Product Review:
Salamander Synergy System by Salamander Designs
I recently purchased a Salamander Synergy unit from Salamander Designs for my home entertainment center. This review specifically covers the Triple Unit, but also more broadly covers the Synergy System as a whole. Overall, I think those in the market for home theater furniture may be able to save money by pursuing other alternatives, but the Salamander Synergy System is well engineered, supremely crafted, and delivers additional value as a fully customizable and expandable modular furniture unit.
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Salamander Synergy: Manufacturer Product Description
As stated on the Salamander Designs website, "Synergy is a modular furniture system so innovative it earned a United States patent. It allows you to customize arrangements by combining a wide variety of elements that you can reconfigure whenever your requirements change.As the name suggests, Synergy relies on shared ideas, yours along with ours. The concept combines simplicity with remarkable versatility.
Synergy cabinet tops and bases are available with three genuine hardwood surfaces-cherry, maple and walnut-as well as in basic black. Side panels come in matching hardwood, black, perforated steel or with a suede-like fabric covering. Corner posts are matte black or aluminum.
Connect and juxtapose Synergy modules in numerous ways to create furniture precisely suited to your needs and your living space. Add even more style to your Synergy System with out beautiful and functional add-ons."
Review
OverviewWhen I started looking into furniture for my home theater, I had a set budget in mind for a television stand for my 52" Sony XBR4 LCD television. Also, continuing with the style and theme of the rest of the decor in our entertainment room, I wanted to find something that was of the modern and contemporary flavor. Other considerations that I made in search for the perfect unit included:
- Modern wood tone/finishes (or black) and hardware
- Entertainment wall unit w/overhead compartments, possibly recessed lighting
- Dimensions (my television is nearly 56" in width)
- High quality construction and materials (preferably solid wood versus composites and veneers)
- Proper ventilation for home theater components
- Enough compartments to house all home theater equipment
- Wire management system
- Accessibility to components from the back of the unit
I'll tell you that it was difficult to find something that fully met my requirements and preferences. I found quickly that furniture offerings that met my criteria were very expensive and in most cases, wouldn't even accommodate a television the size of my XBR4. Most, if not all, local furniture showrooms have a very limited lineup of television stands (especially those that are more of the entertainment center/wall unit variety). I didn't want a TV stand that was smaller in width than my television -- and most of the stands offered simply weren't wide enough (usually would accommodate the width of a 46" television).
I gave up on getting something locally and decided to go the Internet route. While I was able to find more options online, I simply couldn't find something that fit my budget. Finally, I came across the products offered by Salamander Designs and right away I knew I had found a winner. I simply loved the clean, sophisticated look of their products. For added value, their modular system would allow me to buy the foundation of my unit now and purchase add-ons later, allowing me to effectively budget for the remaining pieces to complete the unit.
Rather than purchase directly through their website, I chose to purchase my unit from a national retailer, Best Buy. As a Reward Zone member, I had found that the coupons sent to my home can be applied to products sold through Magnolia Home Theater, which can be found at select Best Buy locations. I was able to apply this coupon to this unit and get free shipping to the store, which saved me roughly $200. I could not find a better price on this unit online, whether directly through manufacturer or through other sites selling their products.
Right out of the box, you can see the quality and craftsmanship that goes into this product. I've bought several furniture pieces over the years and unpacked them myself -- and I have to admit, Salamander Designs takes great care in the packaging of their products. Even the boxes and packing material is high quality!
Design/Function
I think what makes the Salamander Synergy system unique and distinguishes it from its competitors is it's superior design. I truly believe that form and function come together to provide a furniture system that is both sleek and practical. The system is extremely flexible, meaning it will meet the needs of virtually any home theater enthusiast. The number of compartments in your system can be varied and shelves are infinitely adjustable -- just a couple of ways you can configure your unit. Think customize! If you want something that you can not only customize now but also in the future, then I think you should seriously consider Salamander Synergy.
Even though I thought the instructions left much to be said, I thought the Salamander Synergy system was easy to assemble. For the Triple unit, I was able to do this by myself with only a little help at the end to install the top board. All tools necessary are included with the Salamander Synergy unit.
The materials used for the Salamander Synergy unit are high quality. The slightly textured surface coating of the black unit that I purchased gives the unit a nice look and feel and resists scratching or marring. I chose sliver aluminum posts for my unit, which added to the contemporary look I was looking for, provided a nice contrast to the black wood. The perforated steel inserts in the doors of the unit are both aesthetically appealing and extremely functional.
The Salamander Synergy unit adds convenience to the mix by including removable back panels on the rear of the unit -- great for those home theaterphiles that are often changing the makeup of their home theater system.
Constructively, my only qualm (if you call it that) with this system are the side panels, shelves, and drawer bottom. Unlike the rest of the materials, they come with a slick, ultra-smooth finish. I think this slightly variable finish will show scratches and mars more than the rest of the materials. My preference would have been to have them all finished the same way. As it stands, it doesn't detract at all from the look of the unit -- I just think the finish used on the bulk of the unit is a better option and will do a better job standing the test of time.
Features
Some of my favorite features of the Salamander Synergy system are the perforated steel door fronts. Not only do they allow for better ventilation of your home theater components, they allow you to use your remote controls (that are IR based) with the doors shut. If you're housing speakers within the unit, this feature will also allow you to hide them without impeding sound emissions.
Another feature that I love about the Salamander Synergy are the removable back panels. They are extremely easy to remove (my Triple has three removable panels) -- simply unscrew the four fittings on the back and you're ready to go. The back panels also leave a small area open at the back of each shelf and at the bottom of the panel to provide a pseudo wire management system -- no need to try and feed wires through a tiny hole or slot.
As I mentioned before, I purchased this unit primarily because of the ability to expand it over time and it's flexibility/versatility. I'm eager to add a back wall to the unit with overhead compartments (for additional storage) and possibly lights to add some depth and dimension to the unit. I think it will also give it an even more impressive look, in addition to making it even more functional. Moreover, I like the fact that should I decide I want to upgrade my center channel (which is likely a bigger speaker), which may have a different height than the one I currently own, that I can make some easy adjustments to the infinitely adjustable shelving units to accommodate the larger speaker.
Price
In terms of general furniture prices, I would consider this a higher-end product. It is rather expensive (base price is around $1299 at the time of this article). You should be able to knock 10% off with a Best Buy coupon that can be applied to the Magnolia Home Theater store. I personally think it's worth the price, because other comparable furniture products I was looking at (furniture catered to home theater) were even more expensive.
Conclusion
I've been really pleased with my purchase of the Salamander Synergy Triple system. While it carries a higher price tag, it does provide unique value that you don't normally find with furniture. The cost of full customization and expansion capabilities is intangible. I think this unit would work well for any home theater enthusiast, especially those aficionados who like to upgrade their home theater components or change the makeup of their system on a frequent basis. This system provides the flexibility that is desired by those that continually push the limits with their home theater. It also provides an opportunity to change the look and feel of the unit over time through several add-ons sold by the manufacturer. Aside from all of it's practical and functional benefits, the unit has a professional, sleek, modern look and feel throughout. It looks great no matter what wood finish style you select.Overall, I would highly recommend this product to any enthusiast in the home theater community or anyone that's simply looking for a high quality, cool looking television stand.
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