A New Ground -- Benefits of introducing the Synergistic Research Active Ground Block SE
Dedicated ground solutions are not a novel idea but over the past year it seems everyone has been coming out with their version. For a few months I’ve been thinking about introducing one to my system and had considered Entreq, Telos, Nordost and others. Although I have a bunch of Synergistic Research (SR) kit I had dismissed their older basic ground block as too rinky dink -- however when I heard about the new Active Ground Blocks I thought that could be the way to go. The Active Ground blocks are smallish devices with a mains connection and a plethora of outlets for grounding cables to every component. They incorporate a range of the latest SR UEF tweaks http://www.synergisticresearch.com/isolation/ground-isolation/active-ground-block-se/
While the blocks alone are quite expensive ($2995) you will also need to lay out for connections to all of your components -- ideally the HD links. In my case as I have two distinct zones in my system I needed two ground blocks and 13 links -- quite an outlay
Question is is it worthwhile? Most certainly yes. The impact of implementing a full grounding solution in my system was one of the most profound changes I’ve experienced. It’s not a change that can be described in the usual audiophile terms of dynamics, frequency response, transparency etc. Instead it’s a shift in the wholeness, the verisimilitude, the gestalt of what you are hearing. Probably this is most obvious in a couple of places. Firstly is in background washes of sound (e.g. classic synth backings, or massed strings, or the whoosh that opens "Private Investigations") -- which now take on a scale, texture and clarity that had previously been completely masked. Secondly in vocals where a whole level of shading, nuance, breathwork, and subtly inflections are now audible. This is not simply more "detail" or a "reduction in the noise floor" it’s as if things which you did not know previously existed are suddenly there, as they had been all along
The effect is enhanced the more things you ground -- obviously all active components but even stands (my GPA stands are conductive so I connect a basic ground link to the bare metal inside the stand posts -- the surface metal is varnished and non conductive).
While I obviously can recommend the SR products I imagine any ground solution will bring similar benefits and would strongly suggest that anyone with a high resolution system explore some form of ground solution
ps For those in the now the music to accompany this review is A New Ground
Thanks thanks very much @davehrab and @atmasphere these explanations really make sense and are very helpful
one final question/observation is regarding turntables. Most turntables and phono amps have a chassis ground that in many systems will be connected (it is in mine as in the case of one of my two cartridges it sounds better that way). Does the existence of this ground path mess up all other grounds that may have been well designed? Or should phono stage designers have a different grounding arrangement (for my AR Ref Phono 2 it’s a simple chassis tag, and on my table the ground on my wooden arm is to a tag on the turntable itself)
No. The ground of the arm is independent of the audio signal.
In fact what is happening is that the tone arm is a balanced source which in most cases is being operated single-ended. That’s why you wind up with that grounding wire which other single-ended sources don’t seem to need.
At any rate the ground wire is independent of what is the signal ground in the preamp.
@ atmasphere
At any rate the ground wire is independent of what is the signal ground in the preamp.
Would you please expand..... What is the reference for the arm ground wire connection to the ground terminal/lug on the phono preamp chassis?
I guess I always thought it was the DC power supply ground. Isn’t the signal ground also connected there?
I'm currently using 2 SR Ground blocks with HD Cables. Pretty happy with the results. I've owned the Entreq Silver Tellus and have also heard elaborate Entreq setups in other really good systems. I prefer the SR Ground Blocks because they take much less space and offer similar results.
I'm considering an upgrade to the Active Ground Block SE. How much better is it than the original Ground Block?
@mtseymour im afraid I did not upgrade from the original grounding block to the active, I just started with the active so cannot comment on the benefit. With the normal 30 day trial I’d give it a go. I did find that getting the grounding block up on roller ball based supports helped. I also have had good results from grounding cables that Mike at Verastarr made for me that are much cheaper than the SR ones but give great results
Did Verrastarr make the cables from Ground Block to RCA or XLR? How about from Ground Block to Atmosphere interconnects?
SR's website has a photo of HD cables from the Ground Block to Atmosphere interconnects. However, there's no info about these cables (presumably set of 2 per interconnect). Does anyone have experience with this application?
It's been worthwhile for me to upgrade to the HD Cables for components and I wonder about the interconnects.
