Greatest Technological Breakthrough — The Absolute Sound

“About five seconds into the first A/B someone behind me who had come in during the middle of the demo whispered,                 “Holy —-!” My feelings exactly” The Absolute Sound’s Steven Stone on our new Tranquility Base

“… (with the) Tranquility Base … sound was remarkably expansive and realistic, but with the Tranquility Bases removed low-level ambient cues and layered depth were reduced. A remarkable demo.” The Absolute Sound’s Jonathan Valin

CES 2012 Synergistic Research System

11 New Products Launched:

• Tranquility basik
• Tranquility Base
• Tranquility Base XL
• PowerCell 10SE Mk III
• AC Master Coupler 20th Anniversary
• Enigma Mk II- A new limited edition valve power supply for Active Shielding
• Transporter- A new one box solid state power supply for Active Shielding
• basik Active- A new affordable active interconnect and speaker cable
• basik Active SE- Upgraded basik Active Series featuring Enigma Tuning Bullets and SR 20 terminations
• basik Active USB- a new high performance affordable Active USB cable
• The Music Cable 24/192- A new SPDIF version of our award winning “The Music Cable” capable of playing 24/192 files

To celebrate our 20^th year we want to thank our partners for making this the most successful of 19 consecutive CES shows. Esoteric Audio for their remarkably transparent and refined class A amplifier and pre amplifier, YG Acoustics for their absolute reference quality Anat Studio III speakers and Grand Prix Audio whose exceptional carbon fiber racks and stands supported our new active Tranquility Base XL EM Stabilizers.

Synergistic Research Tranquility Base conditioning Esoteric A-03 Class A Stereo Amplifier

We began set up with the rising sun on January 9th at the Venetian Hotel to allow our system at least 15 hours of passing signal before Ted started the critical tuning process the following day. This proved a smart move as dialing in the system was more difficult then at RMAF where set up to great sound was a relatively straightforward process. To our surprise we found we were able to voice nearly all the Element Series interconnects and speaker cables with Silver Enigma Tuning Bullets and approximately 25% of the TESLA SE power cords. Had we not had the option to voice Active Shielding at the show our sound would have been somewhat dark and closed in. (Normally systems with a full loom of Element Series active interconnects and speaker cables and TESLA SE active power cords sound their best with a majority of Grey Enigma Tuning Bullets and only a handful of Silver (or Black) Enigma Tuning Bullets in strategic locations- like source to pre amp interconnects / speaker wires or on a few power cords). Our lead designer took this challenge and the solution his Enigma tuning bullets provided as positive reinforcement for his decision to leave the final voicing of Active Shielding in the hands of Synergistic Research Element Series and TESLA SE users who would otherwise be limited by fixed Active Shielding circuits as found in older Synergistic Research designs. Time will tell but it may be the case that in densely populated areas, or when systems are located in tall metal structures like the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, that Enigma Tuning Bullets will prove especially beneficial in over coming problems to deliver natural holographic sound.

Element Tungsten speaker cables with Grey Enigma Tuning Circuits as upgraded leads from the Galileo Universal Speaker Cells to the YG Acoustics Anat Studio III reference speakers

For this year’s CES we were excited to showcase our new Tranquility Base active EM stabilizers. Not only were they used under the Mac Mini / Western Digital hard drive / Synergistic Research The Music Cable digital front end, but under every component in the system including a big surprise we did not discover until midway through the show. As anticipated once the system was dialed in and working properly we had the most holographic sound of any CES in our 20-year history. What we did not expect was the effect the Tranquility Base had under our wireless router communicating with our iPad when selecting tracks and play lists during the show. Either the Tranquility Base eliminates digital hash or noise caused by the router or it somehow aligns the energy between router and the Mac Mini in a positive way. Regardless the difference this made was far from subtle and in the end, pushed our system over the top to the best sound we have ever created under show conditions.

Synergistic Research Tranquility Base making a surprise improvement to the system when placed under the wireless router

For Active Shielding we used the Limited Edition Enigma Mk II valve power supply to power the active shielding on Element Series interconnects, speaker cables and Galileo Universal Speaker and Interconnect Cells while TESLA SE power cords and digital cables including our new active Firewire 800 cable and new basik Active USB cable were powered by Galileo MPCs all plugged into QLS9’s. Nearly 30 active circuits and power supplies were treated including 3 power amplifiers all plugged into a single PowerCell 10 SE Mk III line conditioner. To increase the number of outlets we simply used one QLS 9 and two QLS 6 line strips each connected to the PowerCell 10SE Mk III with their own T3 SE active power cord.

Enigma Mk II Valve Power Supply for Active Shielding

CES 2012 System Components

• 5 Tranquility Base XL – MSRP $ 2,995.00 each
• 1 Tranquility Base – MSRP $ 1,995.00 each
• Synergistic Research NEW Active FireWire 800 tuned with Gray Enigma Bullets MSRP $ 850.00
• Western Digital 2 TB Hard Drive MSRP $250
• MAC Mini file server with 8 GB Ram  MSRP $499.00
• Synergistic Research “The Music Cable”  SP/DIFF 24/192 version all in one, plug and play Computer Audio Solution MSRP $3,599.00
• Esoteric Audio C-03 Preamp MSRP $ 13,000.00
• Synergistic Research NEW Element Copper/Tungsten/Silver interconnects tuned with Silver Enigma bullets between preamp and Power amp MSRP $ 3,600.00 per pair
• Esoteric Audio A-03 Stereo Amp MSRP $ 14,000.00
• Synergistic Research NEW Element Copper/Tungsten/Silver Speaker cables tuned with Silver Enigma bullets MSRP $ 7,500.00 8 ft pair and Synergistic Research Universal Speaker Cell MSRP $2,500.00 per pair.
• Synergistic Research NEW Element Copper/Tungsten/Silver Interconnects tuned with silver Enigma bullets between Pre amp and sub woofers MSRP $ 5,490.00 per pair and Galileo Universal IC Cell MSRP $1500
• Synergistic Research PowerCell 10 SE MK III MSRP $ 5,500.00
• Grand Prix Monaco Rack $ 6,500.00
• Grand Prix Monaco Amp Stand $ 1,995.00
• YG Acoustics Anat III Studios MSRP $ 89,000.00
• Synergistic Research NEW ENIGMA MKII Valve Power Supply for Active Shielding MSRP $ 10,000.00 (Limited availability March 2012)
• Synergistic Research ART Acoustic Room Treatment with 9 Satellites, 2 Bass Stations and one Vibratron  MSRP $ 5,700.00
• Synergistic Research standard MiG’s MSRP $150 per set of 3 under all components including the Western Digital Hard Drive and Mach 2 music server with BIG MiG’s under the Esoteric Audio A-03 and Enigma MKII  –  MSRP $ 200.00 per set of 3
• Synergistic Research TESLA SE Active Power Cords- Hologram A MSRP $2,600.00, Hologram D MSRP $ 2,800.00, Precision AC MSRP $ 1,800.00 all voiced with Gray Enigma bullets

Acoustic ART Bass Stations located in front of YG Acoustics Anat Studio IIIs to control low frequency room acoustics

The Absolute Sound

By Steven Stone • Posted: January 18, 2012

Link to original article

Steven Stone’s Best of Show— Most Significant Product Introduction

“Ted Denny and Synergistic Research have come up with another head-scratchingly good new product—the Tranquility Base. How does it work? All I know for sure is it’s based on the same technology as his Galileo Cable Cells. With several patents pending, this is anything but snake oil. During his demo Ted turned on and off the Tranquility base under a router and it had an audible effect. About five seconds into the first A/B someone behind me who had come in during the middle of the demo whispered, “Holy —-!” My feelings exactly.”

Tranquility Base conditioning a Mac Mini and Western Digital hard drive

By Neil Gader • Posted: January 18, 2012

Link to original article

Neil Gader’s Best of Show— Greatest Technological Breakthrough

“Head-scratching, as well, are the Synergistic Research Tranquility Bases from the fertile mind of Synergistic’s Ted Denney. Available in three levels these active, tunable isolation platforms made me a believer.”

By Alan Sircom • Posted: January 18, 2012

Link to original article

“There is a growing community of people discontented with the sound of computer audio, and for people like Ted Denney, the finger is firmly pointed at the way a computer can propagate electromagnetic interference. To help prevent this kind of hash, Synergistic Research has launched a range of three Tranquility Bases; the bäsik, Base, and Base XL, to fit on conventional furniture or into dedicated racks (the XL is custom designed to fit the Grand Prix Audio range). The active platforms take a variation on the theme of the EM Cell patented by Synergistic, so that the signals from any component sitting on that Tranquility Base are being conditioned while still in the component itself. Multiple components can be used on each table, and it’s easy to demonstrate (just turn the platform off). Prices start at $995 for the bäsik and rise to $3000 for the Base XL.”

Photo by Alan Sircom

By Jonathan Valin • Posted: January 18, 2012

Link to original article

“Ted Denney of Synergistic Research managed his usual magic with the $90k YG Acoustics Anat Studios, driven by Esoteric electronics with Synergistic’s Music Cable as a source and a new Denney item, the Tranquility Base (an equipment stand with active EM), removing grit and grain from noisy components like servers. The sound was remarkably expansive and realistic, but with the Tranquility Bases removed low-level ambient cues and layered depth were reduced. A remarkable demo.”

