⌈ SYNERGISTIC RESEARCH is an American company which was set up in August 1992 by TED DENNEY, its main designer and director. It specializes in connectors and its first big success was the AC Master Coupler power cable, one of the first high-end products of this type. This time we are testing cables from the ATMOSPHERE EUPHORIA SX series.⌋

FEW THINGS CAN BE SAID ABOUT SYNERGISTIC RESEARCH for sure. You may point out, for example, to an an engineering approach to its products – connectors and power systems. The point is that its owner, TED DENNEY III, is not only an audio enthusiast, or audiophile, not only a music lover, but above all a "seeker". The developments and solutions he proposes may sometimes seem strange but the results he obtains thanks to them make us look at them with respect. The more so, that they are similar to the solutions proposed by other important companies in the industry, such as Audioquest, Furutech or Audio Revive.

The EUPHORIA SX RCA interconnects and speaker cables we are testing this time, part of the ATMOSPHERE series, are a new version of the cables we tested for you in 2018 (HF ⸜ № 172, read HERE |PL|). The Atmosphere X series owes its creation to a research project conducted at the Cambridge University in the UK. As we wrote about it at the time, it was about determining the effects that different types of cables have on the human brain. The testing methodology assumed that during the tests the only variable would be cables, and everything else remained the same (by the way, exactly the same assumptions guide us in testing audio products). The study lasted six months and consisted in a double-blind test (A / B / X).

Researchers studying the brain's cognitive functions in this way have found that music can "wake it up", triggering responses in parts that were previously dormant or even inactive. The next step was to check how this activity was affected by different types of cables, prototypes prepared by Synergistic Research. Based on the results obtained in this way, the Atmosphere X Series was developed with new techniques such as UEF Matrix Shielding, which significantly improved listening pleasure. It turned out that the most important action was the reduction of noise, for example through better shielding and mass conditioning. The same is true for the Atmosphere SX Series.

▌ ATMOSPHERE EUPHORIA SX

ALREADY THE ORIGINAL EUPHORIA X SERIES was divided into three levels: Alive, Excite and Euphoria – it is the same now. The company’s proprietary technologies have been used in them, such as: Tricon Silver Matrix, Air String, High-Frequency Long Duration Conditioning Process, Carbon Fibre UEF Tuning Discs, or Gallio SX Gold Tuning Bullets. Have I already mentioned that Denney likes acronyms and proper names? – If not, then this short list will be sufficient to confirm that.

˻ INTERCONNECT ˺

RCA INTERCONNECTS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SIMPLEST connectors. It is enough to use any coaxial cable, i.e. one that has a wire surrounded by a shield, terminated with RCA plugs on both sides, and we have a cable designed for transmitting low level signals. They can be bought for several Polish zlotys and they will work. I assume, however, that we are talking about something more than signal transmission – we want to transmit signal with possibly minimal interference from the outside. And it's not that simple anymore. The further you dig into it, the more you have to spend on developing the metallurgical side, selecting dielectrics, geometries, etc.

Looking at the EUPHORIA SX interconnects we know that someone has worked hard on the concept. Not only do they not look like ordinary coaxial cables, but there are also some solutions in their design that cannot be found anywhere else. The cables have the form of wires intertwined with each other, covered with a black material. As we read on the manufacturer's website, they are based on two 5th generation cables using the company’s own Tricon Silver Matrix topology, with monocrystalline silver and copper conductors working in parallel. They are complemented by four wires made of pure monocrystalline silver 6N in closed air tubes (Air String).

As we've mentioned in the past, Synergistic Research was the first company in the world to use graphene to build audio cables. It was used in the construction of the shielding. The manufacturer says that "the proper arrangement of the graphite UEF shield in a grid pattern around the cables significantly reduces the level of interference and spectacularly increases musicality, the subjective feeling of pleasure from listening to music." In the construction of the tested interconnects, it is also worth pointing out the internal carbon fiber UEF isolation disks, placed along the cable in places selected during listening tests.

