Synergistic Research HFT + FEQ

Ozzy,

No, you do what's sounds best for you in your system. I just explained my experience and what sounded best in my system. I'm just passing on what I learned and hope it maybe useful for someone else. If you think, your room will sound better without the Tube traps then do an experiment and remove them and then place them back in and report back here what you experienced. Good or bad, I like to hear what others experience. Maybe it will save you some $$$ if you like what you hear without them. I like to hear stories where people save some cash and then maybe it will apply to me. that's all. Thanks. Joe

Joeyboyni,
I have quite a few Acoustic Science tube traps in my room with the HFT/FEQ/XOT's.

Do you think I should take out the Tube Traps?

Joeyboyni,
I have quite a few Acoustic Science tube traps in my room with the HFT/FEQ/XOT's.

Do you think I should take out the Tube Traps?

Augwest, you are one in many many many that oppose this new system. I just think you maybe not set these thins up right. And you did not have all correct quantities of these new items for the size and shape of your room. I would like to suggest maybe you try it again but this time with expert advise from your dealer or calling S.R. directly if your dealer has no clue. The first step that helped me the most was calling my dealer and S.R. and then removing and selling all my previous room correction items in my room. I sold all my GIK panels and any other room treatment. The money I got from the sale paid for all the new S.R. items I needed for my room and a saved a few 100's as well.

The directions that came with the HFT is just a guide. My positions of my (15) HFT's are much different from the instructions. Also, this new S.R. acoustic room treatment equipment consists of the HFT, FEQ, UEF, and XOT's and its truly the new SOTA room correction system at a reasonable price. A dealer would have to suggest loaning you all of these items just to see a base point on where to start and how many you will need. I actually needed (15) HFT's, (1) (FEQ) which is very finicky on how its plugged in and located for it to work properly), one pair of XOT's and (6) UEF's. A combo of (3) gray and (3) silver. (These had to be placed at critical points n my system. Mostly power cords.

I also like to add, a big odd room needs more and a smaller near field system needs much less. but gets the same results... And it needs to be set up correctly with help of a S.R. dealer. Its the combination on how much HFT, FEQ, UEF, and XOT's your system needs to get the perfect room correction that is needed. Even for experimentation by you in your system. That process takes a few days maybe weeks. Once its all dialed in the room you created will be the best SOTA room treatments/corrections and soundstage you will ever hear. I would have not have ever switched to this new room treatment system if it was not done right and if I did not get expert direction and follow up from my dealer at The Cable Company. They know exactly what to do to set these things up. Each system is set up in its own unique way and may or may not even use all the products and maybe just one or a few product from this new line of room correction products is needed.

I'm very happy with all the hard work and content adjusting until I got the exact audio performance I have been looking for years form my room to sound. Yea, I did not like the way a few position sounded in my room. It was my determination and persistence that cause me to succeed with my room.

I think many others here experienced this in their system as well as I did too with the new Synergistic Research products. Plus I had a lot of fun setting all these items up and I can change my soundstage anytime if I want to by moving the HFT's. My soundstage is now very wide, tall, removes boundaries of the front and rear wall, envelops me all around me. Its truly 3D right in front of me and all around me playing any instrument I choose from my source. I'm very pleased with these new products.

I'm amazed anyone with a good system likes these things. They ruined my system - degraded the imaging and sucked the life right out of the music. Truly the most awful tweak I've ever had the displeasure to endure.

Wow you guys are far ahead of me.

Two AM PEA $600.00 middle guys

Two R777

Set of Hologram sticks

Bybee speaker bullets

So I must try these SR HFT guys to keep up with the young cats here.

Wow you guys are far ahead of me.

Two AM PEA $600.00 middle guys

Two R777

Set of Hologram sticks

Bybee speaker bullets

So I must try these SR HFT guys to keep up with the young cats here.

Yoby,

I am using pure solid core 99999 silver soft annealed bi-wired speaker cables.
On my speaker crossovers I have installed the WA quantum speaker chips, over them I have the Audio Magic PEA.

