Audio T Verdict
The Naim Fraim Medium-Height Level adds one decoupled support surface to an existing full Fraim rack. Its medium uprights provide 180mm of nominal equipment space beneath the new platform, making it a useful choice for taller components or installations that need more ventilation and cable clearance than the standard level allows.
This listing is for one expansion level, not the rack shown in multi-level product photographs. A Naim Fraim Base or a correctly assembled existing Fraim stack is required. The level includes its veneered platform, medium-height uprights, isolation hardware and 10mm toughened-glass support surface.
Audio T currently offers eight combinations: Black, Cherry, Cherry Tint or Natural Ash platforms, each with natural aluminium or black anodised uprights. Check the existing rack finish and the required clearance before ordering.
Naim Fraim Medium-Height Level
Fraim is Naim's reference modular equipment-support system. Each added level connects to the structure beneath through three cup-and-cone interfaces, while its toughened-glass sub-shelf rests on three hardened-steel balls for a further stage of mechanical decoupling.
The medium-height version increases the rack by 250mm when its glass shelf is installed. It provides 180mm of available vertical space between the support surface below and the underside of the new shelf structure.
Designed For
- Extending an existing full Naim Fraim rack
- Providing 180mm of nominal equipment clearance
- Taller components that do not suit a standard level
- Systems needing additional ventilation or cable space
- Naim and compatible third-party hi-fi components
- Matching four platform and two upright finishes
Important Limitations
- It cannot stand independently on the floor
- A Fraim Base or compatible Fraim stack is required
- Only one medium-height level is supplied
- The 180mm figure is nominal available height
- Maximum shelf load is 50kg, evenly distributed
- Maximum load for one complete rack assembly is 90kg
- Assembly and correct alignment are required
One Level, Not a Complete Rack
Product images may show several Fraim levels assembled above a base to illustrate the finished system. This product supplies one medium-height level only. It does not include a Fraim Base, additional levels, floor spikes, hi-fi components or the optional glass safety kit.
Every independent Fraim stack begins with a double-layer Fraim Base. The medium level is then installed above the base or above another compatible level, depending on the planned position of the equipment and the required vertical clearance.
The Uprights Set the Space Below
A Fraim level's uprights connect its platform to the support structure beneath. The medium uprights therefore create the 180mm space for the component located immediately below the new platform. The new glass surface then supports another component above.
If the component placed on the new glass will later have another level above it, the height of that next level determines its available overhead clearance.
180mm Available Height
Naim publishes 180mm as the available height for a medium Fraim level. The corresponding overall increase in rack height is 250mm including the glass support surface. These figures distinguish it from the 105mm clearance and 175mm overall height of a standard level.
Measure the component at its highest point and allow additional room for ventilation. Rear connectors, aerials, lid mechanisms and cable bends may need more space than the front-panel height suggests. Always follow the equipment manufacturer's ventilation instructions.
Where 180mm is still insufficient, a tall Fraim level provides 254mm of nominal clearance. Using a taller level than necessary increases the rack's total height, so the complete system should be planned before ordering individual modules.
Decoupled Toughened-Glass Support
The equipment rests on a 452 x 340mm toughened-glass sub-shelf rather than directly on the veneered platform. Three chrome-plated hardened-steel balls support the glass at minimal contact points, while locating sockets and a pin keep it correctly positioned.
Naim specifies 10mm toughened glass compliant with BS6206 Class A. Handle it carefully and use it only for its intended purpose. If it becomes chipped, cracked or broken, stop using it and obtain the correct replacement through a Naim retailer.
Cup-and-Cone Inter-Level Interface
Three anodised aluminium uprights connect the new level to the structure beneath. Purpose-made stainless-steel cups, cones, clamping rings, nuts and studs form rigid, minimal-contact interfaces between successive levels.
This sequence is intended to limit the transmission of mechanical energy while providing a stable reference plane for the supported equipment. The shaped 19mm double-veneered composite platform and its asymmetrical three-point support form part of the complete system rather than serving as a conventional furniture shelf.
Eight Current Finish Combinations
Audio T currently lists four platform finishes, each available with natural aluminium or black anodised uprights:
- Black platform with natural aluminium uprights
- Black platform with black anodised uprights
- Cherry platform with natural aluminium uprights
- Cherry platform with black anodised uprights
- Cherry Tint platform with natural aluminium uprights
- Cherry Tint platform with black anodised uprights
- Natural Ash platform with natural aluminium uprights
- Natural Ash platform with black anodised uprights
Cherry Tint is darker than the untinted Cherry option. Real wood veneer naturally varies in grain and tone, so a newly ordered level may not be visually identical to an older rack even when the named finish matches.
Match Both Parts of the Finish
Select both the platform finish and upright colour. A Black platform with natural aluminium uprights is a different version from a Black platform with black uprights. Check the existing rack in good light or provide Audio T with photographs if the original specification is unknown.
Load Limits and Rack Planning
Naim states a maximum safe load of 50kg on each Fraim shelf, evenly distributed. It also states a maximum load of 90kg for one complete Fraim or FraimLite assembly. Both restrictions apply, so adding another level does not increase the permitted total load of the rack.
