Hi line cable

[Ardbeg10y]

Well, I’ve just downgraded to that weedy cable because it sounded better

I’m not on your level of amplification and source though.

[andypandya1]

Oh really?

To be honest I think mine sounds great as is… but just thought the cable would make a difference!
Got me worried now ?

[Ardbeg10y]

Hiline is considered an upgrade, but it can go ‘off’. It might be an good idea to keep the old cable and if you are somehow not satisfied by the music, install the standard cable again and see.

Oh and I did downgrade from a non-Naim cable.

[ChrisSU]

I would say always keep an open mind on cables, there is rarely a consensus on what benefits they bring. For example, I borrowed my dealer’s demo Superlumina DIN cable to try between my NDX and 282, and it did absolutely nothing for me. It’s a £2k cable, and others apparently like it. Superlumina speaker cables, on the other hand, were a dramatic improvement for me, as were a few other interconnects I’ve tried in the past.

[Hollow]

Interesting thread here from a few years ago……

Back to Lavender

After a dalliance with the HiLine on my NDX2/XPSDR 282/HCDR 250DR I’ve gone back to the Lavender this past week. To my ears it’s much better balanced and, well, musical. The HiLine exaggerates the frequency extremes ‘for effect’ I feel. It throws the sound out at you just a bit too much? G

[GraemeH]

But with the ND555 I’m finding the HiLine just right.

ND555 HiLine vs Morgana Din-Din Outcome

Lots written about this on here but my tuppence worth: I’ve tried both now over the period I’ve had the ND555 and have come down decisively in favour of the HiLine. To my ear it sounds more balanced and less ‘clinical’. It times better too, giving the overall presentation a more natural and propulsive addictiveness. My preference on the NDX2 was the opposite strangely, and I initially assumed it would be the same with the ND555. Not so. G

G

[Dynaudio1]

I switched from Hiline to Superlumina DIN to DIN on my CDS3 some years ago and although costly, it was a very significant improvement. I use the SL now on the CD555, where it is very much at home.

[Stephen_Tate]

I’ve found the Lavender/grey to be brighter and less smoother than the HiLine. The HiLine also has more richness in the mids (filled out), bass too is fuller and better defined., then there’s the ebb & flow where the HiLine is much more superior in this respect.

[bnc1863]

I have tried quite a few pro-audio (from the likes of Mogami, Gotham, Canare, Van Damme and Flashback) cables for the 180 5pin-5pin DIN between NDX2 and 252. These are in addition to Naim’s lavender and HiLine. In summary, I prefer the SQ from Hiline with Mogami 3173 coming in close second.

[Richard.Dane]

Which interconnect is Naim’s “black”?

[Mike-B]

@bnc1863

I prefer the SQ from Hiline with Mogami 3173 coming in close second

I too am a Mogami IC user, in my case its 2549. I initially chose it for a DIY project because of its very low capacitance & high end materials.
I made up a prototype & compared it with my Lavender, FlashBack & AR Sounds, also a few borrowed others & a HiLine. The Mogami was so close to HiLine & hard to tell.

I made the 2549 cables with Neutrik DIN plugs & the set each of the lengths to fit between components with the objective of reducing the already low capacitance to a minimum.

[bnc1863]

[Guinnless]

Interconnect on the left, SNAIC on the right.

[bnc1863]

Hi Mike,

Glad that your “findings” are similar to mine wrt Mogami. As a matter of fact, the 3173 is now sitting in between the NDX2 and 252 - at the moment. I may swap back the HiLine later on.

I also have the 2549 made for connecting the SCDR to 250DR. I’m waiting for WH Morgana to replace this. For rca connection to other sources, i’m using 2803 and 2497. Highly recommended.

[bnc1863]

You are right! Apologies for the confusion. Getting late in this part of the world…hahaha.

[bnc1863]

Richard, apologies for the confusion.

[andypandya1]

Hi guys

Got the cable… hmmm glad I only paid 330…
Not a massive improvement is it…

[Ardbeg10y]

Is it connected the correct way around? I believe it is directional.

[Guinnless]

And fitted correctly?

Must hang free and not touch any other cables or the floor.
Once pushed home pull back the plug by 1mm to maximise the decoupling.

Mine was still an improvement even when connected the wrong way round for the first few tracks…

[Richard.Dane]

There’s a bit of a knack of getting it to connect without any stressing along the cable or the plugs. Take each plug in each hand with the cable in a nice u shaped loop between them. Orientate the plugs so they’re exactly positioned to slide into the sockets. If you don’t have a nice even u shaped cable then you can gently swing it back and forth while holding each end just before the plugs (keep the plugs within your palms so they don’t come apart or get stressed themselves. Once you you have it nicely de-stressed and formed then take it over the kit and the plugs should hopefully just slide in. When they are fully home just pull back on the plug front a mm or two so the end is not completely rammed up to the end of the Din socket. It sounds like a bit of a faff, and may take a few tries, but the results are well worth it. Any undue stress on the cable or the plugs will result in the decoupling not working properly, which you’ll hear easily as the sound will just become a bit closed-in and constrained.