Photo by Jonathan Valin

As Ted saw it, the problem was simple: clean up inherently dirty power supplies and circuits found in a PC or Macintosh, and the deleterious effect they have on the music we listen to. Past attempts to improve computer audio focused mainly on power supplies, but Ted knew the core issues went far deeper then merely re-engineering a regulated power supply. In order to extract all the information hidden in Red Book and high resolution digital files, the PC and Macintosh circuits (and their noisy EM fields) would first need to be tamed while the signal was still in the computer! Simply filtering signal and electricity as it leaves a computer only goes so far, and fails to address this fundamental distortion. Namely, the negative effects that closely positioned circuits, RAM chips, CPU processors, IC chips, circuit components (ie. resistors & capacitors), inductors, and power supplies have on the overall sound of computer based music. By cleaning up the problem before it can affect the music, Ted discovered a fundamental way to improve music reproduction and bring it much closer to the live event; not only for computer based audio but for all audio components.

Tranquility bāsik conditioning a Mac Mini and Western Digital Hard Drive

Ted’s breakthrough came when he contemplated the nature of his patented EM Cell technology, as found in our PowerCell line of conditioners and Galileo Cable Cells. He reasoned that if he placed a variation of his EM Cell technology beneath a computer, it would have a similar ability to condition signal while still in the computer, as it does when conditioning AC and signal running through cables. This led to several new patents pending, and one of the most amazing new products to come to audio in over a decade: the worlds first Active isolation platform capable of conditioning signal while still in your stereo’s components!

Click here for more information on the Tranquility Base

Best Small Room Sound – Steven Stone, The Absolute Sound

Stereophile’s John Atkinson “Despite the absence of any conventional room treatment (we were using our Acoustic ART System) the sound of Bela Fleck’s “Flight of the Cosmic Hippo,” with Victor Wooten’s deep bass grumblings, was articulate and clean-sounding.”

Audiostream.com’s Michael Lavorgna “My listening notes read, “No room, no walls” … we listened to Bach’s Suite for Solo Cello and I’ll let you decide where you want to lay the blame for this neat sonic trick—making the room disappear.”

The Synergistic Research 2011 RMAF Show System

We had another GREAT show at this year’s Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and want to thank our partners Mach 2 for their excellent music server, YG Acoustics for their exceptionally transparent and powerful Kipod II Signature speakers and Esoteric Audio for their always refined and holographic Class A amplifier and pre amplifier.

Set up started on Thursday October 13th at the Marriott Tech Center Hotel, Denver CO where we were eager to get our show system playing to best introduce our 10 brand new products. One of these products is a new product category called “The Music Cable” Designed from ground up with a single goal in mind: To make Red Book files (standard CD’s) and Pandora internet radio sound like your best CD’s when played through state-of-the-art multi-box digital separates. In addition we were launching our 20^th anniversary and highest resolution to price performance cables in our Company’s history, the Element Series with direct trickle down technology form our cost no object Galileo System research program. Also on hand was an advanced prototype of our Enigma Mk II valve power supply for Synergistic Research Active Shielding. (Available January 2012 in limited quantity)

The Music Cable- All in one plug and play hi rez Computer Audio Solution

10 New Products Launched:

• The Music Cable
• Element Copper Interconnects
• Element Tungsten Interconnects
• Element Copper/Tungsten/Silver Interconnects
• Element Copper Speaker Cables
• Element Tungsten Speaker Cables
• Element Copper/Tungsten/Silver Speaker Cables
• Active Firewire 800
• Active Tricon USB
• Enigma MKII Valve Power Supply for Active Shielding

As with all shows our lead Designer Ted Denney and team started set up early (6 am) to give the components, speakers and cables as much time as possible to warm up and settle in before finalizing speaker placement and tuning room acoustics with the Acoustic ART system. As any experienced audiophiles knows, a cold system’s sound shifts as it warms up so it’s vital to allow as much time as possible playing music through the system before beginning critical system tuning and speaker placement for best sound. With 17 hrs of continues non stop music playing through the system final tuning began at 8 AM and continued all the way to the start of the show at 12 noon when our system’s sound was nothing short of amazing!

Acoustic ART Bass Station for Tuning Low Frequency Acoustics

RMAF 2011 System Components:

• Synergistic Research NEW Active FireWire 800 with Gray Enigma Bullets MSRP $ 850.00
• Western Digital 2 TB Hard Drive MSRP $250
• MACH 2 Music Server, with Battery Power Supply MSRP $1,700.00
• Synergistic Research NEW “The Music Cable” All in one, plug and play Computer Audio Solution with built in Active USB Cable, 24 Bit DAC, Element Tungsten Active Interconnects, PowerCell line conditioner and Galileo Universal Interconnect Cells. Final voicing was with two Silver Enigma bullets – MSRP $3,599.00
• Esoteric Audio C-03 Preamp MSRP $ 13,000.00
• Synergistic Research NEW Element Copper/Tungsten/Silver interconnects with Gray Enigma bullets between preamp and Power amp MSRP $ 3,600.00 per pair
• Esoteric Audio A-03 Stereo Amp MSRP $ 14,000.00
• Synergistic Research NEW Element Copper/Tungsten/Silver Speaker cables tuned with gray Enigma bullets MSRP $ 7,500.00 8 ft pair and Synergistic Research Universal Speaker Cell MSRP $2,500.00 per pair.
• Synergistic Research NEW Element Tungsten Interconnects tuned with silver Enigma bullets between Pre amp and sub woofers MSRP $ 2,600.00 per pair and Galileo Universal IC Cell MSRP $1500
• Synergistic Research PowerCell 10 SE MKII MSRP $ 5,000.00
• Grand Prix Monaco Rack $ 6,500.00
• Grand Prix Monaco Amp Stand $ 1,995.00
• YG Acoustics Kipod II Signature MSRP $ 49,000.00
• Synergistic Research NEW ENIGMA MKII Valve Power Supply for Active Shielding MSRP $ 8,500.00 (available Jan 2012)
• Synergistic Research ART Acoustic Room Treatment with 9 Satellites, 2 Bass Stations and one Vibratron  MSRP $ 5,700.00
• Synergistic Research standard MiG’s MSRP $150 per set of 3 under all components including the Western Digital Hard Drive and Mach 2 music server with BIG MiG’s under the Esoteric Audio A-03 and Enigma MKII  –  MSRP $ 200.00 per set of 3
• Synergistic Research TESLA SE Active Power Cords- Hologram A MSRP $2,600.00, Hologram D MSRP $ 2,800.00, Precision AC MSRP $ 1,800.00 all voiced with Gray Enigma bullets

Mach2 Music Server atop a set of Synergistic Research MiG’s

Notable coverage for Synergistic Research at RMAF 2011:

Audiostream.com

http://www.audiostream.com/content/synergistic-research

By Michael Lavorgna • Posted: Oct 19, 2011

“The Music Cable isn’t a cable it’s a 24 bit DAC with captive cables coming out of both ends—the Active Tricon USB cable and the Element Tungsten Active interconnects “hand soldered direct to the custom 24 bit DAC board”. The interesting part of The Music Cable’s design lies in the use of “Enigma Tuning bullets” which the company describes as “Active Shielding circuits”. They come in colors which, according to Synergistic Research, correspond to sonic flavors: Silver Module = Open and airy, Black Module = Warm and rich, Grey Module = A hybrid of both the Black and Silver.”

“My listening notes read, “No room, no walls” and that we listened to Bach’s Suite for Solo Cello and I’ll let you decide where you want to lay the blame for this neat sonic trick—making the room disappear. This was certainly not the case across the board as some exhibitors sounded as if they’d rather wrestle with room acoustics…”

Stereophile

http://www.stereophile.com/content/music-cable-synergistic-research

By John Atkinson • Posted: Oct 20, 2011

“Synergistic Research room was a Mach 2 music server feeding USB data to Synergistic’s The Music Cable D/A converter ($3599). This has a flying USB input cable on one end and two flying, single-ended analog output cables on the other, and it gets power not from the USB bus but from two mono supplies. The system was wired with Synergistic’s new Element cables, which use tungsten conductors, a material chosen, I was told, using blind listening tests.”

“Despite the absence of any conventional room treatment—instead, the room was littered with Synergistic’s little ART “magic bowls”—the sound of Bela Fleck’s “Flight of the Cosmic Hippo,” with Victor Wooten’s deep bass grumblings, was articulate and clean-sounding. Perhaps Synergistic’s Ted Denney is just a master at setting up speakers to work with the room acoustics rather than despite them.”

The Absolute Sound

http://www.avguide.com/blog/rmaf-2011-report-loudspeakers-priced-20000-and?page=6

By Jonathan Valin at 2:02 pm, October 19th, 2011

“The real story here might have been what Denny calls The Music Cable, which is a plug-and-play solution for high-res computer audio: A 24-bit DAC that comes prewired with Synergistic’s Active Tricon USB cable (to hook to your Mac Mini) and actively-shielded tungsten interconnects hardwired to the DAC board (to go to your preamp). The Music Cable also comes with a built-in power conditioner and two power supplies.”

“All I can say about this combo is that it delivered a good deal of the same sound that I get in my own room with full-bore Galileo interconnects and speaker cables and a Berkeley Audio Alpha DAC/Mac Mini for about one-fifth the price. Equally interesting was Denney’s new 30V DC power supply for biasing cables and interconnects, the Enigma Mk II (launching at CES 2012), which allows you to switch between solid-state and Mercury-vapor-tube power. This is one you’d have to hear to believe, but with the Mercury-vapor tubes doing the active biasing, I thought the Kipods sounded better than anything else at the show with digital sources. The sound was, well, so analog-like.”

JV’s Most Significant Product Introduction at RMAF 2011: The Music Cable and Enigma Mk II Valve power supply for Synergistic Research Active Shielding

The Absolute Sound

http://www.avguide.com/blog/rmaf-2011-report-digital?page=2

By Steven Stone posted at 11:11 am, October 19th, 2011

Best Small Room Sound:

“… Synergistic Research’s room 8030 with the YG Kipod II Signature speakers and Empirical Audio’s Iris room with the YG Kipod II Signature speakers.”

