Stacking Order?

Bart - as you well know, you're going to be advised to split into 'brain' and 'brawn'. If you can accommodate that, it will be the best configuration.  I was quite surprised at how my system seemed to relax when I split my rack.    

I’d put the 252 on the top, and buy an extra shelf to go beneath the streamer. The last thing you want is a big fat transformer directly beneath your preamp. 

I realllly don't want a taller Fraim, or two Fraim, but intuitively, "The last thing you want is a big fat transformer directly beneath your preamp" of course makes sense.

I'd suggest investing in some double height Fraim legs if you can't 'split the pack'.  That's what I decided to do to raise my CD555 above the transformer on the shelf below it.

This is one of the reasons for me sticking with my four box system. I’ve ummed and ahhed about getting an ND555 and a 552 but don’t want to go back to the two stacks, and neither do I want a tower of power. If I were to spend a shedload of cash I’d want to know that it was working as well as it could, and to be blunt, if it’s in one stack it won’t be. Back in the day, when I had a CDS3, 552 and 300, I moved from one stack to two and it made a huge difference, everything was so much more relaxed and musical. In my view, gear like an ND555 and 252 are wasted unless they are accommodated optimally. Unfortunately, that means two stacks. 

rjstaines posted:

I'd suggest investing in some double height Fraim legs if you can't 'split the pack'.  That's what I decided to do to raise my CD555 above the transformer on the shelf below it.

Exactly what I do to raise my 552 above other source components. My 552 is on the top shelf. I have my 552 PS and 250.2 as well as NAT03 on another non Fraim stack. Fraim is on three levels, and non Fraim on four levels... both are non visually intrusive as their height is limited.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

rjstaines posted:

I'd suggest investing in some double height Fraim legs if you can't 'split the pack'.  That's what I decided to do to raise my CD555 above the transformer on the shelf below it.

Exactly what I do to raise my 552 above other source components. My 552 is on the top shelf.

OK so if I conclude that this is the best compromise, what order?  ND555 on that tall top shelf, then what order . . . 

I’d put the critical 552 on the top shelf, then a double space, or raised shelf, and then ND555... best keep those relatively noisy electronics a little  vertically away from your 552 if you can .. also helps with cable separation.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I’d put the critical 552 on the top shelf, then a double space, or raised shelf, and then ND555... best keep those relatively noisy electronics a little  vertically away from your 552 if you can 

I think Bart has a 252, Simon, though I think your advice about it being on the top shelf stands.

So sorry.. yes same goes for 252, I had my 252 on my top shelf Fraim prior to my 552.. ironically I found my 252 seemingly slightly more sensitive to support than my 552.

So 252 on a double-high shelf > ND555 . . . what order for SuperCap, 250 and 555ps?

Even my relatively humble NDX/282/200 sounds a little better with the preamp on top, so I suspect the same applies to the 252 and 552, as others have said. I wonder if a power amp upgeade would make matters worse with a bigger PSU lurking under the source. 

Bart posted:

So 252 on a double-high shelf > ND555 . . . what order for SuperCap, 250 and 555ps?

Bear in mind that a double height shelf on the top will look really silly. I’d have 252, 555, single shelf gap and then the rest, with the 555PS at the bottom. 

hungryhalibut posted:

Bart posted:

So 252 on a double-high shelf > ND555 . . . what order for SuperCap, 250 and 555ps?

Bear in mind that a double height shelf on the top will look really silly. I’d have 252, 555, single shelf gap and then the rest, with the 555PS at the bottom. 

You're going to talk me into two 'short stacks.'  That'd look a lot better than one with a double-high top shelf.  If split into brains and brawn I think it's have to be 2x3-shelf (normal shelf height), with 252 and ND555 on one, with an empty shelf between them (??).  

Simon, care to post a picture of your rack? 

Why not use a wall shelf for ND555.? Or two.

/Peder???? 

You’d want 252, 555, gap and pprobably Supercap, 555PS and 250. The three on the right will be determined by keeping the burndies off the floor and not touching. While you are at it you may as well get a 300!! When I had the big system I had CDS3, gap, 552, gap, 300 and tuner, gap, 555PS, 552PS, 300PS and it worked really well. 

hungryhalibut posted:

While you are at it you may as well get a 300!! 

Quiet you!

So what exactly are these power supplies producing that passes through a sheet of metal , then some air, then a lump of wood, then some glass and another sheet of metal to affect the component above so significantly?

What measuring device detects the emissions to show that an extra three inches of air (medium shelf) makes such a difference compared with a standard shelf?

Jonn posted:

What measuring device detects the emissions to show that an extra three inches of air (medium shelf) makes such a difference compared with a standard shelf?

Ears.

So what is the power supply emitting that can travel through the air, wood, glass to affect the component above to such an extent that you can hear a different. How is that measured electrically?

Magnetic field, vibration, heat (also vibration come to that), gravity, take your pick, I’d credit the first two with some effect on the sound.

yeti42 posted:

Magnetic field, vibration, heat (also vibration come to that), gravity, take your pick, I’d credit the first two with some effect on the sound.

Yes, but apart from isolation from magnetic field, vibration, heat (also vibration come to that) and gravity,  what has a Fraim ever done for us?

(with all due respect to Life of Brian / John Cleese)...    https://www.bing.com/videos/se...FB7D81&FORM=VIRE

Sorry to hijack your thread Bart 

I have a system change next week. I’ll be adding a 282 and power supplies to my system. I currently have two small racks, adding extra shelves to create two stacks of 4 levels. So I’m thinking 

CDX2                  P3

282                     Space

Space                 250DR

Napsc/HCDR     555PS

Sound about right? 

Finkfan posted:

Sorry to hijack your thread Bart 

I have a system change next week. I’ll be adding a 282 and power supplies to my system. I currently have two small racks, adding extra shelves to create two stacks of 4 levels. So I’m thinking 

CDX2                  P3

282                     Space

Space                 250DR

Napsc/HCDR     555PS

Sound about right? 

I can see your logic Finkfan,  but for me, the two spaces would look 'wrong' (I know that many, many racks have spaces below sensitive kit).  My suggestion would be to have the 'mid' (or even 'double') height legs below the 282 and P3.  I have had to place my CD player on top of the braun stack, but on a mid size shelf, it's raised nicely above the power source below.  Others, of course will disagree,  but ignore them  

Where’s your phonostage?