Is system synergy worth having matched components?

If you ask a dealer, they will tell you it is very important to use the same brand pre and amplifier,as it is the easy way to go and they can increase the sales.

In fact, if you are a experience guy, you do not need follow that  way, you might choose your way, and better one

If  you are new, do the pair with same brand.

Most very good match is not going to public, it is in some one's room. Hifi is  a exploring  journey, and that is most  interesting things inside itself.

No.

Most devices, like preamps, have an output impedance that is pretty low.
Most amps have a high input impedance.

if it sound good, then get more music and be happy.

@holmz : +1! Unlike gravity, synergy is an imaginary concept.

But am I doing myself a disservice by not even hearing the Odyssey Candela or Tempest preamp with the Khartago? 

No.

there are a LOT of members that mix and match equipment.

just as it was mentioned earlier, if it sounds good, then leave it , enjoy it and buy music to listen to.

I have had three "matched" systems over the years.   First was a Apt Holman pre and Apt 1 amp.... pretty good combo for a 17 year old kid.....   next was a McIntosh C15 and 7100...   again, not a bad system.    Third was a brand new McCormack RLD 1 and DNA 125.     The latter was oddly enough the worst "matching"  of them all.   

After about two years with the RLD 1 , I replaced it with a Conrad Johnson Classic 2SE.   That combo sounded great.    For what ever reason I could not warm up to the RLD 1 .   It wasn't bad but it didn't wow me like the CJ in that system.

The McCormack was sold and replaced with a pair or Quicksilver Mid Monos .  A fantastic pairing that. I have enjoyed for about 8 years.    

With respect to system synergy.... you don't know ya got it, til ya got it.

I'm still using the Quicksilvers,  but now driving them witha Zesto Leto.  The Leto is incredible,  it also demonstrated how great sounding the Quicksilvers are.

Those 2 components have synergy in spades.    Im having a 300b amp built, hopefully  it will play nice with the Zesto.    

if you are happy, you are happy...but might be fun to try the Odyssey preamps and some others...depends how much time you want to play around with...I've had great success both ways...

@jasonbourne52 

"Unlike gravity, synergy is an imaginary concept."

For those who cannot hear worth a damn, yes! 

@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.

Often the truth is some manufacturers "add" other components to their lines for a brand and sales benefit, when their core skillset or best product is one particular type of component.  

Nothing in my system is brand matched, and I would have it no other way. 

I have always mix and matched brands up until I fell in love with Pass gear XP30 Preamp X350 Power amp the synergy is just outrageous I will never go back to mix matching.  @jasonbourn52 you nailed it drove it straight home. as stated above  someone can`t hear worth a damn  I totally agree what profound statement. I`ll bet you there system is something I would`nt want to listen to.

@holmz

For my approach I would use my last purchase as an example. I was searching for a tube based preamp to upgrade from a less expensive model and did not want simply hit or miss by experimentation. I researched my amplifier online and found a fellow who works for Fairaudio.de , a german based audio publication and component review group similar to Stereophile. He does this for a living and he paired the preamp I was considering (EAR yoshino 868) with the Bryston 4B3 and was still using it several years later in his reference test system. I wrote him a letter, and he responded, giving me enough valuable information to know the synergy between the two was what I was looking for. I did not have to reinvent the wheel. I was also able to confirm the pairing with the fellow I purchased the preamp from as well.  

No.

For many years I have been using tube pres and solid-state power amps.  I like the nouanced presentation with the kick-ass speaker control.

Not many manufacturers major on both.

I would add that some manufacturers make a better sounding amp compared with their preamp, and visa versa, and are well known for that component.  Then it makes sense to mix and match, providing that they mate well impedance wise.  I've been using a tube preamp, SS power amp combination for many years. I imagine with the very high end gear (Pass, Audio Research, Lamm, etc.,) using the same brand for both would work well, but I haven't been lucky enough to test that theory.  

Back in the day, Linn was all about synergy. Their components did actually sound better together.  If you are looking for the best sound quality then that comes down mostly to the component design and the sound you are looking for.  For example, some people prefer a more musical sound so not all amps and preamps are designed for that SQ.  Some people prefer a more open, dynamic, and detailed sound.  Most components are not designed to do both although I am sure to get responses that people have both.  So the impedance matching s one thing to consider but there is more to it that just that.

Happy Listening.     

I figure that a pre and amp from the same manufacturer were developed and tuned using the maker’s other pieces, so, *by design*, they should. Up to the listener to decide. My personal view is to at least try a maker’s pre + amp together - if there is useful combined voicing, I think it would be the pre/amp combo

I’m currently using a Mac tube pre into a McIntosh ss amp, and love the combo. But I also swap amps and run the pre into a Will Vincent el34 pp amp, and love the sound of those two together 

So, experiment and enjoy! Have a great day

If you have a VAC Statement or ARC REF box  plugged into something other  than another one, maybe because you couldn't AFFORD it.

They sure look really great when they match. All McIntosh, all ARC, all BAT, all Schiit... looks great, and almost certainly compatible. And if that relieves the stress of wondering what if? then it’s a good choice.

I was using an SP8 with a VT100 and found it was not a good match! The SP8 has way too much gain. (I know, it can be changed, but I’m making a point here.)

Buy what suits your purpose and if matching components please you, that’s a good enough reason to buy them.

Have fun!