Helix or Alpha

Whether you apply a VX or alpha to your CD player will depend on the player. The VX was developed at a time that many CDps were extremely sensitive to hash on electric lines that tended to yield some harshness in the player. This is likely somewhat less of a problem today than it was in the past. I have found the Alpha version of the Anaconda Helix significantly preferable than the VX version for my TEAC Esoteric X-01 Limited. The VX tended to do a slight 'caramelization' of the music, but paradoxically was causing some undue harshness in some tracks. I have written on this subject in some detail in a thread called "A tale of two. . . Anacondas Helix". See the following link:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1146623467&openusid&zzGuidocorona&4&5#Guidocorona

I just noticed you own a Hydra 8, which already contains the FeSi filter pellets. In this case I would definitely use an Alpha on your CDp. . . the VX would add more FeSi sideeffects.

What is the rest of your system? It's difficult to say apriori if a Helix Anaconda Alpha will benefit your Hydra over the VD. . . You may need to try things out. An other very good PC is the Purist Anniversary, priced similarly to the Anaconda. But there are other perfectly good PCs. Why don't you call the Cable Company, ask them for several suggestions, and try out a few different PCs on your own system? G.

Very true, the Python helix is surprisingly close to the performance of the Anaconda Helix. G.