Fraim and cd555 dual 555ps, 552, 500 - how best to stack

Stack 1 and 2 are spot on, exactly like mine. With stack 3 you can do with a standard one at the bottom + extendend level.

Regards

Roberto

Thanks Roberto. Your second stack has the lower empty shelf or with the 500ps on the bottom..

David

Ahh the 500ps on the bottom... I see. Your pic. Thx 

Hi David,

My middle stack has no empty space, stack 3 with 500 head, has an empty one at the bottom, this helps a bit with cable dressing

According to our Fraim guru Mr. DB, more space between 500ps and the rest would be even better

Regards

Roberto

...I thought with one medium third stack, it would raise the Burndy up a bit more(and shorten) with the 500ps on the second stack base. At least that’s what I was thinking. The 500 atop the third stack medium. Of course, no upper shelf either that way as you have 

Maybe last stack could be standard space, 500ps, standard space, 500 head unit(bottom to top). Hmmm...

Though I like what you have done as well 

That last suggestion by me, not so good for the Burndy length 

Perhaps you have it. Maybe a standard space only is best at the bottom. And it certainly works looks wise. How is the performance. Are you pleased with your set up 

I guess more space for the 500ps would mean a fourth stack. With ikeeping spaces at the bottom only 

If you have a spare empty shelf, try placing it above the 500ps to put more space between it and the other PS boxes. Have a listen and you may be surprised, as every system where we did this got a 'wow' from the owner.

So 500ps on bottom - empty - other supplies on up on brain stack.

DB.

I am thinking I am going to be limited space wise, and will need to keep tp two stacks. Considering three was important however..  Maybe less than ideal, but I am sure I can get great performance all the same. So DB, thank you, would you still feel the second stack, a space above the 500ps then 252ps, 555ps(Analogue), 555ps(digital) - bottom up. That would make for 4 shelves on the second stack of course(thought you felt spaces best on the bottom, though I know, with adaptations depending). I guess the first shelf on the second stack might also be a Med as opposed to spacing with a standard after that for more space for the 500ps - as a possibility.   The first stack remaining, Med shelving, 500, 552, cd555 bottom up.

ALBA 1320, thanks, that would seem logical to me - the idea of putting the 552ps on the bottom, rest being above. Though I guess with two stacks the 500ps then is less far from other boxes too then. In a way. I wonder. Hmmm. Someone will come and help to install this. Especially weight wise. So be nice to narrow down a sense of what may be ideal, the first go. But hey, experimentation over time is good 

I would have CD555 and 552 on top and try to have the shelf underneath the 552 empty. 

Chag -

Chag. That is interesting. You mean like 

Cd555    552

space      space

500          555ps(digital)

                 555ps(analogue)

                 552ps

                 500ps

That would be 5 shelves second stack.  First stack Med, second Standard. Hmmm

Cd 555    555ps(digital)

552          555ps(analogue)

500          552ps

                 Space

                 500ps

is also interesting 

Stacks would both be lower without the space - compact, and centre of gravity as Richard had said. Or I guess both could have one space as well. The first stack perhaps above the 500. But that would go against DB’s empty base shelves only thought 

Don't take my suggestions as the only thing that works for you.

For me the Source stack always sounds best with an empty shelf in it and I did run, top to bottom 555-552-empty base level to good effect and I liked what it did in terms of an open sound, but I used Medium levels and they do make a difference in giving needed space around the boxes.

The 500 Head Unit can be over-full or heavy sounding on the lowest base level I've found and likes to be a level or more up. But the 500PS does work well on the lowest level; the 500PS also benefits from being away from the other transformer boxes by at least an empty space or it having a medium level above it to give space. It is the box handling most dynamic current and seems to want to interact most, in a bad way, with the other supplies and space always gives it a better performance.

One Forum member who did this when we did a Fraim rebuild was amazed at the increase in quality and quantity of the bass presentation - his wife came in and said 'where has all that bass come from' - and it was good tight rhythmic bass too.

But I very much like it when people try the experiment and decide themselves - you may prefer otherwise...but probably not!

DB.

