System Pics 2018

Why I don’t see some pictures? I am missing what is the fuss is all about...

being ridiculous is a very relative, buying a SL interconnect or speaker cables for ££££ might be very ridiculous for 99% if the world population

3 boxes for for music might be ridiculous as well, a pocket radio does the job....

We are all very but very ridiculous for spending all this money and arguing about cables, DACs etc... all hobbiest are for normal population

Innocent Bystander posted:

Franz K posted:

I am surprised you seem unfamiliar with the number of required boxes for an active three way speaker system which at a minimum adds up to twelve. Throw in a few more sources and you end up at seventeen or even more. 

No, minimum for active driving of 3-way speakers is not 12, but 6:  source, preamp, active XO and 3 power amps, so 6 boxes (plus speakers). With streaming sources using a combined streamer/preamp like NAC 272, or a store/renderer plus DAC direct to the XO it is still 6 including the store.  It is only when you add additional PSs (or use amps for which mandatory) that the box count goes up.

No, a separate psu is mandatory for any active (naim) XO ;-)

Franz K posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

Franz K posted:

I am surprised you seem unfamiliar with the number of required boxes for an active three way speaker system which at a minimum adds up to twelve. Throw in a few more sources and you end up at seventeen or even more. 

No, minimum for active driving of 3-way speakers is not 12, but 6:  source, preamp, active XO and 3 power amps, so 6 boxes (plus speakers). With streaming sources using a combined streamer/preamp like NAC 272, or a store/renderer plus DAC direct to the XO it is still 6 including the store.  It is only when you add additional PSs (or use amps for which mandatory) that the box count goes up.

No, a separate psu is mandatory for any active (naim) XO ;-)

Any Naim one perhaps. But even that would only mean a minimum of 7 boxes!!

Graham Russell posted:

ct posted:

I find systems like the one Franz has shared with us utterly amazing, and can only imagine what it must sound like.

Though when I looked a little further into the system Graham shared a little later I didn't quite the same thoughts initially as, until I looked a little further into the 3 boxes he has there, I didn't quite have the appreciation of what I was seeing and once again I find myself imagining what that must sound like.

This made me think a little more about box count, mixing components from various manufacturers and wondering what might be possible without quite so many boxes, shelves, power cables and assorted additional equipment let alone all the cable dressing etc etc.....

I grew my Naim system to 552DR/500/555, dual 555PS, added a "fully stuffed" LP12, moved from CD555 to KDS (upgraded each time Linn released a new version). I had many hours of pleasure from the system. A couple of years ago I explored options to reduce box count, simplify the set up while improving upon an already superb system. This journey has led me to the current system. Most recently upgrading from KDS to Melco + Tidal Camira DMC DAC + Tidal cables. I still have the LP12 but as it's it hardly used (because the DAC outperforms it) I decided to experiment with a single stack to see if I can live without vinyl.

This is a very personal hobby with loads of options to suit musical tastes, space available, "rules" from SHWBO and wallets

Very true, especially with regards to SWMBO )

iIs slightly refreshing to see a system that isn't "all black" though and, whereas the more usual all Naim route is a relatively simple one to follow in that an upgrade path can be easily identified by following the model hierarchy whilst safe in the knowledge of compatibility, I do often wonder if we aren't missing out on some upgrade opportunities by limiting our brand choices to maintain consistency of appearance or taking a seemingly safe option.

Your post once again highlights the wide variety of choices we are fortunate to have and has made me rethink future changes in the same way another forum member did as I read of their UServe/Karan/Reference 3A based system

Hope the bolts give the right result when they are added to your racking

Franz K posted:

Juhuu, managed to upload an image...My System a couple weeks back before a complete rebuild of the TT by Peter Swain

Fantastic system Franz!! I have a humbler setup with only 2x500 actively driving measly SL2s :-)

Great to see a CDS555 in a system which will show how good this CD player is, even though of course now discontinued. I regret trading mine in for NDS -- especially now with all the recent issues I have experienced with 4.6 firmware.

I like the staggered Fraim placement -- I didn't consider a similar approach at one point -- but this would not work out in my crammed office with lots of other IT equipment for work. Did that make it easier for the XLR to each the bottom 500 from the snaxo?

I might also post a picture of my system at some point...

enjoy

ken

Ken

thanks I appreciate your comment. SL2 are no way measly and wonderful speakers that go a very long way. Too bad naim has not perused any further their once more successful speakers . My cd555 has come to ages but I wont part with it yet it needs to go back for service soon. I am happy you like my staggered setup. Actually it is not crammed at all as it may appear on some images,  but the setup is very lofty with enough space around to allow access to almost all cablings easily. Yes, the length of xlrs was an issue and that way they are very freely dressed in the back of the 500s. Would love to see your active 500s with SL2s ..

cheers F

Foot tapper posted:

Too many boxes?  I really don't care, as my eyes keep being drawn to those gorgeous rosewood DBLs...

