2. misc-audio
  3. 1137797193

Is a Hydra the real deal? How do you know?

yeah, I know it sounds wierd. A friend of mine recently suggested one of the pieces in his system is a Hydra conditioner. . .and a valued item.

I'm not disagreeing with his information.... my question is this... "As the Shunyata Hydra's need to have a cable specially made to fit/operate the conditioner, and most folks choose to use one made by shunyata, how do you know if it's the conditioner or the power cord doing the job?

I spent some time recently asessing various power cords. Right off I saw the need to buy some adapters for the cords to decrease the wear and tear on my gear, and speed up the process (run in time of the cords). I put the cords + adapters onto some other gear in a secondary system... things changed sonically almost immediately... as it would have with use on my main system. No other items in the mix. Just the adapter, power cord, and the unit (s).

I'm wondering how one can determine the advantage of the hydra's if no cord - even a cheap one - comes supplied with the units? Apart from the ability to plug in more items than a single adapter gives... it just seems like a lot of money to spend for a multi outlet center..... if of course I was told wrong about the Hydras not being supplied with cords.... I apologize profusely. But a dealer told me Shunyata does not provide a cord with their conditioners.... it must be purchased separately. I guess he's correct as I see many questions about which cord for Hydras for either this or that applicaton... and that different Hydras' have different sonic attributes... Well how do you know if right off the bat you gotta add a Shunyata cord to it... Oh, by the way... I own a Shunyata Python VX, and I do dig it. ...just curious about adding a Hydra elsewhere in the system for one or two other pieces that are not 'conditioned'..

Thank you very much for your time.
blindjim
Post removed 
mattybumpkin
590 posts
 
FYI - I have been looking at the Hydra 2 for my front end, among others. Music Direct (No affiliation) mentions the complimentary "stock" cord on their website.

Maybe it should just be included in the package instead of having to be asked for???
samuel
266 posts
 

Tvad,

That's a good question, and one we discussed internally at length after it became clear that there was a recurring problem when including an inexpensive PC with a Hydra 8. We initially included the Diamondback standard with Hydra 8's in '03, though it was a real stretch for us at the H8's retail price.

The problem was that many who bought the H8 had high current amps, multiple components, and were using heavy gauge AC cords to components. Some customers were buying a high-current capable power distribution package that included a smallish 12 gauge AC cord (DiamondBack) to the wall--often with 10 or heavier gauge AC cords to components.

Initially, the Hydras failed in some applications only because the cord to the wall from the H8 was the smallest gauge cord in the system, yet was responsible for 5-6-7-8 components worth of current.

We made the decision in late '03, when we started to introduce the less expensive models, to have the dealer offer stock, but encourage system matching based on the electronics, existing power cords and system make up.

In our opinion, putting stock PC's with the Hydra gives a Halcro/PASS/ Bryston/Classe'/Atmasphere/Lamm(example) owner the idea that a simple stock PC is adequate to drive a Hydra that powres an entire system, when in our opinion, it's not. A 12 gauge cord (20A) is technically capable, but not in terms of performance. Especially if there are heavier gauge, specialty cords going to components.

Bottom line? The PC that is chosen for a Hydra, or most any other power distributor (in our opinion) should be _AT LEAST_ the equal of the highest performing PC powering a component/s.

In some cases, a dealer that knows someone is using high-quality PC's to electronics may encourage a high-quality PC for the Hydra, whether ours or another. They should however, always make it understood that a 12 gauge Belden type cord is an option.

Regards,

Grant
Shunyata Research
Post removed 
samuel
266 posts
 
The cord offered is a heavier than usual (12 gauge as opposed the the usual 14 or 16 gauge) Belden. It is not a cord of our making.

Of course, it is _not_ the responsibility of the customer to ask for the cord. It is the responsibility of the dealer to offer it as an option. We do encourage the dealer to tell customers that the cord chosen to supply current to the Hydra is important to system performance, more important than cords connected to individual electronics.

In some cases, if the customer already has HE cords upstream, I can understand why the dealer would promote a better cord to the Hydra. Using a stock cord preceding HE cords will limit the Hydras (or most other power distributors) performance. Again, we see little point in using a HE cord to a CD player or amp, when you have a Belden type cord preceding it.

Since it is our responsibility to insure that dealers offer the stock cord, I will address our dealer group again on this issue to make sure this occurs. We have added a number of new dealers in the past year, so its possible some have not offered the stock cord for one reason or another, however, this is the first I've seen or heard a complaint.

This is not a policy "in flux". It has been our policy since late '03. Our intent in having the dealer offer a choice of power cord is to insure the optimal performance of the Hydras in a majority of systems. The intent _is not_ to bilk customers, as has been stated earlier in this thread.
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