New Xps dr or Expensive Hi-fi Rack?

joerand posted:

Frankly, I enjoy the pot stirrers here. Many lessons in life to be leaned along the way and conformity is so mundane.

Brilliant 

TOBYJUG posted:

Seriously, I really know my onions. Use 3 per box, one under and near the transformer, another under and near any output stage and another to balance or near any input stage. Try Googling the said box for any images on the web without the sleeve.

Can this be done without tears? 

I chipped in early on in this thread advocating the importance of a quality rack. But funny how the content of the thread is basically Fraim or nothing. I have no doubt that Fraim is the gold standard. But it isn't the only game in town.

For starters some (myself included) find that glass shelves can sound splashy and prefer the sound of Fraim Lite. Then there are perfectly respectable non Naim racks that cost less and still make a huge improvement to the sound (Quadraspire), and get coupled with the 500 series fairly often. Plus, Fraim is just nonsense if you live in an earthquake prone country. All those decoupled layers is death or injury waiting to happen.

If your thinking on a decent rack is, as most contributors have positioned the  argument, Fraim or nothing, then you need to pick. I would still argue a rack can have more impact on your level of gear. But if you really wanted both, you could do much worse than to get an XPSDr and a Quadraspire Evo (for example).

feeling_zen posted:

I chipped in early on in this thread ...........

Chipped in and now getting chippy with other's responses?

feeling_zen posted:

I chipped in early on in this thread advocating the importance of a quality rack. But funny how the content of the thread is basically Fraim or nothing. I have no doubt that Fraim is the gold standard. But it isn't the only game in town.

For starters some (myself included) find that glass shelves can sound splashy and prefer the sound of Fraim Lite. Then there are perfectly respectable non Naim racks that cost less and still make a huge improvement to the sound (Quadraspire), and get coupled with the 500 series fairly often. Plus, Fraim is just nonsense if you live in an earthquake prone country. All those decoupled layers is death or injury waiting to happen.

If your thinking on a decent rack is, as most contributors have positioned the  argument, Fraim or nothing, then you need to pick. I would still argue a rack can have more impact on your level of gear. But if you really wanted both, you could do much worse than to get an XPSDr and a Quadraspire Evo (for example).

Interesting your comments regarding the glass effect, it can make things sound abit bright, but may well depend on how good the rack is.

I'm not overly keen on the look of the quadraspire range but obviously more cost effective then the naim fraim.

The basic Q4 ref looks a bit spindly, like a 70s tea trolley. The SVT, which is what I use, is a lot more substantial, with thicker columns and bigger, thicker shelves. For a high performance system the bamboo is the one to go for, and it comes in natural or black, and is beautifully made. You can add bronze spikes to isolate the top shelf and give a jump in performance. I won't say it's as good as Fraim, but it's certainly not far off. They do look far nicer in the flesh, so to speak, than in pictures.

Unlike Fraim, it's not at all tweaky, and is far easier to clean. It's certainly an option to consider.  There are a few pictures of mine in the System Pics thread, and both KRM and MDS use them: I believe we all have the bronze spikes as well. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

The basic Q4 ref looks a bit spindly, like a 70s tea trolley. The SVT, which is what I use, is a lot more substantial, with thicker columns and bigger, thicker shelves. For a high performance system the bamboo is the one to go for, and it comes in natural or black, and is beautifully made. You can add bronze spikes to isolate the top shelf and give a jump in performance. I won't say it's as good as Fraim, but it's certainly not far off. They do look far nicer in the flesh, so to speak, than in pictures.

Unlike Fraim, it's not at all tweaky, and is far easier to clean. It's certainly an option to consider.  There are a few pictures of mine in the System Pics thread, and both KRM and MDS use them: I believe we all have the bronze spikes as well. 

Will have to check it out , maybe the pictures don't do it justice.

Hungryhalibut posted:

The basic Q4 ref looks a bit spindly, like a 70s tea trolley. The SVT, which is what I use, is a lot more substantial, with thicker columns and bigger, thicker shelves. For a high performance system the bamboo is the one to go for, and it comes in natural or black, and is beautifully made. You can add bronze spikes to isolate the top shelf and give a jump in performance. I won't say it's as good as Fraim, but it's certainly not far off. They do look far nicer in the flesh, so to speak, than in pictures.

Unlike Fraim, it's not at all tweaky, and is far easier to clean. It's certainly an option to consider.  There are a few pictures of mine in the System Pics thread, and both KRM and MDS use them: I believe we all have the bronze spikes as well. 

I you might expect, I agree with HH here.  SVT is also very low maintenance.  If properly set up nothing comes loose.    Mine has only needed levelling once and that was due to the brawn rack (with those heavy transformers) settling a bit in the carpet/underlay and floor-boards beneath.  

MDS posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

The basic Q4 ref looks a bit spindly, like a 70s tea trolley. The SVT, which is what I use, is a lot more substantial, with thicker columns and bigger, thicker shelves. For a high performance system the bamboo is the one to go for, and it comes in natural or black, and is beautifully made. You can add bronze spikes to isolate the top shelf and give a jump in performance. I won't say it's as good as Fraim, but it's certainly not far off. They do look far nicer in the flesh, so to speak, than in pictures.

