I was perusing AVA's used equipment site. I saw the used case Synergy 240 for $300 off the new price. I also had some credit with Frank that was
15 years old that he said was still valid! (Talk about loyalty! I wouldn't have thought twice if he had just said that it was no longer good.
) On a budget, I would have never bought it (still stretched) but I couldn't resist.
It arrived this afternoon and I have it hooked up to the Pioneer VSX-D912K AVR's pre-amp below it, playing now. (It is quite the remarkable receiver for under $150 used.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=68889.0 Though I cannot hear any difference in the DVD 7.1 multi-ch. input vs. the other inputs that people in the thread say is very large. Highly recommended for a second system. There's one on e-bay right now.)
How does it sound? Better in everything - but not by a whole bunch. Imaging (precise location of instruments) is a bit more precise. Soundstage is a bit wider and deeper. Sounds are a bit more clear. Transient attack is a bit better and the highs on drum cymbals have a bit more shimmer. My speakers' F3 is only 55hz so I can't comment on deep bass but it's a bit tighter though it seemed to lose a bit of it...or some boominess? Not sure.
It's a somewhat of a low budget system so there is a bit of high end harshness especially when cranked up but that could be the CD player, the ODAC or the speakers (BG Neo3 tweeters) or a combination of all of them (most likely.) It definitely not the ideal system to have a Synergy amp plugged into but that's all I have for now. (I will be getting a used Odyssey pre-amp soon and if that also makes a change, I'll report it. I would like to have an AVA pre-amp too but the Odyssey was in my price range so....)
Nonetheless, it's exciting to have it.
