Shunyata Hydra


Ok, I need to make it clear that I am no philistine. I hear the difference between many items with nuanced ability to alter sound quality and fully agree that one must play with every part of their set up to get the sound they want. However, I have played with my shunyata power snakes and hydras in a million ways with many components and in many rooms and have tried floating the ground before and after the hydra and many many more variations. AFTER EVALUATING THE SOUND BOTH WITH COMPUTERS AND MANY UNBIASED EARS I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER THAT SHUNYATA POWER PRODUCTS HAVE ANY SONIC INFLUENCE WHATSOEVER. When I started buying shunyata products I was told by a salesman, "the impact of shunyata hydras and power snakes are in no way subtle." I will dispute that claim with anyone. I spent good money on these parts and wanted them to work very strongly. I can say without reservation their effect is nil. I'm staggered that so many are convinced of their worth.
jamiek

Showing 1 response by almarg

My comments, that essentially second some of those in Bryon's characteristically excellent and perceptive posts: Although I don't assert that all of the sonic effects of power cords and conditioners are technically explainable, every technical explanation I have ever seen offered for those effects (including explanations at the Shunyata site, which btw I consider to be credible), figures to be dependent on the design of the specific components and their interconnecting cables, on the physical placement of those components and cables, and on the characteristics of the incoming AC.

So I don't see why it should be surprising that in some systems there would be little or no difference.

I'll add that I am pleased to see that most of the responses so far have been sincere and have not questioned the OP's hearing or the quality of his system, which as has been said is indeed very nice.

Finally, I'll reiterate a point I have made a number of times in the past. The ability of a system to resolve musical detail, and its ability to resolve hardware differences, are two different things, that don't necessarily correlate. An ideal component design, were there such a thing, would have zero sensitivity to differences in the AC it receives.

Regards,
-- Al