Piling Naim units - does it degrade audio even more?

Naim boxes should not be stacked on top of each other as it will degrade the performance also the power amp could overheat.

They really need to be on separate shelves to get them to perform as intended.

currently I only have my CD5 ontop of the pre-amp NAC112.

pre-amp never gets hot, cd gets hotter when playing discs

Try it and see for yourself. It does make a difference. 

Naim CD players seem most sensitive to support. Compare between your stack a shelf of full fat Fraim if you can and see what you think?

it's the space issue in my room with my electronics, 

stacking units this way seen in the ebay link is no good then

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Naim-C...a:g:yt4AAOSwcLxYIvPX

I suspect they were stacked for sale display purposes, not for replay.

do Naim inform anywhere on their website to avoid piling units?

kowalski posted:

do Naim inform anywhere on their website to avoid piling units?

Don't think so, but why would they sell the fraim if it wasn't necessary.

Stacking also marks the boxes.

Fraim doesn't come cheap, not everyone can afford this rack!

On ebay I see many times auctions with naim units having round circles ontop cover on each 4 corners.

seems like people do pile units ontop of each other

Kowalski,

You are faced with a compromise in audio replay vs space consumed (and possibly cost of more shelves?).  To make an informed decision you need to hear the difference in sound.  Set the video players aside temporarily and put each Naim box on a shelf, as you know must be optimum.  Play a variety of you favorite music.  Then you can make an informed decision, and put the issue to bed in your mind.  Please report here what you hear.  

Charlie

kowalski posted:

Fraim doesn't come cheap, not everyone can afford this rack!

On ebay I see many times auctions with naim units having round circles ontop cover on each 4 corners.

seems like people do pile units ontop of each other

Doesn't necessarily have to be a Fraim rack. People may "pile" their boxes, but probably won't be getting the best performance out of them. But hey if your happy to do so go ahead.

i have to come up with the best solution placing my units the best way for best audio performance

kowalski posted:

i have to come up with the best solution placing my units the best way for best audio performance

So have I. On a fraim

Excerpt From Naim preamplifier Manual:

"The preamplifier and power supply should be installed on a dedicated equipment stand intended for the purpose. Do not stand either directly on top of another item of equipment."

so the official answer is no, you shouldn't stack them. the manual doesn't explain precisely why they give this advice and it doesn't warn of any dangerous consequences, but any other solution would seem advisable if possible. Aside from vibration/sound quality and the casework marking mentioned above, I'd worry about cooling and ventilation with such a stack?

As Sheffieldgraham has said, there is no harm in stacking the boxes. You just won't get the best performance out of the system although the music may sound good. With good support especially the Fraim, all Naim components are optimised. 

I have my Naim gear supported on a Finite Elemente rack. Likely not as good as the Fraim but it is much cheaper. Most importantly it works better than a normal piece of furniture. I have not tried stacking the Naim gear though. 

I think I have seen few systems with Naim components stacked on top of one another. On this forum, I have seen at least one system with this arrangement. 

kowalski posted:

do Naim inform anywhere on their website to avoid piling units?

In their manual - read the manual.

kevin J Carden posted:

Excerpt From Naim preamplifier Manual:

"The preamplifier and power supply should be installed on a dedicated equipment stand intended for the purpose. Do not stand either directly on top of another item of equipment."

so the official answer is no, you shouldn't stack them. the manual doesn't explain precisely why they give this advice and it doesn't warn of any dangerous consequences, but any other solution would seem advisable if possible. Aside from vibration/sound quality and the casework marking mentioned above, I'd worry about cooling and ventilation with such a stack?

 

where are the cooling vents on Naim chassie, there are no vents ontop?

do heat disipate from magnesium chassie or does it go out from the rear??

placing units individually is the best way to go, would it be the same degrading audio if i put any of my 3 vcr's ontop of each naim units

kowalski posted:

Fraim doesn't come cheap, not everyone can afford this rack!

On ebay I see many times auctions with naim units having round circles ontop cover on each 4 corners.

seems like people do pile units ontop of each other

I used to stack power supplies on top of each other (2x 555Ps's and 2x Flatcaps).  I could not hear a difference when I eventually gave them their own Fraimlite shelf, but that was power supplies, I've never tried stacked amplification.

To avoid the dreaded rubber circles on the lower item I used to place a thin circular piece of cork on the rubber feet of the upper item... works fine.  Search that well known jungle web site (Amazon) for Assorted Cork Pads and you'll find a page where, for £2.10 + delivery, you will find a solution (not sure if a link to an Amazon page is allowed, Richard?) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASSOR...p;keywords=cork+feet

Roger

When I got my first Naim system back in 1983, my Hifi rack was breeze blocks liberated from the local building site. The snaps sat on top of the 250 with little circles of loo roll under its feet to avoid the marks. And if it did get grubby, a quick rub with black shoe polish sorted it out. 

How one stacks one's system depends on how bothered one is about getting the best out of it. 

rjstaines posted:

kowalski posted:

Fraim doesn't come cheap, not everyone can afford this rack!

On ebay I see many times auctions with naim units having round circles ontop cover on each 4 corners.

seems like people do pile units ontop of each other

I used to stack power supplies on top of each other (2x 555Ps's and 2x Flatcaps).  I could not hear a difference when I eventually gave them their own Fraimlite shelf, but that was power supplies, I've never tried stacked amplification.

To avoid the dreaded rubber circles on the lower item I used to place a thin circular piece of cork on the rubber feet of the upper item... works fine.  Search that well known jungle web site (Amazon) for Assorted Cork Pads and you'll find a page where, for £2.10 + delivery, you will find a solution (not sure if a link to an Amazon page is allowed, Richard?) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASSOR...p;keywords=cork+feet

Roger

 

 

I put round adhesive rubber foams on each foot of my CD5 avoiding scratches on my NAC112.

Well it looks like i have to re-work each placing of my units placing them to an individual shelf in my rack.

Placing a flatcap2 ontop the Naim power amp is also a no no? In that case I can't improve audio buying a Flatcap as I have no more space in my rack

Kowalski - even at the entry level Naim represents a considerable investment.   Some appropriate racking is the least it deserves.   Quadraspire is your best friend 

I wouldn't worry too much about putting a flatcap on top of a power amp, unless you play music really loudly and the amp gets hot. It's not ideal though. 

Just experiment to see how it sounds to your ears.  Then you will know how important it is to you in your situation.  If you don't hear a difference, or if the difference does not matter to you, then no worries.  Just watch that amp does not get too hot.