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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
70 responses Add your response
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


atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,121 posts
 
It was Entrec or Tripoint; don't remember which.

Interesting comments. Not sure if I concur with your conclusion. Have you actually tried the SR device?
I'm just reporting the results of the survey. We do take care to ground our equipment properly and so far none of our customers have reported using a grounding device.
cleeds
6,182 posts
 
atmasphere " ... At least one manufacturer of grounding devices mentions right in their owner's manual that if proper grounding design is observed in the equipment that the grounding device might not have any effect."

Why so coy? Please tell us what manufacturer made this statement.

ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,614 posts
 

atmosphere,

Interesting comments. Not sure if I concur with your conclusion. Have you actually tried the SR device?

I will say the improvement continued as I added more and more components to the grounding block. That does include my video sources.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,121 posts
 
We did a survey about a year and a half ago investigating these devices. The owners had to be able to do a measurement on the associated equipment in there system. What we found was an interesting correlation- in all cases, when the grounding box made an improvement (as reported by the owner), it was also found that the associated amps, preamps, etc. had a bug in their grounding scheme somewhere. In some cases the gear was not grounded at all, in other cases the chassis and circuit grounds were the same thing (susceptible to ground loops).

Quite often the use of a video device messed things up- it turns out that video units like TVs have poor grounding practice as relates to audio systems.

At least one manufacturer of grounding devices mentions right in their owner's manual that if proper grounding design is observed in the equipment that the grounding device might not have any effect.


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
 
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
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,614 posts
 

David,

Well I now have 18 things connected to the block. So, buying the SR High Def ones would be too much $$$. But, there is a difference with using better wire. Most of the wires I am now using are solid pure silver either .999 or .9999.

The main wire going to the block is 12 gauge .9999. I think you should try a heavier gauge there, you will be surprised. I have one of the Mad Scientists tubes on the grounding block I will try the Discus. I am also thinking of trying a SR HFT on the block.


One more thing. I have the ground wire going to an outlet outside of my stereo system. I think it sounds better.

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
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,614 posts
 

David,

Have you upgraded the cables?

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

ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,614 posts
 

Now this really interesting, at least to me.

I have always been a tweaker even going back to the days of building Heath Kits.

A while back on AA there was a thread on DIY ground controls using a capacitor and a 6V battery. Basically, just the ground side of the battery is used but the cap crosses both +- on the battery. The ground from the battery is connected to a RCA and then plugged into a component.

I have used this contraption on my 85" UHD Samsung. And, it did make the picture a little sharper, deeper, and colorful. Now, this TV is connected to my home theatre equipment and also indirectly to my 2 channel equipment.

So, I was certainly surprised when I connected from my new Synergistic Grounding block to one of the unused RCA’s on the back of the Samsung the strange thing that occurred.
To my surprise, instead of the picture getting better or even just unchanged, the picture took on a sort of a bleached out look. The Audio in my 2 channel equipment lost its depth and became very 2 dimensional. I mean, what the h---?

Once I disconnected the DIY contraption and just kept the SR grounding block connection, VILOA!  Everything changed for the better.The picture went back to its original beautiful state (perhaps even better) and the 2 channel audio became even better! That is; with a deeper soundstage.

So, I am still amazed about these grounding devices and why the heck they can make a difference.

michelzay
114 posts
 
Another comment about SR Grounding box. Power cord attached to it is just to provide a common ground wire from AC outlet to be linked to GRs on ICs or SCs from SR. I guess on that AC plug, Hot or Neutral are left floating. It seems other brands do as such.

EMI cancellation feature mentioned on my last comment (Filter between Hot/Ground or Neutral/Gr) is not part of these GR boxes. One could do that too but usually they wouldn't do so ...pretending as added design complexity, which is in reality a very simple circuit.

 
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,614 posts
 

Michel, Thanks for the info.

I'm thinking that the SR box is nothing more than a thicker copper top that all connections are connected to. It seems like this design would be easy to duplicate. The other designs costing $$$ just seem to be more of the same with some loose minerals/materials in the box.

Looking at the pictures you have provided in this thread, I still wonder why they are SO expensive.

I am noticing though the better the wires the purer the sound quality.

michelzay
114 posts
 
Ozzy,

There are two issues: 1-Grounding box types like SR, Entreq and Tripoint dedicated to Grounding on interconnect level circuitry. 2- grounding on AC outlet which affects also circuit level grounding on other way.

Briefly speaking, this is because most of Audio circuit designers use chassis grounding as main base of circuit level ground. Obviously noise generated from Chassis structure would affect audio sound quality. Otherwise, If circuit design is done properly, these GR boxes have no affect and are useless.

Some GR Boxes having an attached power cord would add some kind of EMI cancellation by using a filter/capacitor. Filter is attached between line to ground or neutral to ground connections. This could eliminate interference in an asynchronous way. 

These filters/capacitors cost less than a dollar! Some using those on their power conditioners like Shunyata Research. For more lecture you may look at this article:
http://www.10audio.com/diy_power_conditioner.htm

Synergistic Research GR box seems to be more modest on their pricing compared to Entreq and Tripoint (>$15000!!). Tripoint GR box is heavy as 90Ibs! One thing is sure, circuit part wouldn't be more heavier than 1Ib!!!! There are always online magazines with non-ethical cheap reviewers that would praise these as wonderful... But reality is certainly doesn't converge with those reviews.

Michel.
.
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,614 posts
 

Wow! Pretty cool. Thank you so much for the info.

But still, why should this improve the sound? After all my components are all plugged into grounded outlets.

jperry
2,480 posts
 
Granite Audio makes a similar product as well. You might want to look at it.
lak's avatar
lak
4,733 posts
 
Interesting concept, thanks (guys) for the post and comment.
I'd like to hear what almarg and/or jea48 has to say about a grounding block. I always learn so much then those gentmen engage in conversation.
michelzay
114 posts
 
Ozzy,

Even though it is not related to SR ground box, hope that would help.
Regarding Grounding box, there are a couple of other companies doing as such like Entreq. There are also some links explaining inside of Entreq GB:
http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?11995-Entreq-Tellus-grounding/page169

It shows there is not too much inside a box retailing for more than $1500.
There is also this link explaining how to make a Grounding box.
http://www.monoandstereo.com/2015/11/interesting-ground-box-project.html

Reading your comments shows you like to make some DIY projects. That's why I mentioned these two links. My own experience on DIY projects especially on Power cords (with measured RFI filtering/rejection) resulted on more fruitful and much better performance compared to very expensive power cords. This Grounding box is kind of the one I am working on.

Michel.
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