@mtseymour all of my connections, with the exception of the bare silver connections to my stands, are SR HD links. For the Atmosphere and my two FEQs SR make a cable terminated with the larger bananas. I also needed longer runs to the FEQs for which SR sell extender cables terminated in female small bananas. Did grounding the Atmosphere and FEQs make a difference? Yes but one of the smaller ones, certainly less than getting the grounding right on the FEQs without the ground block ( ie plugging them both into the same dedicated outlets)
I do not have any Atmosphere interconnects so cannot speak to what results you might get with them. all my interconnects are AQ WEL Signature
I have the original SR grounding blocks. I made my own links using solid hi-grade 9999 silver wire. The SR’s HD links are way too expensive for a thin piece of wire. From the wall plug to the grounding block I am using a 12 gauge unshielded 9999 solid wire. Also, you can buy banana adapters to convert a regular size banana (4mm) to 2mm to fit into the SR grounding blocks. With the standard size banana’s you get a much more secure connection.
I am not doubting when guys say grounding blocks improve the sound of their audio systems.
If you would, would you please disconnect the ground wire from the wall outlet equipment at the grounding block and listen for changes in the SQ of your system. Please post back the results.
Ok, I disconnected the ground wire from the wall outlet and the music seemed to shift more to the center. Plugging it back into the wall provides a more spacious soundstage.
Ok, I disconnected the ground wire from the wall outlet and the music seemed to shift more to the center. Plugging it back into the wall provides a more spacious soundstage.
ozzy,
Thanks for the test and quick response.
Plugging it back into the wall outlet. Is it just the ground wire that is being disconnected and reconnected to the wall outlet equipment ground contact? Or are you unplugging a power cord and plug from the outlet? Does the SR grounding block have any type of electronics or filtering device internally that is connected to the hot and neutral AC wall outlet mains?
The active ground block has active components inside as well as a ground connection.
By the way the general rule with active SR components is to never disconnect them if at all possible. Once disconnected and reconnected the fields in the cables to which they are connected take 48-72 hours to fully reform. The same is true for AQ DBS as well. So be very careful if you are making these quick comparisons.
Disconnecting a ground lead at the component end is much less deleterious and a better way of doing a quick check on the impact of this tweak
I am using an ordinary AC plug with just the ground wire connected. Then that wire is connected with a 4mm banana to the SR grounding block. There are no special features with the grounding block just copper with all the grounding leads plugged into it. I have just about everything including video components connected to the block. It will accept 18 leads. Imagine buying all of those leads from SR at about $450 each... gulp! Too me, its a very useful and sonic addition. I think I got it for about $300 used.
I have never tried the Active SR ground block it just seems a little too pricey for me.
Thanks for the response. I might be wrong but I think the
"active components inside" the box are mostly responsible for the reason why the thing improves the SQ of an audio system, not the AC mains safety equipment ground.
I have to wonder if the ground bar on the top of the unit is connected directly to the AC mains wall outlet safety equipment ground. Just a gut feeling it is not.
@jea48 i suspect you may be misunderstand how these systems work. They have no effect on nor relation to the safety ground. As @ozzy has observed even passive ground solutions give results, consider for example the Entreq units which have no connection to the AC safety ground at all but still produce the same type of results. The active circuitry in the SR block I have adds to the effect but you can get the main part of it by using a passive device. These devices will not address humm or other AC ground issues and have a completely separate use.
I am using an ordinary AC plug with just the ground wire connected. Then that wire is connected with a 4mm banana to the SR grounding block. There are no special features with the grounding block just copper with all the grounding leads plugged into it. I have just about everything including video components connected to the block. It will accept 18 leads. Imagine buying all of those leads from SR at about $450 each... gulp! Too me, its a very useful and sonic addition. I think I got it for about $300 used.
I have never tried the Active SR ground block it just seems a little too pricey for me.
ozzy
ozzy,
Thanks for the reply. So your grounding block does not have the "active components inside"? Does the safety equipment ground connect directly to the ground bar on the block?
It appears I need to rethink my understanding of the safety equipment ground.
Al, (almarg),
If you are following this thread, why is the safety equipment ground having any influence on the SQ of the audio system when connected to the grounding block? Especially if it is solidly connected to the ground bar of the block. If that is the case all the signal grounds of the audio equipment is then connected directly to the chassis of cord and plug connected equipment that uses the safety equipment ground.
