What does synergy mean?
Synergy. This word often gets mentioned in hifi forums and I'm interested to know what it actually means.
I assume that achieving the lowest possible amount of distortion is the aim of hifi equipment? So surely this means that any combination of hifi equipment that has a low level of distortion has good synergy. But for some people synergy seems to mean putting together a special combination of CD player, DAC, amplifiers, cables and speakers that adds something magical to music.
To me synergy simply means using a low distortion music source combined with a low distortion amplifier that has enough power to effectively drive a pair of speakers without clipping. Is this right or am I missing something here?
The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
Nice concise explanation.
Basically you get poor synergy by putting a series of bright (or smooth) sounding components together which exacerbates the trait....unless of course you like it that way.
This is interesting. So for example having bright components with warm speakers would be neutral overall and have good synergy?
I also assume that by bright or smooth sounding you are talking about the tone? If this is the case could you just take a system that has bad synergy and use a graphic equalizer to adjust the tone so that it has good synergy?
This is interesting. So for example having bright components with warm speakers would be neutral overall and have good synergy?
I also assume that by bright or smooth sounding you are talking about the tone? If this is the case could you just take a system that has bad synergy and use a graphic equalizer to adjust the tone so that it has good synergy?
TBH I don't get caught up in subjective semantics.
I keep it to its simplest level, which is not combining products that give me a sound I don't like.
I also think that absolute neutrality is hard to know for sure if it's been achieved, so I don't worry about it.....IMO you can over think this whole thing; it's as simple as doing a few demos and buying what you like the sound of.
I'm not a fan of graphic equalizers....which in my view, generally degrade the sound, and don't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!
The Shipping Forecast (including 'Sailing By') on BBC Radio 4 FM, from a Roberts R707 or Hacker RP38 (or a Sony ST-88 + NAD 3020 + Mordaunt Short Festival 2s), with a nice glass of Port, a slice of buttered tea loaf and a lump of Quickes Cheddar before going to bed after a geat Christmas Day with all the family.
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols from Kings College (from BBC radio, not TV) with a glass of St. Peter's Golden Ale, homemade mince pie and sausage rolls on Christmas Eve afternoon.
The occasional weekend afternoon when I am not working and everyone is out doing stuff and I can listen to an entire BBC Radio Drama series from iTunes (no gaps like with CDs) for 3 or 4 hours.
To me the synergy is not just about equipment. (Although Rega do a bang-up job within all Rega systems as I have - with all but speakers - experienced a couple of times in the past.)
Edited by Mods - Please avoid antagonising
Gawd bless 'er (apologies to JD.)
As well as Ben's wiki link, it can also mean trying to get one deeply flawed product to work with an another product with an equal degree of flaws hoping that they cancel out. A "bright" amp on the end "dull" speakers equals synergy where the sum is certainly greater than the parts. Best to have stuff that's well-balanced to start with that will "synergise" with other decent products where the sum equals a big grin. Another problem with cancelling out flaws is when you want to upgrade. So-called synergy can also be when speakers match the room well. I always thought "system matching" was a workable description.
This is an interesting point. Surely one make system are likely to have good synergy but mixing and matching components is likely to be a bit 'hit or miss'?
Pleeeeese! 
Do you and Max have a rota?
As well as matching a room, there has to be synergy when matching sensitive speakers with a low powered valve amp.
As well as matching a room, there has to be synergy when matching sensitive speakers with a low powered valve amp.
I'm not sure Steve will cope well with you 
him!
As well as matching a room, there has to be synergy when matching sensitive speakers with a low powered valve amp.
This actually make good sense. Having a low powered amp with difficult to drive speakers will add distortion which = bad synergy.
So this does this mean that good synergy is all about having low distortion with good overall tone. Is that right or is there anything else about synergy that I'm missing?
So this does this mean that good synergy is all about having low distortion with good overall tone. Is that right or is there anything else about synergy that I'm missing?
....possibly harmony with this forum! 
So this does this mean that good synergy is all about having low distortion with good overall tone. Is that right or is there anything else about synergy that I'm missing?
....possibly harmony with this forum!
Whether or not you subscribe to the idea that all properly designed amps sound the same, a competent amplifier with enough headroom to correctly drive the speaker in question, would therefore have 'synergy' that would not exist with a less capable amp, so synergy must exist in some form.
To me, a system has synergy, if its components are complimentry to each other.
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The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
Source 1) "Inspired" Manticore Mantra turntable c/w Rega RB 301 arm, Goldring 1042 MM Cartridge, Graham Slee Reflex M phono stage, Graham Slee CuSat 50 interconnect
Source 2) Cyrus CD8 SE CD player
Source 3) iTunes (ALAC), iMac, Devolo Homeplugs, Apple TV3, Toslink, Arcam rDAC
Source 4) Technics SL-7 linear tracking turntable.
Roksan Kandy L3 amp, Spendor A5 speakers.
Other rooms: more Airport Expresses and Homeplugs with Denon AV system and Denon Mini system.