Synergistic Research: Cables, Power, and the Philosophy of Intention-Driven Audio

Ted Denney and his team at Synergistic Research are focused on the unsolvable, the noise, resonance, and interference that linger even after you’ve invested in world-class gear. They call it intention-driven audio: the idea that you don’t just buy components, you take control of the entire system. Every detail, every weak link, every overlooked interaction in the room is an opportunity to bring you closer to the music.

Synergistic isn’t about chasing wattage, driver size, or the usual spec sheet battles. What they’re doing is different, stripping away the hidden obstacles between your system and the performance, and doing it in ways that are as radical as they are effective.

For more than three decades, founder Ted Denney and his team have built products that refuse to sit neatly in the boxes of “cables” or “accessories.” Instead, they’ve created a philosophy centered on removing barriers between you and the music. From grounding blocks and power conditioners to tiny tuning devices no bigger than a thumbtack, everything they make is designed to peel back layers of noise and reveal what’s already there.

And here’s the thing: few companies divide opinion like Synergistic Research. For some, their products are revelatory, the missing link that transforms a system from impressive to jaw-dropping. For others, they’re controversial, pushing beyond what traditional measurements can easily explain. That’s exactly why they matter: because in high-end audio, the most interesting innovations are often the ones that challenge what we think we know.

Who Is Synergistic Research?

When we visited Synergistic Research Headquarters, Ted Denney shared a story that captures both the history of the company and the mindset that drives it forward. We were able to see and hear many innovations over time in the listening room at SR headquarters, and I have to tell you, the music and atmosphere were both fantastic.

Ted and his team spent a lot of time showing us how some of the gear sounded and explaining how it was developed. One thing I noticed right away is that the passion isn't just driven by the dollar amount; these guys are innovating everywhere up and down the price spectrum. Case in point, one of the first things we had a chance to see was the new Pink Power Cable. At $198, this is said to be a giant killer, and I have to say it was impressive. Ted recently lit a fuse on the debate stage of audio, proclaiming the Pink Power Cable to be better than Shunyata Theta at 5x the price. This is always the other half of the story of innovation, especially in the case of Synergistic Research. It's the boldness required to bring that innovation to the masses with gusto and passion, particularly in audio. 

Let's get into the story of Synergistic and how that translates to what we are all here for...the sound. 

In the early 2000s, after more than a decade of pushing Synergistic into uncharted territory, Ted hit a wall. Burnout set in, and he did something few founders would ever dare: he sold his home and set sail on a solo voyage around the world. For nearly three years, he lived at sea—far from the factory, far from the industry grind.

He told me several stories about how product designs were born on that journey. One that stuck with me was his visit to a Buddhist monastery, where he witnessed the entire atmosphere and acoustics of a room change the moment a group of monks entered, carrying bowls made of different materials. The effect was so profound that he returned later to experience it again, and it repeated. That spark, combined with years of research, eventually led to the creation of the now-famous (and infamous) Vibratron SX. (Spoiler: it works.)

But the overall obsession with fixing other issues never left him. During that same period, he immersed himself in the writings of Nikola Tesla, fascinated by Tesla’s experiments in electricity, resonance, and electromagnetic fields, and wondering what might happen if those principles were applied to audio.

When Ted returned from his voyage, the ideas he’d sketched out at sea became the foundation for Synergistic’s Tesla Series. Launched in 2006, these cables introduced active shielding and electromagnetic field control in ways the industry hadn’t seen before. By 2007, the first Tesla-inspired power cords were shown at RMAF, marking a turning point not just for Synergistic but for the entire conversation about what a cable could do.

It’s a story that says a lot about the company. For Ted, innovation doesn’t come from chasing the market. It comes from pursuing the unsolvable, even if that means stepping away, sailing halfway around the world, and returning with ideas that redraw the map.

So, how does Synergistic Research approach solving these problems?

The Six Pillars of Synergy

Everything Synergistic Research creates begins with a simple idea: audio isn’t just about the gear, it’s about the conditions that surround it. Over decades of trial, error, and breakthroughs, Ted Denney and his team identified six domains that shape how a system truly performs. Together, they call them the Six Pillars of Synergy.

Power

The foundation of everything. From non-current-limiting conditioners to fuses and aftermarket cords, Synergistic designs its products not just to filter noise but to shape how energy flows through a system.

Grounding

Their Active Ground Blocks connect directly to components, draining away the noise that rides safety grounds and clouds resolution. With grounding in place, silence deepens and the stage opens.

Cabling

The signal path,  your system’s arteries. SR’s innovations in geometry, shielding, and active design allow them to “voice” entire systems, creating a coherent sonic signature that balances clarity with weight.

Mechanical Tuning

Vibration is inevitable, but damping it into lifelessness isn’t the answer. Instead, Synergistic tunes resonance through carefully chosen materials and coupling methods, making systems sound faster, quieter, and more dynamic.

Acoustics

Instead of covering rooms in foam, SR “tunes the air.” Devices like HFTs reshape the way sound interacts with space, creating immersive soundstages without overdamping or compromising aesthetics.