@jea48 i suspect you may be misunderstand how these systems work. They have no effect on nor relation to the safety ground. As @ozzy has observed even passive ground solutions give results, consider for example the Entreq units which have no connection to the AC safety ground at all but still produce the same type of results. The active circuitry in the SR block I have adds to the effect but you can get the main part of it by using a passive device. These devices will not address humm or other AC ground issues and have a completely separate use.
Ok, I disconnected the ground wire from the wall outlet and the music seemed to shift more to the center. Plugging it back into the wall provides a more spacious soundstage.
ozzy
@ folkfreak,
It sure sounds to me like the safety equipment ground is at play. What am I missing?
I am using an ordinary AC plug with just the ground wire connected. Then that wire is connected with a 4mm banana to the SR grounding block. There are no special features with the grounding block just copper with all the grounding leads plugged into it. I have just about everything including video components connected to the block. It will accept 18 leads. Imagine buying all of those leads from SR at about $450 each... gulp! Too me, its a very useful and sonic addition. I think I got it for about $300 used.
I have never tried the Active SR ground block it just seems a little too pricey for me.
Only the safety equipment ground wire is connected to the grounding block.
@jea48 well yes, the "safety ground" is used as a common point of reference for all the connected components, but you could just as well use a box of dirt a la Entreq or the or the special mix Verastarr are working on (http://www.monoandstereo.com/2017/10/new-verastarr-ground-box.html)
Using the term "safety ground" while technically correct to me implies that this has something to do with electrical safety where in reality all we are using the ground for is as a common reference point -- not a new idea as Naim devotees know well (http://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/how-to-achieve-star-earthing)
Using the term "safety ground" while technically correct to me implies that this has something to do with electrical safety where in reality all we are using the ground for is as a common reference point -- not a new idea as Naim devotees know well (http://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/how-to-achieve-star-earthing)
@folkfreak ,
Not so sure about your statement the AC mains safety equipment ground is not involved in the operation of the grounding block. When I asked ozzy if he would lift the equipment ground from his SR grounding block and then listen for any differences in SQ he did so and then posted back,
Jim,
Ok, I disconnected the ground wire from the wall outlet and the music seemed to shift more to the center. Plugging it back into the wall provides a more spacious soundstage.
So the question then is why was there a difference SQ? One explanation might be with the equipment ground lifted from the SR grounding block system it is then floating above the Main System Ground of the electrical service. With it floating above ground could it then be working as an antenna? If that is the case it would/could introduce any air born RFI through all the ground wires that are connected to the grounding block back to the RCA jack signal ground contact of all the audio equipment. (What is the average length of the ground wires? Is the SR grounding block enclosure made of metal?)
Mother earth is not involved, at play, ime. Rather, jmho, the AC mains, main grounding system is though. The electrical service in our homes is a grounded AC power system. What makes it a grounded system is the service entrance neutral conductor is intentionally connected to earth. By electrical safety code the service entrance neutral conductor is also bonded, connected, to the metal enclosure of the electrical service equipment, your electrical panel. As well all safety equipment grounding conductors of branch circuits also must connect to the grounded service entrance neutral conductor.
So as you can see the safety equipment grounding conductor connected to the equipment ground contact at the wall receptacle outlet and the neutral conductor at the wall outlet are at the same ground potential. The safety equipment ground conductor is directly connected to the neutral conductor back at the electrical panel.
Jmho, it’s the reference, same ground potential, relationship, of the safety equipment ground and neutral conductor that are at play here. Not mother earth.
Just an added note. A few years ago I was participating in a discussion on the Audio Asylum forum. Just going from memory I think the subject had something to do with how mother earth improves the SQ of an audio system. Therefore some were arguing the importance of using the safety equipment ground connected to the chassis of audio equipment. Not sure who at the time first pointed out that audio equipment that is class 2 rated, (that uses doubled insulated AC power wiring), doesn’t use or need a safety equipment ground. I do remember me posting that just proves mother earth is not at play. Mother earth does not have some mystical magical power that sucks nasties from an audio system. Somewhere in the back and forth posts I mistakenly said the chassis, enclosure, of audio equipment that uses double insulated AC power wiring is floating above ground. Charles Hansen, (Manufacturer, Ayre Acoustics, Inc.), responded to my post, not true. If the chassis is allowed to float it will act as an antenna. Therefore the chassis, enclosure, of the equipment is connected to the signal ground of the equipment.
I found a set of male and female 2mm connectors that should fit the Ground Block. If these connectors work, I should be able to try different cables from the Block to Atmosphere interconnects and speaker cables.