“Synergistic’s room included its new active FireWire 800 cable, “The Music Cable” DAC/cable all-in-one solution, SR’s Element Copper/Tungsten interconnect cable, Element copper/tungsten/silver speaker cables, PowerCell 10 SE Mk II AC device, and Enigma Mk II valve PowerCell AC device, Mach2 Music server, Esoteric C-03 Preamp, and full SR ART room treatment system.”

The Element Series is an offshoot from our cost no object Galileo Research Program that developed the World’s highest performance audio cables.  Direct trickle down technologies include the world’s first use of an Active Shielded Air Dielectric, the use of Tungsten as a signal conductor and Enigma Tuning Bullets that allow you to custom match Element Cables to complement your system. These combined technologies enable us to build entry level Element Series cables that outperform our prior top of the line models at a fraction of the price.

How we arrived at the elements used in our new Element Series cables:

We knew from research on the Galileo System that any element coming in contact with signal (Silver, Gold, Platinum or Copper) has a direct effect on the sound. For the Element Series we first wanted to isolate the fundamental characteristics of as many different elements from the Periodic Chart as possible looking for new and hopefully breakthrough performance from overlooked options. We also wanted to make the signal path as pure as possible so in addition to Active Shielding we opted to go with an Air Dielectric as this significantly contributes to the amazing clarity of our Galileo System Cables.

The experiment was conducted as follows. We first made a dozen different interconnects. Each cable contained one geometry with either one Transition Metal –or- one Alkaline Earth metal -or- one Alkali Earth metal from the Periodic Table of Elements suspended in an Actively Shielded Air Dielectric. In addition each cable had a parallel Actively Shielded Tricon geometry to allow less conductive elements to reveal their hidden characteristics without hindering signal transfer. Each cable was marked with a random Alpha Numeric code so we could keep track of which cables we were listening to without knowing which elements were being evaluated during the 6 month long battery of listening tests.

After building 12 different Element Cables we first Quantum Tunneled each and then burned them in for one month on our cable cooker. We wanted to be absolutely certain the cables were fully broken in before beginning the subjective evaluation process and not just picking elements that break in faster then others. For the listening tests we used several different systems taking careful notes based on our listening tests as we progressed. Quickly we isolated elements that possessed less then satisfactory characteristics when cross referenced on our different systems and eliminated them without learning their element content until after our final candidates were chosen.

In the end three elements presented themselves as superior to all others with two elements being tried and true, copper and silver and one big surprise, tungsten.

Listening note highlights from our Lead Designer – Ted Denney

Copper- Code Name GE-F 33

Copper with Grey Bullets: “Very clear and high resolution. Strong powerful bass line, air and a sense of the hall makes this element a hands down winner”

“Detail freaks and dynamic junkies will love this element however not the largest sound stage nor does it possess the last degree of air or extension in the uppermost registers”

“Explosive bass”

Silver- Code Name GE-A 79

Silver with Grey Bullets: “Deep sound stage in a well rounded polite and non offensive presentation. Absolutely no glare or grain in the upper registers. Balance is the word that comes to mind”

Silver with Silver Bullets: “More forceful bass impact with only a slight glare on top  and only on certain recordings (which may be more accurate). Still smoother then GE-F 33 (copper) with Grey. The Silver Bullet definitely adds sparkle and slam to this cable”

“Extremely refined”

“This strikes me as a chameleon or a one system fits all element”

Tungsten- Code Name GE-B 35

Tungsten with Grey Bullets: “Amazing soundstage. By far the most holographic element”

“The difference between GE-A 79 (silver) and GE-B 35 (tungsten) is like the difference between a Ferrari 355 and a Acura NSX. The NSX is polite easy to drive and refined while the Ferrari is more spirited, less balanced overall yet posses magic and a connection to the road that leaves the Honda seeming somewhat boring by comparison”

“Huge sound field that may combine well with other elements”

“Spooky Huge Sound Field”

• A custom up-sampling 24 bit DAC capable of handling hi resolution files
• Hard wired Active Tricon USB cable
• Element Tungsten Active interconnects hand soldered direct to the custom 24 bit DAC board
• Built-in PowerCell line conditioner for pure power to the DAC and Active cables
• Galileo Universal Cable Cells to make Pandora sound as holographic as your best CD’s
• Compact design makes installation a snap, even in tight systems
• Dual Mono Outboard Power Supplies
• Separately these technologies would retail for over $7,000.00
• Introductory Price $ 3,599.00 (120 Volt US Version Only)

The Music Cable with Active USB cable, Element Tungsten Interconnects and Enigma Tuning Bullets

“The Music Cable” is a state-of-the-art plug and play computer audio solution, see your authorized Synergistic Research dealer to audition yours today.

New Breakthrough in AC Line Conditioning

The new PowerCell 4 SE is based on an evolution of our now patented  Electromagnetic Cell Technology. The PowerCell 4 SE is non current  limiting, is not fused or switched for maximum transparency, and sold  with a TESLA SE T3 power cord.  Sonically the PowerCell 4 SE is highly detailed  with a sweet treble and controlled low frequency presentation.

New Electromagnetic Cell Design

The PowerCell 4 SE is perfect for small systems, monoblock amps that are located far away from the source and preamps, or your source components. The PowerCell 4 SE also improves picture quality on any display, with darker black levels, better color saturation and a more 3 dimensional picture, simply amazing.  2 TeslaPlex SE receptacles provide 4 outlets in this fully differential designed PowerCell 4 SE. Fully differential means that the hot, neutral, and ground all have their own separate power paths to and from the magnetic cell. What does this mean? Even better performance, blacker backgrounds, improved dynamics and a more holographic soundstage.

The PowerCell 4 SE is now shipping , so order yours from your dealer today.

Synergistic Research PowerCell4 With Tesla SE T3 Active Power Cord. This combo is now sold as PowerCell 4 SE and offered at a special combo price.

“With perfect components in a perfect system it is possible to achieve outstanding reproduction without power conditioners. But most of us require a little help in dealing with the polluted grid, the ever thickening cloud of EMI/RFI and the noise generated by our components themselves. I was hoping the PowerCell4 would give me a taste of the very high end in power conditioning at a small fraction of the typical cost but I learned it requires their Tesla SE T3 Active Power Cord to achieve such greatness. The unexpected and atypical benefit is the flexibility offered by the Enigma circuits that plug into the active shielding on the power cord. These circuits allow you to fine tune your present system and make adjustments in the future when you acquire different components. Ted Denney takes an uncommon world view in approaching electromagnetic cell technology and it has paid off in an extraordinary way”. — Rick Becker

Click here to read the complete review.

Tesla LE REL SPEC Subwoofer Cable and Tesla SE T3 AC Power Cord

as reviewed by Robert S. Youman

Tesla REL SPEC LE Subwoofer Cable with Enigma Tuning Bullets

It has been well over ten years since my original purchase, but some of my favorite interconnects and speaker cables were the original Synergistic Research Looking Glass. At that time, my system consisted of several extremely expensive components including a massive solid-state amp and some very inefficient planer speakers. These products were all the rage and like many I was seduced by all the excitement and the strengths of planer speakers. I was pleased with the overall performance of this combination, but some would argue that the sound was slightly lean and cold. I will let your imagination paint the picture for you.

Rightly or wrongly, I had invested most of my available funds into these components and had very little left for cable. These days, I know that cable technology has evolved to such an extent that this investment strategy is not the most productive for best sound.

After a tremendous amount of research and audition time without success, I stumbled upon this upstart company and this very reasonably priced product. For this specific system, it was a no brainer compared to cable two and three times the price. Looking Glass provided a perfect combination of warmth and detail to complement these products.

Synergistic Research continued to evolve and move forward as a major player in the industry. It was with great curiosity and excitement that I learned that there would now be another opportunity to try two of their most interesting products.

I am a big believer in subwoofers. I was a skeptic and typical audiophile snob until I experienced a pair of properly set up REL Stentor III subwoofers (thank you Allen Hagger of Sumiko). My gosh, talk about revelations. You have read it all before, but my ears confirmed what many have stated. Not only did these subwoofers enhance the quality of bass output, they also clearly improved the sound at all frequencies including soundstage and imaging.

I currently own the REL Studio III. I hope to own two in the very near future. As stated above, I have also owned a pair of REL Stentor III and a pair of JL Audio F212 subwoofers. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but the REL Studio III is far and away the finest sub that I have used in my system. More weight. More slam. More texture. It also provides the cleanest integration and smoothest transition with my main speakers.

Sorry for all the rambling. Where am I going with all of this? Well, the preferred cable connection for all REL subwoofers is directly from the amplifier speaker terminals to the sub. A neutrik connector is utilized on the subwoofer end and three standard connections (bare wire, banana or spades) are typically used on the amp end for right, left and neutral. No crossover is required though phase, loudness and low pass filter controls are provided. This connection or cable is the key to this review. A serviceable cable is provided by REL when purchased, but several after market cables are now available including the Synergistic Research TESLA LE REL SPEC Reference.

Description

The Reference follows the design philosophies and implementation of the entire Tesla lineup. Please see the Synergistic Research website for a more detailed explanation. Unique geometry, active shielding and proprietary conditioning are all keys to this implementation. You can change the voicing of your system via three different active shielding circuits or modules called “Enigma Bullets”.

• Silver Module = Open and airy
• Black Module = Warm and rich
• Grey Module = A hybrid of both the Black and Silver

Enigma Tuning Bullets

Fit and Finish for the Reference is exceptional. Though substantial in diameter and weight, I found the cable easy to maneuver and dress around the extensive wire configuration in my system. List price for a 3 meter length is $1320. Custom lengths are available.

