News

Naim launches Power-Line mains cable (18/3/2008)

After two years research and development, Naim has launched Power-Line a mains cable designed and tooled to deliver the finest performance in Naim Systems.

The Power-Line's unique design is the result of hundreds of hours of experimentation, research and listening aimed at identifying and optimising the critical elements of audio mains power cables.

The design also follows traditional Naim engineering practices: control and transmission of vibration and hence resonances; choice of materials to maximise performance and precision assembly to ensure consistency. It follows from the extremely successful Hi-Line cable that follows similar design principles.

Naim carried out extensive experiments on existing mains plugs and IEC connectors and found that some were good but most were not, and that all could be improved with some original thinking and of course a very significant tooling budget.

The Naim UK mains plug was designed and tooled, within the existing legislation, to allow some movement in the pins to reduce mechanical stress and to enhance contact area. The materials used: thermosetting plastics for the case and resilient higher conductivity material for the fuse holder - together with brass pins fitted with rounded screw ends to maximise tightness without any danger of cutting the wires - delivered a significant improvement. The floating rear cable clamping section has significant mass and isolation. It is manufactured primarily from an eddy current reducing aluminium die-casting, highly polished to increase pleasure of ownership.

The Naim cable design, which is custom manufactured, consists of three 4mm2 conductors insulated by a material with excellent dielectric properties. The cable is covered with a rubber outer providing the perfect combination of mechanical self-damping and stiffness to aid cable dressing.

The IEC connector is also designed and tooled exclusively by Naim. The design follows similar principles to the Mains Plug. The pins float to reduce fit stress and have double wiper blades on contacts to increase contact area. The cable clamping floats to reduce transferred energy transmission and resonance.

The Power-Line will be available in the UK from March 2008 at a cost of £395 inc. VAT.

Note: Markets requiring mains plugs other than the UK 13A type are supplied with a locally sourced plug that delivers the best performance and which meets the local safety requirements.

www.naimaudio.com