What equipment supports do you use and do you aspire to something else?
Posted by: Alex S. on 19 November 2001
We talk a lot here about stands and supports. We all agree that something to put your equipment on is better than nothing. Naim's latterday advice that it all sounds great on the shagpile is a memory.
So I'm asking the question because I'm genuinely interested in what people are using and whether they are happy. There is so much to choose from ranging from Fraim and Wilson Benesch to the late Brian D's warped home made attempt to the late Vuk's majestic creations to Blzebub's . . . hold on a minute, why are so many stand characters no longer with us?
I digress. For the record I have a sawn up SO rack with a sheet of ally and three SoundFrames for the LP12. A 4 tier standard Base rack for CDS2/Linto/DVL100/Lingo and a 3 tier standard Base rack for the DVHX1.2 and CDPS (with an empty shelf between them).
I have Nordost Pulsar Points under the CDS2 & CDPS and 2 Base platforms under the CDP just for fun.
Each of the 3 stands is as far apart as the leads allow.
I am happy with the above arrangement and do not aspire to anything different.
I am fortunate to listen at work and not care what anything looks like.
Alex
Posted on: 19 November 2001 by Willem van Gemert
I'm still using an Apollo Adagio four tier with a Mana Mini Table on top. Far from ideal, my NAT 01 sits on top of the NAC 52 and the Supercap together with the power supplies of the NAT 01 and the CDS are stacked on the lowest shelf.
Fraim is out of the question because of price (and to a certain extent looks). Haven't had the possibility to hear other racks yet. Hope to hear Richard's Samurai Acoustics rack as well before deciding. Probably will end up with either Mana or Solid Steel 6-series.
Ciao!
Willem
Posted on: 19 November 2001 by dave simpson
Just joking;)
I appreciate your willingness to think out of the box.
(psst.. I still can't see how four, skinny ferrous stand legs will alter the EMF of an iron-chocked power supply box.
regards,
dave
Posted on: 19 November 2001 by Neville
Currently have SoundFactory Tripod for electronics, Audiotech for LP12.
After dem at Manchester will be ordering QS Reference for electronics, and probably a Referenced QS wallshelf for the LP12.
Posted on: 19 November 2001 by Steve Toy
There is no bitching, no nastiness, everyone is exchanging and challenging viewpoints, without launching personal attacks on people behind them.
Long may this continue.
I have nothing more to say...
...for now!
It's always a nice day for it 
Have a good one! 
Steve.
It's good to get back to normal.
Posted on: 19 November 2001 by Manu
On FRAIM:
LP12 (high columns)
CDX
82
SNAXO
room for AV2 (if ok here)
On QS (2)
AMPs and PSUs
DVD VCR
QS will be changed for QS REF (ordered)
All racks are cherry with silver columns.
Emmanuel
Posted on: 19 November 2001 by Steve Toy
I suggest that you experiment a bit with your Fraim/QS Ref stands regarding where you place your source components/ preamps. A few surprises may be in store...
Who knows...
It's always a nice day for it Have a good one!
Steve.
It's good to get back to normal.
Posted on: 19 November 2001 by Gromit
My 250 and power sit on a SOundstyle rack. CD and 102 sit on a QS Ref. My Rega P3 sit on a Mana ref. Distributing them this way made the sound so much better. Don't understand why but it does.
I have seen and heard the Fraim. I dream of it often but the reality is that in this recession, I could never justify the cost.
Posted on: 20 November 2001 by ken c
i have Projekt for power components. Isoblue for sources, except audiotech for LP12. Spare system (112/150) is not QS Mk 1.
i have hmmmed and ahhhhed about mana for lp12 and also rationalising the supports on QS Mk II. Fraim would do very nicely but my bank manager is not very friendly right now.
enjoy
ken
Posted on: 20 November 2001 by Allan Probin
Mixture of Quadraspire Reference and MusicWorks modified Quadraspire racks. Total of 10 shelves across three racks supporting 6 boxes. As follows:
Source Rack. 3-shelf QS Ref, bottom shelf empty. For CDS2 and 52 head-units. CDS2 on decoupled top shelf.
Power Supply Rack: 3-shelf MW QS, bottom shelf empty. For XPS and Supercap. XPS on decoupled top shelf.
Power Amp Rack: 4-shelf MW QS, bottom shelf empty, middle shelf empty to increase spacing between 500PS and 500. 500PS on decoupled top shelf.
Allan
Posted on: 20 November 2001 by Greg Beatty
I use DIY spike/MDF supports, one support per component on a concrete floor. DVD/CD player is on MDF shelf and amp is on hybrid MDF/glass shelf.
Heard Mana and didn't like what it did (music was lost amongst details), heard other standards like Target and not better enough than my DIY bits.
Would like to hear FRAIM someday.
- GregB
Insert Witty Signature Line Here
Posted on: 20 November 2001 by Mick P
Chaps
My main system was housed in a big solid oak unit which looked good but killed the sound.
After a few home dems in various houses etc, I went for Hutter which also met with Mrs Micks approval.
It looked and sounded good. We was happy.
Four weeks later...the Fraim was released.
I want to buy a Fraim for the main system and keep the Hutter for the secondary system in the dining room. Hope to do that next year.
I have to say though....the Hutter is good but the Fraim is that little bit better.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 20 November 2001 by Martin Payne
CDSII/52/NAXO are on an AF StarBase.
CDPS/52PS/HiCap/Armageddon are on another StarBase.
135s are on an AF Base (not Star).