System

The XP-15 was evaluated with my current two-channel system:

• EMM Labs CDSA SACD/CD Player
• VPI Aries 2 Extended Turntable
• VPI JWM 12.6 Memorial Tone Arm
• Van den Hul Frog MC Cartridge
• Pass Labs INT-30A Integrated Amp
• Pass Labs XP-15 Phono Preamp
• Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario Speakers (primary)
• Vienna Acoustics Klimt The Music Speakers (secondary)
• REL Studio III Subwoofer

Kubala-Sosna Elation balanced interconnects; speaker cable and power cables are used throughout with one exception. The Transparent Audio MM Power Cord was used to drive the REL Studio III.

Caveat Emptor

System synergies and personal taste are critical when evaluating high-end audio products. This review is based on my subjective requirements, my subjective ears and my specific system. These combinations of components are only a few data points of many that exist out there. For further insight into my personal biases, check out the “Meet The Writers” section of Positive Feedback Online. Please consider my comments and analysis appropriately.

Sound – TESLA LE REL SPEC Subwoofer Reference Cable

After 600 hours of burn in, I was ready for some serious listening. This included 200 hours on each of the three Enigma Bullet options. After much experimentation, I found that the Silver Enigma Bullet sounded the best in my system. For my ears, it offered the cleanest and tightest sound throughout the frequency spectrum.

The change in performance from the stock cable was fairly dramatic. I was forced to recalibrate volume and low pass filter settings on the Studio III to find the sweet spot again. The sound stage was still huge and extended, but now everything was more focused and locked in. At first I thought that I had lost a little air and venue ambiance, but when inserting the stock cable back into the system, I quickly realized that this was not the case. With the Reference, there was less smearing or phasiness. On most recordings, you had additional transparency and more of a three dimensional effect.

Bass performance was more detailed with additional slam and speed. At this point, there was no increase in depth or weight over the stock cable. Despite this, everything seemed more dramatic and real. I found myself sitting upright and drawn into the music more often than past listening sessions.

Midrange output seemed sweeter with more realistic timbre and texture. Highs still had plenty of speed without losing any splash or sizzle. There was a very slight golden hue that seemed to envelope the over all sound. Again, some might find it quite amazing how a top-notch subwoofer and well-matched cable can impact all frequencies and performance criteria.

Sound – TESLA SE T3 Power Cord

After considerable time with the TESLA LE REL SPEC Subwoofer Reference Cable, I substituted the TESLA SE T3 power cord for my Transparent Audio MM power cord. Burn in time before serious listening was about 400 hours. Again, I selected the Silver Enigma Bullet for the best sound. The T3 lists for $900 at a length of 5 feet. Several off the shelf and custom-made lengths are available.

Up until now, the MM was my benchmark power cord for bass performance. Nothing had ever approached it in terms of transparency, weight and depth—especially for sub-woofer performance. The MM could bring down the house when playing acoustic bass, electric bass, organ and synthesizer music. It was a natural match for the Studio III, but the T3 brought even more to the table

TESLA T3SE Power Cord with Enigma Tuning Bullets

Most performance variables stayed the same. Maybe there was just a slight improvement in transparency, but it was difficult to really nail this down. The most obvious change was in slam and weight. I do not have the proper equipment to measure it appropriately, but it felt like bass output was reaching down another octave or even more. When I say weight, I am not talking about a more bloated and rounded shift in sound. Speed and detail were both tight and solid as ever. Bass output was just more dramatic and pronounced. It just sounded more real.

Music

One of my favorite recordings is the Classic Records 45 RPM four disc reissue of the Chicago Symphony playing Scheherazade and conducted by Fritz Reiner. This 1956 recording has been a staple for many years for many audiophiles, but the 45 RPM reissue brings the sound to another level. In my system, the addition of the REL Studio III in conjunction with the Reference and T3 cables made me feel like I was listening to this recording for the first time.

The depth and width of Orchestra Hall was now clearly defined and locked in. I became enveloped in a three dimensional sound that would whirl around in waves of excitement. When the violins, cellos and bass kick in during the first movement, you can feel it from head to toe. Again, we are not just talking bass performance here. All frequencies are impacted and improved. Soundstage is the best that I have experienced.

Stanley Clarke is considered by many as one of our most important American jazz artists. His abilities on electric and acoustic bass are legendary. I have not read much about his 1988 recording entitled If This Bass Could Only Talk, but it can provide a true system test—especially on bass performance. Well worth checking out.

Tracks 1 (“If This Bass Could Only Talk”) and 9 (“Basically Taps”) are closely miked so you can really dig deep into the performance and sound of Stanley’s electric bass. Both are performed with Gregory Hines while tap dancing. This might sound strange, but the effect is very dynamic and exciting. With the Reference and T3, I can clearly hear the difference between the CD and LP releases. Using his infamous Alembic “Brown Bass” axe, the texture and timbre of the instrument is much better delineated and defined. String tone is warm and detailed. You can hear the reverb of the bass and the echoes of the tap dancing bouncing off the walls of the recording venue in all directions. Rip roaring and intoxicating.

Final Thoughts

As stated earlier, I was never a big proponent of subwoofers. You have it heard it all before. The simpler your system is, the better it will sound. Straight wire with gain is the only way to go. The REL Studio III when partnered with the Synergistic TESLA LE REL SPEC Subwoofer Reference cable and TESLA SE T3 power cord has made me a convert. In this case, one more box and a few more cables can pay big dividends. Anyone with a REL subwoofer should strongly consider an audition with these two products. You don’t know what you are missing! Robert S. Youman

TESLA SE T3 Power Cord
Retail: $900 at a length of 5 feet

TESLA LE REL SPEC Subwoofer Reference Cable
Retail: $1320

Synergistic Research
web address: www.synergisticresearch.com

I confess I have no scientific knowledge or training in this area, yet I feel compelled to write about my experiences with room acoustics. Over the years I have tried egg cartons, hospital bed pads (both of these were in dorm rooms when I had no money), Sonex, ASC Tube Traps, homemade traps, diffusers, absorbers, rugs, tuning disc, and many more things I can’t remember right now.

The one thing I can say for sure is that everything you put in your room affects the sound of your system. Now I didn’t say everything makes a big change. I didn’t even say you could hear every change, but as the things you put in your room begin to add up they really do affect the sound you hear. Ted Denney, founder and chief engineer of Synergistic Research came to my home in 2009 to install his Acoustic ART Real-Time Analogue Room Treatment for review. The first thing he said when he looked around my room was, “they may not work as well with all the nicknacks you have in the room.”

Ted was saying what I’m trying to say, all the stuff in your room affects the sound. Some of the stuff deadens the sound, some of it reflects the sound, some diffuses the sound, and lots of things sing along with your system as it plays. Now listen! This means if you trust your own ears there are lots of things you can do to tune your room that cost very little if anything.I’ve been working on tuning my current room and getting the right equipment in that room for the last 10 years, though I have to admit that I ended up spending about $4500 on commercially-available acoustical products.

The two products I purchased were the Auralex Elite B24 Pro Panels for absorption, and the Synergistic Research Acoustic ART Real-Time Analogue Room Treatment for overall acoustical treatment. The ART may seem expensive, but I found it to be the best overall room treatment I have tried. While these two products are essential to the sound of my system there is much I have done in the room over the last ten years that has had equal or even bigger effects on my system’s sound. So the rest of this column is to share those with you.

Let’s start with the bass. I worked on the room when I had the Audio Note Es, and some other speakers that have bass below 30Hz, but my room works best with speakers that roll off above that. I have tried some pretty fast subs, but my room just doesn’t sound its best when trying to produce bass down into the low 20Hz area. One of the interesting things I have discovered about the quality of the bass in my room is that it is more affected by how far my listening chair is from the back wall than the placement of the speakers. I discovered this by accident, and it was a major breakthrough for the sound of my system.

The other things I have done that helps the bass is the use of an interesting version of Tube Traps in the back corners of the room. In the back left corner of the room I have a 1937 Philco radio that has a 15-inch field coil driver. It’s presence in the room tightens up the bass as well as allowing it to have more air and breath. In the right back corner of the room I have a large easel with a large painting on it. It sits in front of a big book shelf. Whether this combo acts anything like a tube trap I have no idea, but it seems to somehow break up the standing waves in the room. I don’t know why but removing either of these from that corner loosens up the bass and affects the specificity of the midrange.

Between the two back corners is a large brick fireplace. The bricks are not smooth and neither is the surface, so with a large painting hanging on it as well as some other knicknacks it hasn’t given me much trouble. I did find that placing the Synergistic Research Acoustic ART Gravatron in the middle of the fire place seemed to smooth out and quiet the spurious noise of my system.

Now, let’s talk about the first reflection points. They really do need to be dealt with, it’s not some myth to sell sound absorption products. Since one side wall of my room has sliding glass doors and a triple window I have chosen to use drapes, but this isn’t as simple as it seems. Heavy lined drapes deadened the midrange and just about did away with the top-end. It was so overwhelming that I actually preferred the sound with no window treatments at all. By playing around with hanging materials of different weights, I discovered that light weight pleated cotton drapes seemed to have the least effect on the sound of my system, yet still adsorbed and diffused any echo from the windows. The wonderful thing for me is I can open the drapes about half way and still get these benefits. The other good news is that this is one of the cheapest forms of window covering you can buy.

The other sidewall is very different in that it’s not a single wall but a staircase, a wall, an alcove, and a flat wall that faces the left speaker. This wall gave me a lot more trouble. I tried different thickness of foam, acoustical foam, and rugs. What I found worked best was two-inch ridged foam or two-inch thick acoustical panels. I used three of these on the flat, facing wall, but on the side wall at the first reflection point I tried several rugs. None of the Oriental or modern floor rugs worked at all, but I happened upon a modern looking alpaca rug that worked just as well as the foam. It also cost about the same but looked a whole lot better.

