Which components could be placed on each other?

Posted by: Bas V on 05 November 2000

Hi!
I have just sold my REL subwoofer, now I will buy the NAT-03, Intro's and NAC-A5. This will leave me with five units, but I only have four shelves. Which to stack?
Another question, which could solve my question. I will sell my MA's and the money from that can be put in my system, which then will be CDI, NAC92, Flatcap, NAP90/3, NAT03, Intro's. Which way to go when upgrading? Source first? Perhaps NAC92 + Flatcap --> NAC102, which will leave me 4 components (great for my rack), change the Flatcap for a HiCap and perhaps buy a s/hand NAC72, swap my NAP90/3 for the 1977 NAP250 mentioned before? Any advice would be very helpful!

Regards, Bas V

Posted on: 05 November 2000 by Arye_Gur

Bas,

I think a pre must be on an own shelf - other componenets, I think you have to find where are the coils of each componenet and avoid puting a component above another if the coils are at the same place in the case - that in order to avoid a short distance between coils which will affect the power suppliers of the components.

Arie

Posted on: 05 November 2000 by BrianD

Bas

I have found that putting a power supply or power amp close to the pre-amp causes serious degradation. For some time I stacked the power supply on top of the power amp and it didn't strike me as bad. However, while moving stuff around in my room I fired the system up with the power supply on the floor adjacent my rack. It was very much better in this position away from the power amp. I now have the power supply on a couple of pieces of plywood spiked into the floor, the power amp is on its' own shelf.

So, you really want to keep power amps and supplies away from anything else. As a minimum you should have pre-amps and sources on a separate rack from power amps and power supplies.

I am currently making 2 new supports. One will be 3 shelves where I will stack the pre-amp, cd and cassette deck. The other will be 2 shelves where I will stack the power amp and power supply. This is also going to help how I route the cables around. The loudspeaker cables will not pass any of the power cables. The SNAICs can be kept apart easier, and the source to pre-amp interconnects can be kept apart and away from power cables. I'm expecting all of these measures to individually bring about improvements which, overall, should have a big effect.

Brian

[This message was edited by Brian on SUNDAY 05 November 2000 at 15:02.]

Posted on: 05 November 2000 by Top Cat

Hi Bas,

You said you just sold your sub - what model did you have and what did you think of it? By the sounds of things, I'm getting the impression you maybe didn't get along with it so well.

I ask because I'm a big fan of the REL subs when used with a bit of restraint (they can overwhelm if they aren't setup 'just so')...

John (who uses a pair of Stentors in stereo)

Posted on: 06 November 2000 by Bas V

Hi John!
I used a REL Stadium II. The bass was very nicely integrated with my monitors, but to my taste sometimes just went down too low. I only have a small room and by using Naim speakers against a wall, I gain some space! And another reason for selling was that the very low bass sometimes made me feel quite uncomfortable. I know now, I don't need such deep bass. Rather less and tighter! I have heard that with a pair of REL's the sound is much better. I don't know and I don't want to find out for now. I have sold the REL for the same money I bought it a year ago. This money is going to be used wisely: source first!
Regards, Bas V

Posted on: 06 November 2000 by Top Cat

quote:
the very low bass sometimes made me feel quite uncomfortable

Yeah, I know what you mean. On certain CDs ("White Ladder", by David Gray is one such example that I listened to yesterday), there are moments of extremely deep bass. I keep both Stentors at around 2/10 gain. However, as my listening room is still quite small, I have to keep the Stentors on either side of the sofa. If I crank the volume a bit (say, past quarter-to on the dial*) it can make the sofa shudder as if there is an earthquake. Cranking it any more than this would perhaps bring my ceiling down (and, no, I'm not exaggerating - this amount of bass has serious power, scarily so)

On an aside, I read once that extreme LF can cause other strange effects (like vomiting, irrational fear, confusion) - we're talking around 10 to 16Hz IIRC; the two Stentors probably plumb down to 10-12Hz+/-3Db, so if I had the right source, I could *really* upset the neighbours...

John

* Note: my dial doesn't work like most as it's exponential (i.e. half way is ~1/4 way on other amps) therefore, I'm basing this on experience of 'full volume' (or as close as I've got)

Posted on: 06 November 2000 by Bas V

John, I sometimes got a fealing of unease when listening to some music. Tool is a fine example. I really like their music, but in all the time I have had the REL, I think I have listened only twice to them. It's just like my heart is beating out of my body. I'm not kidding, I feel it's not good for my health! Have you ever had similar experiences?

Regards, Bas

Posted on: 06 November 2000 by Top Cat

quote:
It's just like my heart is beating out of my body. I'm not kidding, I feel it's not good for my health! Have you ever had similar experiences?

All the time!

However, it's a sound you grow accustomed to; I spent a large chunk of my youth playing drums, and the subs represent the best way I've yet found to bring the bass impact to things like bass-drums or low toms. In terms of speed, I find the perceived speed is *very* location dependent; however, these subs are quite big and therefore sometimes compromise is necessary. Nevertheless, the subs are powerful and really do work.

Too deep? Well, I'd rather go to that extreme than have no bass at all...

Posted on: 07 November 2000 by Top Cat

quote:
I do NOT need to get any sub !!

That's nice. It'll save you a bit. I agree that source is extremely important where bass is concerned (if the source components are giving you muddy bass, then no amount of sub will turn that sow's ear back into a purse ), but don't for one second fall into the trap of assuming that the more expensive REL subs lack control (or anything, for that matter); they are great.