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

Just as an FYI. There is a quality 12 gauge 20A cord included with Hydras upon the customers request. All dealers should be aware of this and inform the customer.

Often the reason better power cords on Hydras (or most other power distributors)offer improvement is that the cord to the wall is often supporting the current load for more than one component. It doesn't make sense to have high quality cords going to indvidual components if you have zip wire on the power center that feeds all or multiple electronics. There are certainly many options.

Regards,

Grant
Shunyata Research

>>>"Simply a broad staatement regarding Shunyata's propensity to grab as much as they can from the consumer."<<<

You are misinformed. Anyone that's ever taken the time to call and ask questions or have a dialogue knows we don't oversell_anything_. We don't need to. Quite the opposite is true, and remains a common business practice.Answering questions any way but honestly and with value in mind would reflect poorly on any company.

Your entire premise that we don't supply what's needed to operate a Hydra is mistaken. Had you taken the time to call or e-mail, we could have easily cleared this up. If we were out to "grab as much money as we can" we wouldn't have the reputation we've earned, which is anything but that of a money-grubbing company. I am disappointed you feel that way.

My apologies if the dealer did not offer you an option all our dealers should be aware of. If you e-mail me the dealers name, I can call to clear this up.

If any other questions come up, feel free to contact us directly.

Grant
Shunyata Research

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

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.

Jim,

If you contact us via our [email protected] account, or via phone at 360 297 8960, I guarantee you will have a reply within the same day most likely, or certainly within 24hrs. We have over 22 people at the factory most days and several dedicated to customer service. Please send me the number or e-mail that wasn't working for you and I'll try to find out why.

Regarding the stock cord, I have already sent reminders to our dealer base. In your case, however, as I said before, if you have HE cords upstream, I would not recommend the 12 gauge stock cord for the Hydra, and neither would our dealers.

I already sent you my contact details and you may contact me directly.

Grant

Hi Bill,

Separating high-current components on their own line is _always_ preferable to puttinal all components on a single line, power conditioner or not.

Those that take amps off of a separate line and place them with other components on the same line are removing a direct dedicated AC source, which amps prefer, and ganging them together with all manner of other components. Running all the components through a single power cable to the wall from the conditioner inhibits and corrupts the current path compared to keeping them separated.

Nothing you are doing is inherently bad, it's just that no power distribution system can make up for what is gained by isolating high-current electronics from noise sensitive and low-current electronics --on separate lines. That is why some companies make vairiably sized power distribution units. So those that have multiple lines can take advantage of them and still benefit from noise isolation.

Hope this helps,

Grant