Best regards, FT

Still, could be worse...

tonym posted:

Foot tapper posted:

Too many boxes?  I really don't care, as my eyes keep being drawn to those gorgeous rosewood DBLs...

Best regards, FT

Still, could be worse...

 

Awesome set-up, Tony.

Eat your heart out, HH 

So, why have you got 6 500s, just using one channel per amp?

with the price of 3 nap 500, snaxo, supercap....i would buy the naim statement pre with amp and wilson or magico speakers.   It will very probably sound better and looks well better too.

I am not irrespectfull vs the op and his system, but as precedently said by a member, we are not obliged to compliment each system posted.

tonym posted:

Foot tapper posted:

Too many boxes?  I really don't care, as my eyes keep being drawn to those gorgeous rosewood DBLs...

Best regards, FT

Still, could be worse...

 

Holy cow!!!  That chest of drawers must be getting nervous.  

Do those DBL tweeters really deserve a 500 each ?

At more than twice rhe price it should.

yeti42 posted:

At more than twice rhe price it should.

i should have written “ 6 nap 500”.    6 nap 500, 6 snaxo, 6 supercap, it is not far from the statement price.  

tonym posted:

Foot tapper posted:

Too many boxes?  I really don't care, as my eyes keep being drawn to those gorgeous rosewood DBLs...

Best regards, FT

Still, could be worse...

 

OMG!! Plenty of room to breathe for the system as well!

Am I correct that you have re-arranged things since last time you posted your system photo?

enjoy

ken

I think there's some photo shop work on Tony's picture. Previous system pics I'm sure there's a door near the DBL

HiFiman posted:

I think there's some photo shop work on Tony's picture. Previous system pics I'm sure there's a door near the DBL

Ah, that figures then -- as I recall counting oh,  at least 12xNAP500s last time! :-)

enjoy

ken

HiFiman posted:

I think there's some photo shop work on Tony's picture. Previous system pics I'm sure there's a door near the DBL

How dare you! What a scandalous accusation! 

tonym posted:

Foot tapper posted:

Too many boxes?  I really don't care, as my eyes keep being drawn to those gorgeous rosewood DBLs...

Best regards, FT

Still, could be worse...

 

Same again Tony, all I can see is a gorgeous Maple DBL.  It does seem to cast a long shadow to the right though.

Do you need some more amps with that???

Best regards, FT

There looks to be someting amiss with the Fraim shelves in the stack of 3 head units.

tonym posted:

Foot tapper posted:

Too many boxes?  I really don't care, as my eyes keep being drawn to those gorgeous rosewood DBLs...

Best regards, FT

Still, could be worse...

 

tonym and FRANZ K, 

I have a solution for your amazing "problems" - a trade in for an UQ2 and nSats 

But have to warn you - only one of you can win. The first call is counted. The memory stick is a bonus. 

tonym posted:

HiFiman posted:

I think there's some photo shop work on Tony's picture. Previous system pics I'm sure there's a door near the DBL

How dare you! What a scandalous accusation! 

And I assumed you simply had got another three 500s as back-ups, Tony. After all, one can't have too many black-boxes. 

For those who loathe the cosy little collection of multiple black boxes that come with the more expensive lines in the Naim hierarchy, you may be excited to learn the boffins at Salisbury have been grafting behind closed doors to produce the 500-series single-box solution which, as their ace secret tester, I have had the privilege of testing. Here's a sneak peek to inflame your bulging wallets...

tonym posted:

For those who loathe the cosy little collection of multiple black boxes that come with the more expensive lines in the Naim hierarchy, you may be excited to learn the boffins at Salisbury have been grafting behind closed doors to produce the 500-series single-box solution which, as their ace secret tester, I have had the privilege of testing. Here's a sneak peek to inflame your bulging wallets...

you must have took a lot of time to create this illusion!   or is it a kind of photoshop photo?

well done!         dcs has created a high end streamer / dac/ clock/ upsampler/ preamp in one big box.  ( 50k i think to remember).    Something like that for naim would be a dream, with a streaming dac upgradable option....

I had a three rack system for a while, with too little space to fit side by side as TonyM does.  I staggered the angle of each rack to about 30 degrees, but I never thought of the configuration Franz K has shown us above.  Maybe that would have worked better for me.  The eventual move to ATC active speakers with built in amps paved the way to a reduction in black boxes (500 + PS).  This together with some surrupticious moving of other boxes has allowed a return to two stacks of Fraim.  Still angled at about 40 degrees actually, because I got used to this 'angled' look.

As I've heard they often say in Salisbury "Whatever lights your candle"