Fraim reset - about time...

Posted by: ken c on 18 September 2016

My hifi is below a wall book case. This evening while i needed to reach for a book on the very top shelf and i had to support my other hand on the top shelf of the Fraim stack containing snaxo242 and 500 amps and power supplies below that.

First thing i noticed is that this stack is not as rigid as the other 2 in the system -- there was a small but significant 'give' when i pushed it a little. Then i noticed that this little push must have 'corrected' some misalignment as i sensed the sound had improved as a result. Emotion in the music was now a little more apparent -- not the earth-shattering OMG-type change -- but quite noticeable nonetheless -- along the same lines as the sort of improvement from more carefully dressed cables.

This clearly points to that my amp Fraim stack needs serious attention -- but i am not going to do that in a hurry. I hope to be able to book my 500's for DR upgrade before the end of the year - this will give me an opportunity to sort this out while my amps are away. Not really looking fwd to all this messing about -- i am not a young man anymore! :-(

The little things that matter in this mad hobby of ours...

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 18 September 2016 by Simon-in-Suffolk

On my Fraim I usually need to ensure the metal support cones are centred in their cups for optimum performance. If the cone is pushed off centre in a cup it can detract overall, I wonder when you pushed your Fraim you re centred the cones in their cups?

Posted on: 18 September 2016 by tonym

It's really important to check the cones are done up tightly Ken. If you're cunning you can do this without dismantling the entire thing.

Posted on: 18 September 2016 by hungryhalibut

I found that Fraim loosens up quite quickly and needs to tightened up a few times in the first year or so, due to compression of the wood. After a few tightens, it then stays fixed. It's well worth the effort as when the Fraim is floppy the sound is floppy. If I recall correctly, the cones should be finger tight plus 1/8 of a turn with the tommy bar.

Posted on: 19 September 2016 by ken c

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:
On my Fraim I usually need to ensure the metal support cones are centred in their cups for optimum performance. If the cone is pushed off centre in a cup it can detract overall, I wonder when you pushed your Fraim you re centred the cones in their cups?

quite likely Simon -- one of these days i will get all three stacks reset.

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 19 September 2016 by ken c

tonym posted:
It's really important to check the cones are done up tightly Ken. If you're cunning you can do this without dismantling the entire thing.

"cunning"? hmmm... not me

i dont really trust myself to do this so i will probably plan to have all 3 stacks reset -- probably by a dealer - i am getting too old and frail to try this myself. i am waiting for my dealer to tell me when my 500's can be scheduled for DR upgrade. when i know that, then i will plan for total reset for peace of mind.

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 19 September 2016 by ken c

Hungryhalibut posted:
I found that Fraim loosens up quite quickly and needs to tightened up a few times in the first year or so, due to compression of the wood. After a few tightens, it then stays fixed. It's well worth the effort as when the Fraim is floppy the sound is floppy. If I recall correctly, the cones should be finger tight plus 1/8 of a turn with the tommy bar.

thanks HH --i don't think i paid too much attention to this -- this probably explains what's happening -- the whole thing probably needs tightening up. but as i say, i will probably get an expert to do it...

enjoy

ken