Naim FRAIM, FRAIMLITE owners manual

Finishes*

Fraim Equipment Support System

The Fraim Range

The sound of a music system is inescapably tied up with its environment. Just as the performance of

loudspeakers is influenced by their interface with the structure of a listening room, so is the performance

of audio electronics. Microphony, the microscopic disturbance of highly sensitive electronics by mechanical

vibration, is responsible, and even with the numerous measures taken within Naim electronics to minimise

mechanical vibration, it still has influence. Minimising microphony, through engineered support and isolation,

as well as providing an elegant solution to equipment installation, are the dual roles of the updated,

reference-level Fraim and new, entry-level FraimLite equipment stands.

The engineering challenge of minimising microphony through an equipment support is complex. It demands that

a support has minimal physical contact with the external environment and yet provides multiple, immensely rigid,

decoupled and non-resonant support platforms. It is a challenge that can only be met through the twin pursuits of

single-minded engineering innovation and painstaking material selection. The original Naim Fraim was launched

in 2002, and since then, every Naim electronics product has used it for support during development. Naim equipment

supported on Fraim is thus living truly in the environment for which it evolved. The principles and performance

of Fraim and FraimLite can however bring benefits to any hi-fi system.

Fraim and FraimLite are not only about sound quality. Their manufacturing quality expresses exactly the same

values of engineering integrity as every Naim product and their sleek, modern design dovetails perfectly with the

Naim aesthetic to sit comfortably in any domestic listening environment.

Ash/Natural anodised

Ash/Black anodised

*Please note due to the nature of wood, actual finishes may vary slightly to those photographed.

Cherry/Natural anodised

Cherry/Black anodised

Black ash/Natural anodised

Bla ck ash /Bl ack an odi sed

Specifications

Fraim FraimLite

PHYSICAL

Level Height
(inc glass shelf)

Available Height (per level) Standard level 105mm

Shelf Dimensions
(glass shelf)

Overall Dimensions 643 x 442mm (W x D)

Weight Standard level 7kg

FINISH

Shelves Ash, Cherry, Black ash
Uprights Natural anodised, Black anodised

Standard level 175mm

Medium level 250mm

Tall level 324mm

Base level 155mm

Medium level 180mm

Tall level 254mm

452 x 340mm (W x D)

Medium level 7.6kg

Tall level 8.25kg

Base level 8.6kg

PHYSICAL

Level Height Standard level 150mm

Available Height (per level) Standard level 131mm

Shelf Dimensions
(wooden shelf)

Overall Dimensions 643 x 442mm (W x D)

Weight Standard level 3.5kg

FINISH

Shelves Ash, Cherry, Black ash
Uprights Natural anodised, Black anodised

Medium level 225mm

Tall level 229mm

Base level 79mm

Medium level 206mm

Tall level 280mm

452 x 340mm (W x D)

Medium level 4.1kg

Tall level 4.75kg

Base level 2.8kg

Southampton Road • Salisbury • England • SP1 2LN Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

NAIM AUDIO LIMITED

www.naimaudio.com

The Details

Upgrade Path

Fraim Reference Equipment Support System

FraimLite Entry-level Equipment Support System

Glass

10mm toughened glass.

Specic supply source selected
from listening tests. Fraim only.

Ball Bearing

Supports Fraim glass sub-shelves.
Chrome-plated hardened steel.
Fraim only.

Socket

Constrains the glass sub-shelf
support ball. Custom-manufactured
in hardened stainless steel. Fraim only.

Pin

Constrains glass sub-shelf location.
Custom-manufactured in hardened
stainless steel. Fraim only.

Shelf

19mm double veneered
composite board. Cut shape
informed by listening tests.

Shelf Upright

Custom extruded in anodised
aluminium.

Stud

Ties shelf elements together.

Zinc-plated steel.

Nut

Secures Fraim and FraimLite
assembly. Zinc-plated steel.

Clamping Ring

Constrains and spaces
upright to shelf interface.