Near the end of the speaker cables I have the Audio Magic Speaker clarifiers. And then finally the Synergistic XOT's.

Each was installed seperatly with the XOT's added last.

With the SR HFT's and the FEQ unit, I have now the BEST sound I have ever heard!
Soundstage is huge, deep, the bass is really deep and well defined. There is such a lifelike image that I swear it can't get any better!

Somewhere down the line I will try removing some of the tweaks to determine just how much each one is contributing to the glorious sound.

Ozzy: Are you using the XOt"s in addition to the Audio Magic speaker clarifiers or instead of them?

Sgordon1 , are you putting the copper sleeves over the XOT's or over the banana/spade connections?

You might want to try copper sleeves over the XOT
connections. I polished the inside and outside of 1 inch pieces before putting in place. It will change the sound!

Well, I just received the XOT's. I have two sets due to biwiring. I only have a couple of hours with them but already I can tell a change in the soundstage. The music is really out into the room. Not forward just all over the room. Singers sound larger and more centered and seemingly involved in the music.

Now, I used to own a lot of Synergistic Top of the line products. I got irritated and sold off my cabling and conditioners due to the constant upgrading of the equipment making my current models obsolete and worth much less. Not to mention all of the extra wires needed with the "active shielding".
After I sold them off I swore I would not get anymore Synergistic products.
Well I started back with the trial of the HFT's and I was hooked once again. I've got to give them credit for being so innovative.

Man posting on Audiogon seems to be days behind.

Anyway, David I have 4 of the PEA's. One is inside my PS Audio P10 that powers my digital and home theater equipment. Then, I have 2 of them placed on the back of my speakers over the crossovers. And the last one is sitting atop of the SR FEQ.

I have the XOT's- two sets as the horns are biwired. They effect a major change in stage with and depth. I do not hear a shift in frequency. Bass is tighter. Space between instruments does not feel as "dense". I only have 6 hours on them. I certainly heard one or two break in changes almost like an audio degaussing. Will let the system play overnight. If you have the dual speaker leads (which accept both spades and banana plugs) the XOT banana plug version sure is easy to put in and take out for evaluations.

The XOT build quality is excellent. The effect is much greater and on more aspects of the sound than the Walker product.

Not finished the evaluation but the effect the XOT's have on a system should make most serious audiophiles try them on their own system. Postage is maybe $10.00 each way.

Putting them in your system is makes you think how and why you like what you hear.

Ozzy, how many Audio Magic PEA's are you using and where?
I am using five IPC Acoustic Energizers. One behind each speaker, one at each end of the listening couch, and one directly behind where I sit.

I have my FEQ on top of some MIG's and I just placed an Audio Magic PEA on top of the FEQ.
The PEA adds even more slam to the FEQ.

David, Did you get the XOT's ?

SR suggests a 72 hour period before evaluating the XOT...
(now they tell me!)

At the RMAF I was told not to plug the FEQ into a Transporter. Indeed the FEQ will sound better with the ground plug going directly into a wall socket. Also the FEQ responds to being placed on footers. My experience is MIG footers are better than Herbie Isocups which are better than nothing. My FEQ unit is midway between the speakers, about a foot out from the wall. To my ears the FEQ immediately sounds good and gets better after being left on for three days.

Hopefully the Synergistic Research XOTs arrive today. Has any one noticed a change over time with the XOT's?

Hey guys and gals, I got my level 3 HFT's a few days ago. Works exactly like you guys said. I just got the FEQ today. I have not plugged it in yet. Can I plug the 12V AC in the transporter? The plug fits and the blue light goes on. I immediately unplugged it because I cant find anywhere that anybody can do this.

I assume the ground plan gets plugged into an unfiltered power outlet correct?

Thanks,
Joe

The is another audiomagic gizmo, peas.

Wonder if anyone has compared the differences.

