Quadraspire and Naim

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Originally posted by woodlowkev:
It is a wooden 4 shelf modular with 10cm columns.

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That sounds about right.

I've got one, its ok, not in the Fraim class, obviously, but it keeps the Naim kit off the floor and Mrs Seagull likes it. If the price is good, then take it. You could probably sell it on later if you ever upgrade.

By the way, what Naim sistem have you got?

Thanks for the info, it is £150 in maple.
It is to house my CD5, flat cap 2, nac112 and nap150.
All I need now is another snaic to split the flat cap.

Try looking at it at www.quadraspire.com

They have a nice virtual product builder page.

ps. I use Q4 Reference racks with Naim and other equipment and am happy with them.

DS

HI-FI+ Jan/Feb 2003 pages 96 - 98 has a feature about the Quadrasphere system. May be worth a read if you have never encountered the product.

Just to let you know I did buy it and it has the 150mm spacers which i'm quite pleased about.
Havn't had a chance to listen yet but the wifes very happy because it matches the birds-eye maple on the Proac's.
I will let you know how I get on,

thanks for all the info

I think you got a bargain there woodlowkev.

Ignore the Horse bloke,he's currently the worst example of the Mana evangelist.

I happen to agree with Alex's finding re the Mana vs Fraim.

I'm happy with my QS stand, I'm sure you will be too.



Seagull

aren't Marco's posts amazing pre and post medication?

Bob

Why not say something constructive instead of trying to rattle Marco.

This Thread has the basis of a good discussion, so lets keep personalities out of it.

Personally I am not into Quadraspire but thats a different issue.

Regards

Mick

I agree with Seagulls findings re Mana and Naim.....now what I have to do is:

(a) establish when the neighbours are away
(b) encourage Mrs M and First Born to go out
(c) Convince Seagull to bring his QS round and we can continue our experiments.............

Marco

You get rattled, they win........so count to one hundred and think beautiful thoughts before hitting the keyboard.

I find it works, but I sometimes have to count to five hundred.

Regards

Mick

I have the Q4 rack and changed from a nasty metal Partington effort with glass shelves. The difference is crazy. I lost that 'metallic' ring in the music and it sounded more natural and less harsh.

I changed from Kimber mains cable to a Hydra and experienced only good things. Can't explain your findings unless the hydra is revealing a problem with the supply.

malcolm

Alex

I added a dedicated spur and found it to be a significant upgrade. Everything was clearer and better etc.

I then bought a Musicworks 6 way Blockand found it made a very small improvement.

I then replaced it with a Grahams Hydra and found it much better.

The Musicworks Block is now on the secondary system, again, it only made a small improvement.

Regards

Mick

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Don't forget that the most serious devotees of QS Ref (I mean guys like Dave Cattlin, Steve Toy, Tony L etc) all use a MW block and leads; and there's a good reason for that.

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I can't speak for the other two, but for me the emphasis on the tune is fundamental to the reproduction of music. Any improvement to my sistem must give me more of what I have already. If in order to improve detail and dynamics I lose some of the "tune" then I'll happily settle for what I have.

Naim, Quadraspire Reference, and Music Works leads and block make a fantastically musical combination, imho.

If you can't hear the BIG difference the Music Works ensemble makes in conjunction with QS Ref, then you don't listen to music in its truest sense of PR&T and tune (imho).



Regards,

Steve.

The MusicWorks block needs to be used in a particular way to get the most benefit. If possible, try and plug the block into a mains socket as far away from the rack as possible and, in turn, the block as far away from the rack as possible. There are some folks that even dedicate a small (single shelf) QS rack just for sitting the block on. I can't say I've gone quite that far, but mine does rest on a small sheet of bubble wrap folded over a few times (oh dear).

I don't think the QS block and leads particularly suit the bigger Naim systems (52, 135s, 500 etc), in these cases a hydra works better but on my CDS2/82/180/Kans system (on QS Ref) it works really well.

Allan

Alex said "The Hydra I got was from Grahams (widely regarded as a good one), and the sound is better using stock Naim leads plugged into a 4 way extension lead"

It used to be the case that Grahams made their Hydras with non-Magic Naim mains leads and you had to specifically ask for Naim versions or else provide your own Naim leads. Credible people I know claim the non-Naim versions are not as good as Naim leads and mains block.

Matthew

Personally, I found that the MusicWorks block works very well in any situation. I am not so keen on the MusicWorks leads however. They don't let the system gel as well in my opinion. I found the standard Naim leads to work best. That said, I have it on reasonably good authority that a Hydra should outperform the MusicWorks block generally speaking.

I also think that the MW block works equally well with Hutter, Fraim and Quadraspire - no idea about Mana as a combination.

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.

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I am not so keen on the MusicWorks leads however. They don't let the system gel as well in my opinion. I found the standard Naim leads to work best.

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The leads open up individual notes, and the midrange in general. They can add a little bass bloom in certain situations though. I just love the way they play the tune.



Regards,

Steve.

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I would also love to bring some QS/MW stuff down there and see which of us has got it wrong.

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Horses for courses

You're both wrong.

Marco's system lacked focus with QS Ref/MW - he had the lot at one time. It sounds better now chez lui since the Mana arrived. It's not to my tastes but it's still an improvement to a fellow QS Ref/MW proponent's ears.

I shall continue using QS Ref/MW in my own system for a long time yet...



Regards,

Steve.