“Examining the Criticism: Is Synergistic Research Unfairly Singled Out in the High-End Audio Industry?”

[Ted Denney III]

Ted,

in all seriousness, one reason i have a negative disposition toward your products is that for a number of years you showed at audio shows with gear i wanted to hear. and your demonstrations got in the way of my interests. so it was annoying. closed doors, scheduled times, all that stuff. not my cup of tea. at a show i want to hear the gear 'naked'.

nothing personal, but i just got an attitude about it and decided to just ignore your products. just too 'in your face' an approach for me. i did sit through a couple of your demo's at one time or another so i did realize that your approach did something positive. but beyond that never could get my head around thinking about it.

the Million Dollar System thing you did at CES 2002 (in an off site auditorium down the street from the Alexis Park) was crazy stuff. i do take my hat off to you for showmanship. maybe the most over-the-top single thing ever in high end audio. you set the bar impossibly high. you do have lots of gumption for sure.

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Mike,
I understand your perspective, and I can see myself having that perspective where I an audiophile attending a trade-show. But the reality is, I spend tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket to put on every show we attend— upwards of eight shows annually, and well over $200,000 annually. The truth is, my purpose is not to showcase other manufacturers products that we might be using in the system, but to quantify what it is that Synergistic Research is doing to create the sound people are enjoying. Over the intervening three decades, my trade-show demonstration techniques have evolved to become more efficient, and at the same time, allow for people to just “enjoy the music more.” Ironically, my demonstrations are now also far effective at achieving my directive, namely to impressing on people the importance of SR products, to conclusively demonstrate the ecosystem of synergy they create, and ultimately, making friends that become SR guys.



Theodore Walton Denney III

Lead designer, CEO Synergistic Research Inc.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Mike,
I understand your perspective, and I can see myself having that perspective where I an audiophile attending a trade-show. But the reality is, I spend tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket to put on every show we attend— upwards of eight shows annually, and well over $200,000 annually. The truth is, my purpose is not to showcase other manufacturers products that we might be using in the system, but to quantify what it is that Synergistic Research is doing to create the sound people are enjoying. Over the intervening three decades, my trade-show demonstration techniques have evolved to become more efficient, and at the same time, allow for people to just “enjoy the music more.” Ironically, my demonstrations are now also far effective at achieving my directive, namely to impressing on people the importance of SR products, to conclusively demonstrate the ecosystem of synergy they create, and ultimately, making friends that become SR guys.



Theodore Walton Denney III

Lead designer, CEO Synergistic Research Inc.

i totally respect that your approach works well enough for you to justify it. and i applaud that.

best wishes for success. i will try and connect next time i have an opportunity. and open my mind to what you are doing.

 

[Ted Denney III]

i totally respect that your approach works well enough for you to justify it. and i applaud that.

best wishes for success. i will try and connect next time i have an opportunity. and open my mind to what you are doing.

Thank’s Mike. I look forward to meeting you and I will make a point of allowing you to enjoy our system, and even hand you the iPad, so you can pick whatever music you would like to hear. And if you’d like, I may even demonstrate a few of my products

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Sorry but this seems to be a self made controversy just to get some "air Play" on the site.
Where is the evidence that this company takes more shit than anyone else?
Sorry don't see it and in fact I will say that I dont agree with that premise especially here on the wild plains of WBF.

EXACTLY!!

 

[Bobvin]

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Can I get fries with that?

 

[Iamrael]

Thank’s Mike. I look forward to meeting you and I will make a point of allowing you to enjoy our system, and even hand you the iPad, so you can pick whatever music you would like to hear. And if you’d like, I may even demonstrate a few of my products

 

[Bobvin]

I’ll say this, whenever I run into a piece of marketing literature that mentions “quantum” my bullshit antennae begin to quiver uncontrollably. The term is most often used incorrectly or out of context, but it is one of those words people with no understanding of what it means are reluctant to admit not knowing, so they simply nod their head in agreement.

Given the following definition from Dictionary.com, what is “quantum” about, for example, your fuses?

quantum

— noun, plural quan·ta [kwon-tuh] Show IPA.

1. quantity or amount: the least quantum of evidence.
2. a particular amount.
3. a share or portion.
4. a large quantity; bulk.
5. Physics.
   1. the smallest quantity of radiant energy, equal to Planck's constant times the frequency of the associated radiation.
   2. the fundamental unit of a quantized physical magnitude, as angular momentum.

