SETTING THE STAGE
When applying Hydra or Guardian Pro products to any system there are a few key elements to consider before beginning.

1. Disconnect other power conditioners.
Make sure all power- conditioners, distributors, power strips and power "enhancing" products are disconnected from the wall outlet. Power conditioners interact in unpredictable ways when used together on the same power line. Do not cascade or parallel different types of power conditioners. You must physically disconnect the units from the wall outlet. Just turning them off or disconnecting the power cords to the components is NOT sufficient.

2. Multiple dedicated lines
If the audio system makes use of multiple dedicated lines -- do not invalidate the comparison by connecting all the components to a single SPD through a single power line. If you do this, you are in essence comparing the difference between a single dedicated line and multiple dedicated lines. The advantages of using multiple dedicated lines is profound, especially when the system contains high-powered amplifiers. Always make full ue of the dedicated lines that are available, if any.

3. Carpets and SPDs
DO NOT place the SPD directly on a carpeted floor. Use a wooden (or other hard material) shelf between the floor and the unit. This does not need to be a $300 shelf -- just something relatively hard and rigid. The same goes for aftermarket cones or spikes. Always use something with a hard-surface, never soft.

4. Power Cords for the SPD
The power cord used between the SPD and the wall is critical to the unit's performance. The SPD power cord is the most important power cord in the system because the current driving multiple components is flowing through that single cord. The SPD power cord should be at least as good as the best and most expensive power cords going to each of the components.


VIDEO APPLICATIONS
Use one of the Shielded Series PowerSnakes. Use a larger gauge power cord for amplifiers, but for video screens or projectors the Venom3 power cord is as good or better than any more expensive power cord.

GUARDIAN PROS
Use one of the Shielded Series cables for the best cost-to-performance ratio.

HYDRAS
Use a 10 gauge or better Shunyata model power cord to maximize performance. Always insure that the cord to the Hydra is at least the equal of the best power cord to any electronics plugging into a Hydra.

BURN-IN
An ideal demonstration should include the use of SPD products that are fully burned-in. Years of testing have confirmed that ALL SPDs need approximately 5 days of continuous (high current) burn-in to achieve their best performance. If an SPD is shipped it will need a few hours of "settling time" to sound good.