Electromagnetic Field Control

The final layer. Products like ECTs generate uniform electromagnetic fields around components, protecting signal integrity at the circuit level. Think of it as shielding, but active, dynamic, and tuned.

When all six pillars are working together, the transformation is undeniable. The noise floor drops, the stage expands, and the emotional connection deepens. You know all the things every company is trying to do by engineering the solution into each component. Here we are addressing all the elements working against that component in the first place.

That’s Synergistic by design: intention-driven Audio.

The Cable Story

Cables are where it all began for Synergistic Research, and they remain the foundation of the company’s reputation. From the earliest interconnects in the 1990s to the Tesla Series that redefined what an “audiophile cable” could be, SR has consistently challenged the idea that wire is just wire. For Ted Denney, it’s an active part of the system, one that can be shaped to control resonance, noise, and timing just as much as a component.

What sets Synergistic apart is how their cables are voiced as part of a complete ecosystem. Geometry is used for durability along with managing capacitance and inductance. Active shielding is achieved through their UEF (Uniform Energy Field) technology, which creates controlled electromagnetic environments around conductors. Materials are chosen for sonic signature as much as for conductivity. And every cable is designed to integrate with the other five pillars: grounding, power, vibration, acoustics, and EM field control.

Want a deeper look at what makes cables matter? Read our 2025 Guide to Understanding Audio Cables, a crash course on materials, design, and the myths that still shape how we hear.

Foundation SX — The Starting Point

The Foundation SX series is the entry into the SR philosophy. These cables deliver coherence and balance at an approachable price, giving listeners a taste of what happens when noise drops and detail flows freely. For many, Foundation SX is the first step into the world of intention-driven system design.

Atmosphere — The Step Into Active

The Atmosphere line takes things further with active shielding and more complex geometries. The result is a stage that widens, dynamics that pop, and an overall sense of energy that feels alive. It’s here that many listeners begin to understand how SR’s system approach compounds, pair Atmosphere with a Ground Block or PowerCell, and the whole system opens up.

Galileo — No Compromises

At the top sits Galileo, Synergistic’s statement in cable design. Every lesson in geometry, shielding, and resonance tuning is pushed to its limit. Galileo isn’t about subtle polish; it’s about pulling you so far into the recording that the system itself disappears. It’s bold, uncompromising, and built for reference-level systems that demand the absolute edge of performance.

Across every tier, the story is the same: Synergistic cables aren’t about adding a flavor, but removing obstacles. They let the music flow with greater clarity, weight, and emotional pull. And for many listeners, this is where their Synergistic journey begins.

Power Products That Redefine Clean Energy

If cables are the arteries of a system, power is its lifeblood. But Synergistic Research approaches clean energy differently than most. Where other brands focus on brute-force filtering, SR designs its power products to actively shape noise fields and manage the flow of current without limiting dynamics.

PowerCell — Beyond Conditioning

The PowerCell line is Synergistic’s answer to traditional power conditioners. Instead of choking dynamics with aggressive filtration, PowerCells use field-generating technology and proprietary EM cells to create an environment where AC runs cleaner, faster, and more stable. The result isn’t just quieter backgrounds,  it’s explosive dynamics and a sense of ease that standard conditioners rarely deliver.

Atmosphere Power Cables — The Last Few Feet

Clean power isn’t just about what comes out of the wall. Atmosphere SX power cables extend the same UEF active shielding technology found in SR interconnects, ensuring that the final connection to each component is as noise-free and stable as the distribution system feeding it. It’s this last stretch of cable that often makes the difference between “better” and “transformative.”

Ground-Plane Technology — Controlling the Hidden Noise

Many SR power products integrate ground-plane technology, tying directly into their Active Ground Blocks. By draining away residual noise at the AC level, these systems don’t just improve resolution; they allow every other component in the chain to operate in a calmer, more stable electrical environment.

The System-Tuning Tools

This is where Synergistic Research steps into territory almost no other company dares. Beyond cables and power, SR creates small devices that interact with vibration, EMI/RFI, and the acoustic field of your room. Some audiophiles call them the “secret sauce”, subtle at first glance, but profound once you hear them at work.

HFTs — Tuning the Air

High-Frequency Transducers (HFTs) are tiny resonators that attach to walls, ceilings, or speakers. They work by reshaping the way high-frequency energy disperses in a room, reducing harsh reflections and opening the soundstage. Instead of foam panels, think of them as invisible tuning forks for your listening space.

ECTs — Circuit-Level Control

Electronic Circuit Transducers (ECTs) are placed directly on components. Their job is to mitigate high-frequency noise at the circuit level, lowering hash and grain. It’s one of those tweaks that’s easy to doubt,  until you hear vocals emerge with more natural presence and digital playback loses that “glassy” edge.

MiGs — Mechanical Grounding Made Simple

“Mechanical Interface Grounding” devices (MiGs) are Synergistic’s approach to vibration control. They’re small spheres placed under components that channel energy away in a tuned manner. The effect? Bass gets tauter, treble gains air, and the system as a whole feels quicker on its feet.

