{"id":8612,"date":"2009-06-15T16:18:24","date_gmt":"2009-06-15T14:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/?p=8612"},"modified":"2021-04-19T21:01:54","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T19:01:54","slug":"jeff-rowland-coherence-ii-compared-to-synergy-1-and-synergy-2i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/amplifier-reviews\/preamplifier-reviews\/jeff-rowland-coherence-ii-compared-to-synergy-1-and-synergy-2i\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeff Rowland Coherence II compared to Synergy 1 and Synergy 2i"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coherence II: the legend compared to its offspring<\/h2>\n

\"rowland_coherenceiisynergy1synergy2i_img_8178_550ppix\"<\/p>\n

Nothing was left to chance for this exiting review<\/strong><\/p>\n

All preamps were fully run in and warmed up and all continuously powered up simultaneously. When comparing individual preamps I used the same power cable in the same wall outlet and placed the preamps in the exact same physical position as the previous one was. So when done with one preamp, it was disconnected,\u00a0moved it away and connected to a temporary powersource to keep it warm. Then the next preamp was moved into the position of the previous preamp, connected with the same cables.<\/p>\n

\"rowland-coherence-2-img_3489_550pix\"<\/p>\n

Starting with the Coherence II<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Coherence II preamp sounds extremely smooth, fluid and relaxed, with a very sonorous, full bass. while still maintaining focus and offering ultra-fine low level detail. It is like listening to a typical tube preamp, a Jadis JP80 for example, but with much higher resolution, way airier and nuanced\u00a0treble\u00a0and much better low level detailing. The soundstage is very wide and deep and all the instruments have their own spaces with lots of air around them.<\/p>\n

Because this preamp is so relaxed and natural it emphasizes nothing and also doesn’t add artificial speed or edge. There is just none of the transient overshoot that makes some audio components sound extra “exciting” or forward.\u00a0In some setups therefore the Coherence II (as well as the Synergy 2i) may be too much of a good thing when just dropped in as replacement without making adjustments are made elsewhere in the system.<\/p>\n

When playing from pure battery power (switching to DC mode disconnects the AC charger) the Coherence II sounds even more fluid and comes across as more generous, with an even more real sounding midrange. The bass in DC mode does however lose a little attack and transient sharpness. It’s up to the user to decide which mode sounds best. The good thing is that it is switchable and can be changed on demand, for example on those cold winter nights, or with a hard sounding source, DC might be just what the doctor ordered. For me, AC sounds best the majority of the time.\u00a0Surprisingly, it still matters what kind of powercord is attached, even when playing from battery. For example a warm sounding cable still makes the Coherence II sounds warmer. All further comments regarding the Coherence II are made with the BPS on AC mode (running off batteries but with the charger switched on).<\/p>\n

\"rowland_coherenceiisynergy1synergy2i_img_8174_550pix\"<\/p>\n

Moving to the Synergy 2i<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Synergy 2i sounds a lot like the Coherence II but misses the mark in two important areas: midband tonality and liveliness and bass power. The Synergy 2i is even more creamy and relaxed and is decidedly less sonorous and more woolly in the bass. It also has quite a less powerful sound, especially lacking body in the bass and can therefore be more demanding of the setup in which it is placed.<\/p>\n

But in the right company and properly tuned, the Synergy 2i can also be extremely rewarding, having a similar suptuous, superwide soundstage and even more fluid and airy highs, although this particular difference is negligible when running on DC mode. The Synergy IIi’s circuitry may be derived from the Coherence’s, but the latter has a much beefier power supply, and of course the BPS, and this seems to make all the difference.<\/p>\n

\"Finite_Elemente_Ceraball_Uni_550pix<\/p>\n

Moving to the Synergy 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because this is currently my own preamp, I feared that it would be totally eclipsed by the other two\u00a0preamps but it wasn’t all bad. Not at all. Indeed, the Synergy 1 has less airy treble than the Coherence II and it isn’t as fluid or full-bodied and generous\u00a0soundstage-wise as the Coherence II and\u00a0Synergy 2i.<\/p>\n

But there are departments in which the Synergy 1 is better than the Synergy 2i, and even better than the Coherence II: The bass! Its bass is very quick and agile, it really snaps and drives the music along with great PRAT. It’s easily got the best-textured bass of the three preamps. It’s also the quickest, most agile sounding preamp of the three.<\/p>\n

Somehow however the Synergy 1 doesn’t sound as lyrical as either the Coherence II or the Synergy 2i, in spite of its excellent dynamic and rhythmic qualities.<\/p>\n

\"rowland-synergy-en-coherence-ii-img_2241_550pix\"<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

When the Coherence II was introduced, it caused quite a stir. And I can report that it still sounds incredible. It combines the strengths of both Synergy 1 and Synergy 2i to make for a very relaxed sound, that’s at the same time rhythmic and dynamic and extremely finely detailed, with big bass as a bonus. It easily matches the best tube preamps I have heard so far in terms of midrange fluidity and I really feel that it betters them in terms of airiness, spaciousness and microdetailing. I want one. Too bad they are scarce and the owner of this model isn’t about to sell.<\/p>\n

Then there’s the Synergy 2i. There is a lot of Coherence II in this amp. For example: the royal, fluid soundstage that really envelops you like a warm bath. It has that. Almost as good as the Coherence. Its treble is even airier and refined than that of the Coherence II. But where it lets down is in the bass department. Its bass is very finely detailed but it is quite loose and lacks body and dynamic expression. You really need to match this amp with the appropriate interlinks and powercables as well as provide a quick and dynamic sytem for it to play in. Then, is everything is right, it will really reward with a captivatingly romantic sound.<\/p>\n

The Synergy 1 is a bit of a different animal. It easily betters both the Coherence and Synergy 2i in terms of bass. It is very fast, agile, clean and dynamic. But it is a Rowland, so it is also fluid, relaxed and musical. It also has a very large soundstage, almost as good as the Synergy 2i. Its treble is more resolute and slightly darker than either Synergy 2i or Coherence II. Mind you, it is still airy and refined, just less so than the other two.<\/p>\n

Finding matching powercables and interlinks<\/strong><\/h4>\n

As always, matching cables to individual components is very important. In this case once again this is proven.\u00a0For example the Coherence II already sounds very full and relaxed. Adding a Harmonic Technology Pro ACII powercable made it sound extra seductive but also slightly slower. Swapping for the Cardas Golden Reference tightened up the bass and brought more speed. The same applies to the Synergy 2i, which is even more relaxed than the Coherence II. But the Synergy 1 is very fast, open and agile. This amp can really put the Harmonic Pro ACII to good use. This little change brings this preamp closer to the sound of the Coherence II and the Synergy 2i.\u00a0With interlinks it’s pretty much the same story: The Transparent Reference for example is a very full and royal sounding interlink that may be too much for the Synergy 2i but is fine with the Coherence II, and obligatory with the Synergy 1.<\/h4>\n

Digital Front End:<\/strong>
\nCEC TL1x CD Transport
\nAudiomeca Enkianthus X DAC<\/h4>\n

Power Amplifiers:<\/strong>
\nJeff Rowland model 6 monos<\/h4>\n

Cables:<\/strong>
\nTransparent Ultra XLR (between DAC and preamp)
\nTransparent Reference XLR (between preamp and poweramps)
\nTransparent Reference XL speaker cable
\nHarmonic Technology Pro ACII powercable
\nCardas Golden Reference powercable<\/h4>\n

Speakers:<\/strong>
\nB&W Nautilus 804<\/h4>\n
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