Naim Hi-Line 4p DIN – 5p DIN

Naim Hi-Line interconnect

During the development of the CD555, a special project ran in parallel; to
develop a new signal cable that would exceed the performance of Naim’s standard
cable.

The brief was to investigate all parameters of a signal carrier; to improve the
whole rather than just improving the cable as is the more normal development
practice.

Given the opportunity to start with a ‘clean sheet’ the R&D team decided to
develop a much improved plug as well as a new cable. The Hi-Line is available in
the following variants: 5 pin DIN to 5 pin DIN, 4 pin DIN to 5 pin DIN, 5 pin
DIN to 2 RCA, 2 RCA to 5 pin DIN and 2 RCA to 2 RCA.

The Hi-Line Air-PLUG (patented) is designed as a decoupling device to prevent
vibrations from one product being transmitted, through the cable, to another
product and to stop airborne vibrations picked up by the cable being transmitted
to the products to which it is connected. The many different rear sections of
the Air-PLUG are clipped together to form a lossy flexible section. The cable is
clamped compliantly to the end of this flexible section. Other detail elements
of the Air-PLUG include: a significantly reduced metal content to lower
electromagnetic effects; a design to reduce eddy current effects and a cable
clamping mechanism that does not squash the cable and affect its impedance.

The cable section of the Hi-Line also benefited from a complete re-think. It had
to be low capacitance, low resistance and flexible. It had to work superbly in
DIN to DIN connections but it also had to perform when used in other
configurations. The cable, exclusive to Naim, is manufactured from twisted pairs
of 80 Litz conductors surrounded by PTFE, Kapton and PTFE tape all then enclosed
within a semi conductive shield to reduce static charges. This is then wrapped
by two spiral wound copper shields and lapped PTFE tape. Two of these assemblies
side by side are then wrapped in layers of PTFE tape and finally a rubber outer
covering. This gives a two-channel cable where the signal and RF grounds are
held in a static position relative to each other negating any difference in
field between them.