Unlike Fraim, it's not at all tweaky, and is far easier to clean. It's certainly an option to consider.  There are a few pictures of mine in the System Pics thread, and both KRM and MDS use them: I believe we all have the bronze spikes as well. 

I you might expect, I agree with HH here.  SVT is also very low maintenance.  If properly set up nothing comes loose.    Mine has only needed levelling once and that was due to the brawn rack (with those heavy transformers) settling a bit in the carpet/underlay and floor-boards beneath.  

Have you ever had the naim fraim and compared the two?

My colleagues and I are all in agreement here - Naim Fraim all the way. The TQ Black will have tamed things a bit but the rack would still be holding back the whole system substantially.

Frank. 

Frank Abela posted:

My colleagues and I are all in agreement here - Naim Fraim all the way. The TQ Black will have tamed things a bit but the rack would still be holding back the whole system substantially.

Frank. 

As opposed to the quadrasphire SVT ?

Yes.

wenger2015 posted:

MDS posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

The basic Q4 ref looks a bit spindly, like a 70s tea trolley. The SVT, which is what I use, is a lot more substantial, with thicker columns and bigger, thicker shelves. For a high performance system the bamboo is the one to go for, and it comes in natural or black, and is beautifully made. You can add bronze spikes to isolate the top shelf and give a jump in performance. I won't say it's as good as Fraim, but it's certainly not far off. They do look far nicer in the flesh, so to speak, than in pictures.

Unlike Fraim, it's not at all tweaky, and is far easier to clean. It's certainly an option to consider.  There are a few pictures of mine in the System Pics thread, and both KRM and MDS use them: I believe we all have the bronze spikes as well. 

I you might expect, I agree with HH here.  SVT is also very low maintenance.  If properly set up nothing comes loose.    Mine has only needed levelling once and that was due to the brawn rack (with those heavy transformers) settling a bit in the carpet/underlay and floor-boards beneath.  

Have you ever had the naim fraim and compared the two?

I haven't tried full-fat Fraim at home. Indeed two racks of it would be too wide to accommodate in the space where my system sits.  However I've heard it at my dealer's several times.  I also have great trust in my dealer's advice and he says my SVT racks with bronze spikes, close-coupled bamboo at the top is pretty close to the Fraim. 

After much consideration , I have decided to order the xpsdr and also upgrade the rack at the same time. (Large intake of breath and large dollop of anusol)

As for the rack it's either the naim fraim, naim lite  or quadrasphire SVT......

and if by any chance the more experienced members of the forum are wrong in telling me what a huge difference the rack will make, you may well hear the sound of someone crying ....coming from the county of Somerset, the person in question will be me 

I'm concerned with the seemingly innapropriate use of Anusol  you didn't swallow it by any chance, whilst inhaling deeply, did you?

However... Well done - XPSDR will be transformational. As to Fraim - please let us know. I will be most interested in your findings.

Adam

Good for you, wenger.  If I might make a further suggestion - since you are going to get the new rack and XPSDR at the same time, why not install your current system on the new rack and get used to it for a few days before plugging in the XPSDR. That way you'll know for sure what benefits a new rack brings.  You can always have the XPSDR warming up while doing so.

Mike 

Adam,

Nothing has been swallowed as yet....  may well happen at some future point if rack does not come up to the high expectations that have been suggested.

Will be happy to report back, when I will either be laughing or crying....

MDS posted:

Good for you, wenger.  If I might make a further suggestion - since you are going to get the new rack and XPSDR at the same time, why not install your current system on the new rack and get used to it for a few days before plugging in the XPSDR. That way you'll know for sure what benefits a new rack brings.  You can always have the XPSDR warming up while doing so.

Mike 

Mike, sounds like a good plan...

Wenger,  laughing or crying will depend on where the Anusol ends up?

Look forward to hearing your findings Wenger.

Pcd posted:

Wenger,  laughing or crying will depend on where the Anusol ends up?

If it doesn't go well ....may need an extra tube......

Having added both to my NDX/SN2 over the last year or so I'm sure you won't be disappointed with either purchase Wenger, congrats on your purchase.

And Im sure the aforementioned cream won't be required......

ChrisH posted:

Having added both to my NDX/SN2 over the last year or so I'm sure you won't be disappointed with either purchase Wenger, congrats on your purchase.

And Im sure the aforementioned cream won't be required......

Order will be placed shortly, just need to decide on which rack.....naim fraim, naim lite, or quadrasphire SVT ?

Wenger,  I'm sure you have (finally) made the right decision to get the xps dr. As most on this forum seem to agree it will make a very significant improvement to your cdx2.  While I think a better rack will also be very worthwhile, then no doubt the Fraim is among the best. BUT given your prolonged deliberations and uncertainty on which to go for and how much to spend perhaps you should consider some of the cheaper options. I note Fraimlite and Quadraspire are on your list, but what about Isoblue? I had the same dilemma a few years ago and bought the Isoblue in black. To me this looks good with Naim's black boxes, sounds fine, easy to assemble, much cheaper than Fraim, which in my view is most unattractive. I have also seen and heard Isoblue at various dealers over the years. There are no doubt various reasons for this but I don't think dealers would use them if they did not perform well.

Good luck with your deliberations!

Andrew

Finkfan posted:

Look forward to hearing your findings Wenger.

I know the xpsdr will be good.....as for the rack ?