Quadraspire stands - advice please

I have one QS Ref for Naim gear, 1 QS Ref for Linn / Nak / Quad / Marantz gear, and 1 QS AV for ... AV gear.

They seeem to bring a more natural flow to the music compared to metal and glass.

They help with domestic harmony in the ongoing situation with the wife, boxes, wires and records.

Recommended for me, but try it at a dealer to check you agree.

DS

ITC - Anthony Rother - Live at Liberty One

Before I went into Naim, I had a simple Cyrus setup, consisting of a Cyrus SL integrated amp and a dAD1 CD-player. I had the chance to try/buy a Cyrus Q4 support, and I wanted it only for its looks.
But,... I wasn't prepared for the sonic improvement it made, even with this humble setup. This was some years ago, so I can't really discribe the difference anymore.

I recently ordered a new Quadraspire Q4 support for my Naim kit, (in light oak)
The only downside imho is the fact that I have to wait 5 to 6 weeks!!!
Quadraspire seem to ship orders only once a month to European countries.

regards,
Alco

I am undergoing a similar dilema and will either go for:

option 1 -
1 small Fraim for LP12/CDX/82/250 and 1 QS Ref/QS Q4 for power supplys etc as cannot justify 2 x fraim

option 2 -
2 x QS Ref

option 3 -
1 x QS Ref for critical items and 1 Q4 for non critical items (power supplys etc)

Has anyone gone this route mixing eith Fraim with QS or mixing ref and non ref QS (as cosmetically this would seem a good option)?

David J Bostock

OK I have just ordered yesterday from Infidelity in Kingston:

1x QS Ref (with the shelf cut-outs) 4 tier
1x QS Q4 4 tier
1x QS Ref wallshelf

all shelf spacings will be 140mm and will be light oak/silver spacers

what I need from any forum members is advice on what components/boxes should go where:

My best guess is

QS Ref (top down) (RH rack)
- CDX
- 82
- 250
- CDPS

QS Q4 (top down) (LH rack)
- Sony Minidisc
- Naim '02 Tuner & Naim Headline sharing shelf side by side (will in time replace Headline position with Lingo II)
- Sony Cassette deck
- 2x Hi Caps

QS Ref wall shelf
- LP12/Aro

Does this seem sensible, should I reverse position of 250 and CDPS ??

The forum info has been useful when weighing up the stand options (just couldn't justify Frain prices in my own head) and Mana just too industrial looking for my taste.

Any comments as to the racking order would be great

David J Bostock

David,

How about moving the CDX and 82 to the other stand, repalcing them withthe hicaps and the MD?

Obviously, it's an experimental question. I would be interetsed in hearing how varous palcements work.

Regards.
Phil Barry

One factor to bear in mind is:

Are their any controls to operate?

This would tend toward putting sources CD player / cassette deck . tuner near the top, and amps and power supplies at the bottom.

Also, keeping power supplies away from sources is a good idea.

DS

OTD - Planet Love Ink - Living in Pain

I would keep the 250 and PSU as far away from the preamp and CDP as possible. Preferably on a different rack.

Yours in Music

Syd

quote:

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I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has tried Quadraspire stands for Naim kit

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Yesterday morning I got my Quadraspire Q4 system support delivered (after waiting for 6 weeks!)

Putting the thing together was a breaze. It fitted like Lego. (which was not always the case with some older Target stands)

At first I was kinda dissapointed about the sonic improvement over my old SO 2-tier table.
In fact, I even preferred the sound of the SO-table!
The Q4 support seemed to give a more laidback,soft treble and a little more bass.
I wasn't exactly sure I'd just have to get used to it, of not...

Then,.... I got a worthwile tip on the PFM forum.
I was adviced NOT to overtighten the spaceers and rods of the Q4.
I pulled the spacers really tight with my hands, to ensure that the support was as rocksolid as possible, expecting that to be the best.
But,... the spacers should NOT be too tight, but just enough to turn 'em with a little force by your fingers. So, don't turn them really tight with ypur hands!

