Why don't gold based cable fans try Synergistic


I am looking to try new cables and have been reading the archives in cable forums on all the great cable recommendations. I'm trying to get a handle on how the Synergistic Tesla range that I once owned compare to the gold based cable offerings.

However for some strange reason hardly any of the members here who seem to have tried the various gold based faves (Gabriel Gold, Jade, KCI, Purist and others) have not been tempted to try the popular Synergistic cables and not much here in the way of comparisons. I am not sure why but there seems to be two camps.

Anyways hoping to get a comparison as I had the Tesla Accelerators in my system for a short while and wonder if the gold based cables have the same naturalness, depth of soundstage, air and separation of the Teslas. I should add that as good as the Accelerators were sound wise I did not like the idea of introducing more electricity into my system with the active shielding hence looking for comparable alternatives.
frankk

Showing 17 responses by tbg

Rilbr, I agree that it does not take much gold to make it evident. We disagree, I suspect, if this is good or bad.
Bullot, you are indeed lucky to have a local dealer. I have not had one for the last thirty years. But I do remember that I had few instances such as those you recounted. What you say, however, does not negate the totally implausibly of what he or she suggested as a SR "quirk." However, move forward and enjoy.
I just found this thread. I might offer my experiences. My first solid gold interconnect was the Stealth PGS. I grew tire of the softness of gold and ultimately jumped to the Indras. What struck me with them other than that they did not sound at all like gold, is how encompassing they were. At various times during this period I tried palladium interconnects and just hated them. It might be that palladium like gold will not oxidize but they have a "sound" that I just find anathema to music. Next I tried non-metal interconnects from Cerious Technology and really did like the lack of "metal splash" with them. Then I heard of Jades.

I visit JD in his home an auditioned the Golds versus the Vermeil. I think the Vermeils are really gold plated. I was glad that I did because again I heard the gold and much preferred the Vermeils. Shortly thereafter the Hybrids were made with a "blend" of gold and silver. I bought only one pair of them and did prefer them between the dac and my line stage. I retained Vermeils elsewhere and later bought the Jade speaker wires.

I had heard demonstrations of the SRs stuff at CES and was impressed but never bought into the line. Then came the '08 RMAF and a very convincing demonstration of the new Tesla line as well as the ARTs for room resonance. I bought the ARTs at the show. On reflection of what I heard, I tried their PowerCell, then more pcs, and ultimately I reviewed a fully charged system, including pcs, ics, and speaker wires. These were mainly Apexs, Hologram A & Ds, and the PowerCell 10SE.

I must say that I have had a immense improvement in my sound with these and really think the "quantum tunneling" is a major contribution to their sound. I actually had Home Depot cheaters zapped and compared them to those just from the store. You would not believe what benefit there was from being zapped.

I don't hear any coloration in the SR line, and really don't know what metal is used, but I would guess silver. I will never go back to uncharged ics or speaker cables.

I have heard much more expensive ics, costing many times what the Apex cables do, and much prefer the Apexs.

Given my experiences, I will never try gold ics again.

As always, YMMV.
Bigamp, I do use SR shielding throughout. Remember that the shielding is dc.I don't know how they would interfere with other cables. I did early on use the SR ics with other cables and noticed no problems. I also used for a while with other speakerwires. Again with no problems. As Ted Denney said once you have heard how quiet and dynamic a shielded system is, you don't want to be without it.

The one thing I don't like is all the blue leds. My room looks like a moonscape at night.
Bullot, did you ask the people at Synergistic Research about this? I have had no problem with this in NM where it is also quite dry.
Bullot, what lends credence to your experience is that nothing else has happened since you stopped using charged cables. But like Shellie, I don't see any mechanism that this could happen. Were I you I would check whether the outlets you are or were using as to whether they are wired properly. There are little plug-ins that immediately tell you. If they are all correctly wired, I would just rest in peace.
Bullot, I don't respect his integrity. He sounds like someone unknowing of anything electrical. Why would he be a SR dealer if he knew something was wrong with them electrically?
My first gold cable was the Stealth Pure Gold Signal. It certainly was different from the silver cables I had had, such as the Kondo and several others. I ended up trading it for the Indra amorphous wires, which were much more realistic and less smeared. At some point I tried palladium wires. They are totally worthless in my opinion with no dynamics.

Next I visited the maker of Jade cables to decide whether I wanted the Gold or the Vermeil or gold on silver wires. There was no question in my opinion, the Vermeil were more real and less smeared and lifeless. Later I bought the Hybrids and never really could decide whether I still preferred the Vermeil or them.

I certainly have not listened to all gold cables, but I certainly will not seek them any more.

I think the main benefits of the Synergistic Research cables is charged cables and I must say that while I gradually introduced more and more into my system, each with an added benefit, it was the last that really consummated the outstanding sound.

I doubt, however, that any one of our personal opinions transfer to others. There probably is something going on when a large number agree, but even that is hazardous.
Bvdiman, there is little denying that Siltech is excellent. I had several of the Compass Lake and Emperor cables. I would love to be able to compare the top SRs with the Siltechs. I am not certain which would be more realistic.
Opus88, you mention sound concert hall sound being " fuller, warmer and softer." In some halls that is true, but it is hard to find an acoustically well designed hall. Also, much depends on where you sit. In short, I doubt again whether one can make categoric statements. I should also say that I have been in big orchestra and jazz band recordings. The dynamics of both where the mikes are located are quite different than what you hear in the audience.

You seem to lean toward the warmth of gold while I hear it as smeared and unrealistic. That is what makes horse races.
I would suggest to anyone putting credence in anything posted by Audiofeil to read his many posts. He is a dealer disliking any positive statements on products he cannot sell.
What about your ethic problems? Give me examples of what you mean by mine with some documentation rather than snide remarks.
Trelja, I will let others decide whether there was any ethical issue in my wanting to do a review on these speakers but the importer's unwillingness to put a pair out for review and my buying them after being very impressed with them at the RMAF.

I afraid, in my opinion you only make snide remarks just like Bill Feil. Furthermore, I cannot see what relevance this has on this thread.
Trelja, you say, "We are the "others" you talk about." Obviously, not. You speak only for yourself.

You say, "Ray Charles would have no trouble reading into "the importer's unwillingness to put a pair out for review" when it comes to you writing them up." Obviously, you have no knowledge about this. As I have said before SoundStage knew about Brian Ackerman wanting me to do a review but being unwilling at the time to dedicate a pair for review. Ask him and for the first time have some knowledge about this. You say you have had plenty of off line correspondence. So have I, much of it asking about my opinions of the Tidals and to ignore Bill Feil. No one mentioned you at all.

You say, "Let's not try to revise history, that episode precipiated your firing from the reviewing position." I agree that we should not seek to revise history. My review of the Tidal speakers had nothing to do with my stent at reviewing with SoundStage ending. It was my posting on Audiogon that caused it, in particular a comment about Gryphon amps. I had informed SoundStage that I posted often on AudioAsylum and Audiogon. They were not pleased, but took me on as a reviewer.

You say, "In other words, what you bring the discussion in terms of how you've obtained the product, and its corollary, what the truth actually is." I really don't know what this means, but suspect you mean that because of what you think happened with Tidal, that my personal experiences are invalid. I can say little about this twisted logic, except that it does you a disservice if anyone previously valued your opinions.

Again, you offer little other than snide remarks and your limited perspective with no evidence that you are even close to knowing what happened. Why, I don't know. Perhaps you sell these gold cables?