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Synergistic Grounding Block and Tweaking it.


Synergistic Grounding Block and Tweaking it.

I always liked the Synergistic Products and I have to give them credit for bringing out some of the most unique tweaks available today. There interconnects, speaker cables, and power cables were always top notch, perhaps a little pricey, but I always hated all of those extra mini couplers wires! So, I moved away from their wires. I think there new series does away with the extra mini couplers, but they are still IMHO still quite pricey.

I wanted to try the Synergistic Grounding Block. The price was not too expensive, so I ordered one from my dealer. Did I mention I always hated all those darn extra SR wires? This grounding block better impress.

Once I received it, I couldn’t believe the size of it. It is about 6 “long and maybe 1 ½” thick and about 2” inches high. At one end it has a hole for accepting a regular size banana plug and on the top there are 18 pin hole openings. The grounding block comes included with six (6) of the skinniest wires with the smallest banana plugs I have ever seen for grounding! There is also included another skinny wire that is connected to an AC plug (ground only) that plugs into the wall outlet with the other end having a standard size banana that connects to the side of the grounding block.

Well, since I only own one other SR product, I changed five (5) of the rest of the banana plug ends to RCA so I was able to try it with my own non SR equipment.

To my surprise, it did indeed make the soundstage purer and deeper. I don’t understand it? All of my equipment is plugged into dedicated grounded outlets, so why would this little diminutive grounding block with all those skinny wires do more?

Now, the tweaker in me took over. It seems SR also sells higher grade connection ground cables, but boy, are they pricey! Two of them cost more than the block itself! And the Synergistic grounding block can accept 18 of these ground connections!

I had some pure .9999 22 gauge silver wire left over from another project so I installed an RCA connector, sleeved it through some Teflon tubing and pushed one end into one of those 18 pin holes in the grounding block. To keep the wire from falling out of the pin holes, I pushed cut 2” lengths of some .999 18 gauge silver wire also into the pin hole which tightened up the connection. On the end, the RCA was connected to an unused RCA on my equipment. I also had some pure .999 16 gauge silver wire, so I installed this on one end with a regular banana, and then installed an AC plug (ground only) to the other end. This replaced the skinny wire that SR supplied to connect from the wall to the grounding block.

Sounding better… interesting!

On line I found some 12 gauge .9999 silver wire about 6 foot long, that cost about $50. But with this cable, to keep it pure throughout I used no connector on either end. I did this by shaping the wall outlet wire end into a V and pushed it into the wall outlet for a tight fit. The other end was crimped tight and shoved into the regular banana hole into the grounding block.

Each “upgrade” in wire went through a minor break in period. (hours not days) and doggone it, it did increase the purity of the sound.

So, now with the 18 available pin holes in the grounding block, I have all of my system connected. That includes my video and subwoofers!

Someday, I would like to try one of the higher grade SR cables to compare to my DIY version.

Folks, this little grounding block does work wonders and far exceeds the price to performance, but it is still a mystery to me. Plus all those darn wires!

Enter your text ...
ozzy

Showing 13 responses by davidpritchard

davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
ozzy:

These devices attached to the ground are interesting and I sure do not know why they work. But I have the Synergistic Research Grounding Block in two systems- a headphone system and also a speaker system. I like the improvement to the sound very much.
Absolutely worth an audition in one's system.

David Pritchard

davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
ozzy:
Yes I use the Hi Definition cables but only after starting with the standard cables and upgrading one cable at a time . A slow and meticulous approach ,but satisfying to me to take that approach. If you have a destattic device such as the Furutech or Orb, blowing their stream of ions on the Grounding Block magnifies the Block's effect. Also one Mad Scientist Black Discus placed on the Grounding Block has a nice effect.

The Grounding Block is helping both my Terasonic speaker system and my dedicated headphone system.

David Pritchard
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
ozzy:
Absolutly agree that the wire matters in optimizing the Grounding Block's effect. I am glad your DIY efforts are paying off. I just noticed an error in my post. I am (like you) using a Mad Scientict Tube Topper on the Grounding Block. I got the Mad Scientist names wrong!

I still need to try two Tube Toppers ( one on each end of the Block), a HFT, and an ECT on the block.

That is an interesting observation on having the ground wire going to a wall outlet separate from the music system. Now we will need dedicated audio circuits and dedicated audio ground circuits!

Keep up the wonderful work and valuable and educational reports.

David Pritchard
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 

Ozzy:

I tried two Mad Scientist Tube Toppers on the Grounding Block.

One Topper sitting on top of the unit at the end where the grounding wire goes to the wall outlet is (for me) the optimum location and number of Toppers to use (one).

I am already using approx. 7 ECT,s on the amp, SACD player and Transporter. Total ECT's for system.

davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 

The Synergistic Research Grounding Block as had a significant impact on my three systems that reside in two houses.

