I have left a comment about the headamp on the upgrades page.
Bob
Robert,
Well caught. It was supposed to say famous so I moved Peters reputation to being legendary by way of an apology.
Peters contributions to the audiophile industry were extensive and we have all benefitted from them over time.
Thank you for visiting my site and being a thorough proof reader.
Paul
Thanks for this overview of the cart and the contemporary reviews!
I just got my Entre-1 back from a coil repair. I had never heard the cartridge; it came with an open coil on a tonearm purchased long ago. I have to say it’s holding its own vs Koetsu Vermillion and Onyx on a Sperling arm on JVC TT81 through a Hagerman step-up. Very impressed with wide stage and immediacy after only 1 evening’s listening.
I see these can be obtained cheaply on Japanese auction sites. I’ll update if I go for one.
Hi Jeff,
Thank you for the update and I am really pleased that you are enjoying your ‘new’ Entre-1. Aren’t those Koetsu cartridges between $6,000 – $11,000? If that is the correct price then the Entre-1 is really ‘holding it’s own’. For its price it truly is a terrific cartridge but in my system my Hana SL just edges it out.
Please post where you got the coil repaired as both I and others may benefit from that information. Also if you go ahead and buy any from Japan please update the post with your experience and any seller information.
Thank you for visiting my site and posting the update.
Paul
Hi. Jeff, Very interesting comments about the Entrés being available on the Japanese sites, I shall take a look.
Regards
Terry
I had the work done by Steve Leung at VAS.
OK, maybe the sound isn’t as impressive as my pricey Koetsus, but the Entre has a relaxed quality and top-to-bottom balance all its own. After all, it came out before the crazy escalation in cart prices, apparently begun by Koetsu itself. The writers of the 1978 cart comparison you link to above are complaining of the high cost of $100 MCs–$428 in current $.
I relooked at the hifishark search page for the Entre-1. Turns out most of the (completed) listings were for the EC-1, tho there might have been 1 or 2 Entre-1s listed.
My Entré 1 is still going strong and having tried a few (a lot less pricey) MM cartridges, nothing has come close to it’s overall performance.
Terry,
I couldn’t agree more. For what I paid for it in 1978 and even scaled up to todays prices it is still excellent value and sounds terrific.
Paul
Jeff,
Thank you for the update, nice to know of your positive experience with VAS. All the users of the Entre-1 seem to hold it in high esteem even after all these years, it was and still is a terrific cartridge at an amazing price. I occasionally go back to it from my Hana SL but in my setup the Hana has the edge on the Entre for mid-range smoothness.
Isn’t the EC-1 essentially the same cartridge as the Entre-1? Maybe somebody out there could confirm?
Paul
Hi!
First, thank you for a great source of info and my bad english. Just bought the lentek entré combo, (cartridge and head amp), but i can’t get it to work. I’m using a thorens td160 turntable and a bryston B135sst2 amplifier. Also using a Cambridge alva duo, made for mm and mc. When connected to the Cambridge i get a sweet sound from the cartridge, a bit lower level on the left channel, don’t know why, but when using the lentek i get no sound at all. I have to turn the volume knob all the way up to hear anything but the sound is clinical. If that’s a word. Is it possible that the lentek is broken? And how do i go about finding this out? The lentek has a new battery installer. Hope you can give me some pointers on how to proceed as I really want this to work.
Hi Kai,
Thank you for following my web site.
I assume that what you purchased are used items. If the Entre cartridge works OK with the Alva then it is good. There should not be any significant channel imbalance, so the Lentek may have sustained some minor damage. If stereo imaging is still good then any minor level imbalance can be adjusted for using your amplifier. If imaging is poor or the channel imbalance is more than 1dB then you should try to get your money back.
As for the head amp, did you put a new 9 volt battery into it? It is not uncommon for one of the two transistors to fail or become noisy in one of the channels but very rare that both channels fail at the same time. If that is the case the head amp would need to be rebuilt per my Lentek post.
What electronic skills and equipment do you have to test/rebuild, like a signal generator and oscilloscope or millivoltmeter etc.? Also do you have the option of getting a refund for it?
Let me know what you want to do and how I can help you further.
Regards
Paul
Hi and thank you for the reply. Got the lentek working, had a lose cable inside.
But the cartridge i think is gone. The lower level output on the left channel is around 3-4db, so a very big difference from left to right ch. Is it safe to say that the cartridge is of no use or do you think there is a way to save it? The stylus looks good under a usb microscope but can’t say for sure. I can’t get a refundert because the seller wrote in the ad that the cartridge should/might still work. And i don’t have the heart to throw it in the trash.
Hi Kai,
Sorry for the delayed response I am travelling.
Good to hear that you got the head amp working but sorry the Entre is not looking too good. A channel imbalance of 3-4 dB is far too much and indicates that the cartridge has sustained some damage. Pity as it is a great sounding cartridge, I still have mine. There are some companies that can repair the Entre but it is very expensive and is probably not worth it with the current range of available MC cartridges. I can highly recommend my current Hana, see my post and review. You could try selling it (or even giving it away) with an honest description.
Let me know how things go.
Regards
Paul