Visit to a "more subjective" leaning friend. And something like Synergistic Research "Transducers" to try.

Hey everyone. I'm still waiting to finish the measurements and write-up of the USB DDC boxes discussed last time (a few things I need to double check on!). In the meantime, I thought I'd share some thoughts and pictures with you of a visit I made to a friend, Paul's, place. You'll see that he is much more of a "subjectivist" than I am.

Above, we see his listening room which is capable of multichannel playback as well for music and movies. He's a multichannel enthusiast who values the immersive experience and has a large library of surround content in PCM and DSD - great to see!

Clearly, Paul is a Linn fan with almost an all-Linn system. He has front Linn Akubarik Exakt (Katalyst) active speakers, an Akurate 225 center channel, and a pair of Akudoriks as rear/side channels. Over the years, he has been experimenting with Linn Space Optimisation and wrote an article about his experiences (he contacted me after he saw my tests with Linn SO last year).

Blue rear LEDs indicate that speakers are sensing an input signal over the Exakt Link in this case.

Above, a closer look at the two Akubarik Exakt speakers (with 2017 Katalyst update) - 46kg each, 5-way design with what Linn calls their "3K Array" - 13mm (0.5") silk dome super-tweeter, 25mm (1") dome tweeter, and 75mm (2.95") dome midrange in one unit. There's a larger 150mm (6") doped paper upper bass woofer, plus dual "isobarik" 200mm (~8") glass fiber composite low-bass drivers at the bottom of the cabinet out of view. These are the Exakt version which means they have digital inputs ("Exakt Link") feeding the internal digital crossovers, DAC and amplifiers using convenient Cat 5/5e cables.

The Akudorik 4-way rear speakers also feature the "3K Array" with a 165mm (6.5") doped paper bass driver.

And here's the Akurate 225 center channel, again "3K Array", with dual 6.5" woofers; magnetic grille off:

For the music source and other electronics, we've got some more Linn products as you can see on the equipment rack:

Oppo 203 BluRay player bottom left rack.

The main digital heart of the system is the Linn Klimax DSM/3 in the middle below the center channel. Because the speakers are fed using the Exakt Link digital interface, this is the DSM "Hub" model which does not include the DAC. Both the front center channel and the rear speakers are amplified by Linn's Exaktboxes; you can see an Exaktbox 6 (DSP crossover and DAC) in the right mid-rack, and there's an Akurate 4200 amplifier in the right bottom, both serving the center channel. The rear channels are fed by an Exaktbox behind the listening sofa.

Paul was interviewed and talked about his system in a 2022 PMA Magazine article - have a look at the article for more details like price and further insights for most of these core components. He has updated the system over the years and continues to do so - in fact he tells me his system has substantially changed since I visited the other day!

I mentioned that Paul has a more "subjectivist" perspective, understandably this is reflected in this personal system. Let's look at some of the other pieces he's using - the first one might not be too controversial - he uses power conditioning, surge protection, "waveform correction", with the Environmental Potentials EP 2400 (priced around US$2500):

I couldn't find if this particular model is still being sold, but it looks like it's part of the EP-HPS lineup. The front looks pretty with the multi-colored text showing AC voltage, current and total power draw.

Then there's the stack of Silent Angel ethernet switch (Bonn), Genesis (word clock), and Forester (linear power supply) boxes:

The company and some audiophiles believe that improving network performance, even the accuracy of the word clock (into an asynchronous packet-based digital system) makes a difference and can improve sound. Controversial topic as discussed previously.

As you can imagine, there are lots of cables when we wire up a complex multi-component system like this and Paul has been meticulous in arranging them, distancing them, reducing the potential for interference.

I've talked about vibration isolation for speakers (and other devices) in the past. I see Paul uses IsoAcoustics Gaia II Neo's for the front stereo speakers and I believe it's the Stage Board under the center channel in the picture of that speaker above.

Let's get into the more esoteric now. Here's a Synergistic Research Tranquility Pod placed under the broadband Internet modem among other Tranquility Bases in the sound system under or over devices (like his Oppo player):

The Tranquility Pod was lightweight when I lifted it up. I tried but could not detect any change on top of the Pod where the modem sits using my phone's magnetometer. Not sure which physics principle(s) these devices are supposed to operate on; I believe the company claims it's some kind of EM field generator that interacts "with the EM fields inside your components for more of what everyone loves about PowerCell line conditioners". Furthermore it "works by conditioning signal through inductive coupling when the POD is placed under or on top of audio components to cancel distortion and this translates into clearer sound with a lower perceived noise floor".

And now let's go even further into "The Twilight Zone" (Synergistic's own marketing wording) - here's a device Paul currently is evaluating on loan:

That rectangular black box (again not heavy), is the Synergistic Research FEQ Carbon (US$1700) and sitting on top, the cylindrical object is the Tuning Module (US$600). The FEQ Carbon is powered through a 5V USB-B connector, and there's a button at the back to change the front LED currently lit blue to red; supposedly this changes the sound between red = warm/intimate, to blue = detailed. Again, I do not understand how this is supposed to scientifically function as a "third generation, two-channel acoustic field generator" that has the ability to "tailor the size and scale of your soundstage with stunning realism, to portray the music and venue you are experiencing accurately" (as per this).

Less in the "Twilight Zone" is the grounding block behind with the grounding wires sticking up (depending on the system, paying attention to grounding could be beneficial), and underneath that is the Synergistic Research Linear Power Supply I believe which feeds the 5V USB port to the FEQ Carbon as well as devices like the Tranquility Bases. I think there may also be some "Active Shielding" type cables back there.

