At the Staverton UK Audio HiFi Show a couple of weeks ago, the most exciting room for me was the MBS Audio room, with the very engaging Byron Thompson demonstrating his Synergistic Research and other products. He transformed his room in the demo from good to great, and the process immediately triggered my Old Naim/New Naim Upgrade journey, where I aspire to get to the New Naim 200 Series performance with my Old Naim equipment.
MBS Audio (MBS is Mind Body & Soul, referring to how music can make you feel) and Byron offer a HiFi optimisation service for a £199 consultation fee (that is refundable if you purchase some of the products, like a deposit, really) where he suggests improvements to your existing HiFi system based upon a six-pillar methodology called PAVING. These six pillars are Power, Acoustics, Vibration Control, Cables and Interconnects, Noise Reduction Ancillaries, and Grounding.
While many of us are familiar with clean power supplies and power cables, the value of good cables, and reducing noise floors, few know how to do them or have experienced them in their homes. Byron seeks to satisfy both of these areas with his services.
Byron is a representative of Synergistic Research.
Byron contacted me after I left my card with him at Staverton. He suggested I spend a day optimising my own ‘real-world’ Old Naim system, which I have been attempting to elevate to a level closer to the New Naim performance since I find the New Naim Classic equipment unaffordable. The Chord Company upgrades I’ve made to my Old Naim system have improved my presentation; however, I was not quite ready for the transformation that was ahead.
The system optimised by MBS
I’m using an Old Naim Classic XPS power supply, a Naim NAC-N 272 streaming preamplifier, and an old-school Naim NAP 250.2. In addition to the NAC, I’m using a Michel Gyro SE turntable with a Rega Phono Stage. I retain the Chord Cables Burndy X upgrade and Signature X upgrade for the NAC and NAP, respectively. I have the Tellurium Q Ultra Black II loudspeaker cables in this setup. The loudspeaker in use is the Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 compact floorstanders. Having evaluated my system, Byton went through his arsenal of products, which is as follows.
Synergistic Research Powercell 14
This Synergistic Research Powercell 14 was a full-on night and day game-changer…
Byron immediately went for my Atlas Power Conditioner, which I thought was such a compelling performer. The Synergistic Research Powercell 14 is a state-of-the-art power supply conditioner (main picture) featuring EM cell technology that addresses ambient RF and high-frequency noise. This unit is £14,495. However, there is a smaller version called the Powercell 8 (£4,295; the 8 is the number of plug sockets at the back; the Powercell 14, therefore, has fourteen). Clearly, these numbers are eyewatering and counter to my cost of upgrade argument, but it was clear there was a fundamental shift in my old Naim Classic performance. The advantage of investing in the power supply is that it is a foundation for all the electronics, power supply, preamplifier, and power amplifiers.
As Byron was at pains to say (more than once), his job;
… was not to tell me how amazing some of these products are, but it was for me to say it to him!
This Synergistic Research Powercell 14 was a full-on night and day game-changer with a heightened emotional experience in the room. There was no doubt about it.
Telos Grounding
Another expensive but fundamental system enhancement came from the Telos grounding box. These grounding products are designed to eliminate noise and distortion caused by fluctuating ground potentials. This Telos Grounding box (£6,795) has six terminals for each component. This is one of those units that you have to hear to understand, and indeed, I prefer it connected in this system than not, though I cannot say it had the same effect on me as the Powercell did, which was in place at the time in the first place.
Synergistic Research Linear Power Supply
Next, a linear power supply for some of the electronics (to follow), including an acoustic field generator and some signal conditioners, called the Synergistic Research Tranquility Base Carbon (see below), was introduced.
Synergistic Research Switch
Like the Melco data switch, the Synergistic Research Ethernet Switch UEF is designed to enhance the data quality of the streaming DAC by reducing jitter and electromagnetic interference. It was powered by the Powercell.
