reinal54 said Any updates about the Synergetics ECT?Haven't moved mine so nothing to report here. No motivation to try removing them or moving them to other locations.
I have mine as show on the picture with amazing results on soundstage, midrange, sweet highs.How this little thing make a big improvement on the DS? I’m thinking to buy 5 more to try on my Mcintosh C500 pre.
Has anyone tried these things on a Bridge?
Any further thoughts on this topic?
I’m thinking of trying them in my DS as well as the tube section of the BHK 300’s.
Also what fuses are suggested with the DS?
emailists said Any further thoughts on this topic?I’m thinking of trying them in my DS as well as the tube section of the BHK 300’s.
Also what fuses are suggested with the DS?
Fuses depend extensively on how you like your music. If you like leading edge transients that are favored over musicality go with SR Black fuses in the DS and BHK. If you love the beauty and colors of the musical doctrine with gorgeous overtones as well as dynamics then you love the Audio Magic fuse.
I guess it’s no surprise which fuses reside in my all tube system…
This tread is 1.5 years old, but it was helpful for me and a few were asking if there had been any updates on this topic. I recently went through a round of tweaks that included the Synergistic Research Black fuses and the ECTs since they were offered at a discount.
I started with the fuses in my P10, BHK Pre, DSJ DAC, external crossover, and amps. I can’t report back that the changes were phenomenal, but I felt there was a slight improvement. I’m writing this a few months after the test, so I’m not remembering the nuances of the improvements unfortunately. I might have been fooled had I done a blind test, but I opted to keep them in these positions vs getting a full refund. In contrast, I did return the fuse I bought for my Peachtree integrated amp, because I didn’t hear the fuse make any difference in that system after several swaps. So, we’ll say (for me) there was a small improvement when replacing multiple fuses in the big rig, but no change when replacing a single fuse in the 2nd system. I haven’t explored differences due to fuse direction, the myraid combos of stock vs aftermarket fuses in different locations or fuse break in time, and I don’t plan to. I mention the fuses as a point of reference.
After those were in for a few days, I added 15 ECTs, spread across 4 different components - a few in the BHK Pre, most in the DSJ, and a couple each in my class D monoblocks, largely following the placement suggestions from the Synergestic Research website and this thread. I’m not going to try to explain the why, but these indeed made a difference in the sound. It was definitely more pronounced in my system than upgrading 6 fuses. The most simple way to describe the change was that some of the edge was taken off the sound, and in a good way. At times I was getting some harsh edges on music at higher volumes in my system. I have the combo of digital sources, class D amps, and electrostats, which at their best are super clean, transparent, etc (some might call this analytical), but a warmer system might be more gentle on the ears with less than perfect material for example.
The ECTs mellowed things out, but not at the expense of detail. A tube buffer can also mellow out a sound, also making it easier on the ears with less than perfect material, but in my experience this comes at the expense of high frequency detail. The ECTs appeared to remove high frequency harshness, but without the expense of detail. In fact (and this might be the most telling anecdote) I actually changed my EQ curve after spending some time with these. I use Dirac for room correction (massive improvement if we’re comparing relative effects), and before I had added in some high frequency rolloff to address some of the harshness at high volumes I was mentioning, but after the ECTs I actually brought the target curve up to be much more flat across a wider frequency spectrum. So I ended up getting a truer sound without what I’m assuming were high frequency noise artifacts interfering in the music.
Were the fuses also playing a part as they settled in? Perhaps. I made both of these changes in quick succession, but the effect of the ECTs were in the “clear improvement” category, whereas I wasn’t as confident with the fuses.
In summary, I was actually quite surprised that the change would be so significant that I’d end up changing my EQ curve to remove what had been a compensation for a system shortfall. As someone with a technical background, I’m still highly skeptical of “UEF nano-particle excitement” & whatever else is being claimed by the manufacturer, but I thought with the free trial I’d give it a go. The results were both consistent with the primary claims (reducing high frequency noise) and were noteworthy enough that I felt compelled to report the findings months later when I found the time to write.
Hope that’s helpful for others.
FYI only
Synergistic Research is having a buy 2 get 1 free in December for the new Orange Fuses and ECT 5 pack
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Sounds like a good deal. I have been hesitating on exploring fuse-based tweaking, because of the variety of fuses and the paranoia of cracking open a case and inserting the damn thing.
I found one dealer on the internet ( https://highend-electronics.com ). Another Synergistic dealer doesn’t even list the oranges ;-). Does anyone else have other dealer recommendations?
The Cable Company in PA
If these are actually doing anything, perhaps one could actually measure it and document it.