Paul has published his ideas in The Art of Perfect Sound: My Journey to Hi-Fi Excellence (December 2024) exploring speaker set-up and positioning, cable management, vibration mitigation, clean power, and EMI shielding/separation. I see that he uses measurement devices like the laser distance meter, digital torque meter, EMF meter and AC noise analyzer discussed in the article. Will need to get him into using measurement microphones down the road! 😉

As I've said in the past, I think objectivists and subjectivists can have a great time chatting "over a beer" - or in our case, some desserts and chocolates after dinner that evening! 🤤

Regardless of hardware philosophical leanings, whether we're "more objective" or "more subjective", I trust we're all music lovers to start with and that already puts audiophiles on much common ground. We can of course discuss all kinds of things like the supposed benefits of Synergistic products, or debate objective v. subjective analysis, our philosophical positions, the nature of digital audio, and other themes will naturally arise. Not that there were any heated arguments between Paul and I of course! But even if there were, gentlemen know how to listen, debate, and resolve issues maturely. I think in real life, most of us would treat each other respectfully; probably quite differently from what we sometimes see online with the flame wars and name-calling.

In a world of polarities that often artificially separate us into simplistic "tribes" or camps, Internet algorithms that can lead us into echo-chambers, ever-increasing AI regurgitations, and what I've noticed as deteriorating YouTube quality on many audiophile channels, it's special - and truly human - to be able to enjoy the company of fellow enthusiasts.

In a hobby where we spend much of our time in solitary listening, I hope you too have opportunities to spend time with fellow audiophiles regardless of biases, even allegiances.

[On a side note, I differentiate fellow audiophiles from those who have a vested financial interest in the audiophile Industry. Clearly for those in the Industry which could include professional uncritical reviewers, salesmen, YouTube influencers, and manufacturer reps, the motivations are different and we should be mindful of the role these individuals play.]

Paul's system sounded great with excellent resolution, ability to reproduce a wide and deep soundstage, plenty of power with excellent dynamics. This is certainly a very capable system that both objectivists and subjectivists can spend time tuning to excellent effect and taste.

While the Linn speakers demonstrated clean bass reproduction and are great with acoustic genres, Paul would still need a subwoofer or two if he wants to hit down to 20Hz when the fighter jets fly by in Top Gun: Maverick - it's just physics. Assuming this is practical and won't disrupt housemates and neighbors of course.

Thanks Paul for the warm hospitality! Lots of fun!

--------------------

Inexpensive Synergistic Research-like "Transducers"

You might have noticed in the pictures above, Paul's gear (like the speakers) and even room (see ceiling) have tiny "tuning" devices applied to them.

Seasoned audiophiles will likely recognize these as Synergistic Research High Frequency Transducers (HFTs) typically sold for US$300 for 3-pack or around US$500 for 10-pack. Actually, they're not SR stuff.

Paul tells me has been experimenting with these:

These are tungsten carbide wire drawing die nibs that are used in industrial wire production. They can be found in various dimensions and with different polish. For example, here's a manufacturer's site showing size and center hole diameter variations that will change the shape - look particularly at the S11 variant and the table in the link.

You should be able to find these online like this on Alibaba and they're not expensive at all (looks like $50 will get you pounds of these, share the cost among a group of audio friends maybe). Depending on the size, shipping, tariff applied, you should still be able to get them for less than US$5 each, the small one probably less than $2 average. As pictured above, Paul has been trying out different combinations of the large/medium/small sizes. Notice with the SMALL one in the picture, there's some Blu-Tack residue underneath which is how these are stuck on the speakers or even along side walls and overhead on the ceiling.

Here's a picture of an actual little Synergistic Research HFT (very similar in dimension to the MEDIUM one I believe) I took at an audio show a few years back:

More refined looking with nicer matte finish than the generic samples above. There's maybe a cap or layer of enamel on top to add color for some models (I've seen plain silver, red, gold), but otherwise of very similar shape. Ted Denney III himself was demo'ing the device and we can see that he's using a bit of grey putty to stick it on the speaker. I presume it's the inverted conical top that supposedly acts as what Synergistic describes as the "miniature acoustic processor" function?

Admittedly, this is not something I would likely implement in my own system as one who gravitates towards the unlikelihood of something so small being able to affect the sound waves in my room to cause meaningful perceptual change based on scientific principles. However, that doesn't mean I should not be empirical and look for evidence, or consider testimonies (as part of that concept of different levels of evidence). Maybe at some point I'll borrow a few of these to try out and measure to see if there's detectable change in my room if I put a few of these on my speakers or near drivers, etc.

If one is so inclined, feel free to explore for yourself! It could be fun, just like using green pens on the edges of CDs was fun back in the day without costing much. Whether these tweaks are found to have value, in time, no doubt the audiophile "culture" will figure it out. Here's the Synergistic HFT Set-Up PDF Guide and another on-line here for ideas about where you might place these things and the supposed improvements in "warmth", "clarity", "width"/"scale" and "focus".

Paul and some of his audiophile friends have been using these to good effect, I am told. Let me know if you've found value in such tweaks.

--------------------

With that, dear audiophiles, I wish you many hours of music-listening enjoyment!

Let's end off with some Steely Dan "Hey Nineteen" from Gaucho; a classic audiophile track for system tuning which I know Paul uses also. There's an enjoyable SACD 5.1 mix from 2003 (DR15) for those who like multichannel; the more recent Analogue Productions 2024 SACD does not include a multichannel mix unfortunately.