I think you need to define "Cable Synergy"...

Are we discussing just the cable component - i/c and speaker cables?

Or are we looking at total end-to-end system synergy, in terms of:

- Source
- Source-to-pre-amp cable
- Pre-amp
- Pre-amp-to-Power amp cable
- Power amp-to-speaker cable

In general, I've found - from a pure cable synergy perspective - that sticking to the same manufacturer is advisable.

For end-to-end synergy, the number of variables makes it almost impossible to respond - too many permutations...

At a level higher, it is just possible to match a cable manufacturer's "voicing" with the "voicing" of an electronics manufacturer and also with the "voicing" of a speaker manufacturer - although, to be fair, this is both empirical and a 40,000 ft view.

So, I come back to my first line:

I think you need to define "Cable Synergy"...

i found that the kimber pbj made a GREAT match when i connected my old rotel 855 cdp to my preamp. the 855 died and i miss it very much. the PBJs still connect my ns500v to the pre.

...regards

I TOTALLY AGREE. Synergy is CRUCIAL. More Expensive cables do not necessarily sound better, and what sounds best in a particular group of components need not sound Great elsewhere.

The LAT-2 Interconnect sounds best ( amongst all I treid) between my Denon 2900 and Prima Luna Porlogue-2 Valve Integrated Amp.

The Audio Power Cord sounds better than Cardus, feeding my Denon 2900.

I use Korean made OFC cables between my PL-2 amp and Sonus Fabor Extrema speakers. They sound better than the MIT Terminators that I was using earlier.

I wondered for a long time now something related to cables and the synergy or best combo...and it is:

How a manufacturer of an expensive high end unit (from sources through power amps till loudspeakers) will risk that either of their products loose against any other of the competition only because of cable choice?
Wouldn't be more logical, if cables meant so much to how good a (fx) loudspeaker sounds, that the very same manufacturer either provided with a list of options (as a thumb rule guide) or (in case of a power cable) with the best matching for their system? Because, I do not think anyone will say that we need to match the power cords not only to the unit but also to the rest of the rig?

What I mean is simple, imagine the situation: take home a brand new, say, preamp. 10,000$ worth (ARC REF3 i.e.), plug it in, hear it out, and compare it with the second option, worth also the same 10k. If by chance, the second option has "synergy" with the cables you're running, and as a result your choice falls toward this one, there goes an ARC unsold only because they failed to provide a "synergistic" cable along or a word of advice. Instead, ARC makes a statement out of their choice of better cable used on their brand new REF3 (I use this example because I own one)....are they gone crazy?

Another thing I wonder is how a 30,000$ loudspeaker sound awful if not used with the right choice of cable. I have yet to find a loudspeaker brand that justifies the use of "high end" cables. At the most, they say "sufficient gauge". They won't pee on the cable industry, but won't tell us what to use, and they SHOULD know best!

See where I go? On CES all over, we see cables used with a specific brand, guess what: isn't it a lot simpler to just pick what brand are they using to show off their gear where it is supposed to sound at its best?

to conclude: it is to me (btw, I'm no engineer nor technician ) hard to understand how a 30k loudspeaker system will only find its nirvana when combined with a certain lenght of a certain brand of a certain cable. And, without it, it simply won't perform as per its specs (and if it does, where's the difference??)
brgds, marcelo

Great Speech
Art

I think you're applying too much rational thought to the problem...

Hi Bart! yeah, I might be...but after some 30+ years of audiophylia...you end up being rational. Somewhere must common sense reign...unless we prefer to live with the illusions.
I like high end gear as much as anyone, and I love my system, but it`s been a while ago I stopped thinking I was getting all the gang for the buck when buying cables. Personally it still does not makes any sense to spend more that absolutely necessary on cables, no matter wich application. Thick enough if loudspeaker cable, good connectors if interconnect, and OEM power cables. All other is subjective, and to get subjective, I prefer a good glass of bourbon...

brgds, marcelo

I have a tremendous appreciation for cable and interconnect synergy.

About 15 years ago I was auditioning equipment for my first high-end audio system. The audio nut (salesman) was a bonafide anal audiophile. After a few hours listening to various components I decided on the gear. Thinking that we were headed to the cash register, the salesman stepped into a closet and pulled out a wad of cables and interconnects and told me we needed to spend a little time trying several out. Well, 30 minutes later I had an entirely different view on the importance of wire.

I didn't just notice subtle differences in performance, I immediately noticed colorations that were as profound as the differences in the equipment I had auditioned.

I'm far from being an experienced listener and in fact own very modestly priced equipment, but that very first experience with a most helpful salesman made a true believer out of me.

of all the cables that you tried, did you buy the most expensive? or did you go for the medium coke...

I ended up buying what the Salesman recommended because of his willingness to let me borrow as many cables and interconnects that I wanted...for later comparisons at home.

At the time of purchase I bought a Kimber PBJ interconnect and Audioquest cables. Both topped the less expensive Monster brand wire in the listening department...by a disturbingly large margin. I still use them in my home office system, though I did replace the Audioquest cable with Kimber in my main system. I still use the PBJ interconnect on all my non digital gear.

I tried Nordost cables, but didn't like them from the word go and never ventured into their higher priced stuff.