I may have to re-arrange my set up. At present the power supplies (4) are arranged conventionally on a Fraim. I may have to move them to a smaller space.Is it possible to site them vertically instead of horizontally? Heresy, I know, but it may become necessary
I thought the circuit boards were spring mounted, and transit screws removed before use. If so this suggests that vertical mount could cause problems with the mountings?
The power supplies aren’t floaty or otherwise orientation limited in the mechanical sense.
However, the heat dissipation profile is based on heat rising into the wide top cover. Rising into the narrow side may not be ideal.
I suggest, rather than second guessing with forum members, you inquire with Naim support.
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If this is to be a long term reality, I’d probably start considering alternative high end options with fewer boxes. Four power supplies on their side take up nearly as much floor space as a rack.
No psu from Naim has spring mounted pcb or transit bolts. Back when i was first in to this, in the very early 80s, Naim often set up their gear at shows with psu’s thrown on their side on the floor. I once asked the question, why don’t you place them on the rack? to which they replied, because it doesn’t affect the sound at all.
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Not even 552PS which gets the audio signal through it? Or is it modulated in some way so it’s not sensitive to vibrations maybe?
I do wonder whether they’d say the same, over 40 years later. The boxes don’t have isolating feet for nothing after all.
I also wonder how great the need is to move the system to a smaller space is. As others have said, four boxes on their ends will take up nearly as much space as a rack. Is that 30cm of space really that important to an owner of a ÂŁ90,000 hifi? Maybe a smaller stand such as the excellent Isoblue might be the answer. It may even be preferred to Fraim. Yikes.
Then again, they would look pretty stupid if they were the only boxes that didn’t have feet.
Well the 552 wasn’t available then, so who knows.
I would like to hear what Naim have to say about this, in the context of long-term use in that position.
These PSUs at least per not so close observation don’t have much or any airflow engineering. If more were needed I’m sure Naim would have built it in. Thus, maybe heat escape out a side vs. out the top isn’t much of an issue? I’d really want to hear from Naim because heat radiates even without airflow, and radiating out the top isn’t the same as up the other direction.
These 8+ box systems ARE beasts. When I have OP’s issue I’m going to get a totally different system that fits in 50% of the currently used volume. Something like a nice stereo poweramp, a one-box pre/streamer/player . . .and then the phono stuff. And I’d listen to powered speakers (never have heard any ATC speakers) too.
I really think that this is the way.
4 PS boxes on their sides will be pretty much as wide as Fraim, just a lot shorter. Footprint-wise it doesn’t seem as if it saves any floorspace. Maybe the vertical space can be used more efficiently, BUT . . .
I have used HiCap and nDac up on their right side (transformers down) for a few years without any issue nor SQ noticeable impact. It looked pretty cool actually.
Please don’t tell anybody in Salisbury. I still would like to visit the holy sanctuary one day and don’t want to be banned for that matter.
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All our gear might sound better with the PSUs vertical? Maybe sticking a pair of CD555 PSUs on their sides is what those duff-sounding ND555s need and will help compensate for the latest firmware?
On the heat bit, I can’t say my CD555 PSU or Supercap ever feels warm (they are mounted horizontally), so I can’t imagine they would overheat if placed vertically.
Not sure for vibrations dissipating the side position is good. My intuition.
What about stability? Boxes on their side would easily tip over.
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What relationship is there between value of system and the amount of space people can or are willing to allow for electronics?
Maybe if arranged in a row, largest dimensions facing each other. But other arrangements are possible, e.g on their sides in a row with all feet to the wall, perhaps behind sonething bringing forward only a little or potentially even stacked on sides (all with suitable arrangements for stability, and airflow).
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Thanks HH. You are on point as ever. I’m not the first, nor will I be the last, who has upgraded and before you know it you are overwhelmed with boxes. It’s a bit like the Irish quip in answer to the question “how do you get to Cork from here?”, eliciting the response “I wouldn’t start from here”. Maybe because with advancing age and the deterioration of my hearing I wouldn’t do it again and would stick with a much simpler system. As it turns out my plan to move the 500 system to a smaller space is not going to happen but thanks to everyone for their advice
Excellent. I’m pleased it was a false alarm. You have a fabulous system and it’s good to be able to get the best from it. And just for reassurance, should you one day feel the desire to downsize, it’s perfectly possible to do so without losing as much as you might think. I now have just an Atom HE and some small active speakers and it’s really very good indeed.
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Thanks Hungry Halibut,
I always enjoy your contributions to the forum. I’m lucky, I suppose, but I now have two totally separate systems; one is the 500, the main one and the other in a garden room. I have always found HH and others’ guidance helpful and positive in our shared pursuit of enjoying music at home
(PS all the boxes in the 500 are still a pain!)
Lets be true full, apart from the power amps, nothing is pulling much power to run at all, pre amp, streamer, dac, cd player, etc. They don’t get warm, even my 500 power supply didn’t. There is also not much in them, transformer, that doesn’t care what way round it is, capacitors, again they can be mounted in different positions and as long as they are fixed then no problem, and they are. That leaves the reg boards, again not a problem how they sit.
The only problem i can see from having them vertical is feet to stop the boxes getting scratches, as i should thing the metal box itself is stronger enough to be vertical, even though it wasn’t designed to be.
Hay, it might even sound better with all the transformers being that way round and together at the bottom, rather than filling a rack up from top to bottom with them?
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