MANA again, Which MANA?

Posted by: Franz K on 26 October 2000

My understanding is that Mana offers floor based and wallmounted support systems.
So far I have my system (CDX/82Hi/250) sitting on a wooden 3 tier wallshelf construction. The CDX and 82 sits on a separate shelf, the Hi on top of 250) I dont have very much room, shakey wooden floors and little kids around so I will stay with a wallmounted system. I consider MANAs Soundframes as an option to place it underneath each component.

The other option would be to get a soundshelf or reference soundshelf for the CDX. Could anybody comment on how a soundframe compares to a soundshelf(reference soundshelf) in its effect on the CDX?

Advices very much appreciated
Thanks
Franz

Posted on: 26 October 2000 by Franz K
Sorry for the double post. The software is very annoying. First you get the "cuurently unavailable" message and then you end up with double posts.
Shihh.....

Franz

Posted on: 26 October 2000 by Franz K
Vuk

Thanks for support on using this software.

If the difference between the soundframe and the soundshelf is close to nil I'd prefer the soundframe for sher asthetic reasons.

Franz

Posted on: 26 October 2000 by Top Cat
...I have both; firstly, a bit of background:

My LP12 is wall mounted on a reference shelf with an extra flat-top, which takes it to phase 3. The phono stage and Lingo sit on a Mana PSU table, on the floor (I picked this up secondhand -
it's a worthwhile addition, but only once you've got your sources and amps on Mana).

The rest of the system sits in a standard six-tier rack, atop four sound stages, taking it to phase 5. In terms of the advantages and disadvantages of wall versus floor mounting, you must ask yourself why you are even asking the question. In my case, I have a fairly springy floor, which I felt might upset the LP12. Also, it was the first Mana I bought and so I didn't think that I'd be buying a rack*.

[* The Mana Effect is addictive - before you know it, you'll end up spending two grand on racks and stages, you name it - you kinda lose your box addiction to a degree]

The pros of floor mounting really only come into their own when you use a multiple layer rack - the addition of one sound stage benefits all the components in the rack. So, in my case, I have five components in a six tier (with the top shelf doing great service to my ivy plant and a dilbert soft toy). I recently added two sound stages to take me from phase 3 to 5; the relative cost per component for this upgrade is LOWER than it would have been for the LP12 alone (which I also upgraded, by adding a flat top).

Therefore, if you have a rack, soundstages add more bang-per-buck. Also, with any table, you have a choice of upgrade route: flat top or sound stage (or sound frame, but we'll leave that out for now). With the shelf, you only have flat-top. This is a more expensive way to upgrade, even though an individual flat top is cheaper. That's because a flat top benefits one component only, whereas a soundstage can do the lot.

Sonically, I haven't played around enough to notice a difference; I'd expect a series of flat-tops to sound fractionally better, but then that's just a gut feeling.

What you really must consider is:

  • are your walls solid enough?
  • is your floor bouncy?
  • do I plan to add a PSU table?
    [/list]

    The third one is interesting, as a PSU table can sit inside a reference table, and both can benefit from a soundstage. If you have bouncy floors -> wall shelf. If you have weak walls -> ref table. If you have good floor and walls, in retrospect I'd go for a reference table, although there is no shame in having a wall shelf (as I do).

    Is that of some help to you?

    John

    • Posted on: 26 October 2000 by Top Cat
    ...I have ATTEMPTED to change my 'known as' name, but it's reverted back to Top Cat. Can a sysadmin ensure that it is now John Clark, please
    (just to keep Uncle Vuk happy )
    Posted on: 26 October 2000 by Top Cat
    Just a test - shall we bury the hatchet, Vuk? After all, we're both pursuing the same elusive goals...
    Posted on: 26 October 2000 by Franz K
    John

    Thanks for your extensive comment. It does clarify things a lot. As I do have very bouncy floors not very much room left for racks and little kids around a wallmounted system is my best option. (although the wall we talk about is not very solid). I have my system placed on a 3 level (selfconstructed) wooden shelf already. I would like to keep it because i invested a fair amaount of time and labour to construct it. Besides it is optically very pleasing together with too also wall mounted selfconstructed wooden CD racks on each side. (Eventually I'll post a picture of it)

    So as long as we dont move, no MANA table. From what I understand is that I could place one soundframe underneath each component (total of 3). Unless the Soundshelf for the CDX is weigh supperior to a soundframe Id opt for the latter because I can leave the CDX on its dedicated place and put the soundframe underneath rather than finding a new place on the wall for the shelf; still possible though.

    Franz

    Posted on: 27 October 2000 by dave simpson
    John,

    JW's advice is sound. Any other combo of racks (at best) produces marginal improvements for the dollars spent. All of of us (myself included) that didn't pursue the " X tiered and sound stage " route now (or eventually will) regret it.

    Again, no "combo" is " wrong" , that's the beauty of the Mana product line, it's just a value thing.

    have fun!!

    dave