Unbelievable improvement (!) - adding another hifi shelf physically separating nDAC from 252

The usual approach is to have separate 'brain' and 'brawn' racks, search the forum and you'll find references to this. The idea is that power supplies and power amps, which carry high currents, are kept away from sources and preamps which carry very low level, easily distorted signals. How much audible difference this will make to your system is hard to say until you try it. 

There have been hundreds if not thousands of posts on system stacking over the years, and the benefits of separating key components, so this is no surprise. At this level, two racks make a huge difference. Cable dressing is much easier too. 

Yep, I'll split the rack in two with some new feet.  I just can't believe it - maybe because the nDAC still has a power lead in addition to the 555DR, there was electromagnetic interference on the 252 circuitry, muddying the sound?

If I separate brains and brawn further, I guess other components benefit, maybe the nDAC as well. 

Adding another " base " will give you another shelf to play with.  With the NDac as you have made attention to twice, you have more options to try, I'd think it would belong in the brain side.

if you were thinking of adding feet, by which I think you mean spikes screwed into the underside of the uprights and onto the floor that's just daft.

Consciousmess posted:

I had to sit my 252 straight on top of my nDAC.  I am shocked as to how much separating the 252 from the nDAC has done!  Voices have their trembles heard more, subtle notes I was oblivious of are now heard.

Can anyone explain why?  I didn't expect a sound improvement as neither the 252 or the nDAC have any moving parts.  I am not joking, drums have more presence and bite.

Would separating into two racks improve further?  I figure if I buy some new feet, I can split the stack in half.

The importance of proper support for Naim gear cannot be dismissed. It looks like the *experiment* by getting a dedicated rack to support the NAC252 has paid off. Placing an equipment directly over another is usually not recommended, and since you have now reaped the benefits by separating both nDAC and NAC252 I presume you are now a believer in getting proper support for your equipment.

With your level of gear, they surely deserve some proper support in the form of Naim Fraim.

Enjoy the music.

I understand that the nDAC radiates 'noise' upwards so putting your (sensitive) 252 on top of it was probably the worst thing you could have done. My nDAC is on the bottom shelf of my 'brain' rack, and as far away from my pre-amp as the rack will allow. 

And, yes, your superb system should really be on a high quality rack, split between 'brain' and 'brawn' (PSUs).  It really does make a big difference to the performance.

What you say holds true, MDS, because the improvement in sound now I have put the 252 on its own shelf above the nDAC is a quality improvement higher than going fron a 250.2 to a 300 DR.  All the sounds are clearer and distinguishable.  There is  3D audio book image now, even stretching further to the left and right wide of the speakers.  Equipment racks are a must!

I am captivated.

I must have really been muddying the sound with the nDAC being the platform for my 252.

I think I'll buy some more rack level spacers and feet, so I can set up two stacks with the nDAC far from the 252.  Thanks for the help.