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The Problem with Synergistic Research

The problem is one that a number of cable makers suffer from. I preface my remarks by noting this not a problem that is exclusive to Synergistic Research. I use SR as an example because I am more familiar with their cables than with the cables of other companies that have the same problem.

The problem is the cost of incremental improvements. SR makes some great products. But, in spite of their copy writing, not all SR products are great, IMO. Some SR products have made great improvements in my system -- like the Tesla SE Hologram D power cord. That having been said, in retrospect, despite the bally-hoo that surrounds SR product launches, most of their products have brought no more than incremental improvements to my system. Products from other cable companies have brought equal or greater improvements for me -- often at much lower cost.

The problem is that SR has such fast-paced marketing with products coming out at a gallop supplanting recently released products -- such as the SR line of PowerCell conditioners -- that I sometimes feel I have been left in the dust.

We cannot stop the relentless march of technology. But at the high price of most of SR's offerings one is often left with sense of being left out instead of left in when new products come on the heels of products one has just purchased. The SR trade-up program does not remedy this problem at all, IMO.

There are many other cable companies without fast-paced marketing that provide equal or better value for the money, IMO. Companies like Bybee, HiDiamond and Cardas. I am probably not the only one who feels as I do about SR and other companies with fast-paced marketing.
sabai
dover
1,165 posts
 
"In my system I still use SR cables -- in series with cables from HiDiamond, Bybee, Cardas, ASI Liveline and Supra LoRad (as a bridge connector with Oyaide plugs/IECs) to achieve the effects I am looking for."
This is precisely why you guys have so many problems with cables. You are simply using them to bandaid your system.
I only use MIT, have done for 30 years. Some of my cables are 25 years old, still perform to a high standard and in fact are worth more today than what I paid new.
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
Dover,
With all due respect, on the contrary. The cables in my system are the cardiovascular system of the system. When the series is well chosen it brings the perfect synergy. Everything falls into place in terms of the continuity and the naturalness of the sound. There is no explaining this except that the ears know this to be true. It is never a question of band-aids. I have never tried MIT cables.
fplanner2010
283 posts
 
John - I totally see their point. Your comment:

"This is a high-end business with cables that cost up to 10 of thousands, I thought they’d do more critical testing and verifying before shipping them out rather than just ohm out for continuity check."

You have no idea at all what was done to these cables, nor probably does Mike, who's a pretty sharp guy. His points are all totally valid and if you choose to make this a reason for not using SR cables, that's of course your right, but in this case, it seems like it is also your loss.

Nobody is perfect and the fact that both you and the prior owner(s) were happy for 6 years pretty much kills your argument. Nobody was "cheated" here - you got the performance you paid for on the secondhand market. The fact you wouldn't spend only $50. to have the cable "repaired" also speaks volumes. Sorry - I side with them.
glory's avatar
glory
1,373 posts
 
$50.00 to repair and you cry alligator tears and have them ship it back.

Must be a fun business being a cable maker yes?
knghifi
1,667 posts
 
06-19-12: Fplanner2010
John - I totally see their point. Your comment:

"This is a high-end business with cables that cost up to 10 of thousands, I thought they’d do more critical testing and verifying before shipping them out rather than just ohm out for continuity check."

You have no idea at all what was done to these cables, nor probably does Mike, who's a pretty sharp guy. His points are all totally valid and if you choose to make this a reason for not using SR cables, that's of course your right, but in this case, it seems like it is also your loss.

Nobody is perfect and the fact that both you and the prior owner(s) were happy for 6 years pretty much kills your argument. Nobody was "cheated" here - you got the performance you paid for on the secondhand market. The fact you wouldn't spend only $50. to have the cable "repaired" also speaks volumes. Sorry - I side with them.
Fplanner2010 (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
I TOTALLY agree. We are human so the BEST QC will not catch all the problems. I had a bad XLR IC connector and PC with a short that trip the circuit breaker once plug into the wall outlet. Both from different excellent manufacturers and bought new so repaired under warranty.

I can understand why most manufacturers only honer warranty for orig owner. Who knows how many prior owners and how it was used. If both + and - are NEVER soldered, how did it worked consistently for 6+ years?

IMO, it's a bargain if they're willing to fix it for $50. Nasaman, I guess you got what you paid for.
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