Mine still sounds ok. It’s just the thought of the one broken ring playing tricks with my mind. 
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My HiLine does the same. Possibly this is the issue or ‘tell’ for a good cable.
They may have improved the formulation of the plastic at some point. Or maybe it becomes brittle with age.
In any case, if it’s doing that, it’s probably already broken. There are three clips on each ring, that connects it to the next ring in line. If one clip on a ring is broken, the HiLine will sag a bit, but will probably hang together. If two or more clips on a ring are broken, it will sag much more severely, and will probably separate from the next ring as well.
I have two preowned HiLines that I had to get repaired. I sent them in to Focal Naim America, and they replaced the damaged parts. In fact, one was already broken as purchased, so I negotiated a partial-refund to cover the repair cost.
After the repair, they both behave as per your “good” description.
My experience is almost identical to that of Stephen’s. My Hi Line had been sitting in situ on my NDX for a few years now and was perfect when I installed it. I recently went to unplug it to put an NDX 2 in and noticed that the smallest ring had broken in that time. Clearly not an issue from being unplugged and plugged, i’m guessing it was as a result of the weight of the cable.
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Many thanks - not sure why it took me so long to think about it but its better than the broken rings / disconnections…
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It’s a shame. I really like the performance from the HiLine. The music sounds wonderful. I just can’t send mine off for a fifth time, it would make me feel bitter and go against my core values. Anyway, i’m now toying with the idea of trying a Chord SignatureX Tuned Aray. It’s about the same price of a HiLine. Any good?
I just installed a s/h Chord Sarum Super Aray 5pin din-din, Stephen, and it’s a stunner. This is my second one. The first replaced a HiLine between 555/552.
Should be cheaper than a new HiLine or SignatureX - in the £700 area.
G
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Wow. This is sounding promising. I hadn’t thought of a Sarum Super Aray (thought it would be way out of my price league). £1,000 is my absolute ceiling on the budget stakes. I will certainly be looking at the used markets. Thank you.
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My first one cracked, was repaired and then lost a channel as a wire was then too short inside one of the plugs, that was fixed too and currently it’s in use on my 555. The one that came with my 555 hasn’t cracked a ring but might have a damaged leg of one as the same pair of rings keeps pulling apart under the cable’s weight. In France it costs me carriage each time I send something back to Naim, even to the local crew in St Etienne, though Naim don’t charge for the repair. It will only go back if I can put it in with another box that has to go back but it’s a spare so it can wait.
I see one on the bay has just dropped in price with a ‘best offer’ also available, Stephen.
G
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I’ve just put the grey/lavender interconnect in. Wow. What a drop in quality. The delicacy & richness has gone, it’s like someone has watered down the gravy… 
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LOl…I’m using the lavender on my NDX2, and have the HiLine in its box. I think it all sounds fine to me, but I don’t play it enough to make a big deal about. That HiLine I have for it has already broken twice. Last time it came back from repair I just left it in the box. I think if I upgrade the lavender it ill be to a AVO deep-cryo cable. I know the HiLine sounds better than the lavender, …but fragile, breaking rings…
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I think lavender is a cracking interconnect. I wouldn’t consider it a bottleneck.
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As is the HiLine <rimshot>
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Haha. I expected that much sooner though.
I have to say, delighted with my old yet perfect condition HiLine as I might be, I would not be performing any of the DIY repairs involving more heat shrink, electrical tape or glue. The whole point of the HiLine is decoupled rings. All those repairs nullify the purpose. If I had one and it broke a second time after a Naim repair, I’d just move on to another interconnect.
Not on anger or frustration. Simply life is short and my time too valuable to be nursing a sick cable.
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The grey/lavender is very good and i wouldn’t consider it a bottle neck. It does a very good job indeed. It’s just that the HiLine has a very addictive tonality and a sense of ease to it. It’s not worth the extra money, no, but once you’re used to it it’s very, very sublime. The richness in the midrange. The beefier & tighter bass, and then there’s the almost syrupy treble quality from it. It’s gert lush 
Yes the Hiline is good… it does introduce just a tiny bit of high end highlighting, perhaps through the use of I believe silver plated copper conductors… on the N50 this can be welcome on some sources to balance out the warmth of the N50.
However I find the DNM interconnects overall more neutral if not always as musically exciting… I tend to oscillate between the two depending what mood I am in ! I find the sub bass (as opposed to bass) better on the DNM over the Hiline… however sometimes having a slightly reigned in sub bass can be advantageous.
For the last month I have preferred to use one of my Hilines between DAVE and N50.
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Yes. This is its Achilles heel. Shame. It could’ve been so much better. I still can’t understand why Naim haven’t bit the bullet and just improved its construction so it just doesn’t break, in the real world. The other two interconnects are fine, it’s just the HiLine that is problematic, which does suggest that something isn’t right. Having the odd few that haven’t broken, doesn’t justify anything IMHO.
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Lovely piece of repair work.
Some interesting comments on this thread, but the two that stand out for me are:
- does gluing or a shrink wrap sleeve affect SQ. - I suspect most people could not tell the difference in blind tests
- the hi-line quality of construction must be questionable - why so many breakages and why do Naim not charge to repair them - admission of not fit for purpose?
Those comments aside, the hi-line does sound better than the bog standard lead!
The grey/lavender has loads of PRaT and leading edge attack. I’m rather liking it. Going through all of my favourites as I type. Pink Floyd et al 