HiLine - Wow!!!

Posted by: Musicmad on 20 December 2017

Okay, I've eschewed the idea of upgrading interconnects whilst I'm still building my perfect system and even stated a few weeks ago that such an upgrade would have to wait.  And then, talking with my Naim dealer (and placing an order for a new black box ), I suddenly said I'd have an HiLine - Din to Din to replace the nDAC -> SuperNait standard interconnect.

A lot of money for a cable inside a very fancy box (my better half wanted to wrap it for putting under the Christmas tree but I said I'd better check it out to make sure it works in case I have to return it ...)

Well, 24 hours on ... what can I say other than WOW!

I've just played an album I've known for years and it sounds so fresh, open and real ... Mr. Sinatra and the Ralph Brewster Singers could have been in my living room.

Before I changed the cables I played three pieces of music I know very well ... and then played them again after the changeover.  The first didn't sound too different, the second and third had so much more detail, depth that it was like hearing them in a room twice the size of our living room.

I have lots of new music on my NAS and so won't necessarily hear the improvement but I can't wait to play long-owned favourites.  And I'm so pleased I have the HiLine now before I swap the SuperNait for a NAC 282 ... I might not have realised just how good that piece of cable is.  And it's comes in a lovely tin, too ... 

If you're wondering ... don't hesitate ... that piece of cable does make a positive difference!

Mitch

Posted on: 20 December 2017 by Erich
Musicmad posted:

 

I have lots of new music on my NAS and so won't necessarily hear the improvement 

Why not?

Posted on: 20 December 2017 by Adam Zielinski

Enjoy! HiLine is particularly good with digital sources.

Posted on: 20 December 2017 by Musicmad
Erich posted:
Musicmad posted:

 

I have lots of new music on my NAS and so won't necessarily hear the improvement 

Why not?

Because I won't know what such new music sounded like without the HiLine in place.  Pieces like John Barry's Main Title Theme from The Ipcress File (1965) I've known for almost 40 years and so any change in the sound reproduction is clear to me; I can't say the same for Wilhem Kempff's (wonderful) performances of Schubert's Piano Sonatas ... each of which are receiving their first play.

Posted on: 21 December 2017 by Richieroo

I found hiline was not to my taste with nds/552 it was very very upfront .... tried SL this was a match made in heaven.....

Posted on: 21 December 2017 by Bob the Builder

I had a similar experience with the Hiline it sounded like the volume had been turned up but later on though it didn't sound as good as I had thought.

Posted on: 21 December 2017 by The Strat (Fender)

Funnily I thought the opposite.  I tried a Chord Sig TA between my CDP/pre and was initially impressed but when I went back to the HL I thought the organic feel came back.  Haven’t home tried a SL on cost grounds!

Each to own. 

Lindsay

Posted on: 21 December 2017 by Ravenswood10

I use both hi-lines and SLs and love what that hiline does with my NAT01. Room for both here but be careful with those decoupling rings - I’ve had a couple part company in the past but the factory has always rectified.

Posted on: 22 December 2017 by Mr Happy

I love the hiline between my nds and 552. I tried a superlumina and thought it sounded nice, if a little laid back. 

Posted on: 23 December 2017 by Musicmad

A mixture of replies ... and, of course, each to their own.  For me: I was so taken aback - positively - at just how good the HiLine kicked in, almost from the word go.

I admit I didn't know there was the SL possibility, too ... I had thought the SL was speaker wire only  ... but, even though I have no idea of its price ... I imagine it's outside my range.  I'll live with the HL - happily - for the immediate future (assuming the changeover of SN to 282 does not cause me to re-think)

Mitch

Posted on: 23 December 2017 by rsch
Richieroo posted:

I found hiline was not to my taste with nds/552 it was very very upfront .... tried SL this was a match made in heaven.....

Hi Line interconnect has a fantastic VFM and it's probably a better match on classic series. On the other hand i' m afraid that in the context of  notoriously smooth combos like CDS3/252/300 Super Lumina  may not be totally an ideal match.

Btw S.Lumina speaker cable on my 500  system has revelead like the icing on the cake.

Regards

Roberto