NaimNet

Posted by: endlessnessism on 10 June 2012

I came to the conclusion a couple of years ago