Component rack

Posted by: cyu on 16 September 2003

Hi all

I am skeptical with the whole ideal of audio rack can influence the sound quality. I must admit that I am new to this whole hifi thing and still learning about it. Many people have indicated that a good audio rack should be purchased in order to have good sound. I have been shopping around, but I have learned that many cost as much as a NAIM component. My friends and family think it is unreal and a bit crazy that people are spending that much on some of the racks people own.

I have CD5/112/150 and friends and family think I am insane for spending that much. They believe that I could get just as good sound from buying at a local mass market chain store. I do not believe that as many of you would agree.

My question is- Could anyone can recommend a good cost effective component rack for my NAIM gear.
Thank you
Posted on: 22 September 2003 by hi fi fo fum
quote:
Originally posted by AndrewThomas:
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Toy:

I suggest you perform a hands-on A/B test of racks yourself and then any comments you may care to make will then have some credibilty.


As I said,I have Ikea Corras/Hutter/Sound Org stands and you are wrong to assume that I am speaking from a position of ignorance. The CDS2 has sat on all three and the results have been identical.

The reason my remarks have no credibility here is because they do not conform to the accepted received wisdom that there is a hierarchy of sonic improvement to be gained through spending more money on supports...


All this tells us is
1. all your stands are crap.
2. you are deaf.
which one is the right answer or maybe both are true?
Posted on: 22 September 2003 by Simon Matthews
"The sonic rack was originally designed for the turntable, the fact that some amps and CD players may improve is an engineering / construction issue, rather than a factual one."

Can you explain this last sentence?

Also, as an aside, most of your posts seems to be aimed at telling us how crap our systems are in comparison with Levinson. Perhaps a 'IMO' should follow these statements because IMO ALL the Levinson systems I have heard fall way short of equivalent naim systems in many fundamental areas.
Posted on: 22 September 2003 by MichaelC
quote:
Originally posted by cyu:

I am skeptical with the whole ideal of audio rack can influence the sound quality... Many people have indicated that a good audio rack should be purchased in order to have good sound. I have been shopping around, but I have learned that many cost as much as a NAIM component. My friends and family think it is unreal and a bit crazy that people are spending that much on some of the racks people own...

My question is- Could anyone can recommend a good cost effective component rack for my NAIM gear.


For what it is worth my experiences with equipment supports can be summed up as house dependent.

My last house was a Victorian with carpeted suspended wooden floors, 15ft square (or so) living room, blah blah blah - I found equipment supports comprising a cheap and cheerful Target stand and latterly a Springdulum support for the LP12 made significant improvments for sound qulaity.

My current house, which is late sixties with carpeted concrete floor, 30ft by 20ft living room is less equipment support dependent. In fact the Springdulum which made a massive improvement in my old house made little difference in my current house.

Having said that there are other factors at work - the wiring in my current house is clearly to a far higher standard and spec being a dedicated ring to the living room and one other little used room - what makes the biggest difference to sound quality is closing the curtains!!!

Mind you I fancy a combination of Arca supports for the AV bits 'n' bobs and a Fraim for the Naim - why? Not just for quality but because they look good too. I am sure there are a number of us who could happily live with oil rigs in the living room but there is the wife acceptance factor too.

Enough of my ramblings.

Regards

Mike
Posted on: 23 September 2003 by undertone
quote:
Originally posted by AndrewThomas:

I'm just here to say "bullshit!"


Andrew, just because you don't believe in the performance improvements on offer with cables and racks doesn't make the whole issue "bullshit", it just means that you are incapable of either performing the mods or hearing the results. That is your problem, no ours.

I can come to your house (for a price, nothing is free regardles the attitude of many forum members) and improve your system using bits and pieces of the aformentioned hardware. So can Steve from Hi Fi Fo Fum and many other talented, experienced, knowledgeable dealers and users. They are not all "rip-off" artists and snake oil salesmen as you and others might imply. Just because Naim says it can't be done, doesn't make it official and forever. Their equipment can be improved, as can all other brands.

I think this kind of debate is bad for your blood pressure, probably better to stick to topics you are more willing to understand.
Posted on: 23 September 2003 by andy c
Everyboys entitled to their own opinion...ouch - there - said it!
Isn't it all down to what you enjoy doing?
I mean if you think that you could improve(change*) the sound by use of such equipment, and it has a perceved benefit to you, then why not? Isn't part of the fun for some experimenting by use of such add-ons?
If you cannot tell the differance then fair enough.
I could in my house with my system, and that's good enough for me regardless of what anyone else says. But i do like to read about others experiences with such items, especially if its a balanced (ouch) debate... Wink
Posted on: 23 September 2003 by matthewr
hi fi fo fum said "All this tells us is
1. all your stands are crap.
2. you are deaf.
which one is the right answer or maybe both are true"

Nothing like the friendly local dealer eh?

Matthew
Posted on: 23 September 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
hi fi fo fum said "All this tells us is
1. all your stands are crap.
2. you are deaf.
which one is the right answer or maybe both are true"

Nothing like the friendly local dealer eh?

Matthew


wooow heavy duty torpedeos.... (from U boats for sure hahahaha)
Posted on: 23 September 2003 by hi fi fo fum
quote:
Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
hi fi fo fum said "All this tells us is
1. all your stands are crap.
2. you are deaf.
which one is the right answer or maybe both are true"

Nothing like the friendly local dealer eh?

Matthew




who says I have to be friendly....my job is to make audio systems sound the best they can...and if someone wants to comment on something that they have not heard or tried that then becomes bad information ...and why Ikea sales are up on crappy little coffee tables.
Steve
Posted on: 23 September 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by hi fi fo fum:
quote:
Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
hi fi fo fum said "All this tells us is
1. all your stands are crap.
2. you are deaf.
which one is the right answer or maybe both are true"

Nothing like the friendly local dealer eh?

Matthew




who says I have to be friendly....my job is to make audio systems sound the best they can...and if someone wants to comment on something that they have not heard or tried that then becomes bad information ...and why Ikea sales are up on crappy little coffee tables.
Steve


Steve.. please you make me laugh... Ikea sales are up since all the Naim boys has a little coffee table. Some use for coffee machine and some use for their NAP250.... hahahah.