— adjective

1. sudden and significant: a quantum increase in productivity.

quantum sufficit2

Latin.

1. as much as suffices; enough.

 

[Ted Denney III]

I’ll say this, whenever I run into a piece of marketing literature that mentions “quantum” my bullshit antennae begin to quiver uncontrollably. The term is most often used incorrectly or out of context, but it is one of those words people with no understanding of what it means are reluctant to admit not knowing, so they simply nod their head in agreement.

Given the following definition from Dictionary.com, what is “quantum” about, for example, your fuses?

quantum

— noun, plural quan·ta [kwon-tuh] Show IPA.

1. quantity or amount: the least quantum of evidence.
2. a particular amount.
3. a share or portion.
4. a large quantity; bulk.
5. Physics.
   1. the smallest quantity of radiant energy, equal to Planck's constant times the frequency of the associated radiation.
   2. the fundamental unit of a quantized physical magnitude, as angular momentum.

— adjective

1. sudden and significant: a quantum increase in productivity.

quantum sufficit2

Latin.

1. as much as suffices; enough.

Do you personally find power cords, digital cables, or analog cables to dramatically affect the sound of your stereo? Curious.

 

[Ian B]

It is an industry-wide issue regarding branding/naming products. I don't know many here would deny that SR products sound really good, and usually accomplish what they claim to, qualitatively.

I also think your explanation about magnetic field characteristics is the best that we have so regarding a lot of aspects of hifi audio including cables, fuses, and power conditioners.

That said, I do get the impression that either nobody on the inside really knows why these products do what they do, or everybody is holding their IP close to the chest, hence terminology that very loosely derives from quantum physics or other sciences. Maybe it's better than saying "magnetic field noise reducing ferrite/crystal sand blend". But there are a lot of haters, that will jump on any questionable product description, and don't give any credence to positive qualitative reviews.

 

[andromedaaudio]

I do get the impression that either nobody on the inside really knows why these products do what they do

So it involves a kind of magic then , incl Magic Spells ??

 

[exupgh12]

Ted,

The criticisms that Synergistic Research (SR) faces, while often intense, present a clear opportunity for the company. Instead of focusing on perceived double standards, SR can take decisive action to address skepticism and demonstrate confidence in its products.

1. Subjective Terminology: Many companies use unconventional descriptions, but SR can stand out by providing clearer, universally relatable explanations alongside these terms. This would make your innovations more accessible and persuasive to a broader audience.

2. Peer-Reviewed Studies: While the lack of scientific backing is an industry-wide issue, SR can lead by commissioning independent testing or publishing transparent, measurable data. By owning the narrative, SR could redefine the conversation and set a new standard.

3. Trade Show Success: Best Sound at Show awards are valuable but not always enough to sway skeptics. Publicizing blind listening tests, real-world case studies, or direct comparisons would cement SR’s reputation as a performance-driven company.

4. Market Growth: Significant sales growth is proof of success, but the story behind that growth needs to be told more assertively. Showcase customer testimonials, unique solutions, and repeat buyers as evidence of SR’s impact.

5. In-Home Auditions: This is SR’s trump card. Frame it as the ultimate proof of performance: “We don’t just ask for trust—we let you hear it for yourself in your system.”

Rather than leaning into the role of the victim, maybe SR should embrace why its position as an industry leader. By focusing on transparency, education, and direct engagement, SR can reshape its narrative and turn critics into advocates.

 

[Chop]

SR products definitely do something and its possible that Ted (I'm English, can I call you Ted? ) has an understanding of why they make a difference which others (like me) don't grasp or don't grasp yet. For me, Ted comes across as an intuitive ...engineer? who may be on to something.
I have some fuses which made a big improvement / made a big change that I like. I am genuinely interested in his products but I am not aware of a way for me to try more of them FOC in the UK so they are too expensive to "risk".

But are SR unfairly treated? Not in my opinion. Ted might be a really good engineer but IMO, he is a blindingly good marketing man & salesman who should run master classes. Everything from the product naming to the bull***** descriptions of what is going on, to the regular updated products "due to a new discovery (usually quantum)", to the product positioning & pricing policy, its all very well done from a marketing point of view. This thread itself is just marketing fluff to generate controversy and sales from a wealthy forum, dressed up as a question.
No I don't think SR take more crap than anyone else. SR deserves all they get as a direct consequence of their marketing - and Ted loves it!

