Kapo_Polenton
Well-known member
Seems like their is a synergy threqd here weekly. What needs to be said has been said...not as good as real deal ( in most cases) but still sound great.
ZEN Amps
Well-known member
No luck going sans power amp. Maybe with tonnes of eq it would be workable, but just sounds and feels like too much of the equation is missing.
Agreed. The Synergy power amps are wimpy. I've had good results with a 50/50, or just going into the FX return of any amp with good iron.
reprovisional
Member
"Not as good as real deal ( in most cases) but still sound great", is the exact right summary.
fek
Well-known member
Side topic on the power amp discussion. Using the internal 3 position cathode switch can help when matching up a power amp. I don't have any experience with using the first position, which is supposed to be for clean tones I think, but position 2 and 3 change enough of the low end feel to take a pretty good sound up to a pretty great sound. At least to me.
Oddly enough, I have preferred the opposite of what the manuals suggest in most cases. Example: the Friedman and Marshall modules suggest position 2, and the SLO, Deliverance, Vai, and 6505 suggest position 3. I have liked the opposite better most of the time. Both are still good though.
Oddly enough, I have preferred the opposite of what the manuals suggest in most cases. Example: the Friedman and Marshall modules suggest position 2, and the SLO, Deliverance, Vai, and 6505 suggest position 3. I have liked the opposite better most of the time. Both are still good though.
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MusicIsLife
Well-known member
Like others have said, they're not going to be identical to their namesakes. I don't think different equates to inferior though. I've played plenty of standalone tube heads that I didn't think sounded as good as my modular setup. If I had only one tube-based rig, it'd probably be a pair of SYN2s, or an M4.
I'm a huge fan of the Randall RT2/50 power amp. I think it's one of the best tube power amps out there. If I wasn't using that, I'd probably have a Fryette 2902 or 2502.
I'm a huge fan of the Randall RT2/50 power amp. I think it's one of the best tube power amps out there. If I wasn't using that, I'd probably have a Fryette 2902 or 2502.
crankyrayhanky
Well-known member
It works and is ok, but that's about it. I would only use it that way for emergency.
Putting it into a decent power section is a huge difference
Shask
Well-known member
I find it funny so many people say "not as good as the heads", when some people prefer this format. They tend to sound tighter and clearer than the heads, and many prefer that.
Shask
Well-known member
I pretty much dont like anything being ran direct, lol. It always sounds and feels worse than some cabs in the room.
When I do run direct, I normally use my Fractal FM3. It was designed more for that use.
spanny
Active member
I just picked up a SYN-2 with the Friedman BE-Deluxe, DS and pending a SLO one from a fellow board member. Excited to try it out!
Shask
Well-known member
Nice! The BE-Dlx and SLO are 2 modules I dont have that I want to try.
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MusicIsLife
Well-known member
For sure. They may not sound identical to their conventional counterparts, but to me that doesn't mean they don't sound as good. I'm just looking for a canvas to do my own thing. It's not competing against anything except my own tastes, and a huge portion of that lands on my ears and my hands.
I'm sure the modular systems don't have the same sag since it's not sharing a PT with the power amp, but I don't care about that. I like raw, uncompressed, unforgiving, immediate
Shask
Well-known member
One thing I love about using the Synergy preamp is the quick, snappy feel. It has a very dynamic punchy feel to it. When I play a lot of stabby start/stop riffs, think like Helmet or Meshuggah or something, it works great for that. A lot of heads feel sluggish after switching from the Synergy.For sure. They may not sound identical to their conventional counterparts, but to me that doesn't mean they don't sound as good. I'm just looking for a canvas to do my own thing. It's not competing against anything except my own tastes, and a huge portion of that lands on my ears and my hands.
I'm sure the modular systems don't have the same sag since it's not sharing a PT with the power amp, but I don't care about that. I like raw, uncompressed, unforgiving, immediate
The Sag knob on the Synergy is suppose to simulate having some of that shared PT feel.
Elric
Active member
Yes 100% absolutely take exception to the idea that not identical is somehow “worse”. In some cases it is definitely better. Think of it as a build your own boutique amp rig.
A/Bing the Syn stuff and using it with various heads it is not uncommon for the Syn to sound better than a head’s own preamp. I would take my Syn rig over any of my non-modular amps (except *maybe* my SLO), I think. The Syn stuff hangs with anything, easily.
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Bxlxaxkxe
Amp ho
More praise for the synergy stuff. I find it really impressive honestly. Just a matter of finding the right modules for you. I actually preferred the deliverance module over the deliverance amp. And I thought the synergy SLO was incredible - probably my single favorite module.
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Yeahthat
Member
I got a synergy setup going about a year ago and I’m still loving the setup!
Syn2, 11 rack in the Fx loop, KSR PA24 power amp and Mesa Boogie 2x12 rec cabinet.
Syn2, 11 rack in the Fx loop, KSR PA24 power amp and Mesa Boogie 2x12 rec cabinet.
Shask
Well-known member
Its that time of the year when Synergy stuff goes on sale, so I ordered the DRECT and BE-DLX.
Really curious to see how that DRECT compares with my 2-Channel Triple Recto.
Really curious to see how that DRECT compares with my 2-Channel Triple Recto.
jabps
Well-known member
How close does the 6505 get to the OG in tone and feel? I've watched all the vids and it's right there, just looking for some more info from someone on here who ain't trying to sell product. I'm seriously thinking about jettisoning my Stealth and getting the Syn50 with a couple modules, the 6505 and something with great clean.
fek
Well-known member
The Synergy modules tend to be a little bit tighter, and have a touch more gain than the original amps. The power section that you use will make a difference as well and I haven't tried the Synergy amp heads to give an opinion. Have only used the Syn1 with a PS2 and a 2203X power section. For me, I prefer the 6505 module to the Stealth 50W I had. Warmer and less clinical than the Stealth.
Shask
Well-known member
Yeah, the Synergy modules tend to be clearer and tighter than the original amps, and depend a lot on the power amp you use. I actually think the 6505 module has a little less gain than the heads, because I would keep the gain at like 1 oclock on the head, but 3-4 oclock on the Synergy module.
In general, it has the basic sound down. I dont think it has the big booming lows as much, because it is tighter, and that comes from the power amp. If you use a similar power amp to the head, with a resonance control, you would get closer.
I do wish instead of 2 identical channels, there were 6505 and 6505+ channels instead. I think they missed an opportunity there.
Kapo_Polenton
Well-known member
Good point on that.