That’s cool, DB thanks..  So sounds kind of in favour of an empty base shelf(Std) below the 500 then Med shelves - 552, cd555 for first stack. Second stack 500ps on bottom, then empty space(or med shelf over 500ps) then 552ps, 555ps(A), 555ps(D) - Standard shelving 

So

cd555    cd555ps(D)

552        cd555ps(A)

500        552ps

space     space

                500ps

Med shelving first stack save for Std empty base shelf.  Standard shelving second stack

Could be better for cable dressing, with space for 500ps, and empty base shelf effect in “brain” stack. Seemingly. That lay out. Though a little higher 

Mine has been like this.. Six high on the right.   Three double high on the left.   The Verdier should be on its separate Vibraplane shelf but I am not there yet.   Its external motor is on a second shelf on top of the left Fraim adjacent to the Superline on the same shelf.  I had had the Superline where the Airport is but it sounds better where it is.

My best advice for you is to get a full-fat Fraim.  It costs roughly $1000 per level, but it is worth the investment to get the audio return you should demand out of a 500 system.  

TTmotor,  Superline      Verdier

---------------------------      -----------------------

space                             Airport Express

                                       -----------------------

552                                 Supercap

-----------------------------    ----------------------

space                              PS552

                                        -----------------------

CD555                             PS555

-------------------------------  -----------------------

space                              PS555

                                         -----------------------

NAP500                          PS500

=================  ==============

I am advised that the Airport is problematic so close to the Superline and so close to the CD555.  I intend to try the CD555 above the 552.   The Airport will be on the floor below the PS500.

The CD555 has been in the shop but that is another thread.

If you have any recommendations, I am all ears.

I guess you could follow advice offered by others, and if moving the airport express, putting that space above the 500ps ? I haven’t received the new(to me) gear yet, nor ordered the Fraim - end of the week - so I would have to be careful there as well. How is that set up performing for you

555w posted:

Hello. I recently purchased a 500 series system from my current cdx2/xps2 252 SuoercapDR 250 DR on Quadrapsire. I have been and am stil, enjoyably, going through posts and system pics trying to determine prior to ordering the Fraim, what the ideal layout may be. It seems possibly, with two stacks I could go 

 cd555    555ps (digital)

 552         555ps(analogue)

 500         552ps

                 500ps

The first stack medium, second standard shelving. If two stacks was chosen, would this seem an appropriate configuration ?

Of course a third stack could be a better choice(?) 

cd555      555ps     500

552          555ps      

empty      552ps

                  500ps

with the first being Med, second standard, the third perhaps one medium, with the 500 on top(base empty)

or perhaps

cd555       555ps     500

552           555ps      500ps

emoty       552ps      empty

                   empty

 Med, standard, the last stack also Med   (Or maybe the last stack one medium with the 500 atop, 500ps onthe base - adjacent to the lower empty spot on the second rack)  

Whether two stacks or three I was hoping to be able to keep all cabling off of the floor. I know there has been much informative discussion on this. Even with some recent movement in my current system all on one stack, after freeing up the lower shelf by swapping out some of the boxes for some older Naim equipment I had, the empty lower shelf created in the process made(and I have read here) a considerable improvement. 

So I am clearly trying to determine an ideal set up for two stacks or possibly three, space permitting. Given this equipment. Maybe there would be a better layout for two stacks or three that others know of. Trying to figure how best to lay it out prior to placing the order for the Fraim.  Any input would be fantastic, and much appreciated!

All the best...

                  

 

Going off at a tangent, which Quadraspire rack are you presently using?  My dealer thinks Quadraspire Reference series outperforms Fraim.

And going off at another tangent entirely, any comments from you, Darke Bear or anyone else what a second 555PS to a CD555 adds.

At the risk of hijacking this thread - apologies to the OP - it is interesting to me as well as I have only one stack and yet I have one shelf free, thus space. I have been keeping the free shelf between the power boxes/supplies and the other pieces... any thoughts on swapping the order of the boxes or where the free shelf goes? Right now it looks like this... LP12 sits on a wall mounted shelf above the rest.

CDI

NAC 82

DAC

- Free shelf -

Supercap

NAP 250

Thanks for any and all feedback.

Gary