Shunyata King Cobra V1 verses V2

Hmmm...
I recently bought one Python cable, TWO King Cobras, one Black Mamba, and one Taipan.
I can definitely NOT confirm that the Python matches the King Cobra. However, I DID buy the King Cobra on Audiogon. I can tell ya, I put it into a friend's system, composed of Mirage 490 speakers (1990 vintage), Arcam Alpha 7, JVC XLZ1010 CD player, and Transparent Music Wave speaker cable.
The sound was glorious for such an inexpensive system. The Cobra will give you more than additional ambience (compares with the Python); it will give you a small sense of "here-and-now," even in an inexpensive system.
I replaced the KC with the Black Mamba and the sound was good, but not up to King Cobra standards. Even the Python, good as it is, is NOT in the same league. In fact, I would go so far as to say, buy a King Cobra, and consider it a MAJOR component, and take it with you to test your other purchases.
In the past, I would NOT have ascribed power cords the power (no pun intended) they can allow a system to advance, but that was then. And the Shunyatas are absolute killer components. No need to compare them to anything; they stand out on their own.

Now I'm really fascinated!
I did not find the Shunyatas to sound "dark," but the system on the West Coast I had placed the King Cobra into, was, as I said, an Arcam Alpha, which is more a "yang" product. In that system, it did not sound dark at all.
However, I'll try it on my Naim Nait, the Marsh A400s and the Hurricanes.

It seems I have a couple of V2s from my copy of the Audiogon emails I have.

P.S. Gilas, do you mean the original(v1) is more "yin" or "yang"? You've combined both words into "ying" which could be either yin or yang. Which do you mean???

Sonti:
I might consider the King Cobras, not the Pythons.
I sold my King Cobras for financial reasons, but still have the Python. While I like the Python, it is not in the King Cobras class.
I can't comment on the Audio Aero player; never heard it. However, I've heard the King Cobras on both digital components and on integrated amps, and mono amps. They are superlative, and quite, quite, dynamic (which, ever since I sold them, has had me wondering why the system sounds less dynamic!). The low noise floor allows you to hear into the music in a way that the Python, good as it is, does not, so if you want a very low noise floor (and who doesn't want that?!), then go with a King Cobra.
I imagine the Anaconda is even better, but I'd think the noise floor of the King Cobra would be enough for a digital front end.
If you intend to buy the latest Hydra (I have a Model 4), and put an Anaconda on THAT, then, by all means, do. You might wish to talk to Grant at Shunyata, who will suggest the best cord coming off of the Hydra and lesser cords afterwards (Roy Gregory of HiFi Plus has stated the same thing in his review of the Nordost power cords recently). So, you might get two King Cobras if you want, or one King Cobra and one Python.
Incidentally, I've also bought the Shiva Nordost, and interestingly, it doesn't seem any more refined than the Shunyata Diamondback -- although the "leanness" typical of the Nordost designs is apparent, compared to the [Shunyata]Diamondback, which sounds fuller (not "warmer," just fuller). The Shiva gives its sense of "transparency" by making all the individual images thinner, which, to me, isn't genuine transparency.
The King Cobra, again, has enormous "presence" in the "you-are-there" sense. You could not possibly be disappointed in its abilities, unless what you want is a euphonic sound.

Glad to hear that you're happy with the V2 version of the King Cobra. That pleases me very much (LOL). I am seriously considering re-purchasing the King Cobra V2s. I like the dimensionality that instruments, even in the back of the soundstage, possess. In fact, one can actually hear the air BEHIND the instruments with the King Cobras, which bespeaks of the 3-D effect reaching the very back of the soundstage.
You must be very pleased with your decision.