Hi Line to Super Lumina interconnect
Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 24 March 2016
My contribution to the growing number of reviews and experiences
Switched to SL from Hi Line on my NDS.
Out of the box a bit thin and glassy but within 48hrs it has just opened out and, frankly amazed me. I'm not greatly analytical about HiFi reviews etc but it just gives more of everything and feels fast, neutral and incredibly 'open'. Some treble harshness has gone from my sound that nothing else has managed to fix and what really impressed me was how I have played some complex or otherwise 'difficult' recordings and they seem to have made 'sense' for the first time. Quite remarkable. My wife noticed the change completely and we sat and just listened to for several hours last night-the ultimate test.
In scale as big an upgrade I think as going from HDX to NDS, and in terms of the presentation I would liken it to the effect of adding a Supercap to my SNAXO which similarly seemed to allow the music to just pour out unfettered rather than making any great dynamic shift of balance or character.
For me a very, very good value upgrade. My experience of Naim burn in has generally been that changes tend to keep happening for few days or a week or so, maybe a little more to come.
Bruce
NDS/555PS 52/52PS SNAXO/Scap 250/2 SBL
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by J.N.
Good stuff Bruce. It's difficult to get across to some people that one must think of Super Lumina in system performance upgrade terms and not focus on what seems like a lot of money for a cable.
SL seems in many cases to give a bigger bang for the buck than a (more expensive) black box upgrade. Do you plan to try SL loudspeaker cables? Irksomely expensive with an active rig of course.
Good listening.
John.
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by ken c
i also found the SL IC from 552 to NDS a very serious upgrade -- but for me it was from stock lavender -- so i guess i was bound to notice a bigger difference.
then after fellow active users reported that SL 4-4 din for snaxo was a good move, i also bought it -- this took a while to settle down for me -- but when it did it was emphatically shockingly good. so much so i actually began to feel that, without the full SL loom (which is a real uphil for active setups), one was missing a lot of what the black boxes are cabable of.
so for me, SL DIN XLRs and SL speaker wires are a a very obvious next upgrade. the only problem right now is that the bank manager doesnt agree. she keeps saying something i dont really understand -- like -- "ken, there is not enough in your account" !!! whats that got to do with it!!? i ask...
then there is of course the small matter of DR upgrades for the 2x500s.
Mad, mad, mad!!!
enjoy your upgrade Bruce!!!
ken
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by Bruce Woodhouse
I have never previously thought of cables in my upgrade plans much before but would definitely do now. I intend to just get on and enjoy the music for a while first though.
I recall the Hi Line made a difference over stock but the leap to SL is a factor of 3 or 4 more (if such things can be measured).
Bruce
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by Harry
Sounds familiar. I had a more bumpy run in but the transformation after five days or so was remarkable. You don't know what you are missing until you actually hear it for yourself.
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by ken c
... You don't know what you are missing until you actually hear it for yourself.
in one pithy sentence, this more or less captures what i felt when my 2 SL cables (IC and snaxo 4-4) were fully run-in and more recently after a few tweaks. 'rediscovering ones collection' is somewhat over-used in hifi parlance, but i have started picking up musical nuances that i never knew existed. Rich tonality and natural timing. Nothing draws attention to itself anymore -- seems all is in balance. 'that which makes me want to play my system' is highly enhanced -- and i find myself reading liner notes more than before...
so for me, its hard to know what further surprised lie in store if i ever get to full SL loom and 500DR upgrades -- but from reports of others similarly affliced -- i suspect the omens are good. (i'm actually thinking of visiting a 500DR full loom user to 'experience' the effect).
what an expensive hobby!! 
enjoy
ken
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by LFCJohn
I can only concur. As good an upgrade as a serious black box change. My initial impression was an omg moment followed so much more over the following months. Upgrade was from hi line.
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by MDS
Good stuff Bruce. It's difficult to get across to some people that one must think of Super Lumina in system performance upgrade terms and not focus on what seems like a lot of money for a cable.
SL seems in many cases to give a bigger bang for the buck than a (more expensive) black box upgrade. Do you plan to try SL loudspeaker cables? Irksomely expensive with an active rig of course.
Good listening.
John.
Very much agree with that.
Mike
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Bruce - this is horrible. Why did you have to post this?
Currently testing 555PS and now this SL DIN-DIN comes up...
Does it ever stop? 
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by Allante93
Take two pills twice a day, no Forum for week!
Acute case of upgraditus.
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by Harry
what an expensive hobby!!
It's all relative. It's the second anniversary of my quitting smoking (and by no coincidence my heart attack),. I'm still over three grand ahead after the SL loom. Nearly covered the DR for the 500.
I'll take the cable any day 
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Take two pills twice a day, no Forum for week!
Acute case of upgraditus.
DR versions of the pills or just regular?
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by PaulC
Allante93 posted:
Take two pills twice a day, no Forum for week!
Acute case of upgraditus.
DR versions of the pills or just regular?
Regular of course - the NHS can't afford the price of the DR pills ��
Posted on: 24 March 2016 by Kevin Richardson
So now the question is: Is a NDX with SL IC as good as NDS with standard IC?
Which provides bigger impact SL IC or SL speaker cable? Strangely the 3.5 m pair of speaker cables costs < the 1.5m din IC.....
Posted on: 25 March 2016 by nigelb
I went from NDX to NDS with a Sarum TA interconnect and the uplift in SQ was huge. I have not compared NDX/SL with NDS/Standard IC but I strongly suspect the NDS/Standard IC would be a clear winner.
I went from NACA5 (with Sarum TA IC) to SL speaker cables with the NDX and again the uplift was large. I kept swapping between the twp speaker cables to check I wasn't imagining this, but yes a great upgrade.
Posted on: 25 March 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Allante93 - please help!
They are doing this again... and the pills are not working either.
I'm starting to have nightmares of having to take a 3rd mortgage out, just to SuperLumina everything..... 
Posted on: 25 March 2016 by nigelb
Adam, resistance is futile. And pills won't help.
But you need a NDS before an full SL loom. Oh and of course then think about speakers!
Best
N
Posted on: 25 March 2016 by Adam Zielinski
The words of wisdom Nigel!
Posted on: 25 March 2016 by Allante93
Allante93 - please help!
They are doing this again... and the pills are not working either.
I'm starting to have nightmares of having to take a 3rd mortgage out, just to SuperLumina everything.....
Dear Adam the pills has an placebo effect, the major part of the prescription is NO FORUM!
LOL!!!
Posted on: 25 March 2016 by nigelb
NO FORUM - then you really would get withdrawal symptoms!
Posted on: 25 March 2016 by Hook
what an expensive hobby!!
It's all relative. It's the second anniversary of my quitting smoking (and by no coincidence my heart attack),. I'm still over three grand ahead after the SL loom. Nearly covered the DR for the 500.
I'll take the cable any day
Happy anniversary Harry, and...
ATB.
Hook
Posted on: 25 March 2016 by Harry
Posted on: 26 March 2016 by The Strat (Fender)
Well done Harry - keep it up and you'll end up with Statement!!
Posted on: 26 March 2016 by Harry
Something worth shooting at
