Hi Line cable Failure

I never claimed everyone who messes with their cables break their HiLines, but enough of them do, even when being careful with them. It might be a good design for good sound, but the implementation/execution of it is still crap. I’ve been doing HiFi for 50 years and can’t remember any product that has worse build quality.

I must say the build quality of my Hilines are second to none from what I can see, (although I have been doing hifi for only about 40 years) it’s just the DIN air plugs are relatively fragile, so treat with respect… just like you would a tone arm or cartridge, and they should last for one or two decades before they may need a service… at least in my experience, but I can be a bit ham fisted, although I try and let them hang freely.

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Definitely there is a design problem, mine is only a couple of months old after getting fixed from naim, there is stress point which after sometime due to weather and heat from the equipment starts to fail. More stress on the second last ring.


I’ve never had a tonearm on any turntable so fragile. Cartridges need special care anyway. That’s a given. With that said, in 50 years I have never damaged a cartridge. I once had a stylus come unglued from the cantilever, and that cartridge was replaced under warranty.

It doesn’t matter for now I guess. I want to enjoy my system. Not be afraid to damage an overly fragile cable. Now they are in their boxes where they best belong, IMO.

Looks OK to me. As long as the rings haven’t separated they are working as intended.

It’s the weight of the cable at the end of the plug causing a cantilever stress on the structure.

Cantilever stress in building has a rule of three. For very foot outside the fixed point there should be two foot inside the fixed.

With the HiLine, all the stress is on the rings as the cable pulls on them creating the stress. Being plastic and the method of construction, the rings do not appear to be able to take the stress in all situations.

DG….

Looks ok to me.

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I do wonder if there might be some inconsistency with the manufacture of the rings or something.

My HiLine has survived six system relocations and a decade later it’s still perfectly fine.

I’m not that gentle with it either. I mean I don’t swing it about and bash it against a wall, but I don’t treat it with velvet gloves either. I just grab it by the silver ends and ram them into the sockets. If they were all as delicate as yours, I’d have broken it years ago.

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FWIW: my Hiline DIN 5-5 (for the NDX2) broke twice, once on each end. My HiLine DIN 4-5 (for the Superline) never broke. After the 5-5 broke a second time, I didn’t want to take the chance on the 4-5 breaking – because that would effectively disable my primary source – so I ordered a AV Options DIN 4-5, which I have now. I’ll leave that HiLine in the box and include it when I upgrade from my Superline and move it and the SCDR on. I hardly ever play the NDX2 so the lavender is good enough. I’ll probably move that HiLine on sooner rather than later.

According to unconfirmed sources, Naim will start marketing this accessory to all Hi Line owners :sweat_smile:

I recommend the 3rd party one that’s rather less costly. I use this for securing handlebar tape on my drop bar bikes and it’s perfect.

And TBH, the first time my HiLine broke was during Covid and I had wait nearly a year to get an RA for repair. I did exactly that. Wrapped it in 3M black tape like this. It worked rather well.

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I just want to restress I’m not saying anyone is doing anything wrong> I’d never have been as patient as you. But I can’t help but look at my HiLine and look at the one in the pic from @BackToNaim (which is perfectly intact) and feel that there is some difference. Mine doesn’t seem stressed as much as the one in the picture. The cable comes out a bit straighter before curving down like the links are stronger somehow.

You can see how a logical mind would conclude that a difference in manufacture consistency is the most likely divider between those that last and those that don’t.

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You guys jinxed me. My HiLine DIN5 cable broke despite careful handling.

Unfortunately, Focal Naim America does not offer free (out-of-warranty) HiLine repairs. They charge $150 or $250 per broken AirPlug, depending on whether it requires partial or full replacement.

It probably failed just from having a photo taken of it. They are very sensitive.

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Weirdly enough, there are also plenty of us who manage to install Naim systems on their own, and don’t fret over cables, fiddle with stuff, dismantle racks etc, but actually enjoy good music. Who would have thought :sunglasses:

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I do wonder if there is an issue to do with temperature and humidity, and some climates weaken the plastic over time.
There are clearly very different experiences being stated here.

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Not sure. My summers are 85-100% humidity and very hot. My winters 15% and cold. The veneer on some low cost Qacoustics speakers has blistered within the first 18 months of this. No other bit of hifi, including the hi-line has been affected though.

It’s a mystery for sure.

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Mine went back to UK twice for repair and I was charged for the second repair. On both occasions the cable had been handled carefully and exactly as recommended, prior to breaking.

Either some are lucky or some are unlucky but it seems the design, implementation, quality control or some other factor makes this something of a lottery, as is whether or not you might be charged for a repair.

Though I felt it provided a satisfying uplift in sound quality vs Lavender, HighLine remains the most disappointing Naim product I have experienced.

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“not all Hi-line users report problems despite years of use”

But an unacceptably high number report failures - including me. That is just not good enough.
At some point, you do have to admit that, although excellent from a sound point of view, it is just too fragile.

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Are you sure. My dealer handled getting mine repaired by F-N America in the U.S., and it was no charge. I bought mine secondhand too.