SETTING THE STAGE
When applying Hydra or Guardian 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.

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.

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 power cords going to each of the components.


VIDEO APPLICATIONS
Use one of the Shielded Series PowerSnakes. The Copperhead is ideal for amplifiers due to its 10 gauge rating, but for video screens or projectors the Venom power cord is as good or better as any more expensive power cord.


GUARDIANS
Use one of the Shielded Series cables for the best cost-to-performance ratio. The Venom and Diamondback are good choices, but the Copperhead will give better performance if the system is powering high-current amplifiers.


HYDRAS
Use one of the Helix Series power cords to maximize performance.


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.