I said both for answering your question : in all circumstances or only your personal system.
But said also more in my personal system.
I don’t see absolute knowledge here. I know just that ceramic balls isolation devices are acclaimed by many many users, so they have good effects under all speakers.
Under all components, certainly not, and even not under mine.
I have not absolute knowledge and even no technical knowledge at all.
Just tried some components and trust reviews of journalists and individual users which all go in the same direction and conclusions, as Stillpoints and Isoacoustics Gaia under speakers.
You may find an Internet search for Potential Rigged HDMI Demo Exposed to be quite informative as it shows the lengths to which some marketing people will go.
I was a product designer and used to cringe at the marketing copy our company produced using something called the Shipley method. None of our marketing folk had a clue as to how products worked, but that didn’t stop them writing pages describing how it did.
If any of us relied upon adverising or marketing we’d be in a sad old state! Virtually every hifi manufacturer’s websites (Naim included) contain pretty cringeworthy claims, with accessories and after market stuff easily topping the pile!
There is absolutely no substitute for listening with your own ears, preferably at home, or a well set up dealer’s demo room. Having been a member of this forum for a year or two I’m loath to set too much store by members’ recommendations (my own included!) as we all hear things differently and, as far as I’m concerned, only art beats music in terms of subjectivity!
One mans meat is another mans poison - never were truer words written.
Interestingly enough, neither did Naim. At first…
When developing the Fraim, glass was initially reckoned to not be a front runner, based upon experience with other equipment supports that used it at the time. A great variety of materials were tested and in the end the best was a very expensive aluminium plate. The problem was that it was very difficult to make because it was perfectly flat (similar stuff used for SL2 interface plates) and also extremely costly., enough to make it commercially unviable. The surprise though was that the next best thing, and very close in performance, was the Pilkington glass that is currently used in the Fraim. So perhaps now you can see a reason why glass was used with the Fraim.*
*Note though that glass just in itself may well not be the best thing. The glass is just a part of a whole that is the Fraim. You cannot just pick one element apart from that and make judgements. It all works together.
Personally, I have owned a HiFi Racks Podium Slimline and a Podium Reference. In the next few days, I will take delivery of a full Fraim rack. I will then find out for myself. However, I would never impose the view, that “One size fits all.”
Have you got Naim glass, cups and balls on your HiFi Racks? Look forward to hearing your impressions.
Phil
I had no cups, balls or glass with the HiFi racks. The problem with trying to compare, is it will be from memory. Unless, there is a dramatic uplift with the Fraim. I decided on the Fraim instead of adding bits to the other racks, simply because this is a complete tried and tested system. Time will tell !
I think that’s sensible - better to get an integrated solution than adding bits to other bits, which is always unpredictable. I once had a Fraim glass on an Isoblue for my CDS2 but always had a slight doubt as to whether it made a real improvement.
With most racks, their primary purpose is to try not to add any of themeselves to the mix. To try and let what’s supported be itself more.
With Naim the Fraim is well known to leave some positive signature on the boxes.
No wonder so many attempt to emulate that on other racks with glass,cups and balls.
Yes when looking at the theory, without resorting to exotic materials, the predictions would be along the lines of:
1 Aluminium on chrome steel balls
2= Aluminium on stainless steel balls
2= Toughened glass on on chrome steel balls
3 Glass on stainless steel.
The second equal options could come quite close, but glass is never going to be as consistent as the aluminium. The performance loss for glass on stainless could be quite significant.
Using exotic materials such as ceramic balls (SiC being the preferred choice, but again very expensive) has the potential for slightly better performance, but would probably require the cup system to be completely redesigned.
Indeed, stainless balls would have been a likely the choice, especially due to their resistance to rusting, however they didn’t sound as good as the chromed mild steel balls.
FWIW, Naim used to supply stainless balls on request though for anyone living in areas of very high humidity whose Fraim balls were rusting badly almost immediately.
As far as Naim audio boxes, I would suggest before going out and paying silly money on isolation blocks and what not. Have a look on flea bay fine your self some appropriate stainless steel springs and put them under you boxes. I have done this. It works very well. Hifi is better but the mojo goes and that is why naim audio have a research and development team that do this for you already. I guess if you have a number of different branded boxes making up your system still point may very well work for you as it’s unbalanced compared to a full naim system synergy.
Seismic Sink solved my vibrating Mac problem, but sounded wrong under my LP12 - one size does not fit all, but Fraim works well with most.
Precisely.
I tried a rega rp10 on top fram, on the glass shelf. Preferred without.
On a granite 5 cm shelf, it’s the best for me.
Time to make an extra shelf I’d suggest.
Awsumz carpentry skillz…