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Synergestic Research: SCAM

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. I'll post it when I have a chance.

madavid0
tablejockey
3,806 posts
 
Wow!
 You don't  even need to read past the OP's  opening statements to see what coming.

I focused listening to three instruments in SRV's tune.Tone/dynamics  of the guitar, the crack of the drumstick against the snare rim and bass. Umm... nothing. Maybe the vocals were noticeable, but the song is cut before SRV starts singing.

If there is any change in presentation, I still should be able to hear it the Ipad speaker. Whetever difference there is, very subtle.
I put my on my guitar player ears for the comparison.

Heard no difference in the depth of reverb or decay in the crack of the drumstick, guitar and bass sound the same. 

I then played my own period  LP copy on my table. Thanks to the Ipad, my under 20k retail system sounds superior to that obvious nice/pricey rig. My system does have ridiculous cabling and PS Audio regen. 

Let the OP hear what he hears and report his findings and everyone else can buy SR products.



jandewitt
25 posts
 
@ nkonor
Sure, the sound was sweet, complete, balanced, detailed, dynamic engaging.
The highs were all there and never harsh.
The lows were all there without booming around in the small demo room.
It was not the 'small, pinpointed' stereo imaging as the audiophiles of old liked, but all was big and wide enough.
The overall result was that you could listen to the music because the equipment was not interfering with the sound.
I hope that made some sense. I am not a reviewer.
Reminder:
I did not say this was because of SR.
Nor did I say this would not be possible without SR stuff.
My main point is that one of THE BEST sounding rooms on the show (in my humble opinion that is, of course) was treated extensively with SR products (and this is a BIG show!).
So this was either just for commercial reasons or the creators of this wonderful sound really thought SR had something to offer them.
Fun fact: They were NOT selling SR products.

With regards
nkonor
635 posts
 
jandewitt,

What was the equipment? Electronics and Speakers? I am sure cabling was appropriate.
Tube or solid state? TT or digital. Small room ; near field listening? Imaging can be wide and tall; Depth of soundstage and images in the stage? 

Thanks for taking time to respond. 
Always interested when someone finds gear and room especially at a Show that they find exceptional.

Regards
whitestix
701 posts
 
Geoff, regardless of the SR tweaks I have auditioned and returned, I have never lost my senses to the degree that would motivate me to try a single one of your idiotic tweaks.  Your stuff takes the cake for getting audio-fools to part with their cash for no good reason, except their penchant for self-deception.  Folks, use your good sense.  Still, I will applaud SR for their money-back return policy and if you hear the difference, then spend away.  But remember that there are lots of folks preying on your audio-anxiety who are keen to take your money for tweaks of a "snake oil" nature.  Cheers.
fleschler
1,935 posts
 
Despite the video lack of quality, I clearly heard the differences in the Tranquility base on and then off.  So much better with it on.  I didn't have time to hear the rest.  As for Class D amps, I've heard several recently that were excellent, musical and powerful, selling for $3K to $8K (I think Prana Audio comes to mind).  I prefer my big, monoblock tube amps but Class D can be made to sound musically interesting and involving.  I try not to listen to amps under $1K so the author's cheap (and supposedly terrible sounding) Class D amps haven't  been auditioned by me.
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