The interconnects are terminated with solid and comfortable to use SR20 RCA connectors. The manufacturer informs that they are subjected to a process of conditioning with high, variable frequency current; this solution is called Quantum Tunelling. It was originally developed for SRX series cables and the company also uses it to improve the performance of Purple fuses:

After perfecting the most natural-sounding and holographic cables in our history, we set out to take them further with a new high voltage conditioning process that applies a sweeping frequency plot for an extended duration. We experimented with dozens of frequencies in different combinations over a prolonged time period before landing on just the right mix.

We even built a new Tesla Coil to handle the excess heat generated during long conditioning sessions. Once finalized, the SRX conditioning process created holographic realism and timbre accuracy far beyond our previous Tesla Coil conditioning protocol.

⸜ www.SYNERGISTICRESEARCH.com; date of access: 11.02.2022.

So, we have an unusual looking cable – that's one thing. But even more surprising, for those who have not had contact with Synergistic Research cables, are two things: tubes made of braided carbon fiber, put onto the cables, and small metal pins which are plugged into the banana plugs, looking like bunches of dates. And then there is the power plug, or "third element," which is plugged into the cable, while its other end is plugged into a wall outlet (or an AC power strip).

The elongated cylinders are called Unified Energy Field Cell (UEF Cell). Originally developed for the top-of-the-line Galileo UEF series, they are a kind of passive EMI/RFI filter. They are made from a layer of metal foil with a spacer made from Japanese Silk and Teflon. Graphene was also used in their construction. These elements are connected to both the shield and the signal cable.

The small pins, clipped using mini-jacks, seem to be more puzzling. We get two types at our disposal – silver and gold colored ones (previously they were red and blue). Before bursting out with laughter, let us consider that inside there is a material that lowers mass noise, and such solutions are used in medicine and the military.

For years, this type of solutions have also been offered by Japanese companies, to mention REALITY ENCHANCER PLUGS by Acoustic Revive. And recently a version of this solution has been proposed by one of the most down-to-earth and totally engineering-oriented British companies, The Chord Company. Now you can laugh, but – at most – at your own ignorance.

Let's add that the ground of the cables is connected to the ground of the power supply system via cables terminated with a power connector. We do not power anything this way, but only equalize potentials on the ground.

˻ SPEAKER CABLE ˺

SIMILARLY TO THE INTERCONNECT, the Atmosphere series speaker cable is available in three versions, differing in the degree of sophistication of construction. The basic one is the Alive SX version, built from two cables with the Silver Matrix geometry. When two hand-crafted pure silver Air Strings wires were added, the Excite SX version was created. The Euphoria SX, the crowning model of the series, was developed by adding two more Air Strings and two more wires using the Silver Matrix topology mentioned earlier in relation to the interconnect. In this way, a mechanically complex cable with eight wires, made in three different ways, (per channel) was obtained.

This cable also features another proprietary "patent", i.e. the SR Ground Plane. Originally developed for the PowerCell AC supply voltage conditioners, it was later adapted for the flagship Galileo SX Series. It is designed to improve noise isolation from the system through proprietary ground plane routing. Again, Carbon Fibre UEF Tuning Discs were used to achieve proper distances between wires. And there are, of course, the small Silver and Gold Galileo UEF Tuning Bullets, plugged into the small jacks on each cable; the cables are directional.

Despite its complex design, the cable is phenomenally flexible. Therefore, there should be no problems with its arrangement in the system.

▌ THE LISTENING SESSION

⸤ THE WAY WE LISTENED The Synergistic Research cables were tested in the "High Fidelity" reference system. The Atmoshere Euphoria SX IC interconnect connected the RCA output of the AYON AUDIO CD-35 HF Edition SACD player and the RCA input of the AYON AUDIO SPHERIS III line preamplifier. The grounding cable for the SR Ground Plane system, terminated with a Schuko power plug, was plugged into the power strip, to which the remaining power cables for the entire system were plugged. The interconnect was compared to the SILTECH TRIPLE CROWN cable.

The Atmoshere Euphoria SX SC speaker cables connected the SOULUTION 710 power amplifier and the HARBETH M40.1 speakers. However, I conducted a separate test using the TAD CR1TX monitors costing 330,000 PLN per pair (in the picture above). They were also compared to the SILTECH TRIPLE CROWN cables. The tested cables were placed on the same stands as the Siltech ones, namely the Acoustic Revive RCI-3.

