Synergistic Research ART Basik, any opinions?

Theaudiotweak, I agree. It's all about resonance. The principle of resonance applies in many ways in the world of audio. After all what are receivers? They are resonance devices. Various room tuning devices are simply the other side of the same resonance coin. Shakti and SR ART are the first that come to mind at the high end of resonance devices. Others that come to mind are SR MiGs and Totem beaks. There are many more. Those whose attitude is "look at those little things ... how could they possibly ... where is the science ..." have no idea. In an earlier era they might be heard saying the same thing about the quartz crystal.

Theaudiotweak, I use my Harmonix SYN-100 footers the same way and also have Totem beaks on top of components other than speakers.

I have eliminated a lot of room treatments and tweaks and added others since I posted to this thread. But ART stays put. I just fine-tuned the placement which is crucial for optimizing the ART system. I am using it with my own DIY HFTs. The interesting thing is that most of these treatments and systems are complementary and synergistic even if they are mixed and matched from different companies -- with DIY thrown in for good measure.

Is anyone out there still impressed with ART? Are there folks who are using additional Gravitrons and Magnetrons with good results?

Davidpritchard,

Thanks for this valuable information. I have a couple more Magnetrons and one more Gravitron coming. Regarding room treatments, there is a lot going on in my room with Schumann devices, Steinmusic Harmonizers, Symphony Pros and various Audio Magic devices also in place. But the ART is definitely a major contributor to the SQ.

Tbg,

When you say "Many things that are heard are difficult to account for with our limited understanding of nature." You hit the nail on the head. There is so much that we do not know that we can only speculate and theorize about. From my point of view. what matters is the improvement in SQ. As long as whatever I am trying out delivers explanations are beside the point. Others may put a high value on explanations and understanding. I do not. As long as my ears understand that's good enough for me.

Davidpritchard,

ART works well with all the other room treatments in my system. I have 10 Schumann devices, DIY HFTs, Audio Magic PEAs and Wave Stabilizers, QRT products, Steinmusic Harmonizers and some other things. I auditioned the IPC energizers but did not buy them. Can you isolate what they are doing to SQ in your system?

Tbg,

I have found that placement of accessories and tweaks is crucial in my system. If one element is not in the right place or not at the right height then the SQ reacts, often unpleasantly.

Davidpritchard,

Yes -- each element covers a different aspect of SQ. Most of the time these various devices interact well together in my system. But not always. It is interesting that you could not get the Audio Magic PEAs to interact well with your IPC Acoustic Energizers. I was impressed with this product when I heard it a while back -- in a triangular configuration. But, after reading your observations, I am disinclined to add IPC products to my system because I have 3 Audio Magic PEAs and 2 Wave Stabilizers. My system is so sensitive at this point that one new element could throw the SQ out the window if it did not integrate well.

Yes -- this is all based on trial and error. Last night I changed the location and height of my Wave Stabilizers, with a big improvement in SQ as a result.

Davidpritchard,

When I heard the IPC Energizers in Singapore they did exactly what you say -- moving the music more into the room and making it more palpable. The bottom line is a sound that is more "real".

I am going to take a gamble. I just got an excellent deal on 3 IPC Energizers and will see if I can get them to integrate with the Audio Magic products. If not, I will have to choose which products to keep. I will not receive the shipment before early December.