I've built several DIY silver ground cables using the 2mm connectors.
Replacing the stock ground cables for my Atmosphere interconnects and speaker cables had minimal impact.
However, it was worthwhile to add additional cables to my DAC and amps. For example, my PS Audio BHK 250 had the SR HD ground cable and my DIY silver cable connected to the RCA inputs. The extra cable reinforced the benefits of grounding.
Quick update on this thread to present a solution to ground for the front end of your phono system. As noted in prior comments on this thread grounding the first stage in your phono chain (be it the arm, table, step up or phono stage if no step up used) to the SR Block made the sound worse -- more congested and constrained.
I took a chance on this (21 day money back from Jaguar Audio) and have been very pleased with the results. I have it connected to my step up (the phono stage itself is now grounded to the SR Block) and the effect is very worthwhile. Most noticeable is increased separation between instruments -- in loud orchestral passages each instrument has its own bubble of air around it and you can keep track of more as the volume and complexity increases. The down side in this is that it can at first listen seem a bit thinned out and bass shy but I believe this is in fact the removal of a coloration. The effect is very LP dependent and in every case with the Akiko in I can hear more information -- but in some cases the prior coloration was definitely euphonic.
One nit I have is that the wire is rather stiff and flops under its own weight (which is an issue as grounding cables need to be carefully dressed and kept away from other cables) and that the spade is a small one -- my step up ground lug is the larger size, but I was able to show it in. I think I'll explore having Mike at Verastarr make me up a replacement cable and will report back on that
Hello all, Maybe a bit late to the party but thought I'd chime in...many thanks to folkfreak as your suggestion to run the Active Block SE into the spur that's being used to run all my front end gear thru the PowerCell 12....I, like 68pete originally powered it via a SR QLS6 linestrip and the results were terrible...actually reduced the sound stage and thinned it out which, according to other users I know was exactly the opposite I was expecting...after reading folkfreaks post rearranged some MPC's and was able to free up the additional socket on the same duplex as my front end gear.....the results were shocking!!! I couldn't be more pleased. My efforts the last 6 months to find more detail thru Symposium Acoustic platforms and rollerblock 2's got me the soundstage, detail and layering I was looking for but seemed to have lost some body and weight which made the sound less musical IMO....the Active Grounding Block brought back the body and weight in spades! Can the HD cables actually improve this more??? If so sign me up! These forums once again proved to be a terrific source of information and guidance. Thanks P
Just wanted to post some musings in additional impacts of getting grounding right with unepexected benefits from the oddest of places.
While I’m still getting great results from the SR active blocks as my primary ground solution I have started to add additional Taiko ground blocks (primarily the D3 model, new and currently not listed on their web site).
The two areas where adding a dedicated ground has had the most impact are unexpectedly a) the power supply to my Herzan isolation for the turntable and b) the Mutec 10MHz Reference clock for my DCS stack. In both cases adding a dedicated ground substantially clarified instrumental and vocal lines placing players so much more securely in space and bringing out differences between players and singers that had previously been masked. It seems that in both analog and digital replay the effect of micro level timing disruptions whether from the clock (in the digital case) or acoustic interference (in the analog) has a profound effect in messing up tiny timing cues that are basic to creating the impression of a real sound space.
Once again an example of how as you optimize your system the smallest details take on ever more importance, quite the opposite of the diminishing returns principle!
Once again an example of how as you optimize your system the smallest details take on ever more importance, quite the opposite of the diminishing returns principle!
I did a survey of a number of grounding systems by interviewing the owners and having them do a few tests (as best as I can make out, these were similar to the SR, but none of them were SR units).
What I found was that in audio systems where a grounding system made an improvement, universally there were also bugs in the way that the associated audio equipment was grounded, which is why the grounding boxes were helping.
My conclusion was that if a grounding box was helping, that was an indication that the associated equipment had design flaws in their grounding implementation.
As usual Ralph, you make utterly and completely perfect sense. The very notion that equipment ground needs to be implement by some convoluted “active” grounding hokum implicates SR as being a purveyor of fallacious merchandise, and worse, the promulgator of carelessness towards electrical standards and safety.
The simple test that everyone should conduct for themselves is this: measure the AC voltage between the chassis of each AC powered component and the supply receptacle ground. For equipment that is grounded by a grounded power cord, this reading should be zero. For non-grounded equipment with a non-polarized plug, the reading should be nil with the plug oriented one way - in such equipment, consider replacing the cord set with one with a polarized plug. For non-grounded equipment with a polarized plug, the above voltage reading should be nil. In some cases, it is worth upgrading to a grounded power cord, and connecting the ground to the chassis - only if it is isolated from signal ground.
