Graham Hydra lead

The Grahams Hydra is simply a set of multiple mains cables, wired into one mains plug. Although no experience of this "commercial" product, I have a friend who makes his own so called "Hydra"-he has a six pack, Nat-01 etc etc, and three mains cables are connected to one plug-he use three hydras. After extensive listening and comparison to my MusicWorks Mains Block, I am convinced that this is the preferred choice of component connection as "less is more" IMOP.

KK_TO,
I bought a Grahams Hydra about six months ago to replace a standard four way mains extension cable. For the sixty pounds or so it cost me, it has probably been one of the biggest value for money upgrades I have done.
Improvements: more cohesive sound, more clarity, lifted a veil of grain, better controlled bass and more open treble. It also provided a more relaxed presentation.
Interestingly I was able to get a further improvement in sound quality when I switched the double switchless socked it was connected to for a single MK switchless socket. Again, greater cohesion (PRaT).
Regards,
Tom

grahams hydra is made extremely well and is safe -- at least mine was. however, its rather inflexible if you decide to make changes to how you want to power your equipment. right now i am using those maplin 4-way multiplugs -- which are standard and allow me to reconfigure if ever i need to. the other advantage is that except for the crabtree plug, i get to use the naim lead more or less as it comes.

i hasten to add, i used the grahams hydra for many years and it worked very well indeed. its just that i needed it to be longer and the only way was to have another one done...

enjoy

ken

Good as the Hydra is, it has the drawback that all items of kit share a single 13A plug and fuse.....seperate dedicated spurs will easily outperform this in my expereience

laurie s

I run my CDX/82+2xHi/250 off a home-made hydra. I'm very happy with it.

Paul Rowlands

I use a Hydra from Grahams and it is excellent. But a question - it was 5 way but since changing the CD5/FC2 for a CDX2 I have one spare flying lead. OK so I could buy that NAT01 but what should I do to stop it acting as an aerial?

If you haven't got a tuner then you don't need an aerial. [hardy har!]
(But seriously, how much RF will get through a mains transformer and some stonking great caps?)

Paul Rowlands

Thanks all for the useful information.

I asked Graham audio if I needonly 3-way lead now, but want to buy a 4-way for soon upgrade, as such 1 plug will be left unused, they said no problem on the unused one, and the difference is very very minor.

I have mail ordered one 4 way hydra lead, and can't wait to see the effect on the sys, I got to wait 7 to 10 days for the shippment.

KK_TO

Would you inform us about the 4 power cords of your new hydra? It's interesting to see, if Graham did start to make the hydra with the new naim power cords.

Emil

Just got it today, when the CDX2 arrive, will use regular naim lead to run in for a while, then see what this hydra lead can do, and will update here later.



[This message was edited by KenTo on WEDNESDAY 21 January 2004 at 09:13.]

another pic.


[This message was edited by KenTo on WEDNESDAY 21 January 2004 at 09:14.]

quote:

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Originally posted by PR:

I can understand why this arrangement would be better than a MusicWorks. Which from my testing, was no better than my quality RF mains block, but there you go.

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How odd.

I have just bought a MegaBlock and found it to be an instant and marked improvement.

Regards

Mike

On the Yellow Brick Road and Happy