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
I am looking to do business with companies that provide long term value and a components/cabling that are made with quality and importantly that are musical. I have been beating the Von Schweikert Master Built cabling drum because I finally found cabling that allows the music flow beautifully. They are not hyped and mass marketed, on the contrary you have to look hard to find anything about them. Audiophiles need to support companies like this that do right by their customers. Without naming companies I have seen to much exorbitant pricing and mass marketing all of which we the consumer pays for. Research and technology must continue that is how we get better products but take care of your customers. How are we going to get the younger generations into high end audio with this crap going on???
I am the younger generation into high end audio. There is no problem with Synergistic Research. Synergistic Research won 2 Best in Show at RMAF with a small down to Earth system. That alone says to me Synergistic Research knows what they are doing and their products are top notch. Yes, their products are expensive. In my system, I enjoy their products very much. I’m not going to bash a company because they come out with new products every so often. I prefer a company that continues to do research and comes out with new concepts and technology. They sure are consistent to produce products that are innovative and interesting and seem to not hold back on their constant pursuit to come out with new and improved gear. IMO, that company sounds like a winner to me.

We all have our valued opinions. I like reading everyone’s take on the subject. I formed my opinions by trying all the Synergistic Research products I purchased before I buy them in my home and in my system and comparing them to other manufacturers.
Sabai, I don’t agree with your comments about the Powercell 10 SE. This is what I was able to conclude when I removed the Powercell from my system. The Powercell is only as transparent as the power cord that it is plugged into. In this case the new Element Copper/Tungsten Power Cord is far more transparent then the Precision Reference AC cord it replaces. Nothing more, nothing less. The Powercell in my system does not hold anything back. I got my powerful Audio Research Dsi200 integrated amp plugged into it. The DSi200 delivers 200 WPC continuously into an 8-ohm load and 400 WPC 4-ohm load. And I don't have any problems.
Joeyboynj,
You stated, "The Powercell is only as transparent as the power cord that it is plugged into." This may be true. But if so, what explanation is there that an $1,800 power cord -- the Precision Reference -- is not transparent enough and cannot do the job properly? Why would SR market and ballyhoo this power cord with the Powercell if it were not up to the job? This confuses me. When it came out the Precision Reference was a tiger -- and then suddenly it becomes a pussy cat? Will the Element series -- now as ballyhooed as the Tesla line originally was -- become transformed in a similar fashion into a shadow of its former self with the advent of a newer line?
I just realized today that there is no power conditioning or surge protection whatsoever in the SR Powercell that my entire system is plugged into. That was a bit unnerving considering the investment I have made into my system. As a result, I will be trying PS audio's p-10 on 1 of my home amplifiers this weekend. It is currently in my office system.

It is a regenerator as well as surge protector, etc. I've heard both that it limits dynamics and that it improves dynamics. I'm not an engineer, but when I see it can hold 70 amps in storage ready for instant usage, that seems better than just 15-20 amps out of the wall. I could be wrong - this weekend should tell.

If the p-10 works, I will get 2 with 1 for each amp. The amps draw 450w each, with peaks to 900w. Each p-10 will do 1250w w/peaks to 1500w, so there is enough room to plug in all my components and TV within the 20 outlets. Undecided whether to keep the Powercell - if the p-10s work as I think they will, the Powercell will belong to somebody else in the near future. If not, Plan B.