I was lucky enough to be asked to try out a prototype of a new Synergistic Research product. For now, I think they are calling it a Tuning disc.
What it looks like is a small wafer (smaller than a dime and is very thin). They are either in gold or purple tops and are attached using some tacking substance. I placed 2 on top of my Shunyata Sigma V2 interconnects.
I wasn’t expecting much but whoa, did these things work! First, I tried the purple on my interconnects and boy did the soundstage widen with lots of air.
Then I tried the gold discs and though the sound stage shrunk perhaps a little but the naturalness of the music was fantastic!
Hard to believe that these things work so well, I am really impressed.
@ozzywhen using the Carbon Tuning Discs on your speaker cables, try them at the end of the speaker cable just before the Y going to your speakers. Interesting and different from what works best with Interconnects.
rocray, sorry, I thought I answered that question. Only one dot per interconnect, so 2 of them for a pair of interconnects. I have them placed at the source end. And in my case since I am running direct from Lumin X1 to my mono amps that is all I need.
At the speaker end, I have one per speaker cable so 2 more. So, a total of 4.
If you have more interconnects you can experience, I guess, by adding additional dots to each of them at the output point.
When I asked Andrew at Synergistic Research about the price, he said they should sell for under $200 for 4 discs. But I guess he could be mistaken. They look to be really inexpensive, but I'm not aware of what went into it to create them.
I surely hope so. Alfred Kainz from High End Electronics did not have any answer to this question, and did not know when they would be available for sale. Perhaps @ted_denneycan clarify? Also Ted, when is the new Atmosphere SX Reference USB going to be released?
Not saying I disagree and one can draw other conclusions from the content of this discussion…..I think Ozzie honestly was reporting his findings. I know manufacturers have sent advance product to members hoping for this type result. Creating a buzz.
If people where less on the influence of marketting publicity and more attune to acoustic method they will be no more subjectivistic consumers of ready made solutions or objectivistic nihilist... These 2 opposite disctinction make no sense in an acoustic tuning process where subjectivity and objectivity serve one another...
Then denouncing these products like someone just said even if they work is fanaticism...Not science...
And buying them and thinking all problem are solved is a delusion...
But acoustic is too complex for simple mind it seems...
There is place for everyone able to give information in audiogon even if he is a seller...If it is a gentleman... Why not? If not a gentleman ..... Drop it....
Once again, all the same naysayers chime in without having tried the tweak.
Just because your limited experience prevents you from imagining a bigger and more complex universe out there, does not mean it doesn’t exist.
Until you have tried it, and find it doesn’t work, them you really should keep your traps shut.
Same crowd who will not accept a piece of gear can sound amazing if it doesn’t measure well. Insecurity prevents some people from being able to decide if the thing in front of them sounds good. They need to be told by measurements if it’s good.
Such ignorance combined with a sense of superiority. You do realize we are not powering a lightbulb with a battery right? An audio system is just a tad more complex than that.
This forum and many of you have helped me tremendously. I had been out of the hobby for sometime and when I was able to come back so much had changed. Less audio stores, YouTube reviews ect. Many of you steered me away from decisions that I am sure I would of regretted. In my younger days I was all about tweaks. Shameful to admit but I bought some green marker that you put on the side of cds lol. Literally it was a marker. I should of thought “if it makes a big difference why doesn’t recording companies just darken the sides.” Not suggesting that this is the same type of product. However, the one thing you guys taught me was to spend my money where I would get the most enjoyment. This is subjective, I know but your general advice was something like “save money on x and go buy some nice recordings.” I still have to many recordings I would like to buy, so for me to spend money on tweaks, does not make sense. Everyone has different priorities, this I also learned in life and here. I will admit although it was not intended to be a product plug at the end of reading all the comments it felt like one. Just my 2 cents.
It is difficult to check these things out when not on the market yet, absolutely. Which makes the naysayers look even dumber.
And the marketing end of discussing it here, is nothing new. Many, many products are sent out for review and then discussed on this forum.
The difference is that Ted is directly participating in the discussion. There was a recent post discussing the new Class D amps from Atmasphere. Ralph chimed in to answer questions, which is as it should be. It’s a rare thing to have direct access to the designer of something and have them answer questions.
I didn’t see the public outrage over that I am seeing here.
Wonder why that is…
Guess the haters just love to hate. Especially when it’s something they know nothing about, right?
At it’s core, what is marketing at its best? It’s a tool to help educate the public on potential benefits of a given product.
But, when people fail to accept that something might work, they let their ignorance fuel their anger.
Man, some of you guys are pretty rough in your comments.
Yes, I was asked to try some of the prototypes, and I accepted. I have always been a tweaker and love a good experiment.
I’m sure if you look through my history of posts you will find that I post things I like and those I don’t. You could say I am an equal opportunity critique.
I am not one of those paid reviewers, and to me, this is the best way to inform others of products that should be tried. That is: from actual audiogon experienced members.
I get it that there are some who try to use this forum for their financial gain. I am not one of those!
As I have stated now a few times. Try them, or don’t, I don’t care.
What a shame that we still see unscientific rubbish still populating what should be a clean and honest audio enthusiasts forum.
That you can read reports here of products you’ve never tried or of which you are leery suggests to me that this is a "clean and honest" forum, rather than the opposite as you suggest. Of course, some people seek only confirmation of their beliefs.
