I have noticed that the case work on quite a few bits of equipment is singing along to the music and so I would like to eradicate this.
I first noticed it a while back after muting the volume after being summonsed by Mrs Happy and that although the music had stopped the casework on various components rang for a second or two whilst fading away.
This is now really bugging me and so I would like to stop it completely, I have used lumps of blue tack as well as magazines but am wondering if a more elegant solution exists?
The main culprits are my NDX & Nac282. The HiCaps, Nap250.2 & CD5 are not as bad, whilst a flatcap 2, NAPSC and a phono stage are fine
I did find another thread where a forum member had the same problem a few years back but there didn’t seem to be a conclusive answer to stopping the bells so am seeking advice on what to do
You can buy sound deadening panels as used in car doors that are adhesive backed, I guess they would work but wouldn’t look pretty. They are used internally on car doors but couldn’t recommend internal placement on your equipment. Could try them on the bottom of the troublesome units maybe
I have never understood the ringing and why they left it untouched. And yes I have had it. More on some boxes, less or nothing on some. My NC and Nait 50 doesn’t ring but it’s a different design.
Naim spend loads of time to reduce microphonics (micro vibrations). Connectors, floating PCBs, lifting components from PCB etc etc. But a ringing chassi that is introducing lots of microphonics since you by ear can hear it from meters distance is not an issue? I would love to see the engineering behind that conclusion.
I’ve posted on this a few times before here. IIRC the extruded casework is under stress (if you cut through it the casework will distort - this was often a problem with the cases for the top loading CD players) and should ring to a rap from the knuckle. Naim refer to the extruded case as creating a quiet room for the circuitry within so I do wonder whether the case is channeling rather than absorbing in how it deals with microphonics. Certainly damping the ringing does seem to change the sound, and not really for the better. Naim used to supply a damping piece on the back of the case that you could slide in and out of place, but most agreed that the kit sounded better without it applied. So AFAIK Naim eventually dropped the damping piece.
The equipment is set up in a room at the top of the house which has sloped ceilings at both end. It’s about 2.6m wide x 5.5 long x 2.3m high. The racks are old Target tubular steel stands with glass shelves placed about half way up the room next to my listening/relaxing chair, speakers are firing along the longest dimension.
The ringing of the units is audible on clapping or tapping them with a finger without any sounds playing, certainly worse when playing music
As an old hand at ICE (In Car Audio) I have used car audio damping materials many times in cars to great affect, however it’s not the most pleasant of stuff (think lots of deep cuts to your hands etc from the aluminium side of the deadening) also it doesn’t seem to work if just laid on top of the chassis of the audio equipment. I know how much mess this deadening makes once warm so do not wish to attach it via the adhesive side. , good idea though.
Must be honest I can’t seem to detect a change in the sound from the speakers when I have used big blobs of Blutack.
I am thinking of using some roofing lead roll and covering it in a self adhesive velvet type material, won’t look good, but better than big blobs of Blutack, just wondering if this has bothered others and if it has how did they cure it.
That must actually adversely affect dound quality while listening, creating long decay times on some frequencies. Surely more significant than some of the things done of not done in the interests of sound quality, like not having tone controls even though they might improve the sound of some poor recordings/masterings, which IIRC even with a tome control bypass switch left normally in bypass was claimed to adversely affect sound quality.
It’s actually quite annoying as the equipment rack is on my right hand side so feels like my right ear is not functioning correctly, it’s as if the right ear has some form of tinnitus but the left is fine.
I experimented with a pair of Herbie’s ‘Supersonic Stabilizers’ atop my NAC252 pre-amp, whereby “components are “stabilized similarly to resting your palm gently on top of a component, reducing upper-chassis vibration considerably.”
Experiment didn’t last long. The NAC252 sounds better undamped IMO.
Seems reasonable to assume Naim would have also run similar tests, so the ringing casework likely exists for a reason.
Without getting into the discussion of whether you should or shouldn’t - you might try a pack of moon gel, as used by drummers when trying to tame over-excitable drum heads. Certainly works on drums, and ought to be more effective than blutac.
I have the exact same problem, my Naim kit sits less than a meter away from the right loudspeaker and about two meters from my right ear, and it rings like handbell choir. As it was mentioned before, a Herbie’s Supersonic Stabilizer placed anywhere on top of the case will completely quite it down, almost like magic. Interestingly enough, the way more expensive HRS Damping Plate did absolutely nothing to stop the ringing. In my system the Herbie’s Sonic Stabilizers are not going anywhere, but in your system you’ll have to be the judge. The good news is the Herbie’s product is very affordable and also returnable.