Post by SteveC on Feb 27, 2024 17:25:52 GMT
Just before Christmas, something popped up on my Facebook feed, which encouraged me to investigate further.
A chap by the name of Byron Thompson of MBS Audio in Shinfield (near Reading) was advertising a "Systems Optimisation Event" to be held in a community centre in Shinfield on Saturday 13th January 2024.
I perused Byron's website, which divulged that he considers himself a high-end audio consultant, specialising in products, which he believed would add performance enhancement to a well-sorted system. Components from Synergistic Research and Quiescent (formerly Vertex AQ) were described, together with his philosophy of the "Five Pillars of System Optimisation"
1. Power
2. Acoustics and Signal Conditioning
3. Vibration Control
4. Grounding
5. Cable Signal Transfer
Sound familiar?
Intrigued, I sent Byron an email, describing my system and outlining the steps that I had taken, in line with his "Five Pillars Of System Optimisation."
Two days later, he arrived at my door (by appointment) with a box of goodies, which he proceeded to demonstrate within a limited timeframe, promising an extended two-week, no obligation, home trial, following his January event, if there was anything I was interested in auditioning.
My appetite was wetted and following the January event, which was attended by ten enthusiasts, some of whom, had done business with Byron, and including three members of the HiFiWigwam and now Maverick-HiFi forums.
Byron turned up on a Saturday, with a big box of kit and left me to play for two weeks, before he returned and collected his demo items.
First up were the Synergistic Research UEF Acoustic Dots (£350 for 10), a room treatment, intended to be fixed to walls (plus one on the ceiling) at specific locations as detailed on SR's website. They consist of a painted off-white disc, which sandwiches a copper-coloured disc. I had 20 to play with, together with a supply of White-Tac, for temporary application to my lounge interior.
I then played some familiar tracks and listened for any differences in sound quality.
To be honest, I struggled with these, as I could not detect any discernible change in the music, but this may well be due to the fact that I have treated my room with Acustica Applicata DAAD's at the critical locations (A DAAD 3 on top of a DAAD 4 in each room corner, a central column of DAAD 3's in the centre of the wall, behind my speakers and a DAAD 2 at the first reflection points, either side of the DAAD 3 central column) The DAADS are augmented by a couple of 600mm square GIK 242 Absorbers, with Scatter Plates (for diflection) which I can place at the first and second reflection points on each side wall.
Anyway, I decided to leave the SR UEF Acoustic Dots in place, while I tried each of the other accessories provided by Byron.
I haven't got the hang of posting multiple pictures from my Flickr account, to this forum, so I'll post this with a picture of the UEF Dot and continue below[
url=https://flic.kr/p/2pAzdDt][/url]image1 by , on Flickr
A chap by the name of Byron Thompson of MBS Audio in Shinfield (near Reading) was advertising a "Systems Optimisation Event" to be held in a community centre in Shinfield on Saturday 13th January 2024.
I perused Byron's website, which divulged that he considers himself a high-end audio consultant, specialising in products, which he believed would add performance enhancement to a well-sorted system. Components from Synergistic Research and Quiescent (formerly Vertex AQ) were described, together with his philosophy of the "Five Pillars of System Optimisation"
1. Power
2. Acoustics and Signal Conditioning
3. Vibration Control
4. Grounding
5. Cable Signal Transfer
Sound familiar?
Intrigued, I sent Byron an email, describing my system and outlining the steps that I had taken, in line with his "Five Pillars Of System Optimisation."
Two days later, he arrived at my door (by appointment) with a box of goodies, which he proceeded to demonstrate within a limited timeframe, promising an extended two-week, no obligation, home trial, following his January event, if there was anything I was interested in auditioning.
My appetite was wetted and following the January event, which was attended by ten enthusiasts, some of whom, had done business with Byron, and including three members of the HiFiWigwam and now Maverick-HiFi forums.
Byron turned up on a Saturday, with a big box of kit and left me to play for two weeks, before he returned and collected his demo items.
First up were the Synergistic Research UEF Acoustic Dots (£350 for 10), a room treatment, intended to be fixed to walls (plus one on the ceiling) at specific locations as detailed on SR's website. They consist of a painted off-white disc, which sandwiches a copper-coloured disc. I had 20 to play with, together with a supply of White-Tac, for temporary application to my lounge interior.
I then played some familiar tracks and listened for any differences in sound quality.
To be honest, I struggled with these, as I could not detect any discernible change in the music, but this may well be due to the fact that I have treated my room with Acustica Applicata DAAD's at the critical locations (A DAAD 3 on top of a DAAD 4 in each room corner, a central column of DAAD 3's in the centre of the wall, behind my speakers and a DAAD 2 at the first reflection points, either side of the DAAD 3 central column) The DAADS are augmented by a couple of 600mm square GIK 242 Absorbers, with Scatter Plates (for diflection) which I can place at the first and second reflection points on each side wall.
Anyway, I decided to leave the SR UEF Acoustic Dots in place, while I tried each of the other accessories provided by Byron.
I haven't got the hang of posting multiple pictures from my Flickr account, to this forum, so I'll post this with a picture of the UEF Dot and continue below[
url=https://flic.kr/p/2pAzdDt][/url]image1 by , on Flickr