If you are looking for the king of PLCs, you should also put the Sound Application CF-X on your list. I own 2 Hydras as well as a CF-X, and in my estimation I think the CF-X beats the Hydras. The Hydras do lower the noise floor, but to my ear ther is a slight dulling of the highs. The CF-X lowers the noise floor even more so than the Hydras, however it actually improves the highs in the process. I do think the Hydra is good, just not as good as the CF-X.
