New Xps dr or Expensive Hi-fi Rack?

Hungryhalibut posted:

ChrisH posted:

wenger2015 posted:

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 ?

 

 

 

Well in my case it was none of the above!

I went with Hutter Racktime. I have no doubt that Fraim is the Rolls Royce of racks for Naim gear, but it is too big for my listening room (which is also the main living room). The Hutter ticked all the boxes for me in terms of aesthetics, size and system improvement. Other brands are also available 

 

The Hutter is lovely, and I had it before my SVT. It had to go because it didn't go well in the room when we redecorated. The SVT sounded better, which was a bonus, and also had space underneath for wires, which the Hutter doesn't. 

I would not want a Fraim unless I didn't need to look at it from the side, as it looks really weird, and it is very large. Sounds good though. 

Trust you to 'throw a spanner in the works' ..I had more or less decided on the fraim in black, and now you make a very good point.....I will be looking at it from the side !!!! Bah!!....humbug!! SWMBO would not be happy if the fraim looks somewhat ugly from a side view......???? 

Who but an "audiophile" could find any open rack full of hifi gear and wires anything but ugly from any angle?   At the very best it will look nerdy.  Some cabinets look more like furniture, but they will not allow the best sound from your expensive gear.

Best thing to do now is disconnect your internet and go visit your dealer to look and listen.

Cheers,

Charlie

Wenger. Maybe we should head up to Bath and see the Quadraspire factory? Then down to Salisbury for a tour of Naim? Sounds like a fun day out to me! 

CharlieP posted:

Who but an "audiophile" could find any open rack full of hifi gear and wires anything but ugly from any angle?   At the very best it will look nerdy.  Some cabinets look more like furniture, but they will not allow the best sound from your expensive gear.

Best thing to do now is disconnect your internet and go visit your dealer to look and listen.

Cheers,

Charlie

Charlie, I think that's what I'm going to have to do....book a demo and then say ' that sounds fantastic'.....I now need to see it from the side.....

I expect most racks don't look good from the side..

Finkfan posted:

Wenger. Maybe we should head up to Bath and see the Quadraspire factory? Then down to Salisbury for a tour of Naim? Sounds like a fun day out to me! 

Sounds good to me.....

CharlieP posted:

Who but an "audiophile" could find any open rack full of hifi gear and wires anything but ugly from any angle?   At the very best it will look nerdy.  Some cabinets look more like furniture, but they will not allow the best sound from your expensive gear.

Best thing to do now is disconnect your internet and go visit your dealer to look and listen.

Cheers,

Charlie

Not clear why a cabinet necessarily makes worse. Ome solution I had to domestic harmony a few years ago was a nice wooden cabinet. Holes in back for ventilation, spaced an inch or two from wall. Internal urfaces including doors of  lined with 'dedshete' backed acoustic foam., to minimise sound transmission through cupboard. Rack inside on spikes direct on floor.

This might be a bit awkward.......but enclosed hi fi cabinets are a little dated....

Guys - if you really want to see an ugly rack, have a look at my system pics - the one with the large centre speaker.

Compared to that monstrocity Fraim is decidedly beautiful

So Wenger - do not despair. You ARE choosing a good looking piece of furniture.

Adam Zielinski posted:

Guys - if you really want to see an ugly rack, have a look at my system pics - the one with the large centre speaker.

Compared to that monstrocity Fraim is decidedly beautiful

So Wenger - do not despair. You ARE choosing a good looking piece of furniture.

Thanks Adam......will have to go to system pics and investigate 

OK time to resort to subliminal messages.

Quite frankly you should be aiming for a simliar rack to mine. From an entirely modest support, a firm foundation might surprise you.

wenger2015 posted:

This might be a bit awkward.......but enclosed hi fi cabinets are a little dated....

Then of course, like many on this forum, I'm a bit dated...

but in reality, I challenge that in relation to my comment... Doors of any personal choice of finish beat industrial looking stacks of black - or any other colour - rectangular boxes with lights in many people's eyes, and how dated depends on the external style of the cabinet. The ideal for me would be all equipment invisible, and just the sound hanging in the air. Reality tends to be different for practical/space/cost reasons

But maybe in a cabinet is not beneficial if the idea is to stimulate resonance rather than minimise it...

