Hi line issue

Hi. The clue is if you changed the cable and the problem went away there is either an issue with the cable or possibly it was not quite connected. I guess you swapped it back in to see if the problem was still there? Do double check all other cables are well connected as well as you may have just knocked one when you put the lavender one in.

Yes the HiLine is a fragile beast and may well need to go back to HQ if there is a continuing issue. 

If it sounds "awful" when using the lavender cable I'd say something else is obviously wrong. The standard lavender cable is normally very capable.

The Hi-Line is a bit fragile, though I had no problem when I had one.  But as others have suggested, the symptoms you describe point to a fault with your Hi-Line.

I would try connecting the Hi-line again just to make sure you have it seated correctly in the sockets at source and amp end before condemning the cable. If this still doesn't sound right then something has come adrift internally in one of the plugs and will need to go back to your dealer (and possibly Naim) to fix. I take it the Lavender cable sounding awful is just it sounding different - you don't have the hum / buzz using this cable ?

Breaks all the time. Plenty of threads on it over the years. Naim will repair or replace. I was pleasantly surprised to be reminded just how great the lavender is.

They do break if you look at them funny ...but it is pretty obvious that it is broken usually...with the plastic end flapping around

If it is broken internally... Then one of the three wires in it (if it is a five pin ...two aren't used) then that is less easy to see ...but if you remove the small screws either side ..the cover comes off ...and you should clearly see if a wire is loose or damaged on one of the three ( floating type) pins.

It sounds like to me that one of the earth connections has broken free on your Hi-Line. I reckon a competent dealer should be able to fix it for you.

The down side of the hi-line and I suspect remedied/ addressed in the design of the SL are the wobbly connectors.  I am convinced that the dead weight of the cable over time leverages/ fatigues the connector eventually resulting in failure.  Either that or individuals who cannot be blamed move them around whilst cleaning!  Either way I found it disappointing how fragile they appear to be.  Perhaps they have been strengthened over the years - not sure on that one.

I would definitely take the cable back to your dealer/ one with a repairs capacity and have them give it the once over.  Dangerous move as all sorts of black boxes can start speaking to you from the display shelves...!!

Peter

I had the same thing happen to my Hi-Line. I bought it brand new and plugged it in, never played around with it or anything. Then one day I decided to disconnect it and connect the olde 'Lavender' back in just for curiosity purposes and after hearing how much better the Hi-Line is, I reconnected it, only to end up with the same buzzing sound as the OP describes. Being quite a confident individual (as i've done a lot of specialised wiring/soldering over the years) I decided to take mine apart. It turned out (for me) that the earth wire had broken it's connection at one end of the plug. All other connections appeared solid and perfect. I can only put it down to a bad connection in the first place. I repaired mine myself with an easy soldering joint with a Metcal soldering iron and it has performed superb ever since.

I suggest the OP takes their Hi-Line to the dealer where i'm sure they will fix it as I did mine, I know i should not of done but I did. I just put it down to it being one of those things and I would not get to hit up about it, s**t happens.

As for the plastic rings or the weight of the cable or what not - mine has been completely fault free.