NAP 500 Stacking order

Roberto,

I found this thread just ahead of acquiring my 500.

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...ply=1566878604261615

Good luck with the new amp, it is a lovely item to own and enjoy.

Dave

Hi Dave,

I was aware of many articulated posts from Mr. DB particulary, i eventually asked for something more specific about fomy own configuration.                                                                                                                                   Thank you for the link btw, i will refresh my knowleges.

Regards

Roberto

Hi Roberto,

I had some real issues when I did my last upgrades. First my 552 came and really brought cd playing to the fore. At this time I was then able to put my Supercap on my Superline. Vinyl was awful. I had to move PS around and away from the phono stage. I got a dedicated shelf, wall mounted for the TT to make space. It was really trial and error in the end. 

I have my 500 on the bottom shelf of the "brain" stack. As much space around the 552 which sits below the CD player. The 552 has a 1.5 spacer to let it breathe. I also have an empty single shelf between it and the 500. My Superline is now on the top of the "brawn" stack. Only 2 racks. As you have 3, lots of room to experiment. Good luck.

Dave

If possible put the 500PS on the lowest shelf of the brawn stack and away from anything else if possible.
The 500PS boxes like to have space around them to perform best. The large transformer can interact badly with other equipment and it does not like being on top of other boxes - probably the other boxes don't like it nearby.

I find the 500 head unit likes to be up one level (or more) and not on the base shelf.

I've had time to try lots of permutations with the three 500 I use Active and there certainly are some placements that a truly awful-sounding. I found one of the largest upgrades I made was to provide space around the 500 PS boxes from other equipment.

DB.

Interesting DB. i have my 555PS Analogue on the very bottom, next level up 555PS Digital then 500PS...then 552PS and above that at the top NDS. The major "free" upgrade was the NDS on brawn stack. Big difference. With config i have it helps with cable dressing and keeps all cables off the floor. 

Not wishing to detract from the OP, would welcome thoughts....

Don't tell me I need to give my back another work out and shift stuff about!!!!

Ok, just tried it...ok...put 500PS on the bottom of Fraim.

DB right...again...my back is killing me again!!!

i have 3 stacks of fraim. the rightmost has 2x500PSs on bottom shelves, then 2xNAP500 headunits on the next 2 intermediate shelves and finally the snaxo242 on the very top. i can describe the placement of other components if there is interest -- but seems not relevant to OP. suffice it to say that the config that i have also facilitates cable dressing.

Oh, and it sounds astoundingly good so i cant be doing much wrong.

enjoy

ken

After I tried a several different configurations with my 500, I ended up with 500PS its own Fraim and both units sitting on top rather than on a bottom shelf. For sure putting the head unit on higher shelf yields a positive outcome. That was determined from early on where I started out with a head unit on a bottom shelf with a longer spacer which did not sound as good as placed on a top shelf.

Another thing you can try is to listen to both sides of glass. There is a a right side up much like LP12's felt mat. It's a PITA but once you determine then mark it so you don't have to do it again.

Hi all,

I think that CD 555 & 552 head  are already stacked as good as possible on their own 2 medium level stack.

The 500 ps would go on the bottom of the brawn stack (middle one). The 500 head on the extend level with a

standard level below, Or like Kuma did atop of the extended level, don't know yet if may be better for performance, surely would be visyally more intriguing

I have another question though, is it good for Burndys routing,  have the 500 ps on the left and the 500 head on the right?  It seems that either 555 and 552 are the opposite

Regards

Roberto 

Hi Roberto,

Welcome to the crazy world of Naim set up. It really is like an F1 car, get 1% wrong and it performs like a bag of you know what! Get it right, and it will melt your heart with a performance to die for. Attention to detail is paramount, and well worth  the time and effort learning. Its very rewarding to squeeze every ounce of performance out of your system. And why not, Naim gear ain't cheap.

There is a wealth of information on this fine forum to read up on, one post in particular is https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...95#46901104054698795

Enjoy, and post your findings.

Dustysox posted:

Hi Roberto,

 

Welcome to the crazy world of Naim set up. It really is like an F1 car, get 1% wrong and it performs like a bag of you know what! Get it right, and it will melt your heart with a performance to die for. Attention to detail is paramount, and well worth  the time and effort learning. Its very rewarding to squeeze every ounce of performance out of your system. And why not, Naim gear ain't cheap.

There is a wealth of information on this fine forum to read up on, one post in particular is https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...95#46901104054698795

Enjoy, and post your findings.

Hi,

Yes i absoulutely agree,  it's part of the game indeed !

Letting alone F1 world, even with serious Sports cars a little variation of geo setup  or tyre pressure will ruin the handling. For us,  Gary (DB) is our chassis engineer.

Regards

Roberto