Synergistic Research: SCAM

[GUTB]

Well, I just sat down to a demo of several Synergistic Research products including the Black Box room bass resonators, their new line conditioner, their active Tranquility Base, little treble resonators and the Atmosphere room acoustics tuner.

 

Total scam. Never once did they just play a track while moving things around. It was always a few seconds of a track followed by a 30 seconds of so of moving stuff, etc, then another maybe 30 seconds of sound. They'd start a track and then stop it right as some instruments came in, do the change, and then continue playing where it left off. The guy doing the demo was asked twice if he could do a live a/b and he'd give an excuse about how it takes a little time for system to charge or some bs like that and the transition process would mask the differences. Absolute con BS they are DEAD to me.

 

Also? I could hear JACK SQUAT changes in the demo. A few people around me would comment on the changes but I could hear nothing -- at least as best I could manage with the small clips and pauses in between changes. I really tried, but I could hear nothing.

 

Here, I took a video of a part of the demo. Dann too big I will compress it.

[esldude]

Yes.  Several of us could have told you that. You experienced it for yourself. Yet SR like some other brands of dubious gear have hardcore defenders.

[Fitzcaraldo215]

1 hour ago, esldude said:

Yes.  Several of us could have told you that. You experienced it for yourself. Yet SR like some other brands of dubious gear have hardcore defenders.

Interesting, and typically, a touchy topic.  I have heard a demo in his home by a reviewer guy, a classical musician, who sincerely believed he was hearing a major difference.  His wife, an interested participant, but probably not a true audiophile, had enthusiastically agreed with him, until... 

 

A friend and I went there on a Sunday, and we listened to the whole array of Synergistic devices, one at a time.  Yes, there was some changeover time between with and without, and this was not blind or double blind.  But, each time with each device I had no doubt I was hearing effectively ZERO difference whatsoever, and I said so to the consternation of our host.  It took zero time in reflection and analysis to reach these conclusions, based on what I was honestly hearing.  

 

Meanwhile, even his wife switched sides and no longer heard a difference, no doubt because she was influenced by my, ahem, calmly but confidently voiced opinion, whereas she had previously been influenced by her husband's blind enthusiasm.   Well, I have no interest in creating marital problems for anyone.  

 

So, if there were some sort of award I could give to Ted Denney III and his Synergistic company, I would.  We have had many rip off artists and charlatans in audio.  But, you may take the cake just on the basis of the sheer quantity of scams you promote, sleazily by invoking "science", but which is unproven to be operative in any of your "inventions".

 

I will not even get into the utterly crazy things people believe in politics, for example, but it boggles the mind what BS many audiophiles believe "with their own ears" and spend thousands of dollars on.

 

 

 

 

[mrvco]

Just nod your head up and down and say "I'm so very happy that you're happy", congratulate them on their 'golden ear', keep your wallet in your pocket and keep moving 

[mansr]

6 hours ago, GUTB said:

Also? I could hear JACK SQUAT changes in the demo. A few people around me would comment on the changes but I could hear nothing -- at least as best I could manage with the small clips and pauses in between changes. I really tried, but I could hear nothing.

You're just jealous because you can't afford it.

[Jud]

Perhaps the quanta weren't tunneling....

[plissken]

9 hours ago, GUTB said:

 

 

Also? I could hear JACK SQUAT changes in the demo. A few people around me would comment on the changes but I could hear nothing -- at least as best I could manage with the small clips and pauses in between changes. I really tried, but I could hear nothing.

 

Not everybody has golden ears. Remember it's either your ears or your gear(s) not being good enough. And as I've been admonished: It'll at least save me $$. 

[GUTB]

I'll get around to uploading the video, I promise...it's just too big to deal with at the hotel.

 

If anything I wanted to be impressed. I would have bought something right then and there if it worked. In fact I had 7k ready to drop on the first thing (show special, marketplace deal, etc) that excited me. And I left that room with a desire to spread the news about the scam artists.

 

Meanwhile I never heard of Skogrand Cables, and thier products don't look like anything special...but they had one of the few stand-out rooms at the show.

