Fraim Chips vs screws

Posted by: Corry on 03 May 2017

I’m about to embark on stripping my two Sound Factory Tripod stacks down and rebuilding them from scratch. I want to use the opportunity to incorporate a few tweaks and upgrades. For instance, I just received a pair of cryo-treated wall outlets from AV Options to replace the two regular hospital grade ones that have been there from the beginning (I already have 2 dedicated 20A circuits, one for the Naim gear, one for the LP12).

In terms of where the adjustable Tripod spikes meet the floor, I’ve been using the old-school approach, namely a set of beefy 2” Philips head screws. They’re very stable, and I like that I can make tiny adjustments to get everything level. But it seems that Fraim Chips are now the way to go, so I’m contemplating using those instead. The floor is solid new oak planks over existing century old fir planks on joists.

A quick search suggests that the Chips should be better because, despite the tiny contact area, the screws are less effective at decoupling the stand from the floor - but has anybody done an actual comparison between the two? I’ve had good success with Chips under my speaker stands, however the stands had previously been spiked directly into the wood. If the difference between Chips and screws is negligible, I’m not sure I want to bother.

Thanks,

Colm

Posted on: 07 May 2017 by northpole

Pardon my slight deviance from the thread topic. I have an existing timber floor construction comprising 26mm engineered t&g boards (6mm oak on plywood) on an underlay sitting on the original large softwood floor boards which are fixed to the softwood floor joists. The speakers are sitting on spikes into naim chips, cup side up. It was suggested to me that there would be a benefit to placing the speakers/ spikes/ chips on 30mm thick granite plinth slabs slightly oversized compared with the footprint of the speakers. Most grateful if any forumites would be able to share their experience in terms of solid slabs placed under the speakers improving (or otherwise) the sound quality. Thanks.

Peter

Posted on: 07 May 2017 by tonym

northpole posted:
Pardon my slight deviance from the thread topic. I have an existing timber floor construction comprising 26mm engineered t&g boards (6mm oak on plywood) on an underlay sitting on the original large softwood floor boards which are fixed to the softwood floor joists. The speakers are sitting on spikes into naim chips, cup side up. It was suggested to me that there would be a benefit to placing the speakers/ spikes/ chips on 30mm thick granite plinth slabs slightly oversized compared with the footprint of the speakers. Most grateful if any forumites would be able to share their experience in terms of solid slabs placed under the speakers improving (or otherwise) the sound quality. Thanks.
Peter

Don't do it Peter. I tried this with my SL2s & it robbed them of some of their dynamics.

Posted on: 07 May 2017 by ken c

Allante93 posted:
@ Ken.
They Held me at the Border, until I called Trump and Told him my Cousin had a copy of his Tax returns!
All jokes aside, Had a surround System while staying with my Ex, Phantom Center Channel, and two Kans as the rear, with Briks on the Front, and Linn Sizmick 500 Watt Sub, I think, a case of Some timers!
Heck of a System!
Funny How Time Flies!
Allante93!

Ha ha ha,,,

sounds like it was fun! the surround system i mean, not the call to DT

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 11 May 2017 by Dreadatthecontrols

Inorthpole posted:
Pardon my slight deviance from the thread topic. I have an existing timber floor construction comprising 26mm engineered t&g boards (6mm oak on plywood) on an underlay sitting on the original large softwood floor boards which are fixed to the softwood floor joists. The speakers are sitting on spikes into naim chips, cup side up. It was suggested to me that there would be a benefit to placing the speakers/ spikes/ chips on 30mm thick granite plinth slabs slightly oversized compared with the footprint of the speakers. Most grateful if any forumites would be able to share their experience in terms of solid slabs placed under the speakers improving (or otherwise) the sound quality. Thanks.
Peter

I have my Allaes on old slate roof tiles about 5mm thick. I put 4 very small blobs of BluTak under each slab and then spikes straight on to tiles. Sprung wooden floor. Sound is much better than spike shoes, I've tried various but not Chips. Makes sound much more open, on spike protectors muddled and incoherent by comparison.