Original Hydra Power Cord recommendation?

[jimtranr]

Caelin or Grant, if you're listening...

I've had this Hydra since what, in product introduction terms, is the Year Zero, and it currently feeds my home office system. I'm considering moving it to my primary "serious" listening venue, my bedroom system, and wonder if replacing the original "year zero" Powersnakes power cord that came with it would effect an audible improvement.

For a cost-context reference, and as noted in the signature block below, the active system components consist of a laptop (wall wart), external hard drive (wall wart), ISO Regen fed by an Ultra Cap power supply (wall wart), out-of-production TEAC DAC (purchased used), and long-in-tooth c-j Sonographe captive-cord amp (used). (Note: If the Shunyata Alpha USB cable I have on order renders the existing USB cable/ISO Regen combination moot, I'll have one less wall wart to contend with.)

Given that system context and my fixed-income-retiree cost constraints, which, if any, current Shunyata power cord should I start saving my pennies for to, in effect, enhance the original Hydra's performance?

Thanks in advance.

[Puma Cat]

Jim,
Any of the high-current capacity 20AMP C19 Shunyata power cables would work well.

Depending your budget, you could go with a Venom HC C19, used Black Mamba HC/CX, Zitron Cobra or Python HCs, or the new Delta or Alpha EF, NR PCs, etc.

In my experience (as I own both), even the orignal Venom 3 non-HC model notably outperformed the WW Electra 5^2, both with respect to lower noise floor and improved audio quality (and the difference was not subtle).

I'm currently using the WW Electra 5^2 to power the upstream transformer brick for my Uptone Audio LPS-1, but that's going to be "relegated" to non-audio power duties as soon as I get my Shunyata Venom 14 from MasterLu.

[jimtranr]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Jim,
Any of the high-current capacity 20AMP C19 Shunyata power cables would work well.

Depending your budget, you could go with a Venom HC C19, used Black Mamba HC/CX, Zitron Cobra or Python HCs, or the new Delta or Alpha EF, NR PCs, etc.

In my experience (as I own both), even the orignal Venom 3 non-HC model notably outperformed the WW Electra 5^2, both with respect to lower noise floor and improved audio quality (and the difference was not subtle).

Thanks, Stephen. You've given me a starting point.

[CGabriel]

Originally Posted by jimtranr

Caelin or Grant, if you're listening...

I've had this Hydra since what, in product introduction terms, is the Year Zero, and it currently feeds my home office system. I'm considering moving it to my primary "serious" listening venue, my bedroom system, and wonder if replacing the original "year zero" Powersnakes power cord that came with it would effect an audible improvement.

For a cost-context reference, and as noted in the signature block below, the active system components consist of a laptop (wall wart), external hard drive (wall wart), ISO Regen fed by an Ultra Cap power supply (wall wart), out-of-production TEAC DAC (purchased used), and long-in-tooth c-j Sonographe captive-cord amp (used). (Note: If the Shunyata Alpha USB cable I have on order renders the existing USB cable/ISO Regen combination moot, I'll have one less wall wart to contend with.)

Given that system context and my fixed-income-retiree cost constraints, which, if any, current Shunyata power cord should I start saving my pennies for to, in effect, enhance the original Hydra's performance?

Thanks in advance.

Hello Jim. The OG Hydra is indeed a rare classic. We built very few of them and they are still excellent performers. Let me tell you a short story. We had to sell every single Hydra we made just to make ends meet in the early days of Shunyata Rsearch. So that meant that in later years when we were making Hydra Model 8 and VRay’s, we didn’t have a single original Hydra. I was very happy when one of our customers called inquiring about a new Hydra VRay and I learned that he had one of the original Hydras. He had taken really good care of it so I offered to trade his OG for a new VRay. He was happy and I was happy. That Hydra sits in a display case in our company lobby today and will never be sold.

The power cord for the OG Hydra requires an unusual twist locking connector. This means that just buying a used cable will not be sufficient. You would have to have it reterminated with the correct connector. Does the power cord that you have say “Hydra HC” on it or something like that? If so, that is a pretty decent cord although it is a bit stiff compared to our later models. I would recommend getting a Venom Defender to give the Hydra some noise reduction.

If you want a better cord at a reasonable price, you could order the new Venom HC v2. My best recommendation for a high performance cord at a reasonable price (<500) would be the soon to be released Venom NR V10. The twist lock connector will cost you a bit more.