 

 

[Speedskater]

Just this morning a magazine technical writer & blogger posted about AXPONA 2017:

 

I always visit Synergistic Research suite not for their tweaks which I consider ineffective, but for the great sound system and music they usually have.

[GUTB]

5 minutes ago, Speedskater said:

Just this morning a magazine technical writer & blogger posted about AXPONA 2017:

 

I always visit Synergistic Research suite not for their tweaks which I consider ineffective, but for the great sound system and music they usually have.

 

Lol. True their system was indeed very nice. Reaolving, dynamics, inner detail, musical, and holographic soundstage.

[GUTB]

Okay guys, here it is -- video showing the first half of the Synergistic Research demo at AXPONA 2017.

 

test.mp4

[GUTB]

Streaming version:

 

[stuck limo]

Tom Cruise is a big fan of theirs. He recommended Jimmy Fallon go visit them. 

[rwwjr44]

I don't know much about their tweaks BUT they made some effective cables and PCs. I say made because I haven't heard any of the new ones.

[crenca]

On 4/23/2017 at 6:09 AM, GUTB said:

 

Lol. True their system was indeed very nice. Reaolving, dynamics, inner detail, musical, and holographic soundstage.

 

I spent some time in the SR room at RMAF this past year.  He was playing Eva Cassidy through a VAC/Magico system (not sure what the digital front end was) and my gosh, I had never heard her like that (or since) - absolutely to die for.  The presenter (who I believe was the principle) kept moving his thimbles full of "nano technology" around the room asking me and the two other guys in the room if we could hear the difference.  I just smiled (I did not want to lie) because I just wanted to hear Eva resurrected.

 

The Nordost cable power cable demonstration was also a howler...

[Jud]

44 minutes ago, crenca said:

 

I spent some time in the SR room at RMAF this past year.  He was playing Eva Cassidy through a VAC/Magico system (not sure what the digital front end was) and my gosh, I had never heard her like that (or since) - absolutely to die for.  The presenter (who I believe was the principle) kept moving his thimbles full of "nano technology" around the room asking me and the two other guys in the room if we could hear the difference.  I just smiled (I did not want to lie) because I just wanted to hear Eva resurrected.

 

The Nordost cable power cable demonstration was also a howler...

 

Interesting, though: Yes, I too take pretty much everything they say with an eyeroll, but isn't it funny how they know how to get sound that people react to favorably?

[stuck limo]

My guess is that the truth lies somewhere in the middle with them: They probably can/do make amazing sounding gear, but the experience they sell is cloaked/enhanced with snake oil/placebo. 

[GUTB]

Their system really was amazing. They played one track with a flute (or the heavier version I forget the name of), and the breathiness of the instrument was so palpable and real.

 

I didn't go see Nordost. What were they up to?

[The Computer Audiophile]

There's a great story about the black box that I was told from a guy in the industry. He asked how large the room could be for the black box to work. He was told that the room size didn't matter. To which he replied, then I'll take one and place it outside and the whole world will be covered :~)

[DrT]

Sorry for coming late to this party but only recently have been introduced to Synergistic Research's products. Several years ago, we bought their Atmosphere Level 4 speaker cables from Scott Walker Audio and like them very much. So... when at the Florida Audio Show 2022, we saw they had a room and we stopped in. We were on the verge of buying yet another amp (Takatsuki 300B) & speakers (Blumenhofer horns) from another show participant when Josh Gates (Scott's partner/assistant) instead suggested holding off and trying instead to maximize our current system (custom Art Audio PX25/Art Audio pre/Antipodes K30 streamer/Wavelength Pelham DAC/Avantgarde Duo Grossos) with their power cell, power bases, grounding block, cables, etc; which they would personally set up after flying in to our Ohio home, and... money back guarantee - no-risk (!!). If we were not satisfied they would refund our money and ship their products back to California So... we spent around $40,000 with Scott Walker at Tampa and for the next 3 weeks many boxes arrived at our home.

