System Synergy


I have always wondered this. I will go on a limb here and make the statement that many of us have different brands of amps/preamps/cd players/speakers/cabling within our system.

Remember the days when you went out and bought an all Sony/Pioneer/rack system?

We speak a lot about Synergy in high end. So why not have Gear from all the same brands, or at least a Preamp/Amp/CD player of the same brand? I would assume, internal parts, wires would be of the same brand. Isn't that a big part of Synergy?

Does anyone here have say an All Cary Audio System? Or all the same brand of IC and speaker wire? Im sure there are other brands which an entire system can be made of. Jadis, ...or at least a good portion of a system can be made.
128x128justlisten
How many companies make pre-amp's, amp's, CDP's, Turntables,and speakers? Even if one company made all this gear do you think anyone would actually believe that the speaker was as good as the amp, as good as the turntable and that any one company didnt have a weakness?
I understand your question but it really isnt possible, not in hi-end circles.

I think system synergy can be optimal or excellent. Same same throughout is definitely one way to reamin close to it without taking much chance of diminishing it. Obstacles do stand in the way of that 'all the same name" path ocasionally. Mostly money, as I see it. Philosophy is another. An approach to a system building exercise can demand changes.

At some point in a good number of systems departures from having all the same are dictated, and no longer a choice. Just now I can't think of one manufacturer that makes everything a high end audio, or video system requires, 'soup to nuts'.

Mostly though, I think the departure from an all "xyz" system is fueled by the desire to obtain a better level here and there throughout the system.

In fact I think many times system synergy is bypassed or overlooked as the newly acquired device is not thoroughly optimized and integrated into the system. it's simply plugged into an exsisting system and followed by only a cursory decision on it's 'synergy' with the balance of the equipment on hand... but such is the way of things.

I would believe many great opportunities are passed in just this way. there's more to this than just components. tha'ts the "art" part of system building. It takes more than getting, hearing, and then getting another one. it takes time too. Oh, yeah, and money.