The back wall behind my speakers is the most unusual wall in my listening room. My house is a tri-level built in the mid sixties. My reference system is in the lowest level that was built to be a family room. The back wall has a staircase that comes down the left side of the room as viewed from the listening position. The back wall itself is only four feet tall with an iron railing that goes above it. This created an interesting acoustical problem.

I played with this a lot. I first tried doing nothing, but the music sounded like it was being played in an echo chamber. I then tried 4-inch foam; this really over deadened the sound. I settled on two-inch ridged foam and later changed the foam to the Auralex’s Elite B24 Pro Panels. Either the foam or the panels need a little help, so I tried a combo of absorbing foam and diffusing panels. This worked fairly well, but was expensive and looked terrible. So I came up with another idea; I had lots of books with no place to put them so I made erratic stacks of them along the back wall. None of the stacks are above two feet high, but they work great. They also give me somewhere to run speaker wire so that it’s not on the carpet.

I’ve shared all this to encourage you to play with your furniture, your rugs, and other stuff in your room and see if you can help the sound. I can tell you one thing though: nothing sounds worse than an empty room unless it’s an over damped room. You just can’t ignore the room, it makes too big a difference in the sound of your system. I’m not telling you what can get by for free, like I said, I’ve spent about $4500 on my room. If that’s too much for you try something to improve your room, but I bet most of you’ve spent more than $4500 on some of the components in your system.

Set up started on Thursday July 16^th at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Burlingame, CA

The Team of Manufacturer’s showing were:

Ayre Acoustics: Alex Brinkman.

Musical Surroundings: Garth Leerer & Joe Wessling.

Synergistic Research: Ted Denney & Peter Hansen.

Wilson Audio: Peter McGrath.

The “Redwood“, Room was a very small room, actually a small conference room by day,

See Picture below:

The size of the room was approx 9’x15’, made it quite a challenge, when using fairly large speakers, such as Wilson Audio’s Sophia 3’s, so what do you do?

Synergistic Research’s Acoustic ART to the rescue…..

Our lead Designer Ted Denney took on the tiny room and in less than an hour he had set up the ART system. Once in place the room sounded as though it had grown in size and dimension. Now the “closet” could handle the speakers and was ready for greatness.

All cables used were Synergistic Research. TESLA Apex interconnects with Galileo Universal Interconnect cells along with TESLA Apex speaker cables with Galileo Universal speaker cable cells provided a powerful synergy.

All the Power products in the system, power cable and power conditioning, were Synergistic Research as well.

The main rack was powered by the Synergistic Research PowerCell 10 SE MKII. The power amp and universal speaker cable cells were powered by the PowerCell 4. All the power cords were the Synergistic Research TESLA SE, with the interchangeable active “Enigma Bullets” circuits.

Electronics used in the system were Ayre Acoustics, Ayre V-5xe power amplifier, K-5xe MP preamplifier, Ayre DX-5 disc player, Clearaudio Innovation and Concept turntables, Fosgate and Ayre phono preamplifiers and as already mentioned the speakers were Wilson Audio Sophia 3’s

See photo below of the room after set up.

After a team effort the system sounded stunning, a great accomplishment, everything considered.

Please see the link below for a show report by Stephen Mejias of Stereophile.

“This is stunning,” said Wilson’s Peter McGrath. “Stunning!”

“And I agreed. This was one of my favorite rooms of the show.”

http://www.stereophile.com/content/stunning-sound-music-lovers-and-musical-surroundings

Below a show report from Fred Crowder of Dagogo

http://www.dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=897

Next show will be RMAF 2011 in Denver, don’t miss it.

Our new Galileo PowerCell LE would find it’s debut to be an exciting one, sharing the spotlight with the Magico Q3 West Coast debut. Scott Walker from Scott Walker Audio provided all the components for this dream system, including the Galileo System interconnects and speaker cable.

We set up the Q3s approximately 17 feet apart, with no toe-in.  In an attempt to “take the room out of the equation,” far too often speakers are set-up with radical toe-in, losing size of soundstage and the ability to hear spatial queues beyond the boundaries of the speakers. Synergistic Research has always strived to set-up 2-channel audio systems that place the listener in the seat of the recording engineer, and this is precisely what we did at T.H.E. Show: Newport.

The challenge of a completely square room was met head-on by our Lead Designer Ted Denney, using new set-up guidelines for the the Acoustic ART System. For this composition of room and equipment, Ted installed 5 Bass Stations, 11 Satellites, and 1 Vibratron, for a total of 17 Acoustic ART pieces. After set-up and tuning, we had transformed this room into one of the best sounding “show” systems ever, with perhaps the largest soundstage we have ever recreated. Given the challenge we faced, this was quite an accomplishment.

For our demonstrations, we first queued a classical piece to acquaint the audience with the sound of the system and it’s ability to recreate a massive soundscape. We then de-constructed for the audience the Synergistic Research building blocks step-by-step to highlight how they contribute to the amazing sound we were getting. By playing a piece of music, then pausing and turning off the Active Shielding, we were able to demonstrate how it delivers holographic resolution without fatigue. Next, we removed the Acoustic ART System resonators from the walls (and from in front of the speakers), leaving the room acoustically untreated. The result: booming bass, and a confused and somewhat harsh sound, especially at higher frequencies. Likewise, low-level information was gone; micro dynamics and ambient detail, along with air and delicacy in the upper registers (so abundant with the Acoustic ART System in place), were also missing. We turned Active Shielding back on (but without the Acoustic ART System), and the sound immediately improved, taking on a more holographic and relaxed sound. Finally, we re-installed the Acoustic ART System resonators, and with Active Shielding powered up, the magic was back. Goose bumps & good sound; absolutely one of the very best systems we have ever had the pleasure to work with under trade show conditions.

Below you will find links and quotes from various forums and magazines covering the show.

“Keith, your report pretty well sums up my impressions also.
However, I didn’t see Magico Q5′s I did see the Magico Q3′s which were being demo’ed in the Synergistic room using the Esoteric gear as front end and an unknown Korean ss mono block as the amps. The cables were the Synergistic Gallileo’s with other Synergistic room treatments included.
Ted Denney did the honors and the sound was IMHO the best at the show. I even got to talk to Alon Wolf about his upcoming Q1′s.( he had sat in the demo while I was in attendance).”

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?3470-Show-Reports

“Magico Q3′s in the Synergistic Research room; on ground level; with the $40,000 Galileo speaker cell wires; sounded very good; but was amazed with the effect of the acoustic treatments; the little wooden sphere hanging above them in the center; and tiny base ‘cups’ and side wall cups; they played a track with these diffusers in place; then removed them; I didn’t believe the big difference in sonic improvement with them in; but it happened in front of me.”

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1307391005

“Synergistic Research cables and power cords, and the Synergistic Acoustic ART Room Treatment System ($3150). I noted “rock-solid” imaging and a crazy level of micro-detail. “If Dianna Krall had even the merest hint of a cold, you’d know it,” read my notes”

http://www.stereophile.com/content/scott-walker-audio151solos-audio151soniccraft151magico

“Around the room you’ll also notice the Synergistic Research Art devices inviting comment.
I noted a very strong center image, lots of body/weight, and a physical yet nimble presentation.”

http://www.stereophile.com/content/ayon-audio-usa

“All cables and room tuning were from Synergistic Research. Yes, another room using the ART acoustic treatments. Hmm.”

http://www.stereophile.com/content/home-theater-experience

“I’d never heard Lumenwhite loudspeakers until this show, and I was quite taken with the superb sound from the Artisan model ($35k per pair). Not only was the sound beautiful, but the cabinetry was stunning. The three-way, five-driver column features inverted-dome ceramic drivers and is reportedly time-and-phase-coherent. The Lumenwhite Artisan was driven by the Ayon Orthos 150W Class A triode monoblocks (280W in pentode), Ayon CD-5s tube CD player/preamp, Synergistic cables, PowerCell 10 SE Mk.II conditioner, and Synergistic Acoustic Art room treatments.”

http://www.avguide.com/blog/robert-harley-the-show-newport-beach-highlights

“Revisiting Norah Jones’ Come Away with Me revealed the system to have much improved resolution. This in turn yielded far more subtle nuance and tonal color that afforded me much higher cognitive recognition of the lyrics and much deeper emotional connection with the music. I was literally moved to tears“, Rick Becker, Enjoy The Music

Read the full review

New Breakthrough in AC Line Conditioning

The new PowerCell 4 is based on an evolution of our now patented  Electromagnetic Cell Technology. The PowerCell 4 is non current  limiting, is not fused or switched for maximum transparency, and sold  with a generic 14-gauge power cord that is Quantum Tunneled along with  the PowerCell 4 during the Quantum Tunneling process. Listening  impressions are based on either an Active TESLA SE T3 or TESLA SE Precision AC  powering the PowerCell 4. Sonically the PowerCell 4 is highly detailed  with a sweet treble and controlled low frequency presentation. Its sound  staging is more pinpoint to the PowerCell 10 SE MKII’s massive liquidity.  Where the PowerCell 10 SE MKII throws the larger and more liquid sound stage,  the PowerCell 4 is articulate and able to throw a large and highly  focused sound field. This difference is much like the difference between  a TESLA SE Precision AC power cord and a TESLA SE Hologram A or TESLA SE Hologram D power cord.

New Electromagnetic Cell Design

The PowerCell 4 is perfect for small systems, monoblock amps that are located far away from the source and preamps, or your source components. The PowerCell 4 also improves picture quality on any display, with darker black levels, better color saturation and a more 3 dimensional picture, simply amazing.  2 TeslaPlex SE receptacles provide 4 outlets in this fully differential designed PowerCell. Fully differential means that the hot, neutral, and ground all have their own separate power paths to and from the magnetic cell. What does this mean? Even better performance, blacker backgrounds, improved dynamics and a more holographic soundstage.  Pair with the TESLA SE T3 for outstanding performance.     