@sleepwalker close reading of this thread will have identified instances where grounding of passive equipment (ie stands) and ones not in any way in the signal chain ( ie the Herzan) bring clear and obvious benefits. The claim that this is all down to poor design of active electronics while possible in the limited instances in which it directly applies is by no means the end of the story.
Secondly I suggest you do a little bit more research to understand the difference between the grounds we are discussing here and the safety ground ... the Taiko devices, as with many other similar ones, are purely passive and in no way connected to the mains ground
Would you please expand..... What is the reference for the arm ground wire connection to the ground terminal/lug on the phono preamp chassis?
I guess I always thought it was the DC power supply ground. Isn’t the signal ground also connected there?
Ralph, forgive me for barging into this... the arm ground wire on a turntable is meant to be chassis ground, which must be maintained to the phono stage chassis, and remain isolated from signal ground, which is usually DC ground in transformerless signal paths.
@folkfreak why do you endorse products that are obviously overstating their technical merits? Why avoid debate and discussion on the very topic that you posted?
The claims made by akiko audio regarding their so-called “phono booster” are nonsensical. There can be no benefit to connecting an empty box
“without using electrical components or active power filtering”
with a single piece of “flexible black wire to the phono stage chassis ground. Yet, for $332, this thing purports:
“Lowering the noise floor in the rendering chain is our speciality. A high noise floor results from contaminated electricity and high frequency radiation. The electrical signal from your record player is especially sensitive to these disturbances. You have consciously chosen for analogue rendering, so of course information from the record groove shouldn’t be polluted with high frequency noise.
We developed the Phono Booster, a device which effectively reduces high frequency noise, to render your music naturally and cleanly. Reducing the high frequency noise leads to a very pleasant music rendition in the audio spectrum. This leaves you able to enjoy your record collection at its finest!
The Akiko Audio Phono Booster: an entirely new device which lowers the noise floor in a unique way, without using electrical components or active power filtering.
On the inside, the Phono Booster consists of two compartments with a clever AA-1425 mix of natural materials joined together with internal wiring. The content is stabilised with special black resin, which properly suppresses microphonic effects. The case is made of thick aluminium and has an input connection at the back.”
Note that this device as admitted by the manufacturer, is just an aluminium box with a single bananna jack, filled with black resin potting. Nothing is inside the resin. It does not connect to signal ground at any point, and therefore is not able to affect it. It cannot affect the so-claimed “contaminated electricity”, as it does not intercept the path of electrical current powering any part of the sound system. This thing does nothing but reduce your disposable income by $332.
I want to openly discuss how this thing can add value. What means of empirical research and measurements did you use to arrive at your conclusions? Running away from the discussion only raises suspicions about the technical validity of these products.
@sleepwalker65 I’m more than happy to welcome you to come and listen to my system here in Portland. You’ll not only hear the effect of the various tweaks but also how such adjustments as changing where physically they are located has direct and repeatable impact on how they sound. Frankly I have no interest in nor pay any attention to the marketing explanations for any of these, I simply try them out and work out if and how best to use them. My intent in initiating this thread was to encourage others to do the same, that is after all the point of this board and of this hobby.
So I just got an Active Ground Block SE a week ago, and I’m experimenting with power cables. I did notice a sound change after I grounded all of my components and possible cables, but I felt that I couldn’t get the right sound with the atmosphere power cable that came with the ground box. With the gold bullet, I felt that it was too warm and obscured some of the higher frequencies, the silver bullet was too lean and fast, and having no bullet made the sound too flat. I switched over to a DH Labs Corona AC cable into the ground block and all was solved. Has anyone else had a similar issue with not liking the power cable that the ground block comes with? Kind of a bummer since this was one of the reasons for the higher cost.
That’s an interesting observation. It actually jibes with my experience with the same cable. I purchased that model recently intending to use it on the power supply for my Herzan isolation table but I found it sucked the life right out of the system (crazy I know that this could be from an isolation component). I soon dropped that and went back to a more basic cable that worked much better. Not what I expect from a $1.5k power cord
I’ve never tried changing the cables that came with my ground boxes but maybe I should and see what effect it has so thanks for suggesting that
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