Are Naim boxes unusually sensitive to vibration?
Posted by: jayd on 20 May 2003
I ask the question because of a recent observation. I just "sideways-graded" my equipment support, replacing a hideous hand-made rack with an Ikea thingy, equally hideous sonically, I'm sure, but somewhat more pleasing to the eye. In the move, I left out the several layers of vibration isolation tweaks I had amassed in my old rig - marble sheet, Corian sheet, then stiff foam.
The sound was immediately, obviously worse (I was able to move everything without powering down, so it isn't a "warm-up" effect). As I had room for the Corian sheets, I put them back - one under the Nait 3, another under the Planet 2000. The sound was greatly improved. I then tried one, then the other, and discovered the Nait was responsible for virtually all the audible difference; Corian under the Planet made a barely noticeable improvement.
So, I am curious - is there an analogy to be drawn here between finely tuned hi-fi and finely tuned cars? Is Naim the Ferrari (ok, maybe Lotus) of audio, temperamental if not treated just so, but sooooo right when it's right? If Naim IS unusually sensitive to vibration, is it a design weakness, or a strength?
(I know. Get a proper support. Good advice.)
Jay
The sound was immediately, obviously worse (I was able to move everything without powering down, so it isn't a "warm-up" effect). As I had room for the Corian sheets, I put them back - one under the Nait 3, another under the Planet 2000. The sound was greatly improved. I then tried one, then the other, and discovered the Nait was responsible for virtually all the audible difference; Corian under the Planet made a barely noticeable improvement.
So, I am curious - is there an analogy to be drawn here between finely tuned hi-fi and finely tuned cars? Is Naim the Ferrari (ok, maybe Lotus) of audio, temperamental if not treated just so, but sooooo right when it's right? If Naim IS unusually sensitive to vibration, is it a design weakness, or a strength?
(I know. Get a proper support. Good advice.)
Jay