CDX , Fraim and chips

Posted by: Adolfo Aguiar on 24 March 2002

In the end of December, I made a trip to London and visited my dealer Grahams.
My system was LP12,Ittok LVII,Karma on Mana Ref, Rega Planet, 72, Hi, 250 on Sound Factory Tripods and Mission 753s.
I was looking for a more transparent and musical system. Bass is important for me. Main musical interests are prog rock, Radiohead, Mogwai, Ozric, etc.
I took home a CDX, Fraim (base and 3 levels) for the CDX and electronics and Naim chips for the wooden floor (under Fraim, Mana and Missions).
I installed each new item separately to evaluate its effect in the system.
Here are my impressions :

1. CDX
A huge upgrade from Planet, in all respects. Much closer to the feeling of musicians in the room.
I now enjoy both LPs (900) and CDs (600).

2. FRAIM
Expensive though worth every penny.
Awsome PRaT increase. The level of detail now available made me rediscover my well known favorite LPs and CDs.

3. Chips
A revelation.
My interest in the chips was just to improve the sound and not for wooden floor protection.
My expectations were fully met, with a noticeable bass tightening and more musical nuances available.

My system is now so good and musically involving that I decided to retire the REL Stentor subwoofer, which actually improves the bass end but subtracts musical nuances.

Thanks to Grahams (Connor) for the demonstrations and the forum for early guidance.

Adolfo

Posted on: 08 October 2002 by Manu
As you are watching, Paul S:
Is it safe to try the Chips under NBL?
What kind of pressure can they handle?

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
Posted on: 08 October 2002 by Paul Stephenson
Chips, not sure about the tonnage, but nbl no problem, I tried them under dbl.

Better than a coin,they are far more substantial and have been designed so that the spike can be centered and not slip off/out, the chip itself is machined so that the lower surface has as minimal contact as possible to the ground but provides support and stops the spike digging in to wood or less than stable concrete surface.
Posted on: 08 October 2002 by Manu
Thanks Paul,
Will try them tomorow.

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
Posted on: 08 October 2002 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by Phil Mlsna:
I've put coins between the speaker cabinets and the upper spikes. That has helped boost resolution and musicality by a respectable amount.



Phil,

I championed this tweak for a while, but have now repented.

My speakers were badly pitted where the spikes rested into the wood. By filling this with something suitably hard the sound was greatly improved over either bare spikes or coins.

cheers, Martin
Posted on: 08 October 2002 by Nigel Cavendish
If you can afford Fraim then this talk of pennies and cents is inappropriate - gold sovereigns must be de-rigeur.

cheers

Nigel

Posted on: 09 October 2002 by John Sheridan
quote:
My speakers were badly pitted where the spikes rested into the wood. By filling this with something suitably hard the sound was greatly improved over either bare spikes or coins.


Martin,
what did you use on your DBLs? The spikes drove straight into the wood filler that I used.
Posted on: 09 October 2002 by Rockingdoc
I always grind a small depression in the centre of the top face of the coin to prevent slippage. Right in the Queen's eye is the best spot.
Recently, I have been putting layers under the coins to experiment, such as Blu-tak, thin sorbothane sheet, wood. It makes no sense, but the high-density felt disc furniture pads from B&Q sound o.k. under coins onto a solid wood floor laid on concrete.
Posted on: 09 October 2002 by Dev B
quote:
Anyone compared Linn's Skeet floor protectors for spiked feet to these Naim Chips?


It is exactly this sort of question that gives this hobby such a bad name frown
Posted on: 09 October 2002 by pac
The same could be said for this entire thread. But no, this was a genuine question. Anyone?

-thanks
Posted on: 09 October 2002 by Rockingdoc
the same could be said for this entire forum wink
Posted on: 13 October 2002 by Paul B
Naim Chips are aluminium ??? and cost 15 UKP approx each.

Linn Skeets are made of aluminium ??? and cost 40UKP for 8. Can these be any good if made by Linn since they stopped making Isobariks? wink

Lovan footers are made of steel ??? and cost approx 2 UKP each. Lovan has not been kindly regarded by this forum. Are the footers horrible? eek

Why are Naim Fraim Chips so much better and so much more expensive?

Paul
Posted on: 14 October 2002 by Simon Matthews
They are stainless steel for a start.
Posted on: 14 October 2002 by Paul Stephenson
"this in a matter of hours"
" Paracetmol would cost 50 UKP?"
Maybe more if the numbers are the same.
This could be part of the problem Richard, turned from solid, high grade material and several detailed features. The dealer margin,our huge margin of course, the tax man and yes they have to be shipped. The quantity also makes a difference more than all of the above.
They do work very well. Interesting many here accept cable prices but question these prices.

[This message was edited by Paul Stephenson on MONDAY 14 October 2002 at 12:04.]
Posted on: 14 October 2002 by johno
quote:
Originally posted by Richard van Laar:
They are made in VERY small quantities and go to a similar distribution channel (manu, distributor/importer, dealer, customer). Price? About 10 UKP each.

Richard.

Richard,
Don't they have a hole in the middle?
They are therefore clearly no good for putting spikes on! The Chips are better...

John
Shore