Humming Hi-Line.

Credit to your investigative and soldering skills, Stephen. Must have been a very nice feeling when, after that work, the Hi-line delivered on its reputation.  

I had a Hi-line for a few years and never had an issue with it, but then it was disturbed very infrequently.

Good work there Stephen 

The Hi-line does seem to be a very musical cable, but the delicacy of it just puts me right off. For the price it should be both musical AND well-engineered.

Thanks chaps 

Yep, the music is now fantastic, it's never been this good. I did check all the other conductors 'both ends' and all looked perfect, luckily it was just the one earth conductor at the source end.

My Hi-Line was ordered brand new after I gave my dealer the go ahead whilst using the their demo. I have never really mucked about with it - too expensive for me to even contemplate such actions.

I'm just so happy it's all worked out because I was feeling a bit short changed if i'm honest, especially after plugging in the lavender. Now I feel so relieved and of course proud.

The Hi-Line is a fantastic cable and has made sure the my lavender has gone back in it's box - how dare it do that to me.

Happy listening!

Full credit, Stephen, for your investigative powers and soldering skills. Result!

I fancy one myself but my lavender touches the floor so there doesn't seem any point.

winkyincanada posted: For the price it should be both musical AND well-engineered.

Oh, it's well engineered alright but because of it's design I think it just needs to be treated with utter respect. I mean, If one follows the instruction manual, you can't really go wrong. I have not had any of the plastic rings break or anything like that but I would imagine if one dropped the plug on a hard non-carpet floor then maybe it may end it tears - but then again you could say the same thing about a vinyl disc 

Christopher_M posted:

Full credit, Stephen, for your investigative powers and soldering skills. Result!

I fancy one myself but my lavender touches the floor so there doesn't seem any point.

Believe me Chris, it took some courage as I knew what the outcome would of been if I had messed it up taking it apart. I have the tools and I have done a lot of wiring in my time with all types of connectors so thought i'd have a look. I can't believe the uplift in performance to what I've been used to with my CDs. I mean, streaming from my laptop was more preferable but now my CD player shows that option a clean set of heels now my cable is fixed!

The lavender is good, very good and I could of left it in, but when I home demoed the Hi-Line in 2015 it was better and enough for me to justify ordering one. Looking back at things i'm now glad that my Hi-Line started humming because it has obviously revealed a fault I never knew it had in the first place and could of kept on going as is, with me none the wiser.

happy listening!

Christopher_M posted:

I fancy one myself but my lavender touches the floor 

Have you no shame !

Stephen Tate posted:

winkyincanada posted: For the price it should be both musical AND well-engineered.

Oh, it's well engineered alright but because of it's design I think it just needs to be treated with utter respect. I mean, If one follows the instruction manual, you can't really go wrong. I have not had any of the plastic rings break or anything like that but I would imagine if one dropped the plug on a hard non-carpet floor then maybe it may end it tears - but then again you could say the same thing about a vinyl disc 

I don't think something as fragile as a Hi-line could really be regarded as "well engineered" for its real-world intended use. It is a matter of opinion, though.

Winky, I agree. ‘Flimsy’ is a far better description. When I had one it seemed to fall apart spontaneously.

Mmm...my Hi-Line has never spontaneously fell apart, never had any of the plastic clips come apart or anything like that. In my instance it was electrical and I am putting that down to 'one that slipped through the net' on whoever assembled and tested it. I can see that it would of passed a test on a machine but passing and working properly are two different things.

Even with my headphone listening through my NAIT 5si now has an appreciable lift in performance!

winkyincanada posted:

I don't think something as fragile as a Hi-line could really be regarded as "well engineered" for its real-world intended use. It is a matter of opinion, though.

Unbelievable how fragile this cable is ... it's only within the Naim community that this is accepted ... I've used to own one, but its fragile construction made me depart it ...

When I had a Hiline I never had a problem although it was very sensitive to how it was dressed.

Richard

I'd agree that the Hi-Line is not the most robust of components. Most of the problems come from the 'tail' rings separating - a bit of a worry if it happens but easily fixed.

It's not really designed for frequent cable swappers and just needs a bit of care when handling. It won't fall apart on its own but take a few minutes to understand how it works, read the instructions and take it gently when plugging in or removing and all will be fine.

Hi,

The biggest improvement for me so far since the 'fix' is a tighter, deeper and more defined bass, a leading edge that wasn't there before (similar to the lavender) but smoother and more effortless, a quieter background and overall just a more coherent sound. 

It can be a funny old world this Hi Fi malarkey...I feel much happier now that I did the upgrade in the first place. It's Just unfortunate it took all this time to reach the desired effect.

Thanks to everyone for all your kind words.

Happy listening.

Had the same problem with a Hiline. Very fragile indeed, unacceptably so. Mine was repaired by Salisbury, free of charge.

Just WOW!

I cannot believe how good a Hi-Line cable is even through my SI series components! 

The sound stage has now opened up massively with more presence in the details. The dynamics are now blisteringly wonderful with no harshness or edginess anywhere throughout the entire frequency range. Even the bass has tightened as well as gone deeper, I was not expecting anything like what i'm hearing right now or even thought this was possible from my system. 

It just goes to show how important CONNECTION really is - it never ever ceases to amaze me. 

Thankyou Naim  for building such wonderful products! 

Happy listening!

How do you keep it [the HiLine] off the floor, Stephen?

I've only four levels of Isoblue.

The sound stage has now opened up massively with more presence in the details. The dynamics are now blisteringly wonderful with no harshness or edginess anywhere throughout the entire frequency range. Even the bass has tightened as well as gone deeper, I was not expecting anything like what i'm hearing right now or even thought this was possible from my system. 

Hmmm - must get a new set of ears.

Christopher_M posted:

How do you keep it [the HiLine] off the floor, Stephen?

I've only four levels of Isoblue.

Hi Chris,

I have my CD player on a separate shelf adjacent to the rest of the system. My Hi-Line loops and missing the floor by an inch or so...

Thank you. I had thought that in an ideal world, a HiLine and a few Powerline Lites as you have, would complete my set. Still, it's not shabby

C.

SamClaus posted:

The sound stage has now opened up massively with more presence in the details. The dynamics are now blisteringly wonderful with no harshness or edginess anywhere throughout the entire frequency range. Even the bass has tightened as well as gone deeper, I was not expecting anything like what i'm hearing right now or even thought this was possible from my system. 

Hmmm - must get a new set of ears.

Well it sounds like over the top hyperbole and I suppose it is when you highlight my words but it's how I am describing the improvement and it is MILES better. Before, my Hi-Line was boring and 'lumpy' sounding and I would prefer to listen to the laptop via a USB DAC instead.

Christopher_M posted:

Thank you. I had thought that in an ideal world, a HiLine and a few Powerline Lites as you have, would complete my set. Still, it's not shabby

C.

Hi Chris,

I think the Powerline Lite cables bring a worthwhile subtle improvement (sound wise) over the stock cables. The Naim mains plugs have a real weighty wobbly quality and robust feel to them. Glad I purchased them, a no brainer really.

As for the HiLine, and in my case not as greater perceived value for money as the Powerline Lites, will bring more the higher up the chain one is with their boxes, and with my entry level set up I thought it was worth it when I auditioned it. I've just been unfortunate with mine. Do I regret it?  No I do not and in any case, i'm now gunning for a CDX2! 

I can vouch for the CDX2 :-)   Amazing vfm. I think one would be pretty good in your set, especially with everything optimised as you have it. Good luck.

C.