Synergistic Research Alpha Sterling Review

Reprinted From: The Absolute Sound, Issue 138, October/November 2002

Shootout!
13 Interconnects From $122 to $250

By: Neil Gader

Synergistic Research Alpha Sterling:

The Synergistic Alpha Sterling really clicked with my system. Its character was richly midrange, sweet and smooth, detailed where necessary but never forced or strident in the lower treble. Its greatest was its balance and transparency: It was open across the spectrum, with excellent imaging and instrumental layering. Background vocals and soft acoustic instrumentation emerged with new details and body. While it scaled the soundstage down in comparison to the Kimber Hero, it also suggested a neutrality and smoothness in the treble that I missed with the Kimber. String sections on Mahler's Sixth rarely hinted at edginess. While the Hero was a leader in bass extension and focus, the Alpha was tops in the upper midrange and well into the treble. It performed effortlessly, suggesting music reproduction with hardly and artificiality - no peakiness, sweet details with etching. While it challenged my high-priced reference, the Nordost Valhalla, in virtually all sonic criteria, the Synergistic ultimately couldn't achieve the robust harmonic liveliness or effortless extension that makes the Valhalla seem not of this world. The comparison provided a glimpse of how narrow the performance gap is and how quickly it's closing. No cable in this survey ranked higher overall than the Synergistic, for me.

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Neil Gader's Associated Components

Sota Cosmos Series III turntable; SME V arm; Shure V15xMR cartridge; Sony C222ES SACD Multi-Channel, Sony DVP-9000ES; Plinius 8200 integrated amp; Placette Volume Control preamp; Rotel RMB-1075 amp; ATC SCM 20SL, Infinity Intermezzo 2.6, Snell K.5 speakers; Nordost Valhalla & Blue Heaven cabling; Kimber Kable BiFocal XL, Wireworld Equinox III, CPCC, Wireworld Silver Electra power cords; Poly Crystal rack; AudioPrism Quiet Lines, Sanus Systems equipment stands