Synergistic Research Black Box
This passive Black Box is designed to manage low-frequency responses in the room. I found this to have limited effect on my room (or my ears), though with some hardcore Hip-Hop, it certainly removed some of the bass flab from the room. It also apparently enhanced the midrange, though I didn’t get this.
Synergistic Research Carbon Elevators
Next up from the MBS Audio portfolio were some carbon fibre cable risers. These risers fit in the acoustic section of PAVING. As we progressed, it was clear that Byron was layering his enhancements cumulatively; their true value is only realised when removed.
Synergistic Research HFT Speaker Kit and Neodio Acoustic Purifiers
Next, it was time to acoustically “dress” the Sonus faber loudspeakers with seven (passive) High-Frequency Transducers on each loudspeaker designed to;
mitigate vibrational distortions and correct phase and frequency interactions.
These were placed variously on the loudspeakers and the ceiling.
Four Neodio Acoustic Purifiers Origine B2 Acoustic Purifiers complimented these from Origine, designed to absorb parasite vibrations and interference that can degrade audio performance. These four ‘ paperweights’ were placed around the loudspeakers.
Synergistic Research Tranquility Base
Next, it was time for some vibration control in the form of the Synergistic Research Tranquility Base, designed with EM Cell technology from the PowerCell, to optimise the noise floor and thereby improve dynamics and sound staging. We placed this unit under my NAC-N 272 with some Synergistic Research MIG Footers designed to remove mechanical vibration on the Base. We also put three of these MIGs under the Powercell 14.
Some ‘Seasoning’, The Extras
In a final flourish, Byron sprinkled an Aardvark Network Filter between the switch and the NAC-N and some Noise Reduction Filters connected to the RCA sockets at the rear of the NAC and the switch, similar to the Chord GroundARAY, designed to minimise noise and distortion and thus increase sound clarity and detail. Other extras
included the addition of Speaker Crossover Transducers in the binding posts of the Sonetto, utilising UEF Technology to neutralise disruptive electromagnetic fields in the crossover.
The final flourish was the Synergistic Research FEQ Carbon connected to the linear power supply.
Ideon Audio USB reclocker
…inserting (the Ideon Audio USB reclocker) in between my Melco library … and a T+A … DAC in the Kudos Audio Sigao review was a night-and-day moment
We were unable to use the USB reclocker in the Naim system; however, inserting it elsewhere the following day in between my Melco library and a T+A PSD 3100 HV preamplifier DAC in the Kudos Audio Sigao review (coming soon) was a night-and-day moment on a par with the XPS moment and the Moor Amps experience. It was unbelievable that a box with one input, one output and an on-off switch could perform so clearly in an already high-end system like this. The Sigao external crossover to the Titan 505 loudspeakers is impressive enough, but this Ideon Audio USB reclocker is already on my Christmas shopping list; it is £6,750.
Thoughts
Two night-and-day moments in two days!
A huge amount is going on here. It is clear that you will need some good electronics to start with, and my Naim system is just about there. The more compelling elements were the more expensive components: the Powercell, the Telos Grounder, and the Idion Audio USB reclocker. These three components would provide a foundation for any system, current or future, and as such, represent an investment in your listening for a lifetime.
As Byron kept saying, these products speak for themselves, and it is for the listener to feel the undoubted upgrade in any given system. A New Naim Classic system is unaffordable for me, and some of these solutions are similarly unaffordable, but I am clear now that my existing system is good enough, and I have curbed my urge to upgrade to the new Naim Audio 222 electronics, where you really would want the NPX 300 power supply.
Two night and day moments in two days! Something is compelling here about Byron’s offering with these products; if you have the budget, I would strongly advocate spending time with Byron before you embark on an upgrade journey. He is highly engaging and good company, but he’s not a salesman. Don’t worry; the products do the talking for him!
On his website, Byron says at the outset;
I challenge the default by advocating an ‘Optimisation first‘ approach. Why? Because understanding your system’s current capabilities can save you from unnecessary expenses on new components that might not even solve the underlying ‘issue’.
This is absolutely the case with my HiFi system, and he proved that to me emphatically.