I’m not happy about the fragility of the design either *, but that has nothing to do with my point, which is that nearly all non-Naim posh cables ignore dampening to address microphonics. I know of only one 3rd party cable that’s an exception - AR Sound. Though I haven’t auditioned any of their cables myself.
For now, I’ll tolerate the fragility, getting them repaired as necessary, because the HighLine is a clear upgrade in my system. However, if I see a good deal on a SuperLumina DIN5 in the future, I will give it a try.
* IMHO, Naim should issue a recall to replace the plastic parts in the HiLine Airplugs with a more robust material.
Well, I’ve started listening to an AVO DIN4-5 to replace the HiLine 4-5 on my Superline. Rejection of microphonics or not, the AVO is not worse in my initial impressions.
Now that the Boulder I had on home audition is gone, I have been playing my Superline again, with the new AVO DIN4-5. So Far I am very impressed. I’m going to let it run in for a while. Then I’ll (very, very carefully) swap the HiLine back in to see how it sounds.
That’s dismaying to hear. I’m familiar with the issue of sample variation among Naim boxes - e.g. people in the know whose dealers allow them to audition multiple 552s before selecting one - but I’d never have guessed something as simple as a cable would be equally inconsistent.
Aside from that, I’ve bought one HiLine and multiple PowerLines, and my general impression is that, while they’ve all been good, they’re only barely worth the elevated price tag. If I was buying again, I’d try to find preloved examples.
On the other hand, every cable I’ve bought from AVO has felt like really good value, from the $40 Tibia C7 all the way to the new Deep-Cryo interconnect. They claim that the latter is within shouting distance of Chord Music, which seems hyperbolic, but if the HiLine price tag is taken as a reference, then the new interconnect is very well priced.
Indeed, I read the threads, and have posted my thoughts earlier on in this thread.
I do feed back to the sales guys when I see them or speak to them.
My own view of the Hi-line is that it is fragile by its nature and requires careful handling. That done, it should be fine. However, while I’ve personally never had a problem with any of mine over many years and many times plugging and unplugging, I realise that some have. Naim evidently recognise that too and I guess that’s why they have repaired FOC long after warranties have expired.
If anybody has a particular issue with the Hi-line then its best taken up with your Naim dealer who can then liaise with their Naim rep.
Yes I did change the tweeters, I even found some instructions somewhere though I can’t at the moment.
The hot melt glue was present on the ones I removed, only one of which had a Naim QC number on it, the other had obviously been replaced before from the quality of the soldering. A soldering iron easily penetrates the glue but the instructions said to cut back past the old solder, which I did.
I had a hot melt gun already from when I’d wound my own inductors for a pair of missions I modified (I have an LCR meter too but it’s packed up now) so adding some as strain relief to the replacements was easy and strangely satisfying. From memory the tweeter to plate screw torque is 0.6Nm but I’m not 100% sure of that. I initially cleaned off and didn’t replace the blue Hylomar but I did later, can’t say I noticed much difference.
I’ve never compared with and without grills, from aesthetics alone I’d want to either use the grills or remove the ridge it mounts to so I use them rather than trust to my limited woodworking skills.