Got NBS Omega I cables - Shunyata Hydra now ?

Mike, I've written this in another thread, but I'll repeat it here. I have read comments from users, reviews from reviewers, and I have corresponded with owners of Hydra conditioners, and there is rarely a consensus about which Hydras work best as one moves through the product line. Personal taste and system synergy play an amazingly important role.

You were told the Hydra 2 wouldn't yield the same results as the Hydra 8. In what respect? I use two Hydra 2 conditioners with excellent results, but I will admit I haven't tried a Hydra 8. "Jadem6" uses an original Hydra, and does not like the new Hydra 8 or the Hydra 2. A reviewer loves the new Hydra 8 and says it sounds different than the original Hydra. Better? Not necessarily, but different.

So, it sounds like you are going to have to roll the dice to some degree since you can't audition these products.

Personally, given the choice, I'd go with a Hydra over a PS Audio product based solely on my personal experience with products from both companies, but I can assure you there a plenty of satisfied users of PS Audio products who will disagree.

If you buy either product used, you will be able to re-sell without getting hurt too badly. That's my suggestion, unless buying used is not an option for you either.

Lastly,regarding cords. Since you can't audition cords, the safest route would be to buy a Shunyata cord if you're going to buy a Hydra conditioner, because of system synergy between the Shunyata products, and because of re-sale value.
Owners of the original Hydra almost universally agree that a Shunyata Vx series cord is best used to power the conditioner, and owners of the new Hydra 8 almost universally agree that it should be powered with a Shunyata Alpha series cord. This is Shunyata's approach, too.

Good luck.

Every manufacturer (my experience) recommends their own power cords (if they make them)for their power condtioner. Synergy? $$? Wouldn't you do the same? Hydra 2 and 8: same thing. Two outlet vs eight. I'd go with two Audio Magic (in your case 2 Hydras) to two dedicated lines. You're not even close to isolating those digital nasties from your amp. As far as the safest/judicious powercord route? I'd go with Tvad's advice and see how happy you are with your rig.

To Warren and Tvad....the Hydra 2 and 8 are *not* the 'same thing'. While I am not directly intimate with these two models, a friend auditioned both of these and found they sounded differently, primarily because the 8 is the model containing the granular FeSi material....the 2 does not. That material, of course, will affect systems differently, and some may prefer it, some not. I also believe that Shunyata recommends placing the 8 on a platform, off the floor....my friend used a Seismic Sink for this purpose, and he stated that "everything" did sound better this way.

Alanmkafton wrote:

the Hydra 2 and 8 are *not* the 'same thing'. While I am not directly intimate with these two models, a friend auditioned both of these and found they sounded differently, primarily because the 8 is the model containing the granular FeSi material....the 2 does not.

I never said the Hydra 8 and the Hydra 2 are the same thing, and I am aware of the differences. Mikefi was told the Hydra 2 and Hydra 8 "wouldn't yield the same results", and this was what I was referencing. In fact,they probably won't yield the same results, but only one's personal listening to each unit will determine which is better in one's own system.

I recently switched power conditioners. I went from a Richard Gray to a Hydra 6. I have also switched all my power cords to shunyata. I now have blacker backgrounds more resolution, bigger sound stage and a more musical system. I like the python on my amplifier but i live next to a hill that is filled with transmitting stations. The python is not as well shielded as the typan but my dealer is comming to install an aftermarket shield on the cable. I have not heard nbs power cables but i use their interconnects and speaker cables