Upgrade stand or electronics?

Posted by: Arye_Gur on 13 December 2002

MY system now is LP12 Armageddon-lvitok/CDX/
102-HI–Napsc/140/IBLs. The main rack is Apollo.

For any price I want to upgrade from this point, I can buy a Fraim.

Out of the next possibilities, what do you think will give the best results?

1 - buying a Fraim
2 - buying a S/H 250 to replace the 140.
3 - buying a S/H SBL to replace the IBLs?

Arye

Posted on: 13 December 2002 by NB

How about a second hand XPS for your CDX, or a second hand 82?

Regards

NB

Posted on: 13 December 2002 by Hammerhead

The 82 is a big move on from the 102 - your LP12 and CDX will benefit greatly from it. Then get the XPS.

That's what I did anyway

Steve

Posted on: 13 December 2002 by Steve G

Can you go active with IBL's? If not then how about used IXO, another 140 & SBL's. Probably still cheaper than a Fraim.

Regards
Steve

Posted on: 13 December 2002 by greeny

Whats your main source and what's your budget, 'cos a new Fraim for that kit is going to be £1500 +

A Second hand 250 or SBL's should be a lot less (£1000)

Posted on: 13 December 2002 by Phil Barry

And what aspect of the sound do you want to improve? And what is your mix of listening to LP vs. CD?

Phil

Posted on: 13 December 2002 by Arye_Gur

All the choices I suggested will cost the same to me. The main improvement I’m looking for is with the low frequencies.
Paul Stephenson says that a Fraim improves this area, few members here told that a 250 with IBLs improves the lows too – and SBLs supposed to do the same.
To go active with SBL, or get a S/H 82 (almost impossible here) or a S/H XPS – all these choices are much more expensive.

Arye

Posted on: 13 December 2002 by Mike Sae

That's 3 votes for stand.

Posted on: 13 December 2002 by Name

It depends on what you want to end up with...
if you want to eventually own sbl's you'll require IMHO at least an 82/180, if you want a 250 then you'll need an 82.
I personally found the 250 will illuminate any weaknesses in the 102 and the sbl's will show up anything less than a 82.
The 102/hicap/napsc/180 is a great combo with speakers below the sbl.

So.... no personally I wouldn't recommend a 250 on the end of a 102 even with a hicap, and no I wouldn't recommend SBL's on the end of a 102/140.
A fraim, yes I would recommend that....if the 250 or sbl's are part of a greater long term upgrading masterplan then GO FOR IT...you'll be able to share a similar experience to myself.
If you plan to only make one purchase and forever hold your peace, the 250 or sbl ain't going to be it...they will drive you to spend more....well it did it to me....I went 102/napsc/hicap/180/SBl's to 82/napsc/hicap/180/sbl's to 82/napsc/supercap/250/sbl's in a space of less than 5 months.
Oops that must be at least 10 cents worth...

Posted on: 14 December 2002 by Derek Wright

If you buy some Fraim you will not have to trade any of it in for a bigger Fraim, if you buy more electronics then there is a very good chance that you will be selling them at some time with a potential cash loss.

Fraim are the only truly upgradeable Naim product, you can go from a whatever to a 552 500 system without have to trade in any Fraim component (unless you chose to change colour)

OK adding a power supply to some of the intermediate pre amps is a non destructive upgrade, but ultimately all of the electronics have to be swapped out to move on.

Derek