HiLine; a heretic awaits his pyre

Posted by: Will Dias on 16 June 2016

Got a used HiLine on home dem the other day. Gosh, they're fragile & rattly - I would have felt more at ease handling a rattle snake (especially as it was on loan)!

While listening through the old grey, I performed all the massaging and stroking and cooing, and then got round to swapping them. My system's in an alcove - like a fitted cupboard with no doors, and fitting it was a heart-in-mouth-while-swearing-under-my-breath exercise. Cable dressing was done as well as possible in the circumstances.

The result - well there was a difference, but an extremely subtle one, not the 'night and day' some have reported. More interestingly, I didn't really like it. It was definitely smoother, more polite, more 'liquid'(?) - excuse me, I'm particularly not good at this describing sounds stuff. The big problem was, that some of the life seemed to have been sucked out of the music, like the musicians couldn't really be bothered.

When I finally swapped back to the plain stock cable, there was slightly more edge and glare to the sound, but the music was back! I'll live with that, just as I'll live with pops and crackles on records.

I really wanted to like the HiLine, it's a lovely bit of design, and it comes with smart silver tin! Maybe I'm just an old codger who's stuck in the 90s Olive period which is when I got into Naim.

So, Hiline back to the dealers (the missus had to post it, and muttered something under her breath when I mentioned how much insurance cover it would require), and I've got some spondoolicks to blow on more music.

Regards,

Will.

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by hungryhalibut

There is also a 4 to 5 pin Snaic (or the other way round, I can't remember), which is probably what is meant by 'others'. 

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by Chris Dolan
Hungryhalibut posted:

There is also a 4 to 5 pin Snaic (or the other way round, I can't remember), which is probably what is meant by 'others'. 

I know that there is a 4 to 5 Pin DIN lavender interconnect used for connecting a Superline or a Stageline to the pre-amp via a Hi Cap or Supercap - as I have one  - but not so sure about a 4/5 SNAIC

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by Allante93
Hungryhalibut posted:

There is also a 4 to 5 pin Snaic (or the other way round, I can't remember), which is probably what is meant by 'others'. 

True, but Mr Richard Dane Clearly stated: 

SNAICs are only used onsome power amps and power supplies. Never to take signal out of a source component! 

I'm just joined The Forum January of 2015, by all means I'm giving information out, but absorbing information! 

Just want to make sure I understand! 

Then I can say, look Grasshopper, a Sniac under no circumstances, can be used to deliver a signal from source to Pre Amp! 

At least not as relates to Naim, the configuration will not allow the connection! 

Even though it has the capabilities to deliver Power and Signal. 

Allante93!

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by hungryhalibut
Chris Dolan posted:
Hungryhalibut posted:

There is also a 4 to 5 pin Snaic (or the other way round, I can't remember), which is probably what is meant by 'others'. 

I know that there is a 4 to 5 Pin DIN lavender interconnect used for connecting a Superline or a Stageline to the pre-amp via a Hi Cap or Supercap - as I have one  - but not so sure about a 4/5 SNAIC

I believe you are right, so I'm wrong. I'm certainly confused. Need to lie down. 

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by Richard Dane

There have been some 5-4 SNAICs made in the past to special order but not official, mainly for allowing connection between early preamp and dual rail power supply (only suiplying a single rail though). However, its a SNAIC so never used on source. Do not confuse with regular 4-5 interconnect, which is thin grey/lilac and signal i/c only.

oh, and remember that interconnects for sources use 180 degree 5 pin DIN, whereas SNAICs use 240 degree 4 and 5 pin DINs..

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by Allante93
Richard Dane posted:

oh, and remember that interconnects for sources use 180 degree 5 pin DIN, whereas SNAICs use 240 degree 4 and 5 pin DINs..

Thanks Richard, I'm good now!

Allante93!