What Combinations of Components Have You Put Together That Sound Good?

You’re shopping, and it seems you are shooting in the dark. (Which is fine, if that is what you really want to do.)

The general question of what constitutes synergy in an audio system is unproductive. You will get a set of answers that is completely unusable, given the variance in products and listeners.

You need to be specific in using a search for synergy, or "perfect" sound. Focus on one item, the speakers, I suggest, and work from there. Genres of speakers include Panel, Open Baffle, Dynamic, Horn, Omnidirectional, etc. and hybrids of these.

Finally, be aware that unless a person has the capacity to hear hundreds of systems and dozens with a particular product, then the acclamation of synergy or perfect sound is to be weighted as such. Simply because someone thinks a match is good, in no way means it is ideal, or cannot be vastly improved. The systems I built years ago with speakers I would not listen to today. The common factor in the advancement of synergy is one thing, better components and cables, which are often much higher priced. Hence, the question, only partially facetious, $5K, $20K, or $75K synergy?

So, I recommend you hone your search to start with a speaker. If you make the "wrong" decision of the speaker that moves you, then you can have a system with excellent synergy and it still won’t wow you. Give some consideration to this. :)

Point we’ll taken Doug, but it’s still fun to hear what others have put together in there musical journey. You’ve reviewed a ton of stuff, but what components do you sit down and listen too at home at the end of your day?
In my case, I will most definitely consider speakers first, thanks for that.

Currently in the rig I have three consistent elements:

1. SOURCE: WireWorld Silver Starlight Ethernet Cable
Small Green Computer sonicTransporter with SONORE systemOptiqueand associated optical cable
SONORE Signature Rendu SE 
Clarity Cable Supernatural USB cable

2. AMP: Pass Labs XA200.8 Monos

3. Speakers: Kingsound King III electrostatic speakers

The DAC and cables are under review and change as required. 

I will build approximately 10-12 discrete systems for assessment, demanding improving synergy with each iteration. 

The system listed is representative of my work in regard to escalating synergy over 8 years. There have been many systems with the King III speakers that had "synergy", but the perfection has never been better than with the systems built for this review. That should stand to reason, as the source, DAC, cables and amps are all higher end compared to what I was working with years ago.  

Wow, that must sound AMAZING Doug!
Thanks for sharing...

What is amazing to me is how elevated the speaker's performance is compared to years ago. I continue to be impressed by how "flexible" a speaker's sound can be based on the ancillary components and cables. The truth is that is takes dozens of rigs to gain a holistic sense of what a speaker can actually do. When a hobbyist has the occasion to take a speaker that is well-loved and elevate its performance several times, that is imo High End enjoyment, as of course, the experience of hearing music through it is so gratifying, so enriching.