Digital sources best with Hydra 8's analog outlets

I dunno. It seems to me the Hydra-8 works great. But I don't think any power conditioner works optimally with the amp plugged into the same equipment as the front-end. I wouldn't really blame Hydra for this state of affairs.

Gladstone, it's not about blame. It's about product claims made by the manufacturer and whether they hold up under real world use. Frankly, I tend to side with a manufacturer until the claims are proven untrue. I have yet to see any empirical evidence that Hydra conditioners don't perform as Shunyata says.

Tvad: Now you're relying on spec's, empirical evidence and manufacturer's claims? I would think that Brent's comments as passed onto him by the manufacturer of the product itself would tell you something.

So that everyone else can follow along with what i'm getting at, IF the Hydra truly weren't "current limiting", it wouldn't matter where the amp was plugged in at. That's because there would be an abundance of current and power capacity regardless of the outlet chosen and where it was located within the wiring scheme of the Hydra. Given that this comment came from Brent aka Brainwater, i have no reason to doubt the validity of it. Given the internal wiring scheme of the unit, which i provided a link to for all to see, i can understand why Shunyata would say what Brent claimed they told him.

Other than that, i agree with your comment. If a manufacturer tells you that the unit isn't current limited, it should be able to provide a steady state level of current up to the rating of the circuit breaker and wiring feeding it. Sean
>

Sean, there is no black and white. We agree on that account. Yes, I
prefer to rely on manufacturer claims until those claims are indisputably
proven false or incorrect. I'm not generally prone to conspiracy theory.
It's part of the innocent until proven guilty premise.

I was given the same info as Brent many months ago when I emailed
Shunyata requesting their suggested order of component installation to
my Hydra 4. IMO, just because a Shunyata representative recommends
plugging the amp closest to the IEC, and plugging the digital source
farthest down the duplex chain, it does not automatically mean the
person offering the suggestion is tacitly admitting to problems with
current limitations or transmittal of digital hash. It could simply mean
the representative, when asked the question, is offering the most logical
and optimal installation pattern regardless of those issues. Certainly, if I
were asked the question, and if I knew the Hydra didn't limit current, I'd
still suggest plugging the amp closest to the IEC and the digital source
farthest from the IEC. What the heck, might as well cover all the bases
even if they don't need to be covered, right? I consider that good
customer service, as opposed to if the representative had said,
"Oh, it doesn't really matter."

The Hydras are entirely non-current limiting to amplifiers or any other equipment up to the 20amp limit of the Carling breaker-- period. There are several studios, such as Astoria, using Hydra 2's to feed 30amp draw Neve 88 panels and various ultra-high current amplifiers (Halcros. OTL's etc).

Each duplex outlet on the Hydra has its own filter/protection network on a circuit board bolted to the outlet. This isolates each outlet from all others. We have measured results detailing the effects of a paper-shredders effect on an adjoining outlet first with no network engaged and then activated--the posted results speak for themselves--unless people think we made them up, of course. That seems to be opined a lot on net boards--"they're all liars and snake-oil peddlers"...

Ideally, amplifiers are best placed on their own dedicated line, not bunched up on a single line with all other electronics--though obviously not everyone can install multiple lines and must use only one. The reason I or another person within our company might recommend placing amps next to the power-input (if asked) is not technically to "give it more power", but just as a common-sense recommendation given proximity. I have spoken to some that prefer their amps in the digital section away from the power-inlet and vice-versa. There really are no "rules" involved, just subjective experience related to use and operation.

Nobody I am aware of or have ever heard from has experienced ANY voltage fluctuations or power problems of any kind with using Hydra models in _any_ application..and there are four-five thousand of them in circulation throughout the world.

This is all fwiw,

Regards,

Grant
Shunyata Research