Synergistic New Tesla Line...Any comments?

Sabai,

I totally agree with your thoughts. I believe there is (was?) a loyal SR following but if the company doesn't appear to reciprocate that loyalty back to their core clients, then they may go the way of companies like Virtual Dynamics. I'm not in the business, but anyone who's been in the hobby even a few years know that that the volume of existing core client base for any brand far outweighs any new clientele in this very niche market.

A 70% trade in on an upgrade to a product that is at least twice as much as the original is a slap in the face for the most loyal clients and high rollers. So if you are already at the top of the line, you can't get a deal on upgrading to the newest product, but if you are a newer client or lower down the ladder, you get more perks. That doesn't seem right in light of the fact that many other competitors offer up to 100% trade in value when you upgrade to the latest higher product. SR is really doing nothing to keep their best clients happy. We all know how much the mark up is on the materials cost of cable so it's not like SR is going to actually lose money by giving a more generous upgrade policy that rewards the most loyal core group.

In any case, it's a shame that the aggressive marketing is turning off existing clients because they do make good products that work.

Hifinut604,
As audio companies become bigger customer loyalty sometimes becomes less important for them. When they do not think that reciprocating customer loyalty is important anymore things change. Customers vote with their feet.

A lot of SR's customers are well-heeled folks to whom money comes easily. I mean, who can afford to shell out 5 or 10 grand with each product upgrade unless there is big money in the picture. Others, like me, have to make it the old fashioned way. We have to earn it slowwwwly. At some point new products become out of reach. One's desire for better sound has to be tempered with the realism that there are priorities in life and the musical buck has to stop somewhere.

I am satisfied with the solution I have come up with for my system. I don't feel I am missing anything although there are other products out there that could bring my system to a higher level. The fact is there will ALWAYS be products out there that will do that. You cannot have everything in life and it is best to learn this lesson and save yourself a lot of grief.

I told you so guy's...this SR thread reads like minutes from a cult meeting! It's voodoo cablenomics:O)

Hifinut604,
I would respectfully like to make a addendum to the information on Synergistic Research's site where they state:

"The new PowerCell 10SE Mk III is the 2nd revision to the PowerCell in five years ..."

Actually, the first version was the PowerCell 10, then came the PowerCell 10SE, then came the PowerCell 10SE MKI, then came the PowerCell 10SE MKII, then came the PowerCell 10SE MKIII. That makes that 5 versions. Perhaps Synergistic Research has a different meaning for the word "revision". I give them the benefit of the doubt here.

But it all adds up to the same thing -- 5 different versions. Jack Roberts wrote his "Power corrupts ..." review of the PowerCell 10 in March 2009. So that makes exactly 3 years for the 5 versions. Perhaps Synergistic Research are including the time devoted to R&D and prototyping to stretch the PowerCell timeframe to 5 years. But to loyal supporters of Synergistic Research it definitely looks like a 3-year timeline. And it sure feels like it too with one version coming on the heels of the last.

Now, I don't fault Ted Denney for making breakthroughs. That's what his work entails. I do find fault with his failure to publicly recognize what this is doing to some of his loyal customers who are not as well-heeled as others. We are effectively blocked from achieving the vision of sonic perfection SR holds forth to prospective customers. If you buy at the wrong moment in the development curve you are stuck. It is obvious that the future for SR lies with new customers and with loyal customers with deep pockets -- not with loyal customers of modest means.

Guys I’ve been enjoying some free time with my fiancée these past few days so I’ve not had time to visit this AG blog. Please allow me to take a few moments and address your patent questions one by one.

1. My electromagnetic cell technology is most certainly patented. Anyone wishing to learn more about this patent may contact the factory. I’ll take your calls personally or if I am not available when you call, I will get back to you. That said discussions about patents instead of music misses the point entirely, which is music. Perhaps some base their audio selections on patents and marketing jargon but most SR customers base their decisions after auditioning my products in their homes and to this end we make our products readily available through the no risk Synergistic Research Challenge. This seems more then fair.

2. Patent pending- We do not disclose patent pending information aside from what is listed on the US Gov patent site or when requests are made to the factory in writing. If you have further questions please submit them to our factory email.

3. The limitations and weakness of patents- Believe it or not sometimes it is best NOT to seek a patent. Many of our production techniques, material selections and build processes that combine to give our products their unique strengths are not detectable even to the would be competitor who may wish to reverse engineer our products. Were we to patent them all we would only be assisting our competition. 20-years of building cables by hand has led to a vast body of knowledge that we do not share with the general public through the patent process.

This is all I will say here regarding patents. Anyone seeking more information should contact the factory.

Yours in music,
Ted Denney III
Lead Designer, Synergistic Research Inc.