Enjoy The Music, Review

Three is Better than One

What may be the best part of the New TESLA SE power cables is the ability to change the voicing through the three different Active Shielding Module “Enigma Bullets”. Each of the three modules has a different sonic balance. The Black Circuit sounds warm and rich. The Silver Circuit sounds open and airy and the Grey Circuit is a hybrid of both the Black and Silver. Now you can fine tune  your system’s AC to perfectly match your components, and if you change components you can change the voicing as well.

“Enigma” Active Shielding Tuning Circuits

More information

The Galileo System began as an exploration for radical new technologies to improve cable performance. We first wanted to learn what would happen when we combined the Electromagnetic Cell technology (from our award winning TESLA PowerCells) with interconnects and speaker cables. To optimize performance of the Galileo System’s Electromagnetic Cells, we experimented with a myriad of conductor options. In our TESLA PowerCell, we utilize highly conductive copper with trace amounts of silver. For Galileo System cables, we wanted to challenge assumptions made in the PowerCell’s conductor medium by exploring the effect of precious metals on EM Cell performance. We began experimenting with pure silver, which opened up resolution, but unfortunately it did so in an artificial way by over emphasizing high frequencies at the expense of natural harmonic overtones in the mid-range. We later experimented with strategic layers of both copper and pure silver (as found in our Galileo Universal Cable Cells). This increased high frequency resolution while preserving a natural mid-range. We later experimented with pure gold, pure silver, and pure copper in the Galileo System’s EM Cells. This allowed us to push the envelope with silver, while preserving an amazing level of harmonic richness and texture. Finally, we hit on a strategic combination of pure copper, pure silver, pure gold, and pure platinum. This precious metal matrix, as we now call it, yielded the highest level of resolution we have yet been able to transfer, while preserving a natural balance of low, mid, and high frequencies in the largest, most holographic sound field we have ever created; something Synergistic Research cables are already known for.

Click Here for the full review

Unusually Effective New Tweaks For Hi-Fi Systems

Jonathan Valin

Reprinted from: The Absolute Sound, February 2006

Over the last few months, I’ve come across a number of new devices for room treatment and vibration/resonance control that really work in the ways that I like such things to work—which is to say, all of them lower coloration, increase transparency to sources, and raise resolution without killing dynamics.

The first item—or items—is an unconventional room treatment from Synergistic Research, called the ART (Acoustic Room Treatment) system. I will be reviewing these temple-bell-like objects in The Absolute Sound in the near future, but for the time being know that all four parts of this system (the large Vibratron, which sits on a tall tongue-depressor-shaped stand, the smaller Bass Station, Gravitrons, and Magnatrons, which sit on wooden stands in front of your speakers or on little wedges of wood attached to your walls) work together to improve room acoustics by masking early-arrival reflections and comb-filtering, thereby clarifying and seemingly expanding the soundfield. In combination with Shakti Hallographs, which have much the same effects, they can do wonders for reducing brightness in an overly live-sounding room or for controlling midbass resonances in a smaller one. A starter set of ART products (including a Vibratron for the front wall, a Bass Station for the front wall, a Gravitron for the back wall, and two Magnatrons for the sidewalls) will set you back $2995. Granted this is a lot of money (especially if you combine the ART with Hallographs, as I do), but it is a WHOLE lot cheaper than custom-building a dedicated listening room and—from my experience of “scientifically designed” dedicated listening rooms—a whole lot better sounding.

Additional Acoustic ART Reviews:

Dagogo (Jack Roberts) • Dagogo (Norm Luttbeg) • Secrets of Home Theater & Hi-Fi
Enjoy The Music • Stereophile • AudioJunkies

The New Active modules “Enigma Bullets” allow an end user to change the sonic balance of the TESLA PowerCell 10 SE MK II from rich and warm with the Black Active Module to open and airy with the Silver Active Module and a hybrid of both Black and Silver with the Grey Active Module. Overall the new TESLA PowerCell 10 SE MK II is a significant upgrade over the original and a more versatile line conditioner due to the new TESLA SE Precision SE power cord that allows the conditioner to match a wider range of systems by simply changing out the Active Modules “Enigma Bullets” from Black to Grey to Silver.

The Galileo PowerCell LE differs from the TESLA PowerCell 10 SE MK II in it’s use of pure gold in addition to sliver in it’s main EM Cell AND in its use of three additional EM Cells made from gold and silver for a total of 4 Active EM cells to the 10 SE Mk II’s use of only one Active EM Cell. The Galileo PowerCell LE embodies the cost no object performance of our $40,000 Galileo System Speaker Cables with only 20 chassis manufactured, we will only be able to build 20 units and half are already sold. Like the 10 SE Mk II, the Galileo LE comes standard with the new TESLA SE Precision AC power cord with user changeable Active “Enigma Bullets” Black, Grey, and Silver Modules. Both deliver world leading performance and have no competition in terms of what they deliver to a system.

The TESLA PowerCell10 SE Mk II’s performance is only bettered by the Galileo PowerCell LE and can directly compete with any line conditioner on the market from any manufacturer; it is a world class product. The Galileo PowerCell LE has no peer. Both of the new PowerCell’s are industry leading technologies and have no peer in terms of the performance enhancements they deliver when directly compared to any line conditioner on the market. Absent the Galileo LE, the new TESLA PowerCell 10 SE MK II would have no competition, the Galileo version merely raises the bar even higher and was developed as a companion piece to the Galileo System interconnects and speaker cables.

PowerCell 10 SE MK II specs:

• Contsruction: SAR Acrylic
• Dimensions: Height 5.625″ x Width 17.75″ x Depth 14″
• Weight: 19 lbs.
• Connector Input:  1 each Neutrik 32 amp PowerCon
• US Connectors Output: 10 each Synergistic Research TeslaPlex SE
• Euro Connectors Output: 10 each Synergistic Research TeslaPlex Schuko

Voltage and current Rating

• Input Rating: 32 amp/250v
• US Version: This rating is predicated upon the US Outlet rating of 20amp/125v
• Euro Version: This rating is predicated upon the Schuko Outlet rating of 16amp/250v

REVIEW LINK to STEREO TIMES

Our new Quantum-Tunneled G 07 wall plugs and IEC’s utilize a 100% Gold signal-path, from signal contact blades to termination blocks for signal and ground conductors. This allows the G 07 to really push the envelope, with Gold delivering a light transparent warmth and Quantum Tunneling providing detail in a massive and liquid soundscape. The G 07′s balance is liquid, highly detailed, and musical.

It recently received some kind words in The Absolute Sound’s power cord shoot-out: “Tonally… its strengths were evidenced in the way it imparted depth to orchestral sections, its retrieval of ambience, and its lively and extended bass response—bigger in fact than that of the Wireworld and Kimber. In many ways Basik veered very close to the survey reference…”

New products launched at RMAF for 2011:

PowerCell 4, TeslaPlex SE, G07 US and Schuko wall and IEC connectors (3), Galileo Element- Silver ultra performance interconnect, TESLA SE power cords (7), BIG MiG’s, Precision AC basik- a new high performance, high value power cord.

Stereophile’s John Atkinson comments on our room in his RMAF show report- “The room was completely bare, other than the tiny devices that you can see on the wall above and to the side of each speaker, with other “bass” devices in front of the speakers and on the wall behind the CD player… they (Acoustic ART System) seem to improve the accuracy and stability of stereo imaging and even tighten up the sounds of bass instruments… All I can say is that in this bare, untreated room—untreated in the conventional manner, that is—the sound of the Carmels was way better than when I first heard them at the 2010 CES. The balance was mellow and musically involving and it was almost as if the acoustics of the room were being sidestepped.”

The Audio Beat’s Marc Mickelson notes some of our new products launched at RMAF- “…I visited Synergistic Research and did all manner of comparative listening to Ted’s products. The sonic differences varied in intensity, but they were always apparent. More important, Ted’s ability to set up and fine-tune an audio system is considerable,… Ted introduced fifteen new products, including a trickle-down version of his wildly expensive Galileo speaker cables. The new Galileo Universal speaker cells ($2500/pair) are meant to be used with any brand of speaker cable (Ted was alternating between those that come with the Cells and Nordost Valhalla), bringing the sonic effect of Synergistic’s Galileo technology down to a sane price.”

The new Precision AC basik terminated in our new G07 wall and IEC connectors. Amazing performance and value.

On-line blogs discuss rooms using Synergistic Research technologies at this years RMAF with rave reviews for holographic sound and musical realism.

Martin Logan forum- “They threw a HUGE soundstage”

AudioCircle forum “… the PMC room powered by Bryston gear with a whole lot of Synergistic Research cabling. The Fact 8′s sure put out a lot of sound for a small footprint speaker”

What’s Best Forum- “The YG Acoustics Carmel was playing in 2 different rooms (Synergistic and Veloce) where they were sounding quite spectacular in my opinion. Gobbs of information, soundstaging that went well beyond the room boundaries (in the Synergistic room) and in you are their excitement/realism that is few and far between in my experience”

Charlie of Ayon USA- a great guy and a great company

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A word of thanks to our very special partners at this year’s Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. First Ayon Audio of Austria (distributed in the US by USA Tube Audio) manufacturer of innovative tubed electronics utilizing traditional, as well as the most advanced modern tubes available today. And US speaker company YG Acoustics, builder of some of the finest loudspeakers on the planet. Featuring double walled aluminum cabinet construction for the closest thing to zero image smearing resonance our lead designer Ted has ever heard. Crossover components include  Mundorf capacitors from Germany which aside from being ridiculously expensive, enable YG’s crossovers to deliver pure effortless sound. Together the combination of Ayon, YG Acoustics, and Synergistic Research created one of the most effortless sounds at the show from a pair of small two way speakers, a one box CD player, and a tubed integrated amplifier. Cables were Synergistic Research Active TESLA Apex speaker cables, Galileo Element- Silver interconnects and Galileo Universal Cable Cells. Power was supplied via our new PowerCell 4 line conditioner, Galileo MPC’s, and TESLA SE Active power cords. Acoustics were tuned using our Acoustic ART System resonators.

