Choices and Rack Height

Posted by: Mort2k on 06 April 2016

Dear Forum.... its been a while , hope you are all good

Two quick questions.

Current Space only allows for 1 stack, current rack holds 5 boxes (base+5 shelves), top shelf not free for equipment in compromise with the boss .

So is Base + 6 shelves to high ? Anyone got pictures of Fraim at this height ?

If 6 is good then next move is easy - add PSU to streamer !

Current systems - ND5/52/SC/135/SBL

If 6 is pushing it we get to the second question, would you go to:

ND5/XPS/52/SC/250-2 - same box count swaps 250-2 for 135's (dont know how the older 135's compare to new 250-2)
NDX/52/SC/135 - same box count - is the NDX worth the upgrade from the ND5 ? (NDS is an option but down the line a god few years)
Or go upgrade to cables, currently Highline and NACA5
Current rack is not FRAIM so could make this investment in FRAIM and keep equipment the same.

Thoughts as always appreciated. Other options considered as well

Thanks

Rob

Posted on: 06 April 2016 by ChrisSU

I would go for NDX rather than adding PS to ND5. What is your current rack? Depending on what you have, upgrade to Fraim could well be a good move.

If you have a good, serviced pair of 135s, you may regret changing to 250.2, although 250DR is a different story.

Posted on: 06 April 2016 by Innocent Bystander

I had an ND5XS.

Added XP5XS: very marginal improvement, not worth the money IMO.

Sold XP5XS and bought Hugo: significant improvement.

Changed noisy NAS for Mac Mini (+Serviio uPnP player)| no SQ change, but noise floor in listening room dramatically reduced.

Added Audirvana to MM, tried in place of ND5XS: poor SQ.

Added Gustard U12 USB/SPDIF isolator convertor between mm/Audirvana and Hugo: dramatic improvement, now better than ND5XS/Hugo.

Sold ND5XS: net profit compared to ND5XS+XP5XS, now with significantly better SQ and inaudible equipment.

MM + Gustard + Hugo has similar overall footprint as ND5XS + NAS, probably less if it had to.

I don't know if that helps...