Synergistic Research
Black Box (acoustic)
Carbon

Music, headed your way

Getting the bass right in your room is a foundational improvement we should all aspire to. The Black Box Carbon is a passive device which siphons excess bass out of the room without damaging the fundamental frequencies, delivering much improved transients and extension.

This month, upgrade your speakers too, with a free HFT Speaker Kit Mk2!

Imagine a world where a small cube could completely transform the low frequency reproduction of your system. Synergistic Research did! Using math, science, high-tech materials and a whole lot of ingenuity, they’ve upended the paradigm of large, heavy and cumbersome bass traps!

Over a decade ago, Synergistic Research introduced a transformative broad spectrum low-frequency resonator array called the Black Box that eliminates bass nodes and room modes while expanding your room’s ability to accurately portray low-frequency information and spatial content. Working from the principle that all frequencies in the audible bandwidth are linked through harmonics, the original Black Box balances low frequencies, mid-range, and high frequencies through a mathematically derived algorithm based on tuned sympathetic resonance. So when you get the phase correct at 20 Hz for example, it clears up every multiple of 20 Hz so, 40 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz and on. The immediately noticeable result of placing one or more Black Boxes in your room is first and foremost the removal of congestion, allowing for the music to travel and sound freer, while tightening and improving bass definition and performance, as well as improved detail retrieval to project more accurate image outlines across the frequency spectrum.

Now, the time has come to progress ahead, this time with the Black Box Carbon. Featuring significant improvements in mechanical resonance control of the chassis and resonator itself, placing a Black Box Carbon in your room will audibly deliver greater resolution, tighter, more textural bass, and a more natural presentation than ever before. Even better, the Black Box Carbon is now optimized for stacking and works well with additional Black Boxes for a more profound impact. Simply said, with the Black Box Carbon, congestion is eliminated, allowing for nothing but pure music to be headed your way.

Updated chassis & resonator array
Resonance, ControlledThe Black Box Carbon exhibits a new pinnacle of mechanical resonance control. A redesign of the internal resonator arrays was approached, hand-in-hand with improvements to the chassis. By research and exploration, inherited from chassis designs of the current components like the Voodoo music server / streamer and PowerCell 14 line conditioner, SR was encouraged to continue experimenting with the combination of carbon fiber and aluminum. In its final design, the more rigid chassis is effective at dissipating mechanical vibration and retaining purity of the sound waves that interact and are projected by the internal resonators. Based on those improvements, tuning refinements were made to the internal resonator design and UEF technology material construction. The result is both positive and significant, eliminating any ringing that may have previously hindered additional performance, while working even more effectively against room resonances and harmonic resonant frequencies.

 

Bronze contact inserts
Performance, StackedPer the suggestion of one of the SR partners, listening sessions to Black Boxes stacked on each other were started, and greater, more positive impact was witnessed. To continue along the leadership in resonance control SR has, they designed metal contact inserts after listening to about a dozen different contact point materials. It was found using bronze helped achieve the perfect balance of increased resolution and liquidity and the most realistic sonic representation.

Not only can you stack Black Box Carbons, but it is encouraged to stack an original Black Box on top of the Black Box Carbon. Both products complement each other sonically, and if you already have one or more Black Box in your room, you’ll find you may not need to replace them with two Black Box Carbons to make a stack – a Black Box Carbon on the bottom and an original Black Box on top is nearly as effective! The effect of 2 stacked is more than you would expect: 1+1=3! That’s positive synergy…

Like any acoustic treatments, these recommendations are only starting points, and Synergistic Research encourages customers to be creative in their placement experimentations.

YouTube:

Reviews:
Synergistic Research Black Box resonator -> hi-fi+ winner accessory 2022 by Alan Sircom @ hi-fi+ magazine
“It becomes clear why the fine-tuning of placement matters almost the moment you put the Black Box in the room. Ignoring the bass for a moment, careful tuning snaps the soundstage into sharp focus, adding significantly to the air around instruments within that stage. We can’t ignore bass for too long as that ‘snapping’ into focus has a significant impact on soundstage solidity. Instruments that were seemingly ‘floating’ around the stage are now so ‘planted’ in 3D space, you’ll feel like watering the musicians. This is helped by a distinct sense of improved midrange clarity and even high-frequency extension.”
“And it’s now that we get to that bass; the Black Box excels at defining the shape and texture of bass notes, whether they are bowed, plucked, struck or electronically derived. Bass notes don’t just ‘start’ and ‘stop’ with greater precision; the physical ‘thereness’ of bass sounds are so precise you will be more able to recognise the difference between both instruments (like a Fender Jazz and Fender Precision bass) and the different style of otherwise very similar players. And, as ever, it’s outstanding at portraying musical intent; letting the musical presentation of the audio equipment do what it does best.”

Synergistic Research Black Box resonator by Alan Sircom @ hi-fi+ magazine
“Bass traps in the corners of rooms and the wall-wide arrays of acoustic treatment are not necessarily domestically acceptable. The Synergistic Research Black Box is the rare exception that improves the bass performance of a system without swamping the room.”

Synergistic Research – Frequency Equalizer Carbon with ATM Tuning Module plus High-Frequency Transducers (HFT) by Bill Wells @ stereotimes,com
“I was immediately impressed with how the already improved bass, with the FEQ Carbon in place, now took on noticeably better control and definition. Additionally, there was better synergy and blend with the rest of the bass entire range. An excellent example of this is Brian Bromberg’s recording titled Wood. Listening through the first track came through with enhanced delicacy as well as delivering Bromberg’s already outstanding bass with even better control, definition, and dynamic impact. Basically, this is a passive device and seems to provide a unique ability for tuning the bass through addressing lower frequency resonance issues in the room.”

The “Black Box” of Musical Pleasure by Mike Girardi @ StereoTimes.com
“There is no other room acoustic enhancement device that I know of that can transform your listening room in the way that the SR Black Box can deliver. Once you hear The Black Box and how it can affect the music and the listener, you’ll be hard pressed to take it out of your system.”
“The Black Box is a paradigm shift in room treatment device design and delivers on its promised performance. Can you say wife acceptance factor … Highly recommended.”

Dr. David invites Synergistic Research to visit, and gets GOB SMACKED! by David W. Robinson @ posi+tive-feedback.com
“When the Black Box was added, well, damn me ears! The bass did seem to lock in, becoming more precise and more focused, all at the same time. We confirmed this by having Peter move the Black Box out (Rats! Bass improvement lost!) and back in again (Yes!). There was no doubt about the gains that the Black Box offered…that bloody thing had to stay.”

Synergistic Research – HFT’s, Black Box, and Atmosphere XL by Siao Jer @ audiobacon.net
“The Synergistic Research Black Box represents a non-insignificant investment, but room treatments are sometimes a significant investment when you move away from DIY solutions. The bass just lines itself up in the right way that it ends up being more defined and focused. It’s ability to elevate the high end comes across an unadvertised bonus. Finally, I love how it’s sleek, unobtrusive, and sit tucked in front of my coffee table. These are things that improve the enjoyment of music – and things I can’t do without anymore.”

 

Placement Guide 1 Piece

 

 

Place Black Box equal distance between speakers, 3″ or more off the front wall.

Place Black Box off to either side behind speakers and in corners, 3″ or more off the walls. Please note! DO NOT PLACE DIRECTLY BEHIND SPEAKERS.

 

2 Pieces

When installing 2 each Black Boxes place first unit equal distance between speakers, 3″ or more from the front wall. Place second unit on either side wall, slightly in front of listening position, 3″ or more from the wall.

Optional placement of second Black Box. Place Black Box 3″ of more from the rear wall behind your listening position.

 

3 Pieces

 

When installing 3 each Black Boxes place first unit equal distance between speakers, 3″ or more from the front wall. Place second and third unit in each back corner of the room, 3″ or more from the wall.

Optional placement with installing 3 each Black Boxes place first unit behind listening position, 3″ or more from the wall. Place second and third unit in each front corner of the room, 3″ or more from the wall.