I am looking at a new rack configuration for my system adding a CD transport, turntable plus power supply all in a single six shelf stack. This presents the opportunity to revisit the optimum shelf space heights for each component including the 222, 300 and 250.
Research says the 250 needs 200mm+ and the 222 and 300 150mm+ each. But I’ve seen comments from others on this forum suggesting their shelf spacings are much less. Some appear to be happy with just 100mm (e.g. Isoblue).
What do others recommend based on their own experience?
I’m using Solid Steel Series 5 racks. Your suggested spacing is about what the racks provide. I have had no issues with overheating. All shelves have six inches, except the bottom which has eight inches.I too recommend two racks.
Fraim has 175mm spacing, Fraim Lite 150mm and Isoblue 120mm, on their standard shelves, so that should give you an idea of what Naim consider suitable spacing.
I use an Isoblue rack and have an extension that gives a little extra space on the bottom shelf which I use for the 250.
I would urge you to consider two short racks side by side. It will enable you to separate the 222 from the 300 and 250 and make arranging the two burndies easier. It will look better and sound better. The top of a six tier rack is really no place for a turntable.
The 175mm you’ve quoted for Fraim is for a medium spacer length (measured from the top of the glass to the underside of the shelf above). The equivalent on the standard shelf measures about 103mm, which is fine for a 250 size enclosure.
I was referring to the overall spacing of the shelves in all 3 cases for comparison. That includes the thickness of the shelf itself (as well as the glass in the case of full Fraim). It’s 175mm for Fraim: a medium shelf would be 250mm.
I have gone for medium height shelves on my Fraim for optimal SQ. And no, I haven’t compared the SQ of standard vs medium height shelves, life’s too short.
You can go 6 high with standard height shelves but not with medium height shelves. However, like HH, I would strongly advise 2 separate, shorter brains and brawn stacks.
The opening post of the System Pics shows the Fraim stacks on my main system. There you’ll see a pair of intermediate levels in the centre with standard levels on either side.
You’ll see that a base + 2 x intermediate levels is the same height as a base + 3 x standard levels. Intermediate levels should be high enough to clear a NAP500 head unit. If you need more, there are the extended levels, where 1 x extended level = 2 x standard level in height.
i have std height isoblue for 222 and 350s i sometimes worry about the lack of headroom but as i don’t play extremely loud it seems ok - never noticed fans cutting in. certainly no room for equipment isolation devices - if i wanted to try those i would also have to get the isoblue height extenders
Yes, at 100mm space is tight, but I don’t find it a problem. Certainly I don’t get any overheating, although in a cool climate that’s not often a problem.
The smallest Isoblue extensions at 35mm give a bit more space, enough to get Naim glass on ballbearings in comfortably. The taller extensions make the rack look a bit weird to my eyes. How much benefit there might be in using taller shelves to put greater distance between boxes, I wouldn’t know.
For the OP, I would think that the benefits of twin 3 stack racks would be very worthwhile if space is available. Alternatively, perhaps a wall shelf to isolate the turntable from the rack, although that tends to look a bit messy to me.
HH, I agree, two racks would be ideal. One issue might be with two separate racks side by side, and that’s interconnect length. I replaced my original two Target rack setup, with one Quadraspire SVT2 rack. Looks better, sounds great, and solved the problem of stretched interconnects.
With ‘brain and braun’ racks side by side, the standard Naim cables should be just the right length. This is a tried and tested setup used by many people over the years.
Brawn is the power supply, and brains is the box that it powers. Of course, some products contain both in a single box, so this doesn’t apply to all products.
Not the New Classic series but for your isoblue brain & brawn reference
And obviously not the best arrangement due to space limitation, but the default spacing is good enough for my 135 and look best, max 4 levels aesthetically imo.
I saying this being in East Asia – it actually warm up a bit faster, and when weather is hot (not warm) we just turn on the AC anyway.
We seldom listen to streaming so the NDX 2 in sleep mode most of the time, act as spacing level when we listen to CD. Blanked level is for the upcoming LP12
We also did experiment putting the cd player on top of 52, performance compromised big time, just like what Richard said before.
These things usually involve compromise. The ideal thing is to get the source and preamp on the brain stack, and their power supplies more or less directly beside them on the brawn rack. The Burndies should be just the right length for this.