Reading it back this looks like I'm angry or anti SR products. I'm genuinely not and I'm genuinely interested in anything that advances our understanding of what might be happening in audio, whether I understand it or believe it right now or not. I'm interested in what Ted has to say in the same way that I really would have loved to have known Be Yamamura to understand his theories better - what a dinner companion he would have been!
Everything makes a difference.
I just don't think there is a debate here. No publicity is bad publicity.

 

[Al M.]

I’ll say this, whenever I run into a piece of marketing literature that mentions “quantum” my bullshit antennae begin to quiver uncontrollably.

Beyond Just Technology: SuperUltraHyperTechnology

PYST cables are made from only the finest 6-nines Unobtanium™ alloy, molecularly assembled in our Alternate Universe™ reality-distortion tesseract field, using a secret geometry reverse-engineered from crashed UFOs, painstakingly smuggled out of Area 51 by deep-cover operatives. Performance is further enhanced by the use of a QuantConnect™ quantum-entangled pair of transmission interfaces, held at absolute zero by our exclusive Stasis Field™ technology. The cables are then wrapped in NanoAeroCap™, a nanotechnology-enabled aerogel anti-capacitance insulation system, featuring Fractal Interleaved Geometry™ to create negative inductance for maximum audio transmission quality.

Or, er, well . . . again, no. These are nice, high-quality cables, with solid, reliable connectors. That’s it. Hope you like them!

From:

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

 

[andromedaaudio]

Beyond Just Technology: SuperUltraHyperTechnology

PYST cables are made from only the finest 6-nines Unobtanium™ alloy, molecularly assembled in our Alternate Universe™ reality-distortion tesseract field, using a secret geometry reverse-engineered from crashed UFOs, painstakingly smuggled out of Area 51 by deep-cover operatives. Performance is further enhanced by the use of a QuantConnect™ quantum-entangled pair of transmission interfaces, held at absolute zero by our exclusive Stasis Field™ technology. The cables are then wrapped in NanoAeroCap™, a nanotechnology-enabled aerogel anti-capacitance insulation system, featuring Fractal Interleaved Geometry™ to create negative inductance for maximum audio transmission quality.

Or, er, well . . . again, no. These are nice, high-quality cables, with solid, reliable connectors. That’s it. Hope you like them!

From:

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

Thats funny AL , i like schiit .

 

[Al M.]

Thats funny AL , i like schiit .

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Hehe, they also took out a full page ad in Stereophile that calls their DAC "obsolete" (post #61 in below link, see image there). They obviously don't take themselves too seriously (but are a highly successful hifi/high end manufacturer, the numbers of units sold are staggering):

Vinyl records outsell CDs for first time in decades

Why not? One can buy, say, a Topping D90SE DAC for around a grand: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-d90se-review-balanced-dac.24235/ I'm curious: can you point to something that costs significantly more with better measured technical performance (in any way...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[fbhifi]

Ted,

in all seriousness, one reason i have a negative disposition toward your products is that for a number of years you showed at audio shows with gear i wanted to hear. and your demonstrations got in the way of my interests. so it was annoying. closed doors, scheduled times, all that stuff. not my cup of tea. at a show i want to hear the gear 'naked'.

nothing personal, but i just got an attitude about it and decided to just ignore your products. just too 'in your face' an approach for me. i did sit through a couple of your demo's at one time or another so i did realize that your approach did something positive. but beyond that never could get my head around thinking about it.

the Million Dollar System thing you did at CES 2002 (in an off site auditorium down the street from the Alexis Park) was crazy stuff. i do take my hat off to you for showmanship. maybe the most over-the-top single thing ever in high end audio. you set the bar impossibly high. you do have lots of gumption for sure.

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Now that what I call a Full Loom!

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...yes, mega-loom. And my immediate thought was: all of these cables run in parallel like that? I thought guidance was *not* to do that. And further, on a thread where we were told that the important detail was that there are electromagnetic fields of energy, not electrons flowing like water in a hose (my paraphrasing), all impacting each other.

The cable images were hugely impressive for the amount displayed, as pics like that often are, and seeing tidy cabling soothes my obsessive cable needs, but is it good electronically?

