Ash Design Rack - Good Sonically or Not ?

Posted by: markjp on 25 January 2002

I am about to purchase a Hicap which will make my existing 5 shelf atacama rack ultimately redundant. To cover future upgrades I think I need a 7 shelf rack. I have seen in Ash Designs brochure they do a 7 shelf rack at around £550. The rack looks good but how does it perform sonically? Is there any other racks I should consider? I can't afford much more than £550-£600, I certainly couldn't stretch to the Fraim. I don't have room for 2 racks and would prefer to keep things of the wall.

Any suggestions appreciated.

thanks

Mark

Posted on: 02 February 2002 by Ade Archer

Re my previous question:

quote:
I don't suppose anyone has done a comparison, but I am wondering how much better a Fraim is than an Ash rack.

I now know the answer: A Lot!
The Ash is a good stand, particularly for the price, but I knew of a good deal on a Fraim, so I bit the bullet, and trusting the posts on this forum, I went and bought it this morning, and have just finished setting it up. Thing is, I'm having to wait for a 5th shelf, so I've currently got the XPS sat on the CDX on the top shelf, but straight away, from cold, I am very impressed. It's the first time I've bought something without demoing, so thanks to all those who made the decision for me with their Fraim praise.

Cheers
Ade

So I've got a spare Ash 5 tier

Posted on: 02 February 2002 by ken c

Thing is, I'm having to wait for a 5th shelf, so I've currently got the XPS sat on the CDX on the top shelf, but straight away, from cold, I am very impressed. It's the first time I've bought something without demoing, so thanks to all those who made the decision for me with their Fraim praise.

congratulations!!! what differences has the fram made?

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 02 February 2002 by Ade Archer

Music sounds less artificial, more natural. Bass and treble are more refined, in fact the whole frequency range is more in balance, whereas before the midrange could be a little forward, which occasionaly overpowered other areas. 'Relaxed' may be the wrong word to use, since the energy of the music remains, but there seems to be no particular aspect of the music that's trying to grab your attention, more that everything is, as I say, more in balance.
I recently added an XPS and a Supercap, and I would definately say that I'm as happy again with the improvement.

Cheers
Ade
(Broke but happy )

Posted on: 02 February 2002 by ken c

quote:
Originally posted by Ade Archer:
Music sounds less artificial, more natural. Bass and treble are more refined, in fact the whole frequency range is more in balance, whereas before the midrange could be a little forward, which occasionaly overpowered other areas. 'Relaxed' may be the wrong word to use, since the energy of the music remains, but there seems to be no particular aspect of the music that's trying to grab your attention, more that everything is, as I say, more in balance.
I recently added an XPS and a Supercap, and I would definately say that I'm as happy again with the improvement.
Cheers
Ade
(Broke but happy )

ade, very well put. you wil lof course recall my experience with QS Std vs Projekt -- the question of "balance" i believe was the source of my discomfort.

to think that Fraim was completely out of the question for me when it came out...?

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 02 February 2002 by Ade Archer

Ken,
It would have been out of the question for me, but fortunately I've been in the right place at the right time for once. I thought it would be nice to own a quality rack that doesn't generate the differences of opinion others seem to. It appears almost everyone who has heard the Fraim likes it (whether they think it's VFM is another matter!). I also wanted a modular rack for the future, so I took the opportunity while I could.

Cheers
Ade