[jimtranr]

Originally Posted by CGabriel

Hello Jim. The OG Hydra is indeed a rare classic.
The power cord for the OG Hydra requires an unusual twist locking connector. This means that just buying a used cable will not be sufficient. You would have to have it reterminated with the correct connector. Does the power cord that you have say “Hydra HC” on it or something like that? If so, that is a pretty decent cord although it is a bit stiff compared to our later models. I would recommend getting a Venom Defender to give the Hydra some noise reduction.

If you want a better cord at a reasonable price, you could order the new Venom HC v2. My best recommendation for a high performance cord at a reasonable price (<500) would be the soon to be released Venom NR V10. The twist lock connector will cost you a bit more.

Thanks, Caelin. That's an interesting bit of history. And I'm glad--as I'm sure quite a number of audiophiles are--that you made ends meet.

Given the tight fit in its current location, I can't "read" the original power cord, but it's sheathed in a black textured jacket with a thin white diagonal stripe that apparently runs its full length.

I appreciate your recommendations and willl start saving my pennies for the Venom NR V10. I'll be sure to specify the twist-lock connector when I order it. (Ivan, please take note.)

Thanks again.

[Masterlu]

[jimtranr]

While awaiting likely-next-month delivery of a Venom 10NR power cord to replace the Sidewinder supplied with the original Hydra 19 years ago, I've moved the Hydra from the home office to the bedroom system to get a playback-seasoned point of reference on what the Venom will bring to the listening table.

The Hydra replaces a Blue Circle outlets-siliconed-onto-PVC Thingee power distributor. Because the Hydra won't fit into my current fixed-shelf audio rack (I'll build a Salamander-like replacement with threaded rods that aren't oily), it's temporarily parked atop four Stillpoints Ultra-Mini footers mounted on floor-sitting 2"-thick maple butcher blocks.

Right out of the gate, without any Sidewinder settling time, the Hydra said "screw my age" and blew the walls wide open with a much more detailed and spacious presentation, gut-belting dynamic punch, and transient quickness, enhancing the 'being there" sense of recordings mixed to achieve that illusion.

So why in heck did I wait so long to make the move? And how much further will I be sucked into the soundstage once the Venom gets here?

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jimtranr

While awaiting likely-next-month delivery of a Venom 10NR power cord to replace the Sidewinder supplied with the original Hydra 19 years ago, I've moved the Hydra from the home office to the bedroom system to get a playback-seasoned point of reference on what the Venom will bring to the listening table.

The Hydra replaces a Blue Circle outlets-siliconed-onto-PVC Thingee power distributor. Because the Hydra won't fit into my current fixed-shelf audio rack (I'll build a Salamander-like replacement with threaded rods that aren't oily), it's temporarily parked atop four Stillpoints Ultra-Mini footers mounted on floor-sitting 2"-thick maple butcher blocks.

Right out of the gate, without any Sidewinder settling time, the Hydra said "screw my age" and blew the walls wide open with a much more detailed and spacious presentation, gut-belting dynamic punch, and transient quickness, enhancing the 'being there" sense of recordings mixed to achieve that illusion.

So why in heck did I wait so long to make the move? And how much further will I be sucked into the soundstage once the Venom gets here?

Great description.

Once those "snakes" get ahold of you....you're a goner.

Enjoy.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jimtranr

While awaiting likely-next-month delivery of a Venom 10NR power cord to replace the Sidewinder supplied with the original Hydra 19 years ago, I've moved the Hydra from the home office to the bedroom system to get a playback-seasoned point of reference on what the Venom will bring to the listening table.

The Hydra replaces a Blue Circle outlets-siliconed-onto-PVC Thingee power distributor. Because the Hydra won't fit into my current fixed-shelf audio rack (I'll build a Salamander-like replacement with threaded rods that aren't oily), it's temporarily parked atop four Stillpoints Ultra-Mini footers mounted on floor-sitting 2"-thick maple butcher blocks.

Right out of the gate, without any Sidewinder settling time, the Hydra said "screw my age" and blew the walls wide open with a much more detailed and spacious presentation, gut-belting dynamic punch, and transient quickness, enhancing the 'being there" sense of recordings mixed to achieve that illusion.

So why in heck did I wait so long to make the move? And how much further will I be sucked into the soundstage once the Venom gets here?

Jim,
Based on a conversation with Caelin on another forum, I may be ordering a new Venom NR-V10 here, pretty soon as well.

[jimtranr]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Jim,
Based on a conversation with Caelin on another forum, I may be ordering a new Venom NR-V10 here, pretty soon as well.

I'm looking forward to the arrival of the one I've ordered, as I'm eager to hear how much more magic it might be able to elicit from my venerable Hydra. Saint Mrs. and I just finished a listening session, her first with the Hydra in the bedroom system, and she was impressed.

If you do order a 10, where's it going?