With NDS into a 552 / 300, I had the 552 on the top Fraim Lite shelf & NDS below it, then a CD, HDX and 300amp on the bottom shelf. Power supplies (555DR, 552PS, 300PS) were on a separate Fraim Lite rack (with a Nakamichi cassette deck on top).
I now want to make use of the NDS DAC and plug in a Chord Indigo Plus digital feed – a stiff cable ! The NDS digital in is right behind the Fraim rear leg and the Chord would need to bend more than it wants to.
So, do I move the NDS onto the top 'brawn' shelf, thereby allowing said Chord digital to come straight out with no bending AND giving my NDS 'room to breathe'… OR will its placement atop a trio of power supplies screw up its performance?
Add to this that I have one of those quietly humming 300PS's and I'm thinking humming = vibration… vibration through 4 Fraim shelves into the NDS on top… can that be good?? (surely not).
So, my question: "How important is the brain/brawn separation to SQ?"
"Is it nice-to-have or essential?"
Your thoughts or observations would be welcomed. For those who will say 'try it', I shall do so, but admit to having pink, not golden ears. But I'm still interested to hear your thoughts in addition to my own (aging) ears. Thanks.
Roger
Posted on: 07 May 2013 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Hi Roger assuming components are reasonably spaced in my expierience is best to position the components to allow for effective cable dressing.
I do like to keep my Ethernet connected components away from my preamp and FM tuner however.
I think your NDS will prefer a top level, my NDAC does, so moving the NDS a top the PSUs might have its advantages. (but this might be because the NDAC has less advanced mechanical isolation than the NDS )
Is there a chance of using a large Fraim level between the PSU and NDS?
Simon
Posted on: 07 May 2013 by rjstaines
Thanks Simon. I've put the Nakamichi cassette deck below the NDS and above the power supplies on the brawn rack , so that separates the NDS from the power. The Nack is not switched on very often, so for the most part there's a 'space' below the NDS.
I don't have any long Fraim spacers to try, I'm afraid. But the LP12 is above the NDS on an Audiotech wall shelf at about the height a tall Fraim spacer would be (not that it couldn't be moved).
Posted on: 07 May 2013 by AMA
Originally Posted by rjstaines:
So, my question: "How important is the brain/brawn separation to SQ?"
"Is it nice-to-have or essential?"
Essential.
Moving the boxes through the shelves is also important.
I keep 500 on a separate Fraim Base with nothing atop.
552 is sitting on the top of a 3-shelve Fraim with Linn KDS and Linn Radikal sitting on lower shelves.
Linn's PS are quiet and don't propagate any buzz through the rack and at the same time they add weight to the lower shelves.
The third Fraim is 4-shelves and has 500 PS on top and 552DR below.
The most massive effect comes from taking 500 and 552DR away on a separate Fraim.
It sounds like improved clarity and transient attack.
It also improves the pint-point imagining (but only for those speakers which can cast the stage in depth).
Posted on: 07 May 2013 by gav111n
Roger, I think some people run their fraim with the rear leg of a unit rotated through ninety degrees, to give better access to the rear connections. Maybe worth a thought?
Cheers, Gav
Posted on: 07 May 2013 by Manu
I have tested that a front post at the back sounds better than a rear one if turned 90 deg on a Fraim.
YMMV with a fraimlite...
I would use Faim for 552 and NDS. And 552 can be below the NDS. IMOE cable dressing can have more impact on SQ than order on the rack ( as long as basic rules are respected) .
As always, experiment.