1. Art Audio PX-25 amp, Marantz SA-11S2 SACD player, modified Klipsch speakers.

2. Eddie Current Zana Deau headphone amp, Marantz SA11S2 SACD player.

3. Computer, Antellope Zodiac DAC, Emotion Custom type 45 tube amp, Terasonic speakers.


All three systems improved as each component was attached to the grounding block. I did find the greatest improvement was grounding the amp first. No pre amps used in these systems. The Hi definition cables do have a greater effect than the standard cables. You do not have to have every component attached to  the grounding block to obtain a positive effect.

I found the Synergistic Research Grounding Block worth trying  as it is sold with a 30 day return policy and the cost of return shipping is small.

I would  love to someday hear the Atmosphere amps attached to those big Horn speakers Ralph often demo's with at RMAF attached to a Grounding Block.  

David Pritchard


davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 

There is no TV system in my house. I have been off the TV grid for 5 years now. So a poorly grounded Cable TV system does not account for the sonic improvement in my audio system.

I do think there is more going on with the third prong grounding system used for the last few decades in the USA. Conditioning a power cable with an Audiodharma Cable Cooker has always improved the sound of my power cords. Recently Allan Kafton developed an adaptor to the Cable Cooker that also conditions the cable's ground wire. I do not know why but it definitely improves the power cord performance.

So if you are looking to improve your system's sound try a Synergistic Research Grounding Block.

If you have an AudioDharma Cable Cooker get their Ground Breaker adaptor.

Then relax and hear some great music that has improved flow, definition of instruments, and more emotion.

David Pritchard

davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
nyame:
I look forward to your experiments utilizing the Grounding Block.

I am convinced that a wonderful system can be built around an audiophile A/C wall outlet (like the SR Teslaplex or Black outlets, Audio grade fuses like the SR 20 or Black fuses and a SR Grounding Block.

These three items used together remove so much bad signal that most systems  really take a big leap in listening satisfaction.

David Pritchard
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
nyame:
Wonderful work. I  use the SR High Definition cables but wish I had your and ozzy's DIY skills. I found having the amp connected to the Grounding Block to be of major importance. Both sub woofers connected added additional clarity but it was a lesser improvement. 

It would certainly be interesting to compare your copper wires and ozzy's silver wires plugged into the same component. A tweaker's paradise for sure!

David Pritchard
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 

nyame:

Wonderful post. I certainly agree with your results that the Grounding Block makes a big improvement in the sound  of a system. Then by using different connecting wires to components , one can fine tune exactly the changes that sound best.  Putting a SR HFT on the Grounding Block further affects the sound. Great product.

David Pritchard

davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
nyame:
I agree that mixing the two systems might really cause problems. The SR HFT I alluded to is the HFT-2.0. It does add a little warmth. I have it placed over the screw on the top of the grounding block at the end that the cable to the wall outlet attaches. I have also tried a Mad Scientist Tube topper (New Zealand product) at the same location. It also works but not as well.

David Pritchard
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 

nyame:

Congratulations are taking your system to levels that can only be accomplished through careful trial and evaluation. The Grounding Block I now consider to be part of the essential foundation on which to build a superior sound system. The other legs of the foundation are audio grade fuses and A/C Wall outlets.

Best wishes for an upcoming week of satisfying music listening.

David Pritchard

davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
nyame:

That is exactly how I have the subs connected on the Teresonic speaker system. I like very much how the subs integrate with the main speakers.

I do hope that people looking for a different approach to cables consider the Cerious products. 

I think that ozzy's opinion's are excellent and only arrived after a lot of critical listening.
I have the new Synergistic Research fuses, wall outlets, and power cords and their adding Graphene to these products has made a significant improvement in my systems sound. Properly utilized, I think Graphene is a major sonic enhancer.

David Pritchard
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
68pete:
The wonderful fact about the Grounding Block is that they are sold with a 30 day return policy and since they are not heavy shipping costs are minimal.

So I suggest order one and try different combinations of connections. For "best results" Synergistic Research suggests the Grounding Block be connected directly to a wall outlet and not to a power conditioner. There can be "whatever" also on that circuit.

You do not have to have every component attached to the Grounding Block to get great results. I would suggest first trying the preamp or integrated amp attached first. Give you system about 24 hours to adjust. Then add your source and see if additional grounding is helpful. Also the yype connecting wire will make a difference in sound. The two SR type connector wire have a different effect.

This is a definite try "different combinations" and pick the combination that sounds best to you. I found the process to be quite interesting to undertake, and the final sonic improvement to be quite impressive.

I think the Synergistic Research Grounding Block, audio grade fuses such as the SR Black fuse, and an Audio Grade A/C wall outlet are the basic foundation points onto which one builds an outstanding sounding system.

David Pritchard
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