Synergistic Research HFT + FEQ

I find this thread interesting. SR does not like negative feedback, it is as simple as that.

In full disclosure, I won their MiGs in a Facebook contest after I started following them because my uncle is a user of several of their products. I shared pictures with them, thanked them, all that stuff. Then I started demoing the MiGs in my system and had my uncle demo them in his system as well. I didn't hear a difference in my system. My uncle claims to have heard a difference when using the MiGs, but wasn't impressed with them. So, I wrote a blog post sharing our experiences (my blog is relatively new). I'm a business writer, I report facts, the facts for me were that the MiGs didn't perform as marketed and that I wouldn't recommend them to other beginner audiophiles without trying them first, but I certainly didn't report that in a hostile tone.

Well, isn't it interesting that the first comment I received from an anonymous poster on the blog came to SR's defense (just like here) and basically told me that the MiGs didn't work because my system isn't of the right caliber. Ok, maybe my beginner audiophile setup isn't of the highest caliber, but my uncle's is a very nice system of separates, and he wasn't impressed either. And the way their marketing copy reads, their products should help any system.

Well today I discovered that SR has also blocked me from being able to comment or like anything on their Facebook page.

I think it's a bit silly that a company that is supposedly so ground-breaking and a leader in the industry can't handle a little bit of criticism from a personal blog. SR seems to be the one with an agenda to mute any naysayers. But I would never comment negatively on a product I haven't tried for myself in the first place.

Congrats to any and all who report their experiences honestly and objectively.

Same here - I gave the products a fair chance and they did not perform as advertised. The situation would be vastly different if they had been honest, for instance by telling me that the tweak would change the sound of my system and I might or might not like the result, especially when I asked the lead designer that question straight up a couple of different ways ("Is there a trade-off?" and "Could it possibly degrade the sound or imaging?") I was assured that there was no trade-off, and that sonic degradation was impossible. Both statements proved to be untrue. As it is, I will be highly skeptical of any and all Synergistic Research products going forward.

Interesting stuff. Lots of people and press at the event suggests the demo clearly demonstrated that the product was of substance. But as with most audio, especially in this arena of acoustic spatial add-ons it is not only system but room dependent. I'd only give this a go with the assistance of trained dealers who've had both experience in their own shops and with customers. However, if I was a dealer, I'd better feel it worth the time and effort to set up this product. Given its relatively low cost (at least for those of us with rather expensive gear) it certainly had better benefit nearly all environments, or it won't do well going forward. But I'd certainly not discount its affects. There's much we don't really know or understand about what the ear/brain system captures, and the psycho acoustic effect it has on our listening experience.

Stevebythebay, at the RMAF, I heard a Bose radio sound different with and without these devices. Is that proof of "substance?"

I tried 5x HRT on my home theatre in my living room. What I heard was an increased low bass and separation. I removed them and the magic was gone. Yes the effect is obvious and tangible (for the bass shaking the floor). Rushed back to the shop and bought more for my audio room.I haven't install the FEQ though.