2. tech-talk
  3. 130275-16074

A New Ground -- Benefits of introducing the Synergistic Research Active Ground Block SE

Dedicated ground solutions are not a novel idea but over the past year it seems everyone has been coming out with their version. For a few months I’ve been thinking about introducing one to my system and had considered Entreq, Telos, Nordost and others. Although I have a bunch of Synergistic Research (SR) kit I had dismissed their older basic ground block as too rinky dink -- however when I heard about the new Active Ground Blocks I thought that could be the way to go. The Active Ground blocks are smallish devices with a mains connection and a plethora of outlets for grounding cables to every component. They incorporate a range of the latest SR UEF tweaks
http://www.synergisticresearch.com/isolation/ground-isolation/active-ground-block-se/

While the blocks alone are quite expensive ($2995) you will also need to lay out for connections to all of your components -- ideally the HD links. In my case as I have two distinct zones in my system I needed two ground blocks and 13 links -- quite an outlay

Question is is it worthwhile? Most certainly yes. The impact of implementing a full grounding solution in my system was one of the most profound changes I’ve experienced. It’s not a change that can be described in the usual audiophile terms of dynamics, frequency response, transparency etc. Instead it’s a shift in the wholeness, the verisimilitude, the gestalt of what you are hearing. Probably this is most obvious in a couple of places. Firstly is in background washes of sound (e.g. classic synth backings, or massed strings, or the whoosh that opens "Private Investigations") -- which now take on a scale, texture and clarity that had previously been completely masked. Secondly in vocals where a whole level of shading, nuance, breathwork, and subtly inflections are now audible. This is not simply more "detail" or a "reduction in the noise floor" it’s as if things which you did not know previously existed are suddenly there, as they had been all along

The effect is enhanced the more things you ground -- obviously all active components but even stands (my GPA stands are conductive so I connect a basic ground link to the bare metal inside the stand posts -- the surface metal is varnished and non conductive).

While I obviously can recommend the SR products I imagine any ground solution will bring similar benefits and would strongly suggest that anyone with a high resolution system explore some form of ground solution

ps For those in the now the music to accompany this review is A New Ground

128x128folkfreak
ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,492 posts
 
I have the original SR grounding blocks. I made my own links using solid hi-grade 9999 silver wire. The SR’s HD links are way too expensive for a thin piece of wire. From the wall plug to the grounding block I am using a 12 gauge unshielded 9999 solid wire.
Also, you can buy banana adapters to convert a regular size banana (4mm) to 2mm to fit into the SR grounding blocks. With the standard size banana’s you get a much more secure connection.

ozzy
Post removed 
ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,492 posts
 
Jim,

Ok, I disconnected the ground wire from the wall outlet and the music seemed to shift more to the center. Plugging it back into the wall provides a more spacious soundstage.

ozzy
Post removed 
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak OP
1,349 posts
 
The active ground block has active components inside as well as a ground connection.

By the way the general rule with active SR components is to never disconnect them if at all possible. Once disconnected and reconnected the fields in the cables to which they are connected take 48-72 hours to fully reform. The same is true for AQ DBS as well. So be very careful if you are making these quick comparisons.

Disconnecting a ground lead at the component end is much less deleterious and a better way of doing a quick check on the impact of this tweak
More to discover