Albums used in the test | a selection

⸜ PAT METHENY, What’s It All About, Nonesuch Records/Warner Music Japan WPCR-14176, CD (2011).
⸜ LARS DANIELSSON & LESZEK MOŻDŻER, Pasodoble, ACT Music, ACT 9458-2, CD (2007).
⸜ PATRICIA BARBER, Companion, Premonition Records/Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab UDSACD 2023, SACD/CD (1999/2003).
⸜ DOMINIC MILLER & NEIL STACEY, New Dawn, Naim naimcd066, CD (2002).
⸜ DEEP PURPLE, Now What?!, Edel Germany/Victor Entertainment VIZP-116, 2 x SHM-CD (2013).
⸜ ULTRAVOX, Lament, Chrysalis/EMI 96802229, „Remastered Definitive Edition”, 2 x CD (1984/2009).
⸜ ERIC CLAPTON, Journeyman, Warner Bros. Records/Audio Fidelity AFZ 180, „Limited Edition | No, 0281”, SACD/CD (1989/2014).
⸜ DEEP PURPLE, In Rock, w: DEEP PURPLE, The Audio Fidelity Collection, Warner Bros./Audio Fidelity AFZB 019, „Limited Edition | No. 0878”, 4 x gold-CD (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973/2013).
⸜ NAT ‘KING’ COLE, Welcome to the Club, Columbia/Audio Fidelity AFZ 153, „Limited Edition | No. 1294”, SACD/CD (1959/2013).

˻ INTERCONNECT ˺

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN A LONG TIME to notice how deep, how velvety sound the new Synergistic Research interconnect offers. The first CD I listened to, What’s It All About by Pat METHENY, was a relatively simple affair – solo guitar, mostly baritone. Recorded without overdubs and edits, with naturally sounding reverb, it carries a huge emotional charge, however. The American cable showed this complexity effortlessly, "by the way" as it were.

First of all, it did show the depth of this recording. The reverb imposed on the instrument is long, and the effects are set in such a way that although the sound attack comes to us from the center of the stage, everything beyond it is extremely spacious. The sound bounces off the walls and meanders across the whole stage in front of us. The reference interconnect was more precise and offered better resolution in this "wandering". Despite this, the Synergistic cable was not that far behind, mainly due to the fact that it perfectly presented the depth of sound, which is what I started this part of the listening session with.

Oh, how great it was with the next album, Pasodoble by LARS DANIELSSON and LESZEK MOŻDŻER, this time with two instruments – the piano and double bass! After switching from the Siltech cables, the sound immediately became lower and came closer to me. The Atmosphere Euphoria SX cables just sound like this. The attack is a bit withdrawn and the sustain, i.e. what the "meat" brings, comes to the foreground. The piano gained some polish and refinement in this way, and the double bass sounded slightly lower, as if the microphone was placed a little closer to the sound box than before.

So, the tested interconnect sounds quite close and – let's say this – warm. Unlike many other products of this type, however, it does not bring the foreground too close. PATRICIA BARBER from the concert album Companion was even a bit further away, and the screams and applause coming at 2:11 of Black Magic Woman were shown behind the line connecting the speakers, but because of that they seemed extremely tangible, as if the cables could handle the small signals that make up the "fabric" of the sound, and not just its external form, i.e. the melodic line, rhythm, etc.

This cable "enters" sound softly, without a sharp attack. So, it may seem a bit sedated. It is a bit like that, but not completely. It keeps the rhythm, accentuates tempo changes very well and perfectly makes recordings that are very compressed and not fully resolving more vivid, making them seem clearer than in reality. This was the case, for example, with the musically excellent, but still not so selective albums Now What?! by DEEP PURPLE and ERIC CLAPTON’s Journeyman.