Custom-manufactured in

hardened stainless steel.

Cone

Minimal contact interface

component. Custom-manufactured

in hardened stainless steel.

Cup

Minimal contact interface

component. Custom-manufactured

in hardened stainless steel.

Floor Spike

Denes the Fraim to oor
interface. Custom-manufactured

in hardened stainless steel.

Naim’s development of the Fraim marked the rst time the full engineering resources of a high-end audio manufacturer

had been deployed in the design of an equipment stand. And the Fraim’s performance demonstrates perfectly that

Naim knows best how to support its own electronics. The Fraim brings more detail, pace and focus to music, working in

harmony with the Naim philosophy that makes the fundamentals of music – pitch, timing and dynamics – the priorities.

A Fraim module comprises two fundamental elements: the base level and multiple shelving levels. The base

level provides a stable and non-resonant three-point foundation that decouples the shelving levels above through

two sets of three minimal contact interfaces. Each shelving level then, as well as incorporating a primary set of

three cone and cup interfaces, incorporates a glass sub-shelf supported by a further set of three cup and ball

bearing interfaces. The Fraim principle is that successive minimal contact interfaces progressively decouple the

transmission of mechanical energy. This includes the micro-vibrations created when products are immersed in a

sound eld and those generated by all products while operating, including power supplies. At the same time the

interfaces provide a xed reference plane on which the internal isolation systems of each item of electronics can

perform optimally. Additionally, the shelf height options are congured to ensure that magnetic eld interaction

between electronic products is minimised.

Fraim material selection is as signicant as the arrangement of its components. Super hard stainless steel,

toughened glass selected following intensive listening tests, large section anodised aluminium extrusion and

veneered wood composites all contribute to equipment support that both performs to perfection and perfectly

complements the Naim aesthetic.

FraimLite takes the core Fraim concepts and components and strips them back to the fundamentals to create

entry-level engineered support for less ambitious Naim systems or lower budgets. Stripping back to the

fundamentals however implies no lack of performance or aesthetic quality. The philosophy of the entire

Fraim concept is based on engineering integrity, and that philosophy is fully expressed in FraimLite.

Rather than two-stage base level isolation, FraimLite incorporates just a single set of three cone and cup minimal

contact interfaces. Each FraimLite shelving level then forgoes the Fraim’s glass sub-shelf to support equipment

directly on veneered composite panels.

A FraimLite module comprises a single element base level with multiple shelving levels above. The base level and

each shelving level incorporate a single set of cone and cup interfaces. As with the reference-level Fraim, FraimLite

support enables Naim electronics to perform by providing the ideal motionless environment. Even modest Naim

electronics will benet, with greater detail resolution, more accurate dynamics, and simply more music.

The Options

Fraim and FraimLite shelving level uprights are available in either black or natural anodised nish. Three different

lengths – standard, medium and tall – are available to accommodate the different heights of i and XS Series,

Uniti and Classic Series, and 500 Series Naim electronics.

With standard and medium length uprights, a single Fraim or FraimLite module can incorporate up to six

shelving levels. With tall length uprights, a single Fraim or FraimLite module can incorporate a maximum

of two levels. Different length shelving level uprights may be combined in single Fraim or FraimLite modules.

Floor protection chips are available for those situations where oor spikes are unsuitable, and for the Fraim,

an optional safety kit can provide enhanced glass shelf security and complete peace of mind.

Fraim and FraimLite shelving panels are available in ash, cherry and black ash real wood veneers. The panels are

manufactured in the same facility as the Ovator loudspeaker enclosures, so on matching veneers, consistency

of guring and tone is assured.

The Fraim and FraimLite range is unique in offering a modular system that can expand to accommodate
new components as a hi- system grows. The common components of Fraim and FraimLite mean that a

FraimLite system can be easily and gradually upgraded to Fraim status on a level-by-level basis and that levels

of either type can be combined in one system. A system consisting predominantly of FraimLite could then

incorporate reference-level Fraim shelving levels for critical source components.