The other option would be to get a soundshelf or reference soundshelf for the CDX. Could anybody comment on how a soundframe compares to a soundshelf(reference soundshelf) in its effect on the CDX?

Advices very much appreciated
Thanks
Franz

Franz

If you hit the little icon with pencil-to-paper on it, it will take you to an editing interface and there you can delete the message (if yonly one message, the the topic will vanish too).

To answer your Mana question, apparently all of the products behave in a very similar way, so it doesn't matter what the configuration is. I've tried the CDX on my Reference Table (Phase 2) and the result is all smiles.

Vuk.

Thanks for support on using this software.

If the difference between the soundframe and the soundshelf is close to nil I'd prefer the soundframe for sher asthetic reasons.

Franz

My LP12 is wall mounted on a reference shelf with an extra flat-top, which takes it to phase 3. The phono stage and Lingo sit on a Mana PSU table, on the floor (I picked this up secondhand -
it's a worthwhile addition, but only once you've got your sources and amps on Mana).

The rest of the system sits in a standard six-tier rack, atop four sound stages, taking it to phase 5. In terms of the advantages and disadvantages of wall versus floor mounting, you must ask yourself why you are even asking the question. In my case, I have a fairly springy floor, which I felt might upset the LP12. Also, it was the first Mana I bought and so I didn't think that I'd be buying a rack*.

[* The Mana Effect is addictive - before you know it, you'll end up spending two grand on racks and stages, you name it - you kinda lose your box addiction to a degree]

The pros of floor mounting really only come into their own when you use a multiple layer rack - the addition of one sound stage benefits all the components in the rack. So, in my case, I have five components in a six tier (with the top shelf doing great service to my ivy plant and a dilbert soft toy). I recently added two sound stages to take me from phase 3 to 5; the relative cost per component for this upgrade is LOWER than it would have been for the LP12 alone (which I also upgraded, by adding a flat top).

Therefore, if you have a rack, soundstages add more bang-per-buck. Also, with any table, you have a choice of upgrade route: flat top or sound stage (or sound frame, but we'll leave that out for now). With the shelf, you only have flat-top. This is a more expensive way to upgrade, even though an individual flat top is cheaper. That's because a flat top benefits one component only, whereas a soundstage can do the lot.

Sonically, I haven't played around enough to notice a difference; I'd expect a series of flat-tops to sound fractionally better, but then that's just a gut feeling.

What you really must consider is:

You need to edit the "display name" in your user profile, then wait for a mysterious period of time or number of postings for it to actually change.

Vuk.

Thanks for your extensive comment. It does clarify things a lot. As I do have very bouncy floors not very much room left for racks and little kids around a wallmounted system is my best option. (although the wall we talk about is not very solid). I have my system placed on a 3 level (selfconstructed) wooden shelf already. I would like to keep it because i invested a fair amaount of time and labour to construct it. Besides it is optically very pleasing together with too also wall mounted selfconstructed wooden CD racks on each side. (Eventually I'll post a picture of it)

So as long as we dont move, no MANA table. From what I understand is that I could place one soundframe underneath each component (total of 3). Unless the Soundshelf for the CDX is weigh supperior to a soundframe Id opt for the latter because I can leave the CDX on its dedicated place and put the soundframe underneath rather than finding a new place on the wall for the shelf; still possible though.

Franz

I am new to the forum and new to Mana, and I am not sure whether the Mana forum is more appropriate for these questions since I have all Naim gear.

So here goes, I would like to start with a rack (amp stand) then move up through the phases with sound stages underneath (and later a "referenced" top with additional flat tops above).

Is it better, however, to separate components and use individual treatments like sound tables for each? This approach would lead to multiple stacks as opposed to one high stack. This would also be way more expensive.

If the individual stacks are better, how do you handle increasing the phases for components like CDPs and preamps that have their own power supplies?

Economics is definitely an issue, so bang for the buck is important.

Thanks.

John

32.5(stripped)/SCap/250/CDS1/Spendor 1/2s

quote:

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I am new to the forum and new to Mana, and I am not sure whether the Mana forum is more appropriate for these questions since I have all Naim gear.

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John.

I think you may get faster and more detailed replies on the Mana forum. The same rules apply to all brands of equipment and most of the people there own Naim systems anyhow.

Tell them I sent you and avoid an otherwise dangerous initiation by the farm animals who hang about ;-)

Franz, you should do the same.

Vuk.

quote:

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Is it better, however, to separate components and use individual treatments like sound tables for each? This approach would lead to multiple stacks as opposed to one high stack. This would also be way more expensive. If the individual stacks are better, how do you handle increasing the phases for components like
CDPs and preamps that have their own power supplies?

---

I have a TT and CDP, each mounted on Mana Shelf and Table respectively. My electronics are in a 5-tier Rack. The Shelf is mounted above the Table, both of which are positioned to the left of the Rack. Visually, there appears only 2 columns. Source components benefit from their own supports. The Rack is used to accommodate transformer-equipped bits like amps and power supplies. The only exception is my preamp, which sits on the top shelf of the Rack. If necessary, more layers can be added below or above the existing Mana without compromising floor-space, and yet keep sensitive source components properly isolated. I suggest you start with a separate Table and Rack first.

James

Thanks.

I just bopped back from the Mana forum and JW suggested a 5-tier for starters, although many seem to like a Ref table/ amp rack combo that James suggested.

Holy smokes! I just checked the price of this stuff...

You guys sure this makes sense? (he asked rhetorically)

Cheers,
John

JW's advice is sound. Any other combo of racks (at best) produces marginal improvements for the dollars spent. All of of us (myself included) that didn't pursue the " X tiered and sound stage " route now (or eventually will) regret it.

Again, no "combo" is " wrong" , that's the beauty of the Mana product line, it's just a value thing.

have fun!!

dave