AVID Ingenium vs SME Synergy
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: AVID Ingenium · SME Synergy.
| Specification | AVID Ingenium |
SME Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,200 (used) | — |
| Category | High-end | High-end |
| Status | discontinued | current |
| Years | 2013–? | 2019–present |
| Drive | belt drive | belt drive |
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual | manual |
| Cartridge supplied | sold bare | Highlighted difference. Ortofon Windfeld Ti (fitted) |
| Phono stage | No | Highlighted difference. Yes |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | aluminium | aluminium, damped |
| Tonearm | sold bare | SME 309 |
| Wow & flutter | — | — |
Practical differences
Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.
Both are belt-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi.
The SME Synergy has a built-in phono stage. Skip the phono stage and you'll need one built into your amp, or a separate box, to play through normal speakers.
The AVID Ingenium is discontinued, so that side of this comparison is really "used AVID Ingenium vs new SME Synergy" — factor in condition, service history and the lack of a warranty against a fresh unit with manufacturer support.
Bottom line: AVID Ingenium and SME Synergy are close in the recorded fields, and this specification comparison does not establish an overall winner.
Merchant searches
2 UK merchants handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay UK | used marketplace | Varies by seller | Search at eBay UK ↗ |
| Vinyl Revival | music retail | UK delivery | Search at Vinyl Revival ↗ |
Live merchant offers
Checking current in-stock offers for SME Synergy…
Merchant searches
3 UK merchants stock SME — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analogue Seduction | hifi independent | Free UK delivery on most items; specialist packing | Search at Analogue Seduction ↗ |
| Doug Brady HiFi | hifi independent | UK delivery; specialist setup | Search at Doug Brady HiFi ↗ |
| eBay UK | used marketplace | Varies by seller | Search at eBay UK ↗ |