Fraim 101

Dear Naim,

Would it be a problem (during manufacture) to drill shallow dimples in the cups to provide precise and reliable spike locators? I know it's easy to locate the spikes however "maintaining that location" with stands in busy dealer showrooms (or homes with kids , wives/husbands that dust, and large-tailed dogs) might be made easier and more reliable for example.

Also , is it possible to increase the diameter of the spacer "dimples" in the wood shelves for the same reasons above?

Christ this stand is good. I still can't get over my reaction to the Fraim.Once you've experienced the "total lack of need to analyse the sound but listening to the performance instead"... there's no going back!

to hell with TV.... I've got my music back,

dave

[This message was edited by dave simpson on MONDAY 22 October 2001 at 00:54.]

Dave.

I must agree with the stands performance. In fact, my equipment has never sounded better. I don't know what your climate is like; but if you are in a dryer clime, you may want to check the stand once more after about 3 weeks or so. My dealer reccommended this after some experimentation. I was able to do it without turning off the equipment; and although the "tightening" required was minute and only in a very few cases, the end results were superb.

Paul. When do the non slip things for the glass arrive in Canada?

Though I live in a humid climate (Southern US), I'll still check the stands in a couple of weeks.

regards,

dave

I've followed with interest your evolution from AF Base to Mana to Fraim, and especially your joy with the Mana supports, what caused the music to disappear. I am curious as I did pretty much the same thing. I've still got some Mana (under my LP12) and think its great there.

regards

Dev

Hi Dev,

I think I was so wrapped up in the many things Mana did right I overlooked the one thing it did wrong. Unfortunately the one thing wrong was more important in the long run therefore I stopped listening to the hi-fi altogether until I realized the problem and fixed it.

I understand the lp-12/mana combo is as good as it gets.

regards,

dave

Dave,

Just of out interest, what did it do wrong? I am curious if it is the same as what I felt. But I suspect the 'wrong' bit is just your and mine personal taste

Dev

ps. i think it works fantastically under the LP12.

pps. in my experience, if you substitute the board for the glass under the CDP, it undoes some of the wrong.

Hi Dev,

Actually for me two things wrong.Most important, the tune. It selectively destroyed the tune with respect to most of my favorite cds. The damage was subtle in that only one instrument at most in a given song would consistantly be out of tune with the rest of the band. I know these cds inside and out. Most of them had been in my top ten playback list for years prior to Mana and never exhibited any pitch distortions prior.The second problem was the funky frequency balance imposed on all recordings. In my rig (and only when using mana) every cd sounded the same tonally. Very difficult for me to describe but it's as if every recording ever made used the same studio, gear, production and mastering. There was absolutely no distinguishing tonal differences between any cd played on this rig. almost like the signal was filtered through the coil of a Fender Telecaster pick-up betwwen the cd player and the pre-amp or an equalizer with it's controls set for a broad dip in the mids and super-glued in place. (FWIW, the tone problem was due primarily to the Mana DMS stands and the Source array. The tune problem was primarily caused by the source array and the amp rack.)

I was so overwhelmed by the good things Mana brought to the table I simply ignored/denied/didn't notice the tune problem for a very long time. I guess my sub-conscious took over and I stopped listening to my hi-fi altogether- sticking with live bands and my wife's nait-based non-mana'd rig upstairs. Endless tearing-down and re-assembling procedures changed nothing.

After 6 months or so I had to do something.Several posters had here and in manaland essientially expressed the same mana induced problems.That was enough to kick me into action. I switched the rig on , instantly heard the same familiar sound , yet now "awakened" to the fact it was mana induced I removed all the levels of mana one piece at a time noting improvements each time a piece came out.

With the last level gone the "music/fun/desire to use the rig" was fully restored and has been ever since.

I'm not going to knock Mana though. in the long run, it's just not for me. However,I'll be the first to tell someone if you are happy with it by all means buy more, the sky's the limit! How ever you get there is unimportant , all that matters is getting there.

regards,

dave

"When do the non slip things for the glass arrive in Canada?"

We get the parts Nov 3rd so soon after!

Hi, I guess you and I have more in common than we think, becasue your description of the wrong is exactly why I moved to another support about four years ago. Having said all that I am having much fun with the ref table under the Linn.

regards

Dev

Cool. Have you tried additional levels under the ref. table?

dave

Thanks Paul. tw

I think I'm sticking with the Ref table/Power Supply table combo. My LP12 is pretty neutral and dynamic (becasue it has the cirkus and Arkiv B), I think Phase 4 will take it in too much in a certain direction (i.e too clinical). My system/room is dynamic/clean enough and it may be too much of a good thing.

regards
Dev