Synergy 800 Pre-Amp

voojo · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 6:16 am Post subject: Synergy 800 Pre-Amp

Has anybody tried out this module yet? I'm intrigued by it. I have and love the Metropolous Metro-Plex pre-amp and it can get plenty mean. That being said I'd love to have a master volume pre-amp.

Without trying them it's hard to determine the specific differences between all of the "Marshall" inspired pre-amps that Synergy has so far.

Friedman BE
Friedman HBE
Metropolous Metro-Plex
Synergy Plexi
Synergy 800

Thanks for any thoughts so far!

-Seth

godgrinder · RM20 Joined: 03 Oct 2017 Posts: 12

If you want more gain than the Metroplex you should probably go HBE.

Metroplex probably has more gain on tap than a typical 800 preamp section, it has 4 gain stages while an usual 800 only has 3 gain stages (Plexi has 2).

Rising Farce · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 10:00 pm Post subject:

voojo · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:37 am Post subject:

I guess I should mention I'm not necessarily looking for more gain, mostly just a different flavor of Marshall tone. Years ago I had a JCM 800 clone, and while it was entirely too loud for what I was doing (only a 50 watt!) I liked the rawness and immediacy. It wasn't a very compressed amp, and that's what I'm after.

I have tons of respect for Friedman, but I've heard that his amps have a bit more compression, so that's why I was looking at the 800 as something "truer" to the 800 sound.

withmittens · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 8:30 am Post subject:

voojo · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 12:17 pm Post subject:

Thought I'd give an update, I ended up getting the Synergy 800 module and I'm very happy with it. I also have the Metro-Plex module and in person they each have their own unique sound, as expected. I could actually see using the 800 for crunchy rhythm sounds and the Metro-Plex for leads. You can dial them to sound similar, but the 800 definitely has that slightly grainy (in a good way) articulation that I like about MV amps.

Both great modules and I feel it's worth having both. I also really like the bright switch on the 800 module.
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Synergy SYN-1, SYN-2, SYN-30 Head
Modules: Metropolous Metro-Plex, Morgan AC, Synergy 800, Synergy BMAN, Synergy Plexi, Synergy T/DLX