The History of Synergistic Research Active Shielding

To understand Active Shielding, it is necessary to first understand the principles of Synergistic Research cable design. Our first step in designing a cable to complement a target system is to develop a geometry that complements that system at an engineering level by precisely controlling capacitance, inductance, and resistance in the cable geometry. Next, we 'voice' every cable in its target system by building each design out of literally dozens of different material combinations, seeking specific materials to yield natural sound.

For seven years, we worked with hundreds of passive cable geometries and over one thousand different material variations. During this process we realized passive differences in geometry and material selection could only take us so far and that ultimately we were limited by reactive capacitance (signal and cable interaction) and shield performance (RFI - Radio Frequency Interference and EMI - Electro-Magnetic Interference). During this process, we had an idea to actively suppress reactive capacitance and RFI and EMI to dramatically improve cable performance. So began our Active Shielding cable program.

Our first experiments with Active Shielding began early in 1996 and involved the placement of batteries in a static circuit, with the positive annode of the battery tied to a conductor running the length of a cable and the negative annode of the battery tied to the shield. These initial prototypes subjectively improved performance in the high frequencies. However, they also increased the noise floor (especially on long-runs), with its positive conductor running the length of the cable and not being terminated to signal or ground, thus acting like an antenna picking up RFI and EMI.

We then experimented with closed circuits where the shield carried a DC current with a buffer circuit between shield and ground with seperate conductors carrying the ground signal. This closed circuit design not only improved subjective performance, but also made our cables measureably quieter thus improving detail with greater frequency extension from top to bottom. Since a closed circuit draws current, we could no longer use batteries as this would drain a battery in a matter of hours.

Mini Power Coupler (MPC)

A more powerful solution was needed so we developed an AC to DC power supply (Mini Power Coupler or MPC). With the advent of our new TESLA series cables, we are in our third generation of Active cable technology.

Each Synergistic Research Active cable comes with an MPC to provide power for the active shielding.

Quattro (Full System) Active Power Supply

The Quattro Full System Power Supply was developed for 2 reasons:

1. Performance - Synergistic Research has opened a door into a whole new world of cable performance with Active Shielding technologies. Mini Power Couplers are the first step into that world, but it does not end there. Through research we have discovered that using our A/C Power Cable technology applied to our Active Shielding technology multiplies the effect so that the level of cable performance dramatically improves. This is done by using a Quattro Full System Power Supply in conjunction with a Synergistic A/C power cable. As you move up from an entry level A/C Master Coupler all the way to an Absolute Reference A/C Master Coupler the effect of Active Shielding increases.

2. Convenience - Using more than two or three Active cables in any given audio or audio/video system will improve overall performance, but can lead to a dilemma in where to plug in multiple MPCs. The Quattro Full System Power Supply has been designed to power up to 12 Active cables. Multiple Quattros can be daisy-chained together to accommodate any number of Active cables.

Quantum Tunneling

Our last break-through in the TESLA Series is perhaps the most startling and came at great cost in terms of trial and error. We literally fried a mountain of cable before the exact formula could be worked out. This process has led to several patents pending, both domestic and international. Quantum Tunneling is a process that changes the way a cable conducts signal at the sub atomic level affecting the entire cable assembly- connectors (RCA, XLR, Spade, or Banana), solder joints, dielectric and signal and ground conductors are all transformed and integrated as a single unit. By applying a two million volt extreme high frequency signal to a cable at a specific pulse modulation and frequency for an exact duration of time we alter the entire cable at molecular level through a phenomenon called "Quantum Tunneling." This process is performed on all TESLA Series cables from Accelerator to Apex and can be applied to models below Accelerator for an additional charge. The before and after is startling with a lower noise floor and improvements in inner detail, air, low frequency extension and overall transparency and signal speed.

The Tricon geometry is engineered to function as an electromagnetic "lens" to concentrate fluctuating alternating current and its subsequent electromagnetic fields for perfect transfer without distortion or loss of signal. Just as a lens focuses light by concentrating or dispersing rays of light, this new geometry concentrates and focuses the sonic signal not by separating conductors, but by strategically aligning conductors in a symmetrical geometry that manages electromagnetic fields just as a lens precisely focuses light across a broad spectrum. Rather then increasing the distance between conductors, the Tesla Tricon Lens geometry places its conductors in close symmetrical proximity that can only work when a precise relationship is maintained between it's separate conductors when all materials are held to ultra high tolerances for exact levels of resistance, capacitance and inductance in a symmetrical conductor array. This is the most complex and difficult cable we have ever built.

Subjectively the Tricon exhibits never before obtained signal speed, clarity and detail. Combining two Tricon geometries in parallel as we do with our Precision Reference interconnect creates a cable that is detailed fast and dynamic without being thin or analytical. That it delivers this kind of benchmark performance while remaining musical and richly layered in the mid-range is most unusual. Further combinations of Tricon and either Vortex or Acoustic geometries create a wide range of sonic characteristics that can be perfectly matched to target systems and components without losing neutrality in the subjective context of cable system matching.

Combine cables for your system and your tastes

Combine one Tricon with one Acoustic to create a tube like mid-range and wonderful layering that is a perfect match for tube based systems or sold state systems looking for a tube like sound

Combining one Vortex with one Tricon creates an amazingly dynamic cable that's fast and transparent with a forgiving character that's perfect for many mid-level high end systems, tube or solid state, and as a state-of-the-art cable for home theater systems

The original TESLA cable, now called the Precision Reference is extremely fast with an ultra dynamic presentation of low frequencies and seeming limitless air. This cable is perfect for components whose strengths are speed, dynamics, transparency and as a pre-amplifier to power amplifier interconnect in upper end systems. It can be further applied to systems by combining it with either Acoustic Reference, Apex or Accelerator interconnects between a source component and pre-amp with the Precision Reference interconnect running from pre-amp to power amp. Our flagship interconnect, the TESLA Apex combines dual Tricon geometries with dual Analog geometries to deliver sound with the remarkable speed, detail, and air of Precision Reference and the mid-range layering and bloom of Analog Reference. If ever a Holy Grail existed in cable technology the TESLA Apex is it.