New rack for Gunnar

Hi Gunnar,

a quarter of a year ago I've been looking around for a rack for Naim components too ... and have ended with the fraim ... but the following ones were the ones I've taken into consideration too:

1. Wilson Benesch Asside

would have been less costly than the fraim but I did not have any opportunity to get a look at it -obviously no-one stores it (it wasn't even displayed by WB resp. its German distributor at the last HighEnd).

2. Clearlight Audio Aspect

Should definitely be within your price range, even in the 4-tier version. It is worth a look and an audition too (got a very good test in one of the major UK hifi-magazines); should have a high WAF too ..... I think. If you can find a Clearlight Audio dealer in Stockholm this should be very high on your shortlist.

3. Finite Elemente Pagode Signature

It's the smaller version of the highly acclaimed HD Master Reference, but even this one was a little too big for me (depth). However, it is known to be very well made and again the price should be o.K.. Take a look at the German Finite Elemente website. As Finite Elemente is one of the major companies specialised on Hifi Furniture I think you should at least find one dealer in Stockholm.

4. Creaktiv

Not my cup of tea - the looks don't appeal to me - but maybe to you ? At least worth a look ...

5. Atacama Equinox

In my opinion in silver finish it's really looking very well. Excellent price too. Unfortunately I couldn't find a German dealer for it ...

6. Schroers & Schroers

They have a wide range of good looking hifi and AV furniture and use glass extensively, but ... after a while I had the impression that their products are mainly built as pieces of furniture and would not be able to support your system sonically. Therefore they were the first I deleted from my shortlist.

Hope that my list gives you some hints where to look.

Have a nice rest of the weekend ....

Martin

Don't forget Ash Designs.

Gunnar,

It depends on the number of components you have. 3-4 or less and you will be within your £600 target for Hutter racks.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
"Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid." Frank Zappa

Gunnar,

one point worth bearing in mind is upgradeability.

Racks such as Hutter, Fraim & Base are modular. When you buy a HiCap for your setup you can buy one more rack level and add it to what you've got.

Many racks come pre-built as three-, four-, five- tier. Add a HiCap to your current setup and you've got major expense to sell you new four-tier (at a major loss) and buy a five-tier.

cheers, Martin

Thanks Guys!

Sorry ´bout the delayed answer, haven´t had the time to surf the forum until now.

I keep your recommendations in mind.

Håkan; Tack. vet du nån säljställe/leverantör i Sverige?
Eng: Thanks. Do you know any dealer who have them in Sweden?

Martin; Vielen dank. Wich one of these on the list have the best sonic qualities?

garyi;Ash designs, is it what you use? I see you have a very stylish rack.
Btw how are you getting along with Lodger?

Andrew; Yes, Hutter is one rack that is definately on my shortlist.
This is a really good rack isn´t it?

Martin P; Very important thing is upgradeability. Thanks very much for that input. I´m definately going to use a hi cap in the future.

Greetings Gunnar

gunner, no luck on the album I am afraid, to weird for me.

Bowie was on a chat show the other night which prompted me to play through Hunky Dory, heathen and Hours, and excllent albums.

Yes I do use ash racks.

Garyi!
That´s a really stylish rack.
This one I´m gonna search out.

Thanks for the pick!

Gunnar

A 500mm wide 4-tier Hutter with HiFi base would put you back £675. I use two 500mm Hutter racks with 5 shelves and I am very happy with the result. The Hutter is very flexible indeed with different heights available for the shelves. So in the shop we have a rack with very low (140mm?) shelves apart from the base one which has a NAP500 in it. Very neat and beautifully built. Sonically, it's very neutral with good timing and pitch.

Another option, though you'd have to check with the wife for looks, is Isoblue. A 4-tier rack would cost you about £440. Again, very well made and very good sonically. Very flexible too.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Frank.
Thank you .
I knew you guys would help me out on this one.

I now have a good list to work on.
With this in mind I can start to get going and get that rack.

Gunnar

What about Sound Organization???

Any comments???

The Tropical Linnie
Victor V. Diaz-Diaz

Gunnar,

as to the sonic abilities it would rank my list as follows:

1. Clearlight Audio
2. FE Pagode Signature
3. Creaktiv and Atacama

WB Asside is no longer on the list because I just realized that it is out of your budget (will cost EURO 2.000,-- in standard 4 tier version).

The Pagode and the Creaktiv racks have wooden shelves and should give a warmer sound. Same should be with the Clearlight Audio, although they use their RDC technology. The Atacama is made of steel and glass and could sound a bit ... let's say ... sharper.

The only upgradeable rack of these four is the Atacama. However, as far as I remember the spaces between the shelves of all the three other racks are high enough so you can put two pieces of Naim electronics on top of each other. But of course this is not the best solution .....

Besides the Pagode is as well available in a 5 tier version (plus base), so six pieces of equipment can be placed. I would recommend to have a look at their website, the hotlink Ugo placed is correct and will lead you to the English version.

Best wishes

Martin

P.S. Garyi's Ash design rack really looks fine.

Hi!

Thanks for the input Ugo. I really like the idea of DIY but... I would in this case like to have a really good finish wich I believe has to be factory made. Otherwise that rack is a real budget bargain.

Martin; thanks for your long reply, seems that Pagode is the one that I would look into from your list. Due to the possibility to extend it when needed.



At this moment there is 4 candidates.
-Hutter
-Ash designs
-Mana
-pagode

I would also say hello from my wife and "qoute":
"What nice guys"

Gunnar

Although it looks nice I wouldn't put the Ash Designs in the same ballpark as the other three in terms of performance.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Frank.

Ok. I might choose Ash designs rack and do a "tradeoff" in sonical performance just because I think this rack have the most appealing aesthetics.
As I don´t have a dedicated listening room I want the rack to gel in as good as possible. Having scandinavian designed furniture.

And again I ca´t dem the rack agains eachother.

But Your view is noted by me.

Gunnar

JON!
Thanks for the pic.
You have all the reason to be proud of that rack.
Good finish and it looks like a really good construction.
As Im living in a flat I have no opportunity to do woodwork like what you have accomplished.
I would have to let a carpenter do the work (though I could probably do it my self, just don´t have the tools)
Thumbs up though for a fine rack.
Btw it seems like it´s gonna be a mana rack despite the limited WAF and collision in style with other furniture.

perhaps I can come back with input from the members on setup hints etc??

Gunnar