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All I will say for now is that they do work but the application is key. If there is an IC chip on the board it need to be treated as a HF/RF noise maker, not in a haphazard tic tac toe/checker/chess move around the board manner. You will hear improvement and you should not move the ones that are already placed. Additional untreated IC chips need to be treated. NEVER move what has already been treated as there is a burn-in of the IC chips that can take 3-6 weeks to fully break in, just like any new audio components. That being said the ECT’s and the Orange Fuses rarely goes on sale as buy 2 get1 free. I think that this is the only time of the year that you can get this type of deal from Synergistic Research.
Aren’t they just little chunks of aluminum? Like cut up an aluminum rod and there you have it.
Or is there more to it?
I am not privy to their compositions or construction but they do their job as advertised and beside you do have 30 days to return them. You’re either all in or out.
Yes. I like that they give you the 30 trial, even on their fuses.
Ok I have been experimenting with the ECT since October 2019, then on December 2019 Synergistic had their sale of buy 2 get 1 free which pushed me all in. I know that a lot of you guys don’t like Synergistic products because of their elusive claims, that aside I don’t know what is in them but they do their job. The primary requirement to their use is patience and you will be rewarded. There is a burning in cycle (at least 3 weeks which is enough time with the 30 days trial to return and get your refund) every time you move or add a new ECT to the board. When all the ECT’s are in place as shown and completely burned-in the effects is like a component upgrade. To me it was more than a software update. I did everything using the Snowmass version afterward switched to Windom. This will keep me from craving for the TSS super DAC when it is released. The most noticeable thing is that music from the DSD Sr DAC now sounds excellent whether it is early morning or late at night.
While the case was open a picture for the Blue/Orange Fuses orientation.
For Singxer SU-1 owner (stock only) these ECT’s placements takes the unit to another level and I will dare say equal or exceed the Matrix 2.
In summary you have not heard the capability of your DSD Sr DAC until you’ve tried this tweak. Those who has sold their DSD Sr will have regrets. In all you will need 24 ECT for the DSD Sr. as pictured. For those brave enough to try happy listening.
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Ok it is that time of the year again when Synergistic Research is offering their December special. This is the only time you can get the ECT as a buy 2 set of five and get 1 set of five free. This tweak is painless and completely reversible except for taking the lid off. They are not like the Shakti stones or ByBee quantum signal enhancer. Placing 5 or 15 ECT is only a partial treatment, you will need 24 ECT’s placed as shown ( maybe even get an orange fuse and put it in place) close the lid and let it cook and burn in for 2-3 weeks. You will notice improvement way before that and on the unlikely possibility that you don’t like what you hear, you’re still within your 30 days return window for a refund (just save the packing materials and boxes). As I read through the Forum and contemplate the mods for the DS Sr with the new transformers, Matrix-2, Linear PS this tweak is at a hardware level improvement and I dare say elevate the DS Sr to “Classic” status. In other words if you own a DS Sr DAC and you sell it for whatever reason without trying this simple tweak you will never know what you had in your possession. Lastly to the SR unbelievers it is to your loss for being close minded because you demand proof of how a technology work before you try it. Hearing is believing it is just that simple, your only investment is time and you get your money back within 30 days if you disagree.
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Like many others, I have taken advantage of the current sale to obtain 3 sets of 5 ECTs. My setup includes DS sr, PWT, BHK pre, BHK 300 monos. Most of the discussions involve ECTs in the DSD. I am inviting opinions about distributing the 15 throughout all of those units. Priorities, specifics, esp based on actual experience. Thanks in advance.
I don’t think too many people took advantage of the yearly December sale. Anyway congratulation to you for trying them(ECT) out. My advice from prior experience is DO NOT spread them out between your different components. To really see what these ECT can achieve you need to optimize placement FULLY into one component at a time. In other words treat all IC chips, toroidal transformers and coils in one component then move to the next component after hearing the results. Any untreated chips are a source of RFI/EMI emitters and will interfere with the full bloom of the treated component. As an example last year I partially treated a Yamaha SACD/DVD player with minimal improvement. This year I decided to treat all the IC chips and after a 2 weeks burn in it completely open up to what I expected. Needless to say I won’t be buying the new PS Audio SACD player. So my friend start by popping off the top of each component, take pictures of the board layout and count how many IC chips and toroidal transformers are present and that number is how many ECT’s that is needed to treat that specific component, anything less will generate/propagate the negative views that these ECT have been receiving. The lesson is that next December you will be ordering ECT sets per component and not to be spread out between components. Good luck in your ECT adventure and Happy Listening 
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I’ve used 3M 5000-series emi absorber material to good effect in a number of components including the DS. It’s expensive normally but on occasion I’ve found very good deals on Amazon of odd sized cuts of it. Probably returns or overages that they are looking to not warehouse any longer.
I trust 3M specs more so than SR. Oh wait, SR doesn’t publish specs. https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/960849O/3mtm-emi-absorber-ab5000-series-tds.pdf
Here’s 4 yards x 1" for $13. Won’t last long.
Not according to Ted only the Digital Fuse is used the other is a spare.