The AF stuff has been inherited from a Fraim owner. I'm extremely happy with it, very musical and open, excellent control and freedom throughout the frequency range.
cheers, Martin
[This message was edited by Martin Payne on TUESDAY 20 November 2001 at 21:01.]
Posted on: 20 November 2001 by Mick P
Stallion
Mrs Mick and I listened to the wobbly version in February at the Bristol show and to be fair we preffered the Hutter.
Also I thought Hutter looked a lot better, so on that basis we opted for the Hutter.
I have concluded that there is no generically best rack, just go for the one that you like the sound of best and pray that it looks OK.
I have heard Fraim and I like it and the looks are sensational......so Fraim it is.
Thanks for the prompt anyway.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 21 November 2001 by Alex S.
How much better do you find Star Base to Standard Base?
Alex
Posted on: 21 November 2001 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by Alex S.:
How much better do you find Star Base to Standard Base?
Alex,
I haven't directly compared the two stands, but this is how my dealer quantified the differences:-
Base
Good
Relaxed
Full at low volumes
Subtle
Starbase
More refined
More clearly defined
Not missing any detail
He reckoned the StarBase was well worth it in my system, and I'd have to agree. Indeed I'm sure it would be worthwhile in a lot of passive systems.
I would add that my system has much more musicality, is more dynamic and tighter without being uptight, has far more depth, reverb is fantastic, and there's far more stuff going on.
The speakers are gripped and given a good shaking.
I haven't yet played around with removing the rubber feet on the CDSII's platform, although I know that JV found this useful with the CDSI (not the same beast, I know).
There are other things I wanted to attack first. I tightened my tweeters bolts on Monday, and I've managed to swap 'a-bit-dull-and-a-bit-gritty' for 'a-bit-bright-but-very-clean'. NAXO adjustment to follow sometime next week.
cheers, Martin
Posted on: 05 February 2002 by GC
anyone tried the HNE granite stands for the shahinian compass' ? im itching to ring them up and order some, to try and reduce the amount of bass that my system is kicking out, and i wondered if anybody has used them in a similar situation, boxes=cdx,82,2xhi,250. Ive got a fraim on order too (all black, in case i change the speakers!), would this tighten the bass up too?
many thanks!
Posted on: 05 February 2002 by jcc
LP12 on Sound Table
32.5 and Linto on 2 tier Base
HiCap and 135s on 3 tier Base
Best stand setup I've owned by far. SO was the previous.
Fraim would be my only other choice for the future.
Cheers
jim
Posted on: 05 February 2002 by ken c
currently QS Std, Isoblue and Projekt. i will audition the QS Ref sometime, but ultimately Fraim.
under my lp12, mana table soon.
enjoy
ken
Posted on: 06 February 2002 by Alex S.
I have two hne granite stories. Neither of them involve Compasses but I'll tell you anyway:
1. Granite stands for B&W N805s transform these speakers.
2. Granite plinths for big TDL transmission line speakers do almost nothing.
So, you must audition carefully. One thing I do know about Shahinians is they are not supposed to be that support dependent. After all, some of them are still on castors.
Alex
Posted on: 06 February 2002 by Pete, Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know
Hi, Gus
I use a pair of home made bases for my Arcs made from oak with adjustable spikes and recesses for the feet, they don't seem to affect the bass just clean things up a little. So I don't think they would make too much difference, try a paving stone before you spend lots of cash.
pete
Pete Mad Bad & Dangerous to Know
Posted on: 07 February 2002 by Frank Abela
Have: Quadraspire rack with Mana Mini-table holding up the Gyrodec.
Looking at having: Hutter Racktime (Fraim if the house extension happens, no room otherwise)
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.
Posted on: 07 February 2002 by Joe Petrik
A few years ago I had a carpenter built three solid wood stands -- a dedicated one tier for the P9, a dedicated a one tier for the CD2, and a five tier for the electronics.
The stands are made of solid ash and the shelves are laminated MDF. Decoupling of the stand from the world and of the shelves from the stand are through adjustable spikes.
Since the P9 has three feet (unlike an LP12, for example), the spikes that support the MDF shelf on that stand were purposely placed in the same position as the table's feet. Presumably, this leads to a more stable support. Here's a pic of the P9 stand with the MDF board removed.
The dedicated CD2 stand is similar except it has four spikes supporting the MDF board.
Here's a pic of the P9 on the stand.
And here's an old pic of the entire system before I got the dedicated wood stand for the CD2. (The stand on the right in the pic supporting the CD2 is an old Sound Org, which has since been sold.)
I don't have a current pic but the two pieces of Mana I have are used with these wood stands -- a Mana Power Supply Table sits on the CD2 stand (with CD2 on top), and a Mana Sound Frame sits on the top shelf of the five tier, under the 102.
Joe
[This message was edited by Joe Petrik on THURSDAY 07 February 2002 at 15:38.]
Posted on: 08 February 2002 by dave simpson
Joe-bob,
Shouldn't Capt. Kirk be mounted over the analog device and Picard be placed to Kirk's left?
This could be serious, or at least an Amazing Discovery.
regards,
dave
Posted on: 08 February 2002 by John G.
So that's where you left the nail polish remover.
Posted on: 08 February 2002 by David Sutton
I use a 5 tier Mana stand with a 3 tier Mana stand on top. This needed a special top plate for the 5 tier stand and extra long spikes. It works brilliantly, but you effectively lose one tier. From top to bottom it goes:-
LP12
CDX
82
Armageddon
Hi Cap
250
XPS
The current plan is to replace the HiCap with SuperCap and ultimately use the HiCap with a Prefix
Cheers!
David
