Synergistic Research Voodoo Streamer Server versus… ?

[Ted Denney III]

As part of my upcoming YouTube channel, I will be comparing various Synergistic Research products to their competitors. This comparison will include the new SR Voodoo Network Server, where we will demonstrate not only its sonic capabilities but also its unique features, such as selectable ULF biasing. We will also make high-resolution download files available so you can hear the difference between Voodoo and other top contenders.

My question is this: Which servers would you like to hear compared? Let us know in the comments below.

Ted Denney
Lead designer CEO, Synergistic Research Inc.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Okay.

 

[exupgh12]

The comparisons on your channel sound very interesting. I’d recommend including the Antipodes Oladra or K50, Innuos Statement, Taiko Extreme, and Aurender N30SA in the lineup. These are well-regarded options that would make for a meaningful and informative evaluation against the SR Voodoo Network Server.

Looking forward to seeing, and hearing the results.

 

[Ted Denney III]

The comparisons on your channel sound very interesting. I’d recommend including the Antipodes Oladra or K50, Innuos Statement, Taiko Extreme, and Aurender N30SA in the lineup. These are well-regarded options that would make for a meaningful and informative evaluation against the SR Voodoo Network Server.

Looking forward to seeing, and hearing the results.

The Antipodes Oladra / K50, Innuos Statement, Taiko Extreme, and Aurender N30SA are all excellent suggestions. In fact, during development, many of these were benchmarked. Thank you for your input.

Ted Denney
Lead designer CEO, Synergistic Research Inc.

 

[microstrip]

(...) These are well-regarded options that would make for a meaningful and informative evaluation against the SR Voodoo Network Server.

Looking forward to seeing, and hearing the results.

The sound of top servers depend a lot on the configuration of servers to match DAC and system. IMO such fast evaluations are meaningless and, most times, erroneous.

It is still the real problem of the top independent servers - the extreme diversity of DAC digital input channels and the complexity of modes in order to allow fine tuning.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...Taiko Olympus server with Taiko Analog output solves external dac "issue."

 

[exupgh12]

The sound of top servers depend a lot on the configuration of servers to match DAC and system. IMO such fast evaluations are meaningless and, most times, erroneous.

It is still the real problem of the top independent servers - the extreme diversity of DAC digital input channels and the complexity of modes in order to allow fine tuning.

The choice largely depends on the quality of the clock in your server/streamer compared to your DAC. If your server/streamer has a superior clock, I recommend connecting them using AES or I2S. On the other hand, if your DAC's clock is better, USB would be the preferred connection.

Additionally, the power quality of these components plays a role—whether it’s mediocre, good, or excellent, it can influence the overall performance.

In the audiophile world, we often have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be.

 

[microstrip]

The choice largely depends on the quality of the clock in your server/streamer compared to your DAC. If your server/streamer has a superior clock, I recommend connecting them using AES or I2S. On the other hand, if your DAC's clock is better, USB would be the preferred connection.

Unfortunately for every thumb rule I can imagine ten immediate exceptions. In the high-end many times implementation overcomes such rules.

Additionally, the power quality of these components plays a role—whether it’s mediocre, good, or excellent, it can influence the overall performance.

Sorry, what is the "power quality" of a component?

In the audiophile world, we often have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be.

An individual preference hobby will always be complicated. Surely, discarding others preferences will make things easier. But IMO real life is more complicated than videos ...

 

[exupgh12]

Unfortunately for every thumb rule I can imagine ten immediate exceptions. In the high-end many times implementation overcomes such rules.

I respectfully disagree. While it’s true that exceptions can sometimes arise, thumb rules exist because they provide a foundational guideline that applies in most situations. In high-end audio, while implementation plays a crucial role, it often works best when it aligns with established principles rather than overriding them. Properly applied, these rules serve as a valuable framework to guide decisions, even in a complex field like ours.

Sorry, what is the "power quality" of a component?

What I meant by the term "power quality" is the efficiency and stability of a component's electrical and power supply systems. This encompasses factors such as the design and implementation of its power supply unit, noise filtering capabilities, and its ability to provide clean, stable, and sufficient power. High-quality power is essential for optimal performance, as it minimizes electrical noise and interference that could otherwise impact the sonic characteristics of audio equipment.

An individual preference hobby will always be complicated. Surely, discarding others preferences will make things easier. But IMO real life is more complicated than videos ...

You make a valid point—personal preferences play a significant role in this hobby, and they do add complexity. However, I believe that embracing this diversity of opinions and experiences enriches the journey rather than complicating it. While videos can provide valuable insights, they often simplify nuanced realities. Real-life evaluations, guided by personal taste and hands-on experience, ultimately lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of what works best for each individual.

 

[microstrip]

I respectfully disagree. While it’s true that exceptions can sometimes arise, thumb rules exist because they provide a foundational guideline that applies in most situations. In high-end audio, while implementation plays a crucial role, it often works best when it aligns with established principles rather than overriding them. Properly applied, these rules serve as a valuable framework to guide decisions, even in a complex field like ours.

Can you give me a few example of any such rule?

What I meant by the term "power quality" is the efficiency and stability of a component's electrical and power supply systems.

I can't see how efficiency can be related to audio performance - do you prefer switching supplies? How do you measure stability?

This encompasses factors such as the design and implementation of its power supply unit, noise filtering capabilities, and its ability to provide clean, stable, and sufficient power. High-quality power is essential for optimal performance, as it minimizes electrical noise and interference that could otherwise impact the sonic characteristics of audio equipment.

As I have often told clean applies to vacuum cleaners and clean rooms , not mains. Sorry you are misapplying technical terms, this becomes a subjective semantic debate.

