2. cables
  3. 1339181977

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
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
My system has further evolved since my earlier posts. I have recently added a Bybee Stealth, an isolation transformer and a power regenerator -- all up front.

While the SR Powercell sounded good on its own when I purchased it two years ago things have changed dramatically. I have been running it in series with a Bybee Stealth that I purchased recently. When I took the Powercell out of my system a couple of days ago it was immediately clear: the sound stage opened wide, so much more low level detail was coming through and the harmonics bloomed as I had never heard them before. Taking the Powercell out was like a breath of fresh air for my system -- and more. There is no question in my mind and ears that the Bybee Stealth is the superior power conditioner for my system. I will be selling off the Powercell.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Sabai, Why would you try power conditioner in series? That is like saying that a drug you use is working so you should take twice as much. I have three conditioners I am considering presently. None are those you are considering. Each has to be done and compared, although this makes for a long term A/B comparison, given that you have to change all the wires into each and then await their recovery from being unplugged and for the components to warm up. Also each needs to be compared with just plugging into the wall. As I have 11 things to plug in, this is a cumbersome assessment.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Sabai, Why would you try power conditioner in series? That is like saying that a drug you use is working so you should take twice as much. I have three conditioners I am considering presently. None are those you are considering. Each has to be done and compared, although this makes for a long term A/B comparison, given that you have to change all the wires into each and then await their recovery from being unplugged and for the components to warm up. Also each needs to be compared with just plugging into the wall. As I have 11 things to plug in, this is a cumbersome assessment.
thankful
181 posts
 
I have been following this thread with great interest. It is another issue facing the high end audio community. I have switched to the Von Schweikert Master Built cabling and it is on an entirely different level and more musical sounding than anything I have used before including the SR stuff with all of the $400 MPC's (one for each cable). I am not putting SR down and I think Ted is a good and brilliant guy.

If "any" audio company is going to introduce frequent upgrades they should provide their customers affordable upgrades path/options. Without judging motives here they can devalue their customers investments. We are talking about real money here and not chump change. Not to mention audiophiles go into deep depression and start to have panic attacks if they think they don't have the best and latest model:)
metralla
945 posts
 
11-04-12: Tbg writes:

Sabai, Why would you try power conditioner in series?

Sabai also likes to use 3 different interconnect cables, interspersed with Bybees, and 3 different power cables connected with IEC burn-in adapters, and I think he also has different loudspeaker cables connected in series (sorry if I have misinterpreted something, Sabai).

It's an unusual approach, one that seems to fly in the face of conventional thinking. But he appears to be happy with his approach, and his posts have been interesting, if a little didactic.

Regards,
More to discover