Ground Blocks — The Silent Foundation

Active Ground Blocks are the glue that ties it all together. By draining noise from every component to a star-ground hub, they provide a common foundation of silence. When combined with SR’s cabling and power designs, the improvement can be dramatic, with deeper staging, blacker backgrounds, and an almost eerie sense of calm.

These tools divide opinion more than any other Synergistic products. But for the listeners who try them, they’re often the upgrades that move a system from technically impressive to emotionally unforgettable.

Why It Matters (And Why It Divides Opinion)

Few companies in high-end audio inspire stronger reactions than Synergistic Research. For some listeners, their products are nothing short of revelatory — the missing ingredient that turns a great system into something transcendent. For others, they’re controversial, even polarizing. Why? Because many of their designs push well beyond what’s easily explained by conventional measurements.

That’s the heart of the divide. Traditionalists want proof on paper; Synergistic insists the proof is in the listening. Their cables, power products, and tuning devices are engineered with intention, but the audible results often outpace what current measurement tools can fully capture. That tension frustrates skeptics and delights those who trust their ears.

When talking with Ted, it’s clear he knows exactly how divisive this subject can be, both in audio and in the broader culture. He’s aware of how strong his opinions are, and he doesn’t hide the gusto with which he delivers them. As he put it with a smile, “We do live in a very sensitive society these days.” That willingness to speak plainly, even when it ruffles feathers, is part of what makes him and the company impossible to ignore.

What can’t be denied is that Synergistic has changed the conversation. They’ve expanded the definition of what an audio component can be: not just boxes with watts and specs, but an ecosystem of solutions that address noise, resonance, and electromagnetic energy in ways most companies don’t touch.

In the end, Synergistic Research matters because they challenge assumptions. Whether you agree with their methods or not, their innovations force us to ask deeper questions about what really shapes the way we hear music, and that alone keeps the brand at the center of the audiophile conversation.

Where to Start with Synergistic Research

Synergistic is an ecosystem. The trick is to add one change, listen, then layer. Start with quick wins, build a foundation, and only then go after the big swings.

Quick wins like the Purple Fuse or MiGs are a great entry point. Swap a Purple Fuse into your DAC or preamp, and you’ll likely hear lower hash, sweeter highs, and a cleaner stage. Slip MiGs under a DAC or preamp and listen for tighter bass and sharper transients. These are small moves, but they reveal the logic behind Synergistic’s system approach.

From there, you build the signal foundation. Foundation SX cables, starting with source to preamp, then preamp to amp, and finally speaker cables, bring coherence: a stable stage, locked-in imaging, and treble that extends without edge.

And once you’re ready for bigger swings, move to power and ground. Atmosphere SX power cables let your sources breathe with calm and detail, while a Galileo Ground Block ties everything together on a common foundation of silence.

The Smarter Budget Approach

If you can think in terms of a system-wide upgrade budget, you’ll get better results. I’ll admit, if you’re like me, the temptation is to blow the whole budget on one shiny piece and “catch up” on the rest later. That’s how some of us end up with $3,000 speaker cables but haven’t touched grounding, vibration, or power delivery.

The more brilliant play is to spread that budget across all six pillars. If Galileo-level products across the board are in reach, fantastic. But if the same budget gets you Foundation cables plus grounding, vibration control, and power upgrades, that balanced approach will outperform a single big-ticket upgrade every time.

Layering in Practice

The best way to approach Synergistic is step by step:

• Start with a Purple Fuse or MiGs, or the incredible new Pink Power Cable.
• Layer in Foundation SX interconnects to lock in coherence.
• Add an Atmosphere SX power cable to your DAC.
• Tie it together with a Ground Block for silence and space.
  

Each step builds on the last. The key is layering across pillars so your whole system rises together rather than relying on one upgrade for a fix.

Final Thoughts On Synergistic Research

Synergistic Research isn’t just about cables, or power, or tiny accessories that look almost too simple to matter. It’s about transformation. By addressing noise, vibration, grounding, and electromagnetic energy across all six pillars, they give systems the chance to sound not just better, but different, more alive, more dimensional, more emotionally connected.

For some, these refinements are the missing 5% that turn an already-great system into one that gives you goosebumps. For others, the methods may feel unconventional or even controversial. But love them or doubt them, Synergistic has proven one thing: when you listen with intention, the details that seemed unsolvable can become the very things that make music unforgettable.

Further Reading

If this story sparked a few questions about what really shapes system performance, explore these related deep dives:

2025 Guide to Understanding Audio Cables: Myths, Materials & Choosing the Right Ones

A foundational look at how conductors, shielding, and geometry affect sound — and why all cables are components, not accessories.

The Last 5%: Six Refinements That Unlock the Full Potential of Your System

The small but critical upgrades that bring out hidden performance in already great systems.

Hi-Fi Power Guide: Wall Outlet vs. Power Strip vs. Conditioner vs. Regenerator

A detailed look at how clean power transforms the signal chain — from the wall to your speakers.

Curious where to start? We’re here to help you figure out which refinements make the most sense for your system, and how to unlock the performance that’s been waiting there all along.