Is it okay to stack Naim audio equipment or do you have to use racks?

I’d say they’re perfectly hidden, I can’t spot any.

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The ideal is clearly for each component to have its own dedicated shelf, be it on a rack or otherwise. Of course, this is not always possible.

The Tascam SS-R200 compact flash/SD recorder and the NDX-2 don’t appear to be adversely affected by the one sitting atop the other. I added new feet to the Tascam to lift its underside clearer of the Naim. The shelf above houses the Rega Planar 3.

On the next shelf down, the CD5 XS sits on top of the Naim DAC. Again I can’t hear any issues.

Each of the remainder of the components on this rack has its own shelf: the Supernait 3, the Tascam DA-30 DAT and (out of sight) the Sony JA-333ES minidisc.

If your amp absolutely has to share a shelf with another component or components, the amp should be on the top so any heat emanating from it can dissipate more easily.

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This is the transformer from the NAC 282

This is the transformer from the NAPSC

Took these when on a factory tour at Naim, pre covid.

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The top one is a Uniti Nova

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Exactly. They use Transparent audio cables. :+1:

Wrong picture posted. This should be the correct one for the NAC 282, hopefully…

That looks like a 272. The 282 won’t have a transformer (or any power supply) in it.

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I need to look at my photos more closely. Got it right this time.

It was mainly to show the transformer in the NAPSC.

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Dutus-
That looks fine but to add some suspenders to those belted pants ( can’t be too safe), I’d still add some felt pads under the feet, that way no chance of scuff marks on top of your equipment. I also think its thin enough to not affect any vibrations (If you can hear any difference, your ears are far better than mine ).

Predictably after 129 comments the conclusion is there is no conclusion!
Those that can or chose to do so and are happy they’re doing all they can to optimise the performance of their substantial investments, vs those that stack either because of domestic constraints or they can’t be fussed, are working fine and can’t tell any difference one way or the other, best they can tell.
The higher up the Naim range you go the more sensitive and optimised for seperation the products become, that’s by design, I don’t recall anyone with a full 500 Series system piled up in a corner with a table lamp and a Wi-Fi router stuck on the top of it adding a post here at least.
It’s about making a sensible decision relative to the capabilities and needs of the system as a whole fundamentally, a CD player on top of a DAC or a streamer with a Bluray player on top of it won’t be as likely to expose performance constraints than say a NAC 552.

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130 now.

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Decent mileage on a topic like this, less shouty and confrontational than a network cables made of pixie dust one at least :face_with_spiral_eyes:

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In the 80s you had maybe a 32/HC/250 or 42/110. Today many Naim systems has so many boxes some kind of rack is necessary. Especially if you have a few really humming ones. Also there are more digital electronics that demand some kind of isolation.

In my opinion, a topic like this will never reach consensus because of the contentious dichotomy.

What I find interesting is that in the classic range, all of the manuals seem to give the same instructions (re: siting equipment) regardless of whether it is a source component, pre or power etc. For example, the manual for the 552 does not mention anything about using brains and brawn racks.

Another interesting observation is that the manuals for the newer equipment (from a cursory glance) do not have a section on siting equipment.

I haven’t encouraged the OP to buy a rack (taking into consideration I used to own a similar system) because even the Naim manuals don’t mention anything about using racks for optimum performance. To be honest, I would feel empathetic towards the OP if they decided to buy a rack and found to their dismay that there was no discernible difference in SQ.

Here’s an image from the Naim website for the 552 (they are clearly stacked) :relaxed:

Nope, the NAC have no transformer in them, your picture clearly shows a transformer (in the standard position for a full width product).

The NACs are always powered separately.

The 282
image

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yet the manual for the 552 is reasonably specific…
Screenshot 2022-08-11 075802

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Todays challenge, find someone that bought one and has it setup at home like that.

Thank you for the clarification regarding the 552 and other preamps. The power amps however, read as such (Installation and Operation):

“The NAP 500 and NAP 500PS should be installed on a dedicated equipment stand intended for the purpose”.

In this instance there is no mention of stacking and the word of choice here is ‘should’ :relaxed:

Always like a bit of neat wiring.

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I used to have a CB 32/snaps/250 that I had for a while with no support. It got stacked on the floor with the 2 shoeboxes on top of the 250 for convenience but it only took a few seconds of moving the 32/snaps to a place on the floor next to the 250 to hear it was better

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