General Asylum: REVIEW: Shunyata PowerSnakes Shunyata hydra Power Conditioner/Surge Protector by Mellson

Model:	Shunyata hydra
Category:	Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Suggested Retail Price:	$2500
Description:	passive power conditioner
Manufacturer URL:	Shunyata PowerSnakes
Manufacturer URL:	Shunyata PowerSnakes

Review by Mellson ( A ) on August 02, 2002 at 13:48:59
IP Address: 64.196.181.26

Add Your Review
for the Shunyata hydra

To make everything short, hydra sounds like Pass amps or Marantz SA-1. Please note that I pick two â€œsolid state componentsâ€ for their â€œtube like soundâ€..â€¦ To short?
â€œI will stretch the differences for the sake of comparison.â€
Thatâ€™s break it down
Comparison between hydra and my homemade power strip using cryogenically tempered hospital grade outlets.
1. Tonal quality: I donâ€™t think hydra is completely transparentâ€¦ It has more of a tube-like tonal color, warm and lush. But not the overly stretched or smeared kindâ€¦
2. Presentation: Reverberant feelings are two thumbs up. It did take away micro details to a degree that is acceptable. It also tames high frequency slightly. With hydra, I have no urge to upgrade my solid state amp for my Raven tweeters(under active triamp)
3. Wider and deeper sound stage is something that I donâ€™t really care. But, others doâ€¦
4. A reverberant bass doesnâ€™t mean soft bass or loose bass. But, I do feel that a combination of smooth sounding tube preamp+SA-1+Pass amp will be too bloated. (I "did" own AR tubes preamps,Pass amps and sa-1)
5. Hydra interpret those big bass guitar strikes (donâ€™t know how to call them, they look like a big cello.) with more audible reverberant feelings, but it makes cello sounds a bit hollow.
Comparison of sound (not features) between PS600 and Hydra:
1. PS600 is certainly cleaner, clearer and leaner. PS600 is certainly a bit tighter but squeakier at high frequency.
2. Hydra is certainly more enjoyable and more pleasant. Hydra has enough tightness and cleanness in my system with more pleasant tonal color.
3. PS600 jacks up the pace a bit in my system, and it also makes my system slightly bright. This is not the case for my system with Hydra..â€¦
OK, I can see how people prefer either oneâ€¦ I am happier with Hydra â€œnowâ€ with my â€œall solid state systemâ€â€¦
One more note: Just imaging that hydra has more positive attributes of a tight sounding tube amp. Please â€œtransformâ€ your imagination for PS600 as a solid state.
Iâ€™ve always tried to strike a balance between emotional intimacy for classic and physical impact for pop music. Guess I am closeâ€¦ If I just listen to pop or just classic music only, everything will be easyâ€¦
â€œI DID stretch the differences for the sake of comparison.â€
As always, YMMV and HAPPY LISTENINGâ€¦

Product Weakness: see text
Product Strengths: see text

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	see my profile
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	..
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	..
Speakers:	..
Cables/Interconnects:	..
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all
Room Size (LxWxH):	. x . x .
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner