Salamander Clone...Synergy SN20

[DIBstangguy]

I've been looking for a media center that would support all of my components. Found the Salamander synergy series and the SN20 seemed closest but still not deep enough to fully support a power amplifier without cutting up the back board or eliminating it altogether...few if any have the support depth to do so. So after seeing that the units Salamander sells also comes non assembled (really? for $959.00?) I took a closer look at their list of materials for the SN20 and decided to build my own. The end result is below. The cost? About 55% cheaper even buying my supplies at full retail unlike a manufacturer who can buy at a discount both for resale and at high volume. The flexibility to make the item to my own size, finish style, and needs makes the value even more so. Salamander retails the SN20 at $959.00 currently in 2024. In building materials I spent a little under $400 before Menards 11% rebate of about $33.00 on items I bought there, so under $375.00 overall. Attached are the photos of the final product. Excuse the wood establishing the center speaker angle. That has been since replaced with proper angled acoustic foam support to clean it up. Just didn't feel like taking more photos. I cut all of the extruded T-slot aluminum to size and tapped the ends. Poplar and Aspen was used for the top, bottom, and center shelves. Picked up 24x48 edge glued lumber and fabricated as needed. I added a third extruded aluminum support on each side just to make it more personalized and stable. The feet are self leveling and height adjustable. The back fastens on and comes off easily for access. I added additional 2" access holes (3 on each side) on the lower shelf and trim ringed to feed the wiring out the bottom so the back panel was not cut into. So improvements to the Salamander concept were made. As for my labor rate to build it...ZERO. In the word of the A-Team "I love it when a plan comes together".

 

[Gilbert Lopez]

I've been looking for a media center that would support all of my components. Found the Salamander synergy series and the SN20 seemed closest but still not deep enough to fully support a power amplifier without cutting up the back board or eliminating it altogether...few if any have the support depth to do so. So after seeing that the units Salamander sells also comes non assembled (really? for $959.00?) I took a closer look at their list of materials for the SN20 and decided to build my own. The end result is below. The cost? About 55% cheaper even buying my supplies at full retail unlike a manufacturer who can buy at a discount both for resale and at high volume. The flexibility to make the item to my own size, finish style, and needs makes the value even more so. Salamander retails the SN20 at $959.00 currently in 2024. In building materials I spent a little under $400 before Menards 11% rebate of about $33.00 on items I bought there, so under $375.00 overall. Attached are the photos of the final product. Excuse the wood establishing the center speaker angle. That has been since replaced with proper angled acoustic foam support to clean it up. Just didn't feel like taking more photos. I cut all of the extruded T-slot aluminum to size and tapped the ends. Poplar and Aspen was used for the top, bottom, and center shelves. Picked up 24x48 edge glued lumber and fabricated as needed. I added a third extruded aluminum support on each side just to make it more personalized and stable. The feet are self leveling and height adjustable. The back fastens on and comes off easily for access. I added additional 2" access holes (3 on each side) on the lower shelf and trim ringed to feed the wiring out the bottom so the back panel was not cut into. So improvements to the Salamander concept were made. As for my labor rate to build it...ZERO. In the word of the A-Team "I love it when a plan comes together".

My Salamander Synergy also wasn't deep enough for my Parasound. I decided to keep it and remove the back because I love the cabinet. I wish I had your skills. It looks fantastic!

 

[dolynick]

Nice job.

I'm actually surprised that it cost you near half the retail price in materials. I have a couple Salamanders in the house too and they are expensive, but quite nice. I'm actually a little surprise that the markup isn't higher on a relatively low volume, well made piece of furniture like that.

 

[DIBstangguy]

Thank you both. Of course along with building it yourself comes trying to improve it for the next step. Currently I am replacing the right side fixed shelf with a custom designed pull out shelf on slides that locks in the out position and with soft close to hold it closed to support a near future turntable addition to the system. A friend recently gave me over 80 LP's (all classic rock) and original presses. My wife's uncle also recently gave us no less than 100 classical LP's from his old vinyl collection. All of this in addition to the 40-50 albums from my younger days collection. The classical music collection is serious stuff as well. I thought it was initially just left over crap no one else would want, but all the greats are in there from what I have skimmed through briefly. I just hope I can find some contemporary jazz from the 80's and 90's out on vinyl. Most of that was on CD then after vinyl went virtually bye-bye for a while. Glad its back. Can't get over how intricate turntable buying has gotten. It use to be, pick a turntable, buy it, and be done. Maybe a cartridge upgrade. Now it's a craft all in its own. WOW!

 

[j_garcia]

I have a S30 with frosted glass doors and mesh sides, and I leave the back off too.