Synergy bonus

[alchemist 1]

Synergy,....To produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

So how do we find this additional bonus that enhances our listening pleasure ?

Logic may say we purchase components from the same manufacture ,( IAG as an example)

Do we take advantage of dealers experience of differing products ?

Do reviews/reviewers cover this elusive subject enough ?

 

[davidf]

Manufacturers will likely use their own equipment during the development of their others. If that manufacturer doesn't produce any relevant products, they'll choose a few popular products or have some sort of arrangement with a high end manufacturer.

Some dealers just put systems together based on the brands they want to support, so can't always be trusted in that respect, and sometimes they'll just put together something from the same distributor (Marantz/B&W, for example), but it doesn't always follow that brands from the same distributor are perfect matches. I'd be wary of dealers who put together large amounts of system bundles on their websites, especially those who pair the likes of LS50s with mini systems - obviously not a match, but it's two popular products that will bring in sales.

Reviewers will usually review a product along side whatever they have to hand. Won't always be the best match, but at least those that try the product in question with two or three differing products get a better impression of the review product.

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

So how do we find this additional bonus that enhances our listening pleasure ?

Get your ears cleaned out, best upgrade ever...

 

[gasolin]

Speaker and amps made with each other

Like Marantz and B&W or is it Rotel and B&W or inakustik who uses audiovector speakers

 

[Dave_]

Like most things hifi, synergy is excrement of the bovine kind....

 

[nopiano]

I think it’s mostly mythical, but as others have already mentioned there are some pretty well established combinations, usually speakers with amps. Alchemy rather than synergy, perhaps?!🤔

For example, KEF and Harbeth both invariably demo at shows with Hegel amplifiers. Then again, Hegel make very neutral designs which will deliver with almost any speaker!

One has to caution against trying to balance ‘opposite’ defects - e.g. bright speakers with smooth amplifiers. As if you do that, then upgrades or improvements become a blind alley!

 

[Al ears]

I think it’s mostly mythical, but as others have already mentioned there are some pretty well established combinations, usually speakers with amps. Alchemy rather than synergy, perhaps?!🤔

For example, KEF and Harbeth both invariably demo at shows with Hegel amplifiers. Then again, Hegel make very neutral designs which will deliver with almost any speaker!

One has to caution against trying to balance ‘opposite’ defects - e.g. bright speakers with smooth amplifiers. As if you do that, then upgrades or improvements become a blind alley!

I would agree synergy is perhaps mythical.
Yes there are well known advised pairings but it's all one person's assumptions of what works well together. Give said pairing to someone else and, in their listening room, all my not be well....
The reason reviewers do not dwell on it is because they are normally auditioning one item within a system that they use as a reference point, they are very rarely reviewing the system as a whole and most people aren't going to have exactly the same system anyway.