I have both albums – Now What?! is a two-CD release – in the best available versions, i.e., respectively, the Japanese SHM-CD and Audio Fidelity SACD. Still, at least compared to jazz recordings, their sound is dynamically rather flat and not very selective. Once we get used to it, it loses its significance because this is excellent music, that's clear. Equally clear to me was also the fact that the American interconnect handled that superbly. Yes, the sound was slightly calmed down and warm, but with great depth and tonal balance. I also did not have the slightest problem with brightening or sharpening – the Synergistic Research cable seemed not to notice them.

˻ SPEAKER CABLE ˺

TWO THINGS IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND when listening to music with the Atmoshere Euphoria SX SC speaker cable in your system: depth and so-called "presence". Depth is that the sound is bigger with it and has a more strongly marked mid-bass point – the energy transmitted there by the American cable is really high. On the other hand, "presence" is about slightly emphasizing the range responsible for speech clarity.

The deepening of some of the bass allowed the track Lamentfrom the ULTRAVOX album of the same title to develop beautifully. It starts with a drum machine beating the rhythm slowly, to which the so-called "transitions" are added from time to time. Both the drum machine itself as well as the transitions between channels were large, dense and perfectly articulated with the Synergistic Research cable.

The album was recorded in a classic manner for those times, that is, with the vocal track withdrawn in the mix. Generally, the idea was to add treble and bass to make it sound powerful and energetic on the small radios that young people listened to music on. Listened to in good systems of the time, these records sounded bright and rumbled with bass. After many years, it turned out that this was not a problem of the recordings but of the equipment from that era – with high feedback, no fill, and with low resolution. In high-end modern systems, this vocal withdrawal is obvious. And yet it has amazing connectivity with the rest of the recording, which is deep and full.

And the tested speaker cable showed all this well, because it is a cable with good resolution. But it also modified the sound in its own way. The lifting of the bass part is accompanied by bringing the vocal closer, which is caused by open treble. The treble is a bit sweet, but its energy is considerable. That is why Midge Ure's vocal from the Ultravox album, the heavily overdriven guitar on the opening track of DEEP PURPLE's In Rock, and the Hammond organ that comes right afterwards were big, strong, and quite close to me.

So, what we get with the Synergistic Research cable is a close perspective, density and big volume. This is a cable that is able to magnify the thin image of a system that is not completely balanced in terms of tone color, and in neutral ones it will add "body", "meat", or – simply – life to the sound. The sound becomes more attractive with it. It is not completely neutral, but it has all the advantages of a natural sounding cable. That is why NAT 'KING' COLE from the SACD reissue of his Welcome To The Club album, perfectly prepared by Audio Fidelity, sounded intimate, but also full of fire. After all, this is music meant for dancing (!).

Finally, I will come back to the way of imaging we are dealing with here. As I already mentioned, the foreground, or rather events on the axis are close to us with this cable, and they are also quite large. Space is shown in an intimate way, i.e. the reverberations are slightly shortened, and the effect of "closeness" is emphasized. This was the case with Cole's swing recordings, with the new romantic electronic music of Ultravox, and also with the excellent recordings from Kortez's album Bumerang.

▌ CONCLUSION

THE SYNERGISTIC RESEARCH SYSTEM, that is the Atmoshere Euphoria SX IC interconnect with the Atmoshere Euphoria SX SC speaker cable, sounds very smooth, warm and dense. This warmth is not about withdrawn treble – there is plenty of it, it is active and sonorous. It is more about rounding off its attack, smoothing out its burrs. So, what we get is pleasant and involving sound.

This is also contributed to by a stronger emphasis on the range between the midrange and upper bass. Regardless of the album you are listening to, you will have the impression of participating in a real performance – something I noticed already with the earlier version of these cables. Here it is carried even further, primarily by "tightening" the tangibility of the presentation. To be honest, the tested cables make the sound fill the space tightly, a bit like when listening through headphones.

All this makes the sound incredibly attractive and wonderfully relaxed. Selectivity is good, but it is not the most important thing here. Resolution, in turn, is on a high level, but it does not bring out details, but rather supports cohesion and smoothness. This is a cabling system for those who like the sound of vinyl and tubes, and do not want to rush anything – the kind of a system for slow, lazy afternoons and evenings – "welcome to the club!"■