 

[treitz3]

Tom,

Tom say what you like. Your observations, objective or ad hominem opens your perspective to debate. But no one can say Synergistic Research is less valid than any other company in our space.

Okay, I would like to first explain to you and everyone else here that I have nothing personal against or for your company. I am not affiliated with your company in any way. I have not ever tried, nor bought one of your products. I don't even recall ever hearing any of your products in the rigs I have heard/auditioned (they were not specifically pointed out ). But, you asked for it. This is a post from a good friend of mine who bought one of your Orange fuses.

Synergistic research orange fuses

So, in full disclosure I did not even bother installing these.

forum.polkaudio.com

My post is to show that whether unchanged or modified, the bases of the 160 dollar orange fuse is a one dollar fuse. Very hard for me to swallow a 3,000 percent mark up

Then there are these threads as well, to name but a couple -

Audiogon Discussion Forum

I live in California and a couple of weeks ago we had strange lightning storms that started the many fires burning in the State. It also fried the fuse...

forum.audiogon.com

Synergistic Research SR Orange Fuse snake oil ?

audiophilestyle.com

Now, I will say this. I know audio companies do need to make a profit but if below is all you do to a 1 or $2 stock fuse, then maybe it is the markup that causes folks to dislike your products or consider your products, "Snake oil". It is also my understanding that you also sell fuses that are in the thousands of dollars. I would hope those aren't stock fuses as well. Based upon what I am reading below, all you do is demagnetize and cryo' this fuse (and I'm quite sure you don't do this one at a time, you do it in bulk)......how do you even come close to justifying the cost to the end user?



Throwing fancy words at two basic things that you alter with said fuse, probably doesn't help your case either. That said, I have no skin in the game to either support, nor defend your company with regards to any of this.

And before you ask, yes. I am quite familiar with demagnetizing tools and cryogenic treatment/costs. Out of curiosity, the word "Quantum".....it cracks me up and makes me roll my eyes anytime I read this word when it comes to treatments in audio. Is that your way of saying cryo'd? If not, please explain this "Quantum" stuff. In real layman's terms......and please don't come back with, "proprietary". That would just throw up the BS flag for folks who will read your response even higher.

One other thing I have read about over the years, is that the failure rate of fuses at the startup (initial surge) seems to be rather high. The empirical evidence shows that SR is mentioned (at least online) more than any other company, when it comes to this.

Tom

 

[Ted Denney III]

audiophiles come in 2 categories;

those who view all cables/tweaks claims/justifications with some degree of skepticism, and those yet unborn.

so it just depends on what level of skepticism any product receives. there is going to be some. plenty of audiophiles enjoy/like/prefer the results of cables and tweaks. which is a different thing than the 'why' it happens. or whether it's merely a difference or valued change?

the more deep and involved the explanations, the greater the skepticism. ideally the designers just say listen and decide. who knows why?

Measurements, scientific explanation, and subjective reality for Synergistic Research products.

If one reads our product descriptions, you see two things. If you read between the lines on explanations for the suite of technology that encompasses UEF, if you think about what the FEQ Carbon is, a ULF generator for the Earth Shuman resonance and harmonics of the Earth’s Shuman resonance, then you get an idea of how our products could work scientifically. But even if we provided ironclad scientific proof for how they work, this would set in play two things: 1. it would tell our competitors exactly what they need to do to rip us off, and since we’re already the most copied company in the High End audio industry, this makes no sense. 2. as a marketing strategy, while it might, and I say, might attract a few new customers, the vast majority of customers, over 90% would still need to perform an in-home audition in order to decide whether or not they are interested, and whether or not the product being auditioned delivers value equal to, or greater than the price of admission. And it is this ladder dynamic that we focus on and have focused on since August 1992. Namely, making our products available to qualified customers to try in their home systems, before making any final decisions.

Ted Denney
lead designer and CEO Synergistic Research Inc.

 

[PeterA]

...yes, mega-loom. And my immediate thought was: all of these cables run in parallel like that? I thought guidance was *not* to do that. And further, on a thread where we were told that the important detail was that there are electromagnetic fields of energy, not electrons flowing like water in a hose (my paraphrasing), all impacting each other.

The cable images were hugely impressive for the amount displayed, as pics like that often are, and seeing tidy cabling soothes my obsessive cable needs, but is it good electronically?

Here is the cable management behind the racks of the best system I have ever heard: