Just wondering if anybody has tried replacing the Fram base spikes with Stillpoints Ultra 5s and the consequent sonic effect?
Thanks
« Having just done a full strip down and rebuild I thought I’d revisit whether the Stillpoint Minis I use under my 252, 250’s and Supercaps actually are beneficial . My hope was that attention paid to cable dressing and a desire to get some money back might put me in the right frame of mind to assess the benefits, or lack of, without expectation bias. I don’t think I’ll be putting them on the Bay. It would be interesting to see if the improvements Stillpoints bring to the table are similar to those espoused for Fraim. Fraim wouldn’t fit in my room unfortunately, as I really like the look, and the Stillpoints do make the equipment look a bit crap, balanced up on high as they are. But the extra air around instruments and the sense of “out of the box” is definitely real to my ears.«
By @marksnaim
By @JSQT 
Well this is just strange - my Fraim arrived via FedEx from my US dealer that is 200 miles away - all was well until the last Fraim level I opened revealed that Naim had packed a Fraim Lite shelf in the Fraim level box. It included the glass and all the proper Fraim level hardware but the cherry slab was the Fraim Lite.
« I’ve reached out to my dealer to have a replacement slab sent but in the meantime I didn’t want to go without my Fraim - even though there were no cutouts for the cups and balls since I had Stillpoints I went ahead and used them to set them on top of the Fraim Lite shelf.
I think it actually looks pretty good to be honest. I do want the replacement because I’d never resell this as a “Fraim” but for this little Frankenstein tweak it may just work for me. »
Thanks Frenchrooster, saw those, but my question refers to replacing the base spikes with Stillpoints, and not to the single shelves or components on them.
I put personally Finite Elemente Cerapucks under the Fraimlite spikes. The rack is more stable and the sound improved too.
I see no reason for Stillpoints not improving the sound. And probably you can find sites with 14 days trial and return.
I have recently replaced the base spikes with Ansuz DarkZ on Fraim and it does add “out of the box” or freedom particularly noticeable on rich/complex tracks. It does not substract anything. A nice improvement.
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Interesting Jean-Michel, thanks.
Which version, if I may ask?
Old version: Ceramic or C.
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and do you just place the Fraim legs, without the spikes, on top of the DarkZs?
Enjoy the F1 race 
DarkZ you use either with tungsten balls on on side (they would go in contact with a flat surface) or as a counterspike on the other side. I use them keeping the Fraim spikes i.e. as counterspikes.
F1 my interest started at the end of the 60s, therefore I have stopped watching a long time ago…I look for results in the news.
Only 3 at the base of course. The shelves are being taken care of by the metal balls.
You need the type of darkz that can be used under speakers so the spikes go into the top of the darkz. I use darkz this type under both friams and regular darkz under most equipment on fraim.
Claus
Claus
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indeed!
Thanks for the photo, I was just about to ask.
I do not have a full Naim system or Fraim e.t.c and have used Stillpoints Ultra SS for quite a while for component isolation. I use custom 2" thick solid maple slabs for rack shelves.
When I got the NAC 272 I put the Ultra SS under it and it improved the 272 a lot, quite noticeably. Basically what FR says ‘extra air around instruments and the sense of “out of the box” is definitely real to my ears.’
But if trying Stillpoints you guys need to ditch the cup/ball/glass shelves bit and couple the Stillpoints directly from the wood shelf to the bottom of the component. That’s how they work best.
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Also when using 4 Stillpoints height needs to be adjusted perfectly so there is not even the slightest micro rocking, as performance massively drops away otherwise.
Of course when using only 3 its far easier as nothing much needs to be adjusted. But 4 is best when setup carefully.