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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
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
Knghifi,
With all due respect, I must protect my privacy. I don't divulge personal information. I understand very well how Capitalism works. I own a business. The challenges where I live are far greater that those faced by many in the US or the EU.
notec
407 posts
 
Anyone that throws in prior posts as a defense that does nothing to defend their position is lame sauce IMO.

I've never thought to buy SR stuff because at one time their website was unorganized (still needs work) and lacked information about their products (always got "Information Coming Soon").

They - for me - sell "questionable products": Acoustic resonance control; the tranquility base et al etc etc...

And I agree their updates/upgrades to their cable and PC product lines is way to quick like most all hi-fi businesses trying to make a quick buck with little or no ROI
ted_d
86 posts
 
Analogbrother,
Yep Estoril Blue with the blue / black interior, 1 inch lowered, 385 bhp with 350 ft lb torque. The spiritual successor to the last of the air cooled 911's FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

Yours in music (and speeding tickets),
Ted Denney III
Lead Designer, Synergistic Research Inc.
dover
2,225 posts
 
Sabai,
The reality is that you made the decision to spend your money, and you were obviously happy with your purchases. If you took your "outdated cables" out of the system and put them back in you would find they are still doing what they did when you bought them.
If you expect all future purchases from that manufacturer to be at factory cost, they would be out of business and your purchases would be unsupported.
To go on here and whinge about the cost of upgrades, target specific companies and yet claim that you have to respect your own privacy is hypocracy.
Even if the product were snake oil, you bought it, grow up and stop blaming other people for the outcomes of choices you made.
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
Dover,
Protecting my privacy is my right. It is not "hypocracy" [sic]. This claim on your part is clearly a non sequitur. If it were not, the question remains, is everyone required to divulge where they live when they post here? I don't believe country of domicile is an issue on Audiogon.

I am not the only one on this thread and other threads who has made this same observation with regards to SR and other companies. With all due respect, if it irks you to read what people feel please feel free to skip these posts.

You stated: "If you expect all future purchases from that manufacturer to be at factory cost ..."

I did not state this and I did not imply this. I have made the very good point that the SR trade-up policy is not favorable to customers -- contrary to what SR would like customers to believe. Many others have made this same point before on Audiogon. This is not the first time that my observations have been made on the forums. The fact that Ted_d is sensitive to my remarks shows they hit a nerve.

With the SR trade-up policy, you have to buy a product or products of twice the value to get 70%. If you can, it makes more sense to wait, buy on the aftermarket -- and sell on the aftermarket, as well.

I have not given up on SR products. I have many SR products in my system that are excellent. But some people have stated on Audiogon that they have given up on SR because they cannot keep up with the upgrades and have found that their SR products have become too-quickly outdated and the value of their SR purchases has depreciated. I believe this is a reasonable point. Now, some may argue by presenting time lines, that this is not factually correct. However, customer perceptions, even though they may not agree with company time lines, are important to note. Feelings are as important as statistics.
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