There should be no product advertising here.
You might want to take that up with the moderators. There’s no explicit ban on advertising in any of the forum rules although, as a practical matter, there are limits.
in a sense a bizarre debate, considering it's about an inexpensive product almost no one has heard, and that comes with full 30 day return privileges...I have always enjoyed ozzy reviews and comments...
Please keep posting whatever you want. I enjoy your insightful trials of Ted’s product line. We need POSITIVE THINKING people like you here. It takes a little courage and a lot of gumption to stand up to internet bullies.
Remember this, the moderators ARE watching - the posters who come here for negativity to try and shut this thread down. Remember GeorgeHiFi?
Thanks. I guess that is why I am concerned. This thread was actually taken down once by the Moderators. There is no advertising on my part.
Ted’s comments are essential to some of the questions posed. Such as when will it be available or cost? I don’t view that as advertising, just answering our questions.
It’s imperative having another who knows your sound signature extremely well during these trial periods. Validation that what you’re personally hearing is truth and not thee placebo effect. Having said that, last evening … eight hour positive session with my son dropping tracks we’re very familiar with. SR purple fuses gents
Looking forward on trying these communion wafers ….
How about we trust each individual member to sort out for themselves what is good information vs. marketing, hype etc? I, for one, don’t need, and am not asking for, anyone else to do this for me. If something is really out of line and/or clearly violates forum rules, that’s what the moderators are for. Although we disagree (often passionately) about some things, we are all pretty intelligent people, who have been around the audio block a few times. Let’s treat each other that way.
“The only thing bizarre is when people get all defensive because someone said something out of line with their agenda.”
How do you determine what their agenda is, or that they actually have one? Often there’s no way to know for certain, so you can only make (more or less) educated guesses and/or assumptions.
Doesn’t matter. Perception based on what you read is all one has on a forum like this. Does not have to be accurate. Perceptions are all people have in many cases so they matter. If perceptions are not accurate the blame may lie on either or both sides. One can only address it themselves if they care.
I previously had a perception of Synergistic Research, and their products, which has changed significantly after trying several of them recently. I would go so far as to say my previous perception was wrong.
What a shame that we still see unscientific rubbish still populating what should be a clean and honest audio enthusiasts forum.
This has nothing to do with perception or what he is 'beholding' to. This is someone who has nothing else better to do but show his hatred and negativity BEHIND the guise of a keyboard with nothing positive to give to a group of like minded individuals who genuinely enjoy each others posts and positive contributions we give and share with each other.
Remember, they're just trying to get our gourd so the moderators will shut us down. Even when these same people go to the lengths of actually creating a new moniker to post their hatred, we still know who they are.
@ozzy- I think that you have a solid track record of offering open and honest opinions regarding, tweaks, cables, etc. that you have tried regardless of the prevailing winds or what manufacturer may be involved. From my vantage point your only "agenda" is to offer your opinion/experience; no sinister designs attached.
The issue with georgeshifi was he thought things should be free or inexpensive if he thought they should be. Period. He didn't care if a country fell apart, certain things should ONLY cost everyone, not someone, EVERYONE the same. Strangest way of thinkin' I've ever seen. Comrade Lenin would have been proud!
I personally love to let the "I know it all" kind of person spend all the money they want. They didn't ask me, besides they knew it all anyways..
So, I have now tried placing the tuning discs on the speaker cables at the amp end or at the speaker end.
Ted suggested placing these at the speaker end. I initially felt they sounded better at the amp end.
Today, I again placed them at the speaker end, and I think Ted is right they do sound more 3 dimensional in that direction with a more stable center image.
At the amp end they sounded more diffused perhaps that is why they seemed to have more air.
I still have the discs on the interconnects at the source end.
The issue with georgeshifi was he thought things should be free or inexpensive
the real issue with georghifi was, in Ozziespeak, that he had a kangaroo or two loose in the top paddock - OCD fuelled by a strong NPD drove him to pasting basically the same hate fuelled post multiple times on any thread mentioning the word fuse; to the extent he was ultimately banned from this forum. However, in his own mind George was always convinced he was saving the world from the tyranny of exploitation.
Unfortunately George did not have exclusive ownership of NPD, nor the ability to post ongoing hate fuelled rants.
to me….anyway…the 30 day $, ¥£€ , etc back guarantee is a doubt / cognitive dissonance / confirmation bias..eraser… But then, most audiophiles don’t bother to level match…… so….read about hyperbole with caution….but always listen with an open mind and ears….
It’s a disease. Mental disorder. Called Good Samaritan Syndrome.. chronic hero syndrome. Or savior complex disorder. Many people in the audio forums suffer from these. I had no idea they existed until I started frequenting these forums. It’s so sad
One of the reasons I come here to read about gear, is to find out about products I might not otherwise considered trying, and see what peoples real world experiences are with them.
A thoughtful write up as to somethings effectiveness, or lack thereof, is of great value.
People calling BS on something they have not tried is of zero value whatsoever.
If the designer of the product participates in the discussion and answers questions even better.
If the rules were such that no manufacturer could chime in when one of their products is being discussed or criticized, then we would miss out on a lot of valuable insight.
I wish more manufacturers would participate here, but given all the vitriol thrown about here about certain products, kinda understand why they don’t.
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