Improved sound quality, and I only changed my Fraim stack order.....

Posted by: crackie on 25 November 2018

I have an observation that I thought I would share.

Three weeks ago I shifted my 252 to the top of my Fraim stack & also put my 300 head unit under that. So now my stack is 252/300 head unit/n-DAC/HDX/Supercap/555PS/300PS. I figured what the heck I’ll give it a go - as I looked back at 100’s of old posts and system pics. that seemed to have at least 90% of members with the pre-amp always on the top level (big hint there I guess in hindsight) because I never really did give correct stacking order much thought. Perhaps I should have...........

So I pretty much left it alone for a week and did a critical listening session and wow, it improved a lot,  left it alone again for a week, then had another listening session and, yep, it wasn’t my imagination, it really was better. Left it another week and what do you know what - I am not mad - it possibly cannot be an unexplained sound quality boost of other factors in play - my mood , house ambient noise floor, mains power time of the day luck of the draw etc. in play for 3 seperate sessions to prove otherwise. The music has really opened up now, more detail, slightly better soundstage, the music is now much more involving & interesting to listen to.

OK, it’s not a massive difference, but I have got to say its a very noticeable and quit a worthwhile one. 

The only other possible (long shot) explanation is my SL cables have done their last burn in performance boost (I think very unlikely as my SL interconnect is 12m old, SL speaker cable set is 7m old and my SL cable set for my 300 has been in place for 5m now). Everything else in my system has been in place for 18m or greater and used very regularly for music, movies, gaming etc.

 

Best,

Peter

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by Bart

Cool to hear, Peter. I've always had my Naim player on top, but I should try switching it around with the 252 on top and the ND555 under it.

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by Japtimscarlet

I might give the 252 on the top shelf a try too

At the moment my system goes

NDS

252

Core

S/cap dr

250dr

Xpsdr

Though that seemed a reasonable order..but open to change if it's for the better

I guess it might just be the unplugging and replugging of all the kit that gave crackie his improvement..but maybe not ..

 

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by Clay Bingham

You seem like nice guys but maybe you should get out more.

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by Japtimscarlet
Clay Bingham posted:

You seem like nice guys but maybe you should get out more.

Ha! Maybe you are right....but who wants to go out when there is a music concert in your house every day ...

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by Peder

???? A Tip:
Always have the source on a wall-shelf,or a separate hifi-rack that is as low as possible.

On this low separate HiFi-rack,only the source should stand,..nothing else.
Then you get the best soundquality.!

/Peder ????

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by Filipe

What about separate brain (left)  and brawn stacks?

Phil

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by rsch
Filipe posted:

What about separate brain (left)  and brawn stacks?

Phil

If so i guess it could be even better.

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by crackie

Yep, Clay I do agree, real nerdy stuff if you really think about it (even within this rabid Church group) let alone what non-hi fi people must think.

But I heard what I heard .................... Something changed - and for the better- so I got to assume it was either the stack swap around or the final burn in phase of my SL cables.

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by Bert Schurink

I think also DB has become an expert in stacking order. His posts have been most insightful.

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by Filipe
crackie posted:

Yep, Clay I do agree, real nerdy stuff if you really think about it (even within this rabid Church group) let alone what non-hi fi people must think.

But I heard what I heard .................... Something changed - and for the better- so I got to assume it was either the stack swap around or the final burn in phase of my SL cables.

As Berts says Darke Bear is the expert and we have all learned from his posts. I am not surprised, and am glad for you.

Phil

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by varyat

Top shelf is the golden shelf on a Fraim, imo. Save it for the most sensitive box..usually a pre-amp. In my case, I keep my phono pre's on the top shelves with 552 head unit below on a med shelf. Compromises always exist

ATB,

Mark

Posted on: 25 November 2018 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Yep agree about top shelf... I discovered that my 552 sounds best when sitting on it....

Posted on: 26 November 2018 by ChrisSU

Even with a small 3-shelf system (NDX/282/200) I found a small benefit putting the preamp on top instead of the source, so there must be something in it. 

Posted on: 26 November 2018 by hungryhalibut

With a 272, both source and preamp can be on top.