Synergistic New Tesla Line...Any comments?

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.

Sabai,
"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."

No sorry. First there was the PowerCell 10SE, then Mk II and now Mk III. The PowerCell 10 and 6 were launched at the same time as the PowerCell 10SE and have since been discontinued. The PowerCell 4 was added two years later.

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

Hifinut604,
Are you as disappointed as I am in Ted's comments or do they satisfy you?

Sabai,

My response to your comment:
"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 would respectfullybeg to differ. I don't want to speculate, but IMHO, SR is a only an "upper mid end" player with a core group of followers for the technology but likely going to feel the squeeze from both the "value players" like the Morrows and Anti-Cables, and the true luxury cables that the well heeled folk flock to (Nordost Odin, Jorma, Zensati, Siltech). I don't think SR has that kind of brand clout. It is not particularly attractive (by luxury cable standards) and the MPC hassle and mess makes it a challenge for the aethetically conscious. I am in the same boat as you are, saving my pennies the hard way. I will also say that if I were financially well heeled, I would be trying out the aforementioned brands. I would rather invest in truly EXPENSIVE cable products rather than continually throw away money on highly DEPRECIABLE cable products.

I am not speaking out of bitterness (although reading some of the comments on this thread, there is plenty of that to go around). I purchased most of my SR gear used and I don't need the latest and greatest. I have a Powercell 4 which more than suffices for my simple system setup. I'd like to see the company stick around but I simply cannot support a business that only markets their R&D "breakthrough" (are their really 4 Powercell 10 breakthroughs in 3 years that need to be formally named?). Some companies just save up the improvements over a 3 to 5 year R&D period for a product that significantly improves on the predecessor and worth investing full price into. Another better way to sustain brand loyalty is to offer factory upgrades at a reasonable charge (say $500 for a Powercell 10). But giving the owner no options but to eat a 50% loss every year is probably not the best way to retain customer loyalty.

Secretly, I'm hoping the high rollers are ready to ditch their Element cables at half price sooner rather than later...