     The following month, immediately after AXPONA 2022, Josh & Scott flew in from Chicago and for the next three days my wife & I listened, compared, and critiqued as they installed various Synergistic Research products. The end result, after three full days, is staggering. The sound, the sound stage, the audio experience; incredible. After fifty years in this hobby we are finally 100% satisfied with our system. In the past, there was always something missing, something not quite right; so we'd buy yet another amp/preamp/speakers/etc etc. and six months later repeat. No more. Our system now equals the best we've ever heard; it is simply... right. Our humble $100,000 system (+ their adds) rivals systems ten times more expensive that we've listened to at shows.

     Now the price... the additional items (above our initial $40k at Tampa) totalled $105,000. VERY expensive. However, we negotiated and Scott had no problem reducing the $105k to $65k. Still pricey but... for the first time in 50 years we are totally satisfied with our audio system; the sound is fabulous. FABULOUS. We've spent approximately $1 million over the past five decades, since our first system in 1971 when fresh back from Vietnam; everything from $98k Magico speakers to $28k Audio Note amps to McIntosh to Apogees to David Berning OTLs to... on & on - and now for the first time ever we are in love with our system. Fully & totally satisfied. It is beautiful.

     My wife & I could have never done this ourselves. The total we spent with Scott was $105,000 (both at Tampa & their visit) for their power cell, power grounding block, power bases, an Artesania rack, Galileo power cables, Galileo speaker cables, SX interconnects, HFT room treatments, & two-sphere Vibratron. Still a lot of money (our system now totals $200k) but for us, worth every dime (what price do you put on your relaxation; your pleasure?). We've accepted that top level audio is not an inexpensive endeavor, that we value our audio experience enough to spend the money, and to those that deny the results of Synergic Research's products I suspect something is wrong; with either their system, their hearing, or to their resistance to the cost. Don't know the man, am not in the fan club, but without question Synergistic Research's Ted Denney is a genius; and Scott Walker & Josh Gates are top shelf representatives. 

[DrT]

I apologize; obviously not a shill; Josh's last name is Doyle (not Gates). 

[DrT]

I apologize; obviously not a shill; Josh's last name is Doyle (not Gates). 

[Archimago]

Sure dude...

 

Nothing wrong with spending money if it makes you happy. Great that you're supporting a dealer and sounds like you got good service.

 

Just don't tell me Ted Denney is a "genius". IMO, there's barely any claim in audiophilia further from the truth. And I've met the guy.

 

BTW, I see you're brand new here and these constitute your 3 posts. Curious.

[DrT]

My opinion of Ted Denney is solely based upon his thinking out of the box and inventing products that others have never thought of. His products work in the real world, but unfortunately are difficult to appreciate via Youtube videos and scientific explanation. Some of the effects are subtle, some obvious, but all add up to a positive improvement. I was a total skeptic, scoffed at the explanations, thought this was all voodoo & bs until hearing with my (& my wife's) ears. I have a very critical ear, my wife's even more so, and we've walked away from many audio products that did nothing more than placebo. I don't know how his stuff works - but it does; and I don't know of anyone besides Mr Denney who have done what he has. That is why I consider him a genius. You may not like him, I have never spoken with him and frankly don't care about his personality or likeability, but what we hear in our system, products invented & developed from his fertile mind, is beyond denial - and damn impressive.

[botrytis]

30 minutes ago, DrT said:

My opinion of Ted Denney is solely based upon his thinking out of the box and inventing products that others have never thought of. His products work in the real world, but unfortunately are difficult to appreciate via Youtube videos and scientific explanation. Some of the effects are subtle, some obvious, but all add up to a positive improvement. I was a total skeptic, scoffed at the explanations, thought this was all voodoo & bs until hearing with my (& my wife's) ears. I have a very critical ear, my wife's even more so, and we've walked away from many audio products that did nothing more than placebo. I don't know how his stuff works - but it does; and I don't know of anyone besides Mr Denney who have done what he has. That is why I consider him a genius. You may not like him, I have never spoken with him and frankly don't care about his personality or likeability, but what we hear in our system, products invented & developed from his fertile mind, is beyond denial - and damn impressive.

His presentation is classic Snake oil salesman tactics. Sorry, just more BS sold to audiophiles based on fairy dust and magic, no science at all.