The official Fraim brochure specifies the medium level at 7.6kg. Include the weight of every base and level when checking that the floor and its supporting structure are suitable for the completed installation.
With standard or medium uprights, Naim permits up to six levels above the base. Tall-upright configurations are limited to two levels above the base. Ask Audio T to confirm a mixed-height arrangement and the best way to distribute heavy components between one or more stacks.
Component Order and Ventilation
Medium levels are useful for components that are too tall for standard clearance or benefit from more open space. Large power amplifiers, integrated amplifiers and some valve or top-loading products may require additional ventilation, but the component manual remains the controlling source for clearance requirements.
Place heavy products lower in the rack where practical and avoid obstructing ventilation openings. Power supplies and power amplifiers can generate magnetic fields, so more space or a separate rack stack may be appropriate when they are positioned near sensitive source or pre-amplifier components.
Cable Clearance and Dressing
Check every cable before finalising the rack layout. Rear plugs, DIN connectors, Burndy collars, network leads and mains cables need room behind the equipment, and some connectors require more depth than the chassis alone.
Signal and power cables should reach their sockets naturally without being stretched, sharply bent or pressed against the rack. The medium spacing can make cable access easier, but it does not increase the 442mm overall rack depth or the 340mm glass-shelf depth.
Assembly and Installation
Unload the rack before adding or removing a level. Follow Naim's assembly sequence so that every cup, cone, ball, socket, stud and clamping component faces the correct way. Protect the veneer and glass during assembly, and check that the complete structure is level and stable before replacing the equipment.
Do not use the level as a step or seat, and do not move a loaded rack by dragging it across the floor. Audio T can plan and assemble the system where the weight, number of levels or cable arrangement makes installation difficult.
Fraim and FraimLite Compatibility
This is a full Fraim level with a ball-supported glass sub-shelf. FraimLite levels use a simpler structure and normally support equipment directly on their veneered platform. The two systems are not identical even though they share a modular footprint.
Naim describes a level-by-level upgrade path and permits mixed Fraim and FraimLite installations. Ask Audio T to verify the required hardware, appearance and assembly before adding this medium Fraim level to a FraimLite-based system.
Care and Maintenance
Dust the veneered platform and anodised uprights with a clean, soft cloth. Clean the glass with a damp cloth or chamois, using a little washing-up liquid or soft soap where required. Do not use abrasive powders or cleaners.
Do not strike the glass with hard or pointed objects or expose it directly to very hot or very cold items. Periodically confirm that the rack remains level, especially after equipment changes or relocation.
Key Features
- One medium-height expansion level for full Naim Fraim
- Provides 180mm of nominal equipment clearance beneath the new platform
- Adds 250mm to the rack height including glass
- 10mm toughened-glass equipment support
- Glass supported on three hardened-steel ball decouplers
- Inter-level cup-and-cone isolation interface
- Four platform finishes and two upright colours
- 452 x 340mm glass support surface
- 50kg maximum evenly distributed shelf load
- Requires a Fraim Base or compatible existing stack
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this level be used without a Fraim Base?
No. It is an expansion module and has no floor interface. Install it above a Fraim Base or a compatible existing Fraim level as part of a correctly assembled rack.
Does the product include all three levels shown in some photographs?
No. Only one medium-height level is supplied. Product photography may show a base and several levels to illustrate a completed Fraim system.
What does 180mm available height mean?
It is the nominal vertical space created beneath the new medium-height platform. Measure the equipment located below that platform and retain additional clearance for ventilation, connectors and cables.
Does the medium level include its glass shelf?
Yes. A full Fraim level includes the 10mm toughened-glass sub-shelf and its ball-supported isolation hardware. Check that every component is present before assembly.
How is it different from the standard Fraim level?
The isolation system and shelf footprint are the same, but the upright length differs. The medium level provides 180mm of available height and adds 250mm overall, compared with 105mm and 175mm for the standard level.
How is it different from the tall level?
The tall version provides 254mm of available height and adds 324mm overall. Choose it only when the component, ventilation or cable arrangement needs more than the medium level's 180mm clearance.
Which finish should I order?
Match both the platform veneer and the upright colour of the existing rack. Audio T currently lists four platform finishes with either natural aluminium or black uprights. Natural wood grain and tone can vary.
How many medium levels can one stack use?
Naim permits up to six levels above one base when standard or medium uprights are used, subject to the 50kg shelf limit and 90kg maximum load for the complete assembly. Mixed tall configurations should be confirmed with Audio T.
Can Audio T assemble and reconfigure the rack?
Yes. Audio T can help specify the level order, match finishes, check clearances and cable lengths, and arrange careful assembly and levelling where required.
Why Buy From Audio T?
The correct Fraim level depends on more than chassis height. Audio T can check ventilation, rear-connector clearance, cable dressing, equipment order, loaded weight and the visual match with an existing rack before the module is ordered.
Your local store can also help assemble or extend the rack safely, preserving the orientation of the isolation components and checking that the completed structure remains level and within Naim's published limits.
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