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

Showing 7 responses by ozzy

Sabai, I am with you. I still have the original SR 10SE Powercell and about 4 power cords D, A and a couple of the precision power cords.
But, I have sold all of my SR Apex speaker and interconnect cables. I just couldnt keep up with all the new versions without a reasonable upgrade path.
Sabai, From what I understand of SR upgrade policy you have to buy an item twice as expensive of the item you want to upgrade and then they give you 70% for your old equipment.

In other words, to upgrade to the latest version Mk3 powercell, I would have to buy $10,000 worth of equipment to get $3500 for my SR Powercel 10SE.
This just doesn't make sense.
Just like Synergistic Upgrades, I can't afford a Porsche either. And if I could, I would spend the money on Audio Equipment instead.
I think its great that Synergistic is always looking for ways of approving their products.
Heck, I even bought there Teslaplex and then a few weeks later the Teslaplex 2. But that cost was chump change.

But, because of SR quick turn around with new products, the older products lose value quickly and greatly.
And SR upgrade policy is not really helpful.
Surly there must be something in the trade in item that would have value to SR that they could come up with a better
trade up policy.
Sabai, you make some very good points.

One thing for sure is that Synergistic Research will continue to change their design. With the cost of their products being so high, they can afford to search for the ultimate Holy Grail. Good for them.

But I too have chosen to get off the ride. This is because the old Synergistic Research products lose their value tremendously once the new products are released and the fact that Synergistic Research does NOT have any realistic upgrade path.

My Pass Labs Amplifier always sounded better on a separate dedicated outlet than being plugged into the Synergistic Powercell. That is, with the Amp plugged into the SR Powercell, it provided a darker background, but it also seemed to suck the “life” out of the music.

So, after reviewing your post, perhaps I should pull my SR Powercell out of my 2 channel completely and use it for my Home theater equipment.

I have always had some type of power conditioning with my front end equipment and now I wonder how a power regenerator would perform.
Sabai, you make some very good points.

One thing for sure is that Synergistic Research will continue to change their design. With the cost of their products being so high, they can afford to search for the ultimate Holy Grail. Good for them.

But I too have chosen to get off the ride. This is because the old Synergistic Research products lose their value tremendously once the new products are released and the fact that Synergistic Research does NOT have any realistic upgrade path.

My Pass Labs Amplifier always sounded better on a separate dedicated outlet than being plugged into the Synergistic Powercell. That is, with the Amp plugged into the SR Powercell, it provided a darker background, but it also seemed to suck the “life” out of the music.

So, after reviewing your post, perhaps I should pull my SR Powercell out of my 2 channel completely and use it for my Home theater equipment.

I have always had some type of power conditioning with my front end equipment and now I wonder how a power regenerator would perform.
Fplanner2000, I just purchased a couple of the Audience AR2P-TO units for my dedicated lines. These units have both surge protection and provide excellent power conditioning.