You make a valid point—personal preferences play a significant role in this hobby, and they do add complexity. However, I believe that embracing this diversity of opinions and experiences enriches the journey rather than complicating it. While videos can provide valuable insights, they often simplify nuanced realities. Real-life evaluations, guided by personal taste and hands-on experience, ultimately lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of what works best for each individual.

My opinion is that such videos, as reviews, can provide information and entertainment. But compares most of the time have a perverse content.
Very seldom I look at videos - why spending half an hour to get an information I can get in written form in five minutes?

 

[exupgh12]

Can you give me a few example of any such rule?

• Garbage in, garbage out. The quality of your source material sets the ceiling for the overall system performance.
• Beyond a certain point, doubling the cost of audio equipment does not double its performance.
• High-sensitivity speakers require less amplifier power, while low-sensitivity speakers demand more.

I can't see how efficiency can be related to audio performance - do you prefer switching supplies? How do you measure stability?

I don't prefer specific technology, I judge by my ears (Oladra uses switching while K50 uses linear).

As I have often told clean applies to vacuum cleaners and clean rooms , not mains. Sorry you are misapplying technical terms, this becomes a subjective semantic debate.

I appreciate your perspective, and I agree that technical terms can sometimes be interpreted differently depending on the context. When I refer to 'clean' in the context of mains power, I’m using it as shorthand for a stable, noise-free electrical signal with minimal distortion or interference. While it’s true that the term originates in other fields, its application in high-end audio is widely understood to relate to the quality of power delivery.

Ultimately, the goal isn’t to debate semantics but to ensure the best conditions for audio performance. Whether we call it 'clean' or 'optimized,' I think we can agree that reducing power line noise and ensuring stability is crucial to getting the most out of our systems.

My opinion is that such videos, as reviews, can provide information and entertainment. But compares most of the time have a perverse content.
Very seldom I look at videos - why spending half an hour to get an information I can get in written form in five minutes?

I see your point, and I think it comes down to personal preference and how people like to consume information. Videos can indeed be a mixed bag—sometimes insightful and entertaining, but other times drawn out or overly subjective.

That said, I think videos have their place, especially for things like audio equipment where visual demonstrations can add context that text alone might miss. For those of us who value efficiency, though, written content often wins—clear, concise, and to the point.

 

[Ted Denney III]

I believe these tests will be of massive interest to the actual market. If, and I say if , the Synergistic Research Voodoo streamer server demonstrates a clear superiority in test after test versus all of the aforementioned servers from competing manufacturers, and again, if the Voodoo exhibits certain analog sound characteristics, consistent from test to test, absent in other servers which do not share our proprietary technology, and if, when we make the high-resolution files available for download so people can listen on their home stereos and through their high-resolution headphone systems, these differences are clearly audible (and I already know they will be), this will be a game-changer in terms of which server is broadly considered to be world-class or state-of-the-art, as well as dramatically affecting sales. I absolutely can’t wait; the gnashing of teeth from the industry will almost be as loud as the cheers from our customers!

 

[Mgrif104]

Ted: Few will deny you bring a good deal of confidence and swagger to your salesmanship.
I will certainly give the Voodoo consideration if it performs as you suggest though I agree with concerns noted above regarding the validity of such a demonstration given the variables involved. However, it will certainly let me know if there is merit in performing my own audition.

I understand your server is set up for Roon. However, Aurender demonstrably sounds better with their own Conductor software (as does Taiko with XDMS, Auralic with Lightning DS, Innous with Sense, etc.). I personally have no interest in considering a unit that doesn’t sound better than your competitors if they are not being demo’d how I would use them. Roon to Roon is meaningless to me unless that’s the software preferred by the manufacturer. Of course, others may disagree and might be looking for the best sound they can get via Roon. Personally, I’m looking for the best sound for my wallet.

At the moment, highest on my list are the Extreme and Olympus. If the Voodoo was in the same time zone of either, that would be something.

 

[Ted Denney III]

Ted: Few will deny you bring a good deal of confidence and swagger to your salesmanship.
I will certainly give the Voodoo consideration if it performs as you suggest though I agree with concerns noted above regarding the validity of such a demonstration given the variables involved. However, it will certainly let me know if there is merit in performing my own audition.

I understand your server is set up for Roon. However, Aurender demonstrably sounds better with their own Conductor software (as does Taiko with XDMS, Auralic with Lightning DS, Innous with Sense, etc.). I personally have no interest in considering a unit that doesn’t sound better than your competitors if they are not being demo’d how I would use them. Roon to Roon is meaningless to me unless that’s the software preferred by the manufacturer. Of course, others may disagree and might be looking for the best sound they can get via Roon. Personally, I’m looking for the best sound for my wallet.

At the moment, highest on my list are the Extreme and Olympus. If the Voodoo was in the same time zone of either, that would be something.

Ultimately, you need to compare everything in your system. But if you have the opportunity, and if you have a Synergistic Research dealer nearby, or if you would like a recommendation for a dealer that will ship you a Voodoo which can be done, I highly recommend you listen to the Voodoo—it sounds like no other server on the market.

The following video demonstrates a proprietary technology found only in the Synergistic Research Voodoo streamer server. When turned off, it sounds much like all other high-end servers on the market. However once the Active EM Cells are switched on, well hear for yourself.

 

[chuck]

Which servers would you like to hear compared? Let us know in the comments below.

Baetis Reference 4

 

[Ted Denney III]

Baetis Reference 4

We had that in house for many years. That was the first domino to drop, and since we have one in-house, that would be a fun first video.

 

[nattonrice]

I’m curious, did you experiment with directly regulated supplies instead of the PicoPSU DC-DC converter?