I especially like the steinmusic HA and HB modules as the intensity and effect can be adjusted.

Used in conjunction with the acoustic revive rr777, IPC energisers, Telos alphawave and quantum symphony pro gizmos. I bit the bullet a ordered the FEQ.

At least.for some there is an explainable theory behind the product.

It just gets more bizarre each time, but think there are too many little devices in the room now.LOL!

As for the speaker match, there have been many like walkers and audioprism. Basically a r/c network which i have experimented before does work, but differ connecting cables, type and value of resistor all change the sound. There so much more experimental of these devices that it makes for a much more subjective opinions.

The is another audiomagic gizmo, peas.

Wonder if anyone has compared the differences.

I especially like the steinmusic HA and HB modules as the intensity and effect can be adjusted.

Used in conjunction with the acoustic revive rr777, IPC energisers, Telos alphawave and quantum symphony pro gizmos. I bit the bullet a ordered the FEQ.

At least.for some there is an explainable theory behind the product.

It just gets more bizarre each time, but think there are too many little devices in the room now.LOL!

Sgordon1, Thanks, for sharing your experience with the XOT's.
David, Look forward to your opinion also on the XOT's.

What I recently found was placing an Audio Magic PEA stuck to the back of the speaker cabinet just over the crossover really made a significant improvement in sound quality of each speaker.

I am happiest with the Stein Speaker Match, which
integrate the top and bottom of my biwired Martin Logan Prodigys
as never before. The XOT did nothing for me,
but at least I gave them a try. (It was not a close comparison...)

Was the improvement as dramatic as the level 3 hfts?

Synergistic Research XOT's have been ordered and are on the way. Should be here Thursday. Since my speakers are biwired I ordered two sets. I will try a set on the mid-high terminals, a set on the low terminals, and then sets on both terminals at the same time.

Should be fun and educational.

The wonderfull fact about the HFT - FEQ units is they are complimentary and yet have nice effects on their own.
The FEQ Unit works on lower frequencies than the HFT's. The music becomes more full and balanced. Also and quite important is the it's effect of lowering the floor noise. Less congestion when multiple instruments are playing.

Adding the IPC units "moves" the music more into the room. I am over the top happy with the interaction of the HFT + FEQ units and the IPC Acoustic Energizers

The QOL unit adds musical information to the speakers.

The Acoustic Revive77 (Schuman Resonator) works well and there is a sense of "loss" when I turn it off.

So in my system I am not hearing an over processed sound. Instead I am hearing full glorious music.

Has anyone tried the Synergistic Research XOT's?

Hi David,

How do the FEQs compare to the IPC units.i.e dufferences an improvement.

I found that the IPC units made a nice improvement only when i installed the HFTs and when the IPC units used alone tightened but lightened the bass, that was before the 3 sets of HFTs.

I was just wondering what is the incremental improvements with the FEQ in the system.

I too use the QOL and also rr777 and IPCs so addung another device seems rather over the top for me at the moment.

cheers

I offer the following, after my first few months with an FEQ:

I would experiment with other isolation devices in addition to
MIGS, to get the most from the FEQ. This makes a huge difference, as does the underlying support material (shelf or stand) you are using. Symposium Rollerblocks work very well for me, on a granite slab.

It is normal for the transformer to feel warm to the touch.
It is best not to enclose it or restrict air circulation.

I like lifting the wires off the floor, and am supporting them on
egg crates. I also clean both ends of both connectors, periodically.

I also have a Schumann Resonator at the other end of the room,
and feel it works very well with the FEQ.

Be careful not to treat the FEQ with any demagnetizing device.
It will take days for it to "settle down" and perform well again!

I am always open minded about tweaks but also like to understand the science behind them. After reading the explanation on the SR site I must admit I am still at a lost to understand what the HFT does and how it does it. Can someone please try to explain the technology to me? In the meantime I am going to try the free trial program offered by The Cable Co.

Knghifi, I also think 3 sets is enough. Perhaps later I may try additional HFT's elsewhere in my room. But sticking Blu Tack to my speakers had better be a big improvement, which to me it wasn't.
Now I'm wondering about the XOT items that go into your speaker terminals...Anybody try them?

Ozzy, Glad you had a set of MIG's to put the FEQ on (all three MIGs pointing in the up position). Also the grounding plug should be directly into the wall if possible and not into a power strip, etc.

To me the FEQ unit seemed more "powerful" after three days of being on. No explanation of why it should happen. Will be interesting if you get the same impression.

Have a fun weekend of listening.

I've decided to keep 3 sets. Decided not to use them on speakers, 15' high ceiling and open left hand side of the system.

Even with bare walls, my system sounded excellent. But it's amazing how these little suckers can alter the sound. I experimented optimal locations and in Level 2, installed one extra HFT in the center front wall above the center. So now I have 3 HFT on center front wall. It added height to the image and soundstage.

I've always prefer a lively room and HFT is the icing on the cake.

David, Just received the FEQ. I placed it in the center on the floor behind my rack on top of 3 Mig's that I had and not being used.
First hour of listening, I am greatly impressed. So, you say it takes a few days to break in? I wonder why?

Your experience matches mine in that with moving the HFT bullets to the optimal location the sound suddenly becomes focused and much more enjoyable. The FEQ does sound better plugged directly into the wall and not to the Power Plant 10 (at least the ground plane plug directly into the wall). I would try the sub woofer circuit first. My FEQ is midway between the speakers, 18 inches from the front wall and sits on the sub. Yes it works better with 3 MIG footers than 3 Herbie ISocup footers which sound better than nothing. Sounds good in 15 minutes and even better after being on for three days. Then think about fine tunning the two HFTs that are near the floor and midline- the front wall and rear wall locations.

I think you will be pleased with sound.

David, Thanks, that's exactly what I am doing. I should have the FEQ later this week.

I must confess that I have found the little HFT's to be quite powerful.
When I read the instructions on Level 3 I thought the additional HFT's were to go in between the corner HFT and the centered HFT. After rereading the instructions it says to place the additional HFT's between the centered HFT and the speakers. When I moved them, bam! The center image became rock solid and the 3D sound was all dialed in.
Now I'm hooked.

Looking forward to placing the FEQ.

Question:
I have 3 dedicated circuits with a Power Plant P10 powering the digital on one. My analog is on another and the subs are on another. I know one of the FEQ plugs will go into the Power Plant P-10. But what about the ground plug?

I would prefer it to go straight into a wall outlet. Does it matter which dedicated line I choose?

Ozzy,

Counted up the number of HFT's on the walls and ceiling and the count was 15. In my system the additional 8 on the speakers and 2 on the SACD player was beneficial but not critical. It sound like your room is "dialed" in. I would consider sending the two sets of HRT's back and auditioning the FEQ Unit(High Frequency Equalizer Unit). This will tightened up the bass and lower the floor noise. I very much like the combination of the HFT's and the FEQ. By doing different things they are quite complimentary in their effect.

David,
I now have had the chance to try 5 sets of the HFT's. I definitely will keep 3 sets.

But, the additional 2 sets are supposed to be placed on the speakers and on digital equipment.
To be honest, I really didn't think there was enough additional improvement to warrant buying the additional sets based on that placement.

Before I send the other 2 sets back is there somewhere else I should try to place them ?

Knghi: With the open wall, the HFT's can still be utilized. It is easy to make a stand for a HFT. I went to Home Depoit and made a stand using the following: 1"x2"x6 foot board mounted to a 11"x9" wood base. I used 4 L shaped brackets to attach the vertical board to the base. Cost less than $10.00.

On placing the HFT's on speakers, put a trial dab of the HFT's Bluetac on the back of the speaker and then remove. This way you can test to make sure no problems to the finish of the speakers.

With your large lively room the Synergistic Research FEQ Unit will be a big help. It will tighten up the base and lower the floor noise of the room allowing you to hear more of the music.

I look forward to your observations.

Well, I guess I am giving them a thumbs up.
I went ahead and purchased 3 sets. The 3rd set will arrive later this week.

How the heck these little items actually do something is a real mystery to me. But once you try them, your gonna keep them. Just don't tell the wife how much they cost each...

Well, I guess I am giving it them a thumbs up.
I went ahead and purchased 3 sets. The 3rd set will arrive later this week.

How the heck these little items actually do something is a real mystery to me. But once you try them, your gonna keep them. Just don't tell the wife how much they cost each...

Ozzy

Two sets of HFT's mainly demonstrate that they have an effect. Like you I have a QOL unit in my listening room. I sincerely hope you will order three additional boxes to really tune your room acoustics. With two sets (10 of the little bullets) of HFT's my soundstage changed but lacked focus. AS I put in the next three sets of HFT's I heard a real change for the better. As you have heard, the locations suggested in the instructions are only starting points. With additional HRT's in place you might move the units up or down from where they are now.

I am finding the combination of the HFT's + FEQ unit with the BSG Technologies QOL unit to be sonic bliss.

As you put up each group of 5 HFT's you will hear the soundstage expand and then become increasingly more rich and detailed.

Still UNDECIDED sticking them on my TAD E1s. Yikes!

I'm remodeling my home and walls are bare so hope these will improve the sound until it's done. Room is 33'x25'x15' and currently system sits on half the long wall. Left hand side is open with no wall so will be interesting.

I finally decided to buy them after watched Peter Breuninger video and have respect for his opinion.

I have been curious about the HFT/FEQ due to the challenges I have with room dimension and acoustic treatment options. Let us know your results Knghifi.

The cost for these little gizmos seems outrageous considering how light weight they are. And based on past SR history they will soon be replaced with a mark 2 version.

But, I have 2 sets on loan and they do seem to expand the soundstage. However, sometimes I think the sound doesn't sound quite right. I just can't quite get a handle on it.

I did find that placing them slightly higher is better in my room than the lower height shown in the directions. And I think for my usage, 3 sets would seem about right.

So, I am still in the undecided testing stage.

I have two different rooms treated with the Synergistic Research HFT (High Frequency Tuning System). With one pack of 5 tuning bullets you will hear a change in soundstage. The system really begins to shine with 15 HFT bullets in place (three boxes) and then becomes spectacular when 25 HFT bullets (five Boxes) are in place. The Synergistic Research installation video is quite helpful. It only takes a few minutes to install 25 of the bullets as they attach to the wall with included Blu Tac reusable adhesive.

With the 30 day money back guarantee I hope people who try this system will go ahead and make their initial trial 15 to 25 HFT bullets ( three to five boxes). As you put up each group of 5 HFT's you will hear the soundstage expand and then become increasingly more rich and detailed.

I found the Synergistic Research HFT + Feq system to be my upgrade of the year. Why? The marked improvement of course but even more so. Unlike the laborious trial of trying and breaking in new cables etc., the HFT's are easy to install, the sound change is immediate, and they can be returned if you do not like them. Finally in this moble changing society, they can be moved from room to room or a new city with no damage to the walls.

I will not be without them.

Call me a pigeon, ordered a 5 pack of HFT. Hope it does NOT disappoint!

Whatta FEQ y'all tackin' about?

Especially for non-symetric rooms, the Synergistic Research HFT+ Frequency Equalizer can be a major system improvement. Where I do not have walls to put the HRT's where recommended: I made stands using Home Depot 1x2 by 8 foot pieces of wood attached to a wooden base using right angle brackets. These HRt's were especially helpful in restoring some room symmetry. This improved all aspects of the stereo image.

With the 30 day trial there is plenty of time to try the system and see it's effect.

yes my right speaker has the whole kitchen area to its right and there is 22' open ceilings to allow the sound to escape the speakers.

I thought the IPC products were smashing and will have a shot at the SR products.