I like that idea - everything hidden, especially now with the steeamers and amps being controlled remotely from an iPad. Sound hanging in the air!

Innocent B - you've got me thinking....

Get a bamboo SVT with bronze cones. You will get close to Fraim performance at a huge discount, which would pay for some Super Lumina cables!

Keith

Innocent Bystander posted:

wenger2015 posted:

This might be a bit awkward.......but enclosed hi fi cabinets are a little dated....

Then of course, like many on this forum, I'm a bit dated...

but in reality, I challenge that in relation to my comment... Doors of any personal choice of finish beat industrial looking stacks of black - or any other colour - rectangular boxes with lights in many people's eyes, and how dated depends on the external style of the cabinet. The ideal for me would be all equipment invisible, and just the sound hanging in the air. Reality tends to be different for practical/space/cost reasons

But maybe in a cabinet is not beneficial if the idea is to stimulate resonance rather than minimise it...

I don't disagree with you......it's my humour getting the better of me 

KRM posted:

Get a bamboo SVT with bronze cones. You will get close to Fraim performance at a huge discount, which would pay for some Super Lumina cables!

Keith

Still best advice is audition, and compare with existing rack, including existing rack fitted with spikes in place of castors.

interestingly, HiFi Sound rate the Atakarma Evoquue best, above QUadraspire (but they haven't compared Fraim)

KRM posted:

Get a bamboo SVT with bronze cones. You will get close to Fraim performance at a huge discount, which would pay for some Super Lumina cables!

Keith

I have been thinking about the SVT, it's been on the shortlist......regarding the SL cables, I'm using TQ Ultra blacks which are very very good....how they compare to the SL cables is probably another debate....

wenger2015 posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Guys - if you really want to see an ugly rack, have a look at my system pics - the one with the large centre speaker.

Compared to that monstrocity Fraim is decidedly beautiful

So Wenger - do not despair. You ARE choosing a good looking piece of furniture.

Thanks Adam......will have to go to system pics and investigate 

Adam, where are you in the system pics thread? Just noticed theirs over a thousand comments/ pictures? 

With all this Rack talk I've decided to listen to my Airbag album 

Finkfan posted:

With all this Rack talk I've decided to listen to my Airbag album 

Bear in mind it would sound even better if you had a top quality rack, I've got some suggestions................................................

wenger2015 posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Guys - if you really want to see an ugly rack, have a look at my system pics - the one with the large centre speaker.

Compared to that monstrocity Fraim is decidedly beautiful

So Wenger - do not despair. You ARE choosing a good looking piece of furniture.

Thanks Adam......will have to go to system pics and investigate 

Adam, where are you in the system pics thread? Just noticed theirs over a thousand comments/ pictures? 

Apolgies - I meant my profile pictures...

Hi Wenger,

I've had a rethink about XPS-DR versus a new rack.

It is taking so much time to keep this thread going, that you would probably need to invest in a new computer keyboard instead of either a rack or a power supply!  My son tells me that there are a plethora of expensive and excellent gaming keyboards to choose from, and he recommends that you should do this first.

There, words from a young sage for you! 

Best regards, FT

Adam Zielinski posted:

wenger2015 posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Guys - if you really want to see an ugly rack, have a look at my system pics - the one with the large centre speaker.

Compared to that monstrocity Fraim is decidedly beautiful

So Wenger - do not despair. You ARE choosing a good looking piece of furniture.

Thanks Adam......will have to go to system pics and investigate 

Adam, where are you in the system pics thread? Just noticed theirs over a thousand comments/ pictures? 

Apolgies - I meant my profile pictures...

I've seen worse....at least it's not got wheels ( like mine ) 

You could get one of these classy numbers

Looks the same as your old one in your pics.  But if you look closely you will spot one defining detail. 

Funny looking wheels on that TOBY. 

Foot tapper posted:

Hi Wenger,

I've had a rethink about XPS-DR versus a new rack.

It is taking so much time to keep this thread going, that you would probably need to invest in a new computer keyboard instead of either a rack or a power supply!  My son tells me that there are a plethora of expensive and excellent gaming keyboards to choose from, and he recommends that you should do this first.

There, words from a young sage for you! 

Best regards, FT

Maybe he's got a point