Is system synergy worth having matched components?

@stuartk 

X2

I am in a similar jam. I found an amp that matches my speakers, which simply was correct vs wrong compared to other amps I tried. It is weird that it is balanced Levinson proceeded by single ended Lamm preamp. I have heard the all Levinson amplification with my speakers, but prefer the tone of my current preamp. Other may prefer the opposite or just dislike it all.  I am sure better could be had, but that's always the story. 

Synergy,yes! It is important.

Same brand, not really. The pair from same brand is the understanding of the designer. The pair could be good one, but not great one. You might found the great match on the market with different brand.

Just like me,

I found Rega cursa 3 + audio research vt100 iii is such a great match.

I also found Ayre kx-5 + audio research ref 75 se is very good.

It is the journey, believe me. Everyone explore the hifi world, including the designer.

No one can set the superior standard, as there are more great match who they do not know even they design.

How would we know if synergy can happen?
Or is it the we get every preamp to go a specific amp or visa versa?

On the amp to speaker side, it is pretty clear that a small SET running low sensitivity and.or low impedance speaker is going to not really work.

What is the process that a person using a “synergy based” approach uses to find their gear?

I wonder about that too. I think that's what reviewers refer to as "the loom" - staying with the same brand throughout, particularly with cables. Please correct me if I got that wrong. My current system sounds great but I often wonder "what if I tried "X"? That will be a very expensive route with no promise of improvement.  Recently I purchased Synergistic's Foundation silver XLR intertconnects and their atmosphere 2 digital cable. Sounds great. Today there was   an Audiogon ad for an top of the line Audioquest WEL signature XLR cable for $1,500.  I wondered - Hmmm. Then I told myself, stop doing that  - you're listening to the equipment, not the music.