After having done that, the Q4 was a little more wobbly. (which didn't feel like a good thing to me at first)

To be honest, I didn't expect any difference by lossening the spacers a little. (let alone any improvement) but I was wrong!

The boogie-factor was back. The veil got lifted and details were much easier to follow. The music had more attack and vitality.

So, now I can really say I'm enjoying my Naim setup better than ever, and it looks great on Quadraspire too, imo!



Ok, onically it may not be on the same level as a Fraim, but the Fraim's price is way,way out of control. I can buy at least 4 Q4 supports for the price of 1 4-tier Fraim

So, although I even find the price of a Q4 kinda high, considering it's only 4 pieces of veneered MDF and a bunch of metal spacers, I still find the Q4 great VFM

regards,
Alco

Got my Quadraspire stands recently- Q4 Ref 1x4 shelfs with 100mm spacers(RH) & a standard 1x5 shelfs mixture of 100 & 140 spacers (LH), all in light oak with black spacers,(figured black speakers & amps etc so spacers to match).

On the ref (from the top) I have CDP (Micromega Solo), 52, S/C, 250. On the standard (at the moment) I have Linto, Pioneer CDR, Nakamichi cassette deck, Lingo MK1 & creek heaphone amp (one shelf free). I have just purchased Infidelity's ex dem Audiotech T/T wall shelf for the LP12 & have this above the QS standard. I have a slight problem in that the Audiotech is quite high up the wall (due to room configuration I cannot put the shelf above the Ref) I have no choice but to have the Linto on the top shelf as this enables me to have the Audiotech as low as possible. I believe that it's OK to have the Linto close to the LP12, but may put a tuner in it's place soon.

I originally had the CDP/amps on the standard shelf, but when the reference arrived I put the source/amps on that. Massive difference! I agree with Alex & David in that the music has a vitality & flow to it, with the CDP on the reference the music seems to really boogie but still retains a natural sound. In addition the Quadraspires are aesthetically pleasing.

I cannot justify the excessive cost of the Fraim (not at the moment anyway-Lingo MK2 next), so opted for the QS. Would like to know how the QS wall shelf compares to the Audiotech though, (is that QS in your pics Greeny?). I can't fully judge the shelf as yet because I am still running in the XX2 cartridge, but it sounds pretty good to me. Incidently would anyone put an LP12 on the QS Ref? The shelf does wobble a bit so I'm not so sure. I will also take Alco's advice & loosen the spacers slightly. Talking of which, everyone seems to buy the 140mm spacers, I got the 100mm on the ref as I did not want the stand to be too high, the amps can breath (due to the cut out's) and don't tend to get that hot, any views on this?

Yes-Mana is too industrial for some people & I find metal & glass does create a harsher/more forward sound. Gonna have to sell my Mana reference table now.

Thank you & good afternoon

Colin (email Colin@blueoyster.freeserve.co.uk)

quote:

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QS Ref (top down) (RH rack)
- CDX
- 82
- 250
- CDPS

QS Q4 (top down) (LH rack)
- Sony Minidisc
- Naim '02 Tuner & Naim Headline sharing shelf side by side (will in time replace Headline position with Lingo II)
- Sony Cassette deck
- 2x Hi Caps

QS Ref wall shelf
- LP12/Aro

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I'd do it this way:

QS Ref stand:

1)CDX - the source component needs to be on the extra-decoupled ref top shelf.

2) 82

3) Tuna + Headline (in place of the 250 with its big transformer. Your 82 won't thank you for being only one shelf away from either the 250 or the CDPS)

4) CDPS

Q4 shelf:

1) Minidisc

2) Cassette deck

3) 250

4) Hi-caps.

Obviously the turntable will go on the wallshelf.



Regards,

Steve.

I must admit, spitting the dummy and/or throwing your toys out of the pram is not a fair and gentlemanly way to treat the deaf.



Regards,

Steve.

quote:

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is that QS in your pics Greeny?).

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Yes mine is Standard QS, though note on the picture that the brass Spikes/feet are not standard. Neither is the dust, though I suspect many will have their own collections.



Alco - I'd have though you want to move your power amp down to the bottom shelf leaving space between it and the Pre