NAP 250/300 third party DIN XLR

I hope not, as I use one!

The DIN-XLR does not carry any power, just the musical signal so I think it should be treated as an interconnect. 

What is the official view on this though from Richard Dane

It doesn't carry any power so it shouldn't be able to cause damage if it's not done right.  Ergo, use of such a thing would probably not constitute "abuse" of the amplifier.

Discussion of the hatpin and Chord din xlr cables have never  been closed on the forum, this should mean that all is ok. This is a regular signal cable just with another plug in one end.

Claus

I do see some modestly priced alternatives to some really expensive ones

but do they improve on the Naim supplied one in the box?

I'm using chord signature tuned aray din to xlr. They work great.

Well, I guess the standard DIN-XLR lead can be improved on, as shown by Naim's Super Lumina and also perhaps (according to some - I have not tried) the Chord TA.  

I have tried some more affordable alternatives and none eclipsed the standard lead in my opinion. I indeed, they all tended to lose something quite fundamental, often making things somewhat smoother, yet also making things too soft and lacking in tension.  

I also remember listening to some alternatives and prototypes at the Naim factory.  I recall that we had got a Hi-line suitably made up for the task.  It was comprehensively trounced by the standard lead.  Which I guess just goes to show how important it is to design a cable specifically to a particular task - you can't just throw any cable in there, no matter how "good" it may be in other situations, and expect it to work brilliantly.  

I'm using a pair of VDH First Ultimate RCA interconnects to connect my streamer to preamp. They are relatively affordable and pretty much trounced the standard lavender din interconnect. I think the standard cables included by Naim work pretty well and do the job, but if you have the budget, there are certainly better alternatives.

It's well worth trying alternative DIn-XLRs. I made up my own, mainly because the standard ones are too short when you've got 500 amps & need to route the cables around the rear heatsinks then into a SNAXO. Having done so, I found they sounded considerably better than the standard offerings (after running in).  

Although signal interconnect cables can still cause damage.  I know of at least one case of a broken Hi Line causing preamp damage.

hi-line causing amp damage? what did it damage and how?

I'm using Chord Indigo Plus between my Supercap DR and 300DR and am really happy. Nothing has blown up yet!