Our lead designer Ted Denney takes a break from the action

“Welcome to our tenth annual audiophile equipment awards! Our Best Of 2010 Blue Note Award marks a decade of celebrating the very best products we have reviewed during the previous year. Recipients have been carefully chosen after much debate and consideration. It is a very rare occurrence that we bestow such accolades towards a products. While there are many great pieces of equipment now available in the marketplace, the below list is compiled from products we reviewed within the past 12 months of what we found to merit extra special attention. During the past year, Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed many products, including those covered within our Viewpoint articles and our sister publication Superior Audio. Items from Superior Audio are awarded here, so they do indeed count as items to be recognized as earning special recognition.”

Click here to read the complete announcement, and click here to read the original review from Wayne Donnelly (scroll down about 3/4 of the way down to find the Acoustic ART).

“There is no way I am going back to using traditional bass traps, room traps, triangular pillows and sculptured foam, that ended up destroying too much of the music. The cost of my Acoustic ART system was half of what outfitting my room with conventional traps cost me, and yet the ART system produces a degree of quality that I was never able to obtain from the traps I used to have. There is also no way I plan to continue listening in an untreated room. I consider good room treatment an essential component in a serious music system. The Acoustic ART was one of the best purchases I’ve made in audio.”

Click here for the full review!

A skeptical Synergistic Research owner in Argentina recently brought to our attention the existence of a counterfeit pair of TESLA Accelerator Speaker Cable being sold in his country. The suspected dealer who is selling this cable is not an Authorized Synergistic Research Dealer. We are withholding the name of the suspected dealer pending our further investigation. We strongly recommend that you contact the manufacturer of ANY products from this market before considering making a purchase. We also have reason to believe that this cable may have originated in Florida.

Note that ALL Synergistic Research products with Active Shielding are assigned a factory installed Serial Number. If a cable you intend to purchase does not have a Serial Number, it may be a counterfeit. We encourage you to contact us directly if you are not 100% certain of the authenticity of a product you are considering purchasing.

See below for a few photos of the counterfeit TESLA Accelerator Speaker Cable in question. To our trained eye, this counterfeit cable is almost comical in the number of discrepancies between it and an authentic, hand-crafted pair of Synergistic Research TESLA Accelerator Speaker Cable, and Synergistic Research products in general:

Negative Signal Shrink Label
Synergistic Research speaker cables use black negative signal shrink labels. The counterfeit cable uses blue.

Spade Lugs
Synergistic Research speaker cables use a silver, notched spade lug. The counterfeit cable uses a gold spade lug with no notch.

Active Shielding
Authentic TESLA Accelerator Speaker Cables are ALWAYS built with Active Shielding. The counterfeit cable does not have Active Shielding.

Heatshrink
All Synergistic Research cables are built with heatshrink imported from Japan, and it is not marked in any way. This counterfeit appears to use an “off the shelf”, low quality brand of heatshrink that can be purchased at any discount electronics store.

Geometry
The apparent gauge of the counterfeit cable is noticeably different than the gauge of an actual TESLA Accelerator Speaker Cable.

Build Quality
The counterfeit cable would NEVER pass a Synergistic Research Quality Control check. The outer jacketing is loose and ill-fitting, and the heatshrink applications are very sloppy.

Mid-range bloom is enhanced, with a more convincing sense of presence. Soundstaging (already a strong point of the Synergistic Research TESLA cable line) is dramatically improved. Cables from other manufacturers with presentations that may not be as holographic as our TESLA cables take on new levels of soundstage realism. In short, Galileo Universal Cable Cells represent a paradigm shift in their ability to transform your system.

With Galileo Universal Cable Cells, it’s as if your entire music library has been remastered.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Galileo lies in it’s ability to transform your recordings (even harsh dimensionless recordings) to near audiophile status. With Galileo, you’ll enjoy your music collection as never before; especially with recordings from artists you love that fail to live up to the performance. It’s as if Galileo Universal Cable Cells remaster your entire music collection!

Galileo Universal Speaker Cell’s can connect full range, bi-wire and tri-wire speakers

Galileo Universal Cable Cells work by filtering RFI and EMI noise, which may be leaking from your components, or penetrating the various cables in your system. With Galileo, even modest systems take on new levels of refinement usually reserved for the highest level of electronics and cables, while state-of-the-art systems set new standards for music playback, allowing you to hear for the first time their full potential. In fact, no matter how good you may think your current system is, within 30 seconds of hooking up a fully broken in pair of Galileo Speaker Cells, your system will be dramatically transformed; we guarantee it our your money back!

Galileo Speaker Cell running in a bi-wire configuration

Nordost Valhalla

Galileo Universal Interconnect Cells are available in RCA and XLR configurations- learn more

Galileo Universal Speaker Cells connect full range, bi-wire, and tri-wirespeakers- learn more

The TESLA PowerCell 10 SE is The Absolute Sound 2009 AC Power Conditioner of The Year!

“It’s easy to cast a skeptical eye on power conditioners, but you may become a true believer when you hear the net system-wide improvements wrought by the Synergistic PowerCell 10 SE. The treble becomes more silken and musical lines more continuous, while space and dimensionality are vastly better defined. Imaging and dynamics are rendered with greater conviction, to boot. Unlike many of its brethern, the PowerCell does not appear to limit current- there are no transformers or chokes. Rather, it offers blackers backgrounds while removing any traces of grit and distortion.”

Other benefits include sweeter highs with extended air, a more layered and relaxed mid-range, and deeper tighter bass. MiG’s are especially beneficial when improving the performance of digital components such as transports, D to A converters, and CD players, and are a must audition for anyone seeking organic natural sound.

MiG’s are versatile and can be placed in different ways to fine tune your system’s performance:

When two MiG’s are placed “round side up” and one MiG is placed “round side down” under a component, as illustrated in the above diagram, you hear a more ambient soundscape that is especially pleasing when room acoustics are somewhat “live” or undamped. You may also prefer this combination if you like a slightly more liquid presentation, or if you often listen to large orchestral works.

When two MiG’s are placed “round side down” and one MiG is placed “round side up” under a component, as illustrated in this diagram, you hear an immediate pin-point presentation of images. This combination is especially pleasing in rooms that are very damped, or for people who prefer intimate recordings, such as small scale Jazz.

Follow These Guidelines When Placing MiG’s in Your System:

When placing MiG’s in a digital system (CD player or two-box digital front end) follow these guidelines: First place three MiG’s under your TRANSPORT or CD PLAYER in the Pin-Point Configuration. Next listen in the Ambient Configuration. You should immediately notice a preference. If your system has a multi-box digital front end (D to A converter and transport), place a second set of MiG’s under your D to A converter in the same configuration you chose for your transport. Now place a set of MiG’s under your pre-amplifier, first in the combination you preferred under your digital component(s). If this does not immediately improve your system, try the opposite placement configuration. Lastly, place MiG’s under your amplifier(s) in the Pin-Point Configuration. Now call your spouse into the room- enjoy!

When placing MiG’s in an analogue system follow these guidelines: First place MiG’s in the Pin-Point Configuration under your phono pre-amplifier, or pre-amplifier if you have an integrated phono/line level pre-amplifier. Next, reverse placement to the Ambient position. You should experience an immediate preference. Next, if your turntable has a separate power supply (one that is not connected to your turntable) place a set MiG’s in the configuration you preferred under your phono-pre / integrated pre-amplifier. Now place a set of MiG’s under your line level pre-amplifier again in your preferred placement configuration. If you do not hear the same level of improvement you have experienced thus far, try the reverse placement option. Lastly, place MiG’s under your power amplifier(s) in the Pin-Point Configuration. Now call your spouse into the room- enjoy!

Electric field and electrons rendered as particles

What do I mean when I say “signal”? To some, signal is no more then what can be seen and measured on an oscilloscope or other test instrument. At Synergistic Research, we pay close attention to what can be measured, knowing that if a problem is detected it must then be corrected, or distortion may occur in your system. But what we can measure and what we hear with our ears are light years apart. To me, such measurements (while useful), are little more then a starting point, much like using an expensive backyard telescope can only serve as a starting point where discovering the mysteries of the universe are concerned. Sure, you can see moons orbiting planets in our solar system, and you can even see distant constellations and celestial bodies, but you can’t see planets orbiting distant stars, and you certainly cannot see moons orbiting those planets with your backyard telescope. The problem is simple: such observations lack resolution and suffer from distortion. The next logical step is to place telescopes outside of Earth’s atmosphere, as with the Hubble Space Telescope. Now we are able to see phenomenon in space that would be impossible to detect on Earth, and yet, we are still seeing only a small fraction of what is in space. For example, we know (actually most assumed as we had never seen orbiting planets around distant stars until the invention of Hubble) that stars have orbiting planets, and that many of these planets have orbiting moons. The point is, at any given time in history, we know far more then we can prove through the then current state of science. If you doubt me, try reading an old scientific journal or encyclopedia; you’ll find science to be evolutionary, and certainly not fixed.

Oscilloscope rendering of signal; a gross simplification of what actually constitutes “signal”

So how does all this relate to signal? Simple: when you look at signal through an oscilloscope, you are discovering no more of its true nature than can be learned about the true nature of the universe using a backyard telescope. Of course, more advanced measurements exist, but they are no more advanced when unraveling the true nature of signal than can be learned of the true nature of the universe from the Hubble Space Telescope. Trust me, we have far more to learn. How do I think of signal? Again, imagine you are in your backyard looking into space through a powerful telescope. Are you going to see distant galaxies? perhaps under the right conditions and with a telescope of sufficient resolution. But are you going to see planets orbiting around the stars that make up your galaxy? Are you going to see planets orbiting each star? Will you be able to see solar (star) systems that make up your galaxy, as you do when you turn your telescope on our own solar system? The answer is no, no you will not. Would it then be reasonable to assume only our sun has orbiting planets, and that these planets for the most part are the only planets in the universe that have orbiting satellites or moons simply due to the limitations of our test instrument (in this case a back yard telescope)? Perhaps if you are not very smart. Is it likewise correct to assume that all there is to know about signal can be represented and explained through known objective measurements when our experience tells us we can hear so much more? Again the answer is “only if you are not very smart.”

The Geocentric Universe: when science fails to think outside the box, progress is slow in coming

When I think of signal, I first think of what I see on an oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer. I look for known problems and design technologies to reduce measurable distortion. But then I go deeper, as if I had a Hubble Space Telescope. I think of what it is that makes up signal- electrons. Electrons too small to see individually on an oscilloscope, only their combined motion can be represented; just as distant galaxies look solid when viewed through a backyard telescope. And just as distant galaxies are made up of billions of stars with trillions of planets and trillions upon trillions of moons orbiting these planets all having an effect on each other, so too is “signal” made up of trillions of subatomic particles (electrons) traveling through billions of molecules, made up of trillions of atoms, all of which influence the collective state or behavior of the electrons that make up signal. It is the combined effect of perhaps an infinite number of variables at the atomic and sub-atomic level that determine the quality and nature of what we as humans ultimately perceive as music from our audio systems.

So when I think of signal, I think of the electrons that make up signal in a state of constant flux, influenced by a chaotic sub-atomic world. Think stray electromagnetic fields, as when an interconnect passes over a power cord, or when a circuit passes electrons along a circuit trace too close to a transformer, or when speaker cables are laid on a floor, or when electrons pass through different elements; conductors like copper, tin, silver, gold. All this and more affect the electrons that make up signal, and this in turn has an effect on the final sound our stereo’s produce. It is the combined influence of literally thousands, perhaps an infinite number of variables (few of which are partially, let alone fully, understood) that color and form the final “sound” we hear. As a cable designer, it is my job to isolate and control as many of these variables as I can, to get closer to the essence of music. Over the years, I have learned to combine different conductor and dielectric materials for more natural sound. I later discovered the effect DC has when placed in close proximity to signal or when used to supercharge the shield of a cable. This technology evolved though four generations of Active Shielding, until I envisioned the Electromagnetic Cell (which utilizes differential electromagnetic fields) as a means to calm and stabilize electrons. I know how effective my technology is, not only from what can be measured, but from our combined senses when used to subjectively analyze the final outcome. Unlike conventional filter methods that result in objective and subjective compression of information, my EM Cell (as found in the TESLA PowerCell, and now Galileo cable cells) suppresses distortion as it conveys a greater sense of emotion & space (soundstage), and a more three dimensional and vibrant portrayal of video and audio information. This seems to suggest that the EM Cell is having a quantum effect on the very building blocks of signal- electrons, as the final result is only partially explained through known measurements.

When we set out to develop the Galileo Series, I first envisioned a no-holds-barred research program; one that would not be hindered by conventional or practical constraints, not only from a research and manufacturing standpoint, but from an intellectual stand point as well. Basically, I set out to discover knowledge that could lead to new ways of building cables combined with EM Cells. I wanted to shatter conventional wisdom regarding what is possible from recorded music playback. I wanted to build the world’s undisputed heavy weight cable champion, as a culmination of my life’s work at Synergistic Research, and as a statement of what can still be developed and manufactured right here in the United States of America, at a time when American engineering and manufacturing are held in doubt. The focus of the Galileo Research Program was two fold. First, we set out to develop the world’s best sounding audio cables, and to do so by a margin that is indisputable. At the same time, we focused on ways to engineer a cable system that would defy obsolescence by building a cable whose sonic balance can be changed when components in a system are changed through the use of different conductor materials, or when connections go from XLR to RCA, or from full range speakers to bi-wire (and even tri-wire); all from one set of cables. In short, we set out to build a cable system the likes of which has never been conceived, let alone achieved.

Galileo System Speaker Cable Elevators and Strings

Our friends at Esoteric and YG Acoustics completed the set-up, with ne plus ultra results.

Steven Stone of The Absolute Sound awarded Synergistic Research with a “Best Sound at Show”: http://www.avguide.com/blog/steven-stones-best-2010-ces, and Jonathan Valin was blown away by the performance of YG Acoustics speakers in our room.

Jonathan Valin of The Absolute Sound in his own words: http://www.avguide.com/blog/well-ill-be-damned-yg-acoustics-does-180

“This year, timbres were beautiful, and definition, dynamics, and sheer presence downright impressive, with wonderful control, detail, and extension in the bass (and everywhere else, actually). The Anats reproduced Marc Cohn’s “Ghost Train”–a cut I’m very familiar with–with superior resolution of individual lines. And to be honest, this wasn’t even the best YG exhibit at CES.”

“That honor would belong to Ted Denney of Synergistic Research, who was showing the smaller versions of the Anats–the Anat Reference II Studio (seen above in black immediately to the left of the taller silver Anat Reference II Pros)–in a much smaller and somewhat more gemutlich room with his own remarkable new gold/silver/platinum Galileo cable/interconnect system, and Acoustic ART room treatments.”

“I am sure that the sound was ravishing and as finely detailed as anything I heard at this year’s show. I was particularly impressed by the way the system reproduced Cut 7 of The International–a vertitable torture test of multiple tones and textures and X-tra-large- and small-scale dynamics, Ted’s various tweaks and the Anats themselves brought out tiny little details of attack, timbre, and decay that simply weren’t as fully audible on most (not all) other systems.”

Paul Bolin of AudioBeat was also impressed: http://www.theaudiobeat.com/ces2010/ces2010_splendor.htm

“The Synergistic Research room fascinated on several levels. The front-end consisted of Esoteric’s P-03 transport ($16,500), D-03 digital-to-analog converter ($16,500), G-0Rb rubidium (atomic) master clock ($18,500), C-03 line stage ($12,000) and A-03 stereo amplifier ($14,000). As at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, everything was hooked up with Synergistic’s bogglingly costly, actively shielded Galileo interconnects ($25,000/pair) and speaker cables ($40,000/pair), and the room was sprinkled with Acoustic Arts resonator room treatments. YG Acoustics Anat Reference II Studio loudspeakers ($70,000/pair) completed what Synergistic’s Ted Denney stated was “basically my home system. YG Acoustics speakers did nothing for me at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, but here there was a sweetly refined delicacy, tremendous focus, and spacious and seductive bloom and expansiveness. Simply put, this was a marvelous-sounding system that spoke very well not only for the YG speakers but for everything in front of them.”

New MiG harmonic footers shown with retail packaging

But our Galileo system wasn’t the only new product producing grins this year. The new MiG tuning devices managed to steal a bit of thunder for themselves. The A/B demo of a complete MiG set dropped many jaws, including our own! These easy to use (and definitely affordable) tuning devices are waiting to transform your CD Player and Digital Stack; shipping now! Contact your Synergistic Research dealer today for details.

Superior sound at CES 2010 could also be found in the rooms of other well-established exhibitors, using complete TESLA Series cable installations.

Rogue Audio’s room featured TESLA cables and power cords, as well as TESLA PowerCell 10 SE line conditioning

Rogue Audio produced an impressive demo, with Au-79 Interconnects, TESLA Quad Speaker Wire, T2 & Hologram A Power Cords, and pure limitless power from TESLA PowerCell 10 SE line conditioners. Positive Feedback Online was also impressed, noting in their show report that the system was, “(the) best we have ever heard these Wilsons sound!”: http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue47/ces101.htm

Ayon Audio won a “Best of Show” with TESLA Active cables, power cords, TESLA PowerCell 10 SE line conditioning, and Acoustic ART room treatments

Ayon Audio, with a system personally tuned by our Lead Designer, Ted Denney III, also installed a complete TESLA Series cable system for their main demo. Top-of-the-line TESLA Series cables were used in this room, with Apex Interconnects & Speaker Wire, Precision Reference Interconnects, Hologram A & Hologram D Power Cords, TESLA PowerCell 10 SE for pure limitless power, and room acoustics optimized with our Acoustic ART system. Congratulations to Ayon Audio who received “Best of Show” from Consumer Electronics Daily News: http://www.ayonaudiousa.com/us/news/news-overview/2010.html

If you are auditioning a competing brand from a non-Synergistic Research dealer, the Synergistic Research Challenge allows you to conduct a side-by-side comparison, so you can make an informed decision regarding your system’s performance. You many even audition Synergistic Research products at half the price of competing brands; we are that confident in the performance of our technologies, and we are calling the entire cable industry out!

Until you hear these amazing new products, you have no idea of how good your system can sound or how far your budget can take you. After that, it’s your decision, with no risk, should you decide on a competing brand.

Click here to complete your Synergistic Research Challenge application on-line.

The Synergistic Research Challenge is good only within the United States of America.

New Galileo Universal Speaker Cell connected to a bi-wire speaker

The new MiG harmonically tuned footers may just be the most amazing (and cost effective) accessory you’ll ever own. Audition a set under your digital components today.