FRAIM hapiness means using the "Payne" method

The following recent quote prompts me to detail the benefits of the Payne method:

quote:

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Given the arcane nature of getting a rack (any rack it seems) to perform its best, I would:
* Let the dealer do it ONLY IF I had reason to believe he or she was a guru at setting up this particular rack
* Otherwise, I would do it myself to become first-hand familiar with the rack and how it sets up. This way, when reading setup advice, it will make sense.
Just my $.02 -
GregB

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Gentlemen

I can declare that Martin Payne's Fraim assembly instructions here:
http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=67019385&f=48019385&m=8491910386
Are excellent.

I built my Fraim together based on the drawings enclosed with the boxes when purchased. You know how this goes, it's just like instructions from IKEA & MFI. First principle do it up nice and tight or your self-assembly furniture will wobble around, so of course I applied that principle to my Fraim assembly.
All went well and I did do it carefully including levelling properly. I replaced all the naim kit (which I had cleverly managed to keep connected so it had not been turned off) and sat back to listen to my latest accquisition.

It sounded pretty good to me and over a subsequent period of about 2 weeks, did I imagine it, it believe it got even better. It gave the impression that the whole thing was settling down nicely with all those heavy boxes concentrating there weight into the floor.

Then on friday night I read Martin's instructions which basically left me feeling that I had tortured my poor Fraim by tightening everything up so much. So I thought right let's relieve the pain as quickly as possible so off came the kit and the shelf levels and I started again from square one by dis-assembling everything and putting it back together in the correct way. This time I observed the Payne rules on gentle nipping up of the nuts, no heaving on spanners from the home tool kit, instead I used the "wimpy" little pressed steel spanner provided, which basically limits the torque applied by it's very nature. Also I was obsessive about leveling. In fact I do believe the first assembly and subjection to weight had done a little to flatten down the bottom wooden yoke and as luck would have it it came out level first try. I also did the shelf "tinging" thing and did find a good side, or at least convinced myself I did. Of course I went to great lengths to make sure everyting was centered in it's hole and not touching the side and I centered the shelf spikes in their depressions properly.

As I did this I kept muttering to myself "patience, get it right, no way are you going to do this again!!"

Well that was friday. As I sit here listening to it on Sunday night I am thinking WOW!! that was worth it. I
t is like what I thought of as an improvement first time around has been doubled up. I am sure I am hearing a significantly wider frequency range. The music has a tingly feeling about it that just was'nt there before.

OK OK you say, your just patting yourself on the back for your evening's work. No I reply it is genuine.

To all fraim owners out there I apologise if I have planted nagging thoughts and worries in your minds about how your fraim has been put together but I can be smug about it now.
I KNOW mine is put together right not just because I followed Martin's instructions but because it sounds so great.

Moral. The only way to make sure you get maximum value from your Fraim is to put it together yourself so you are convinced it's as good as it can be and you can settle back and enjoy the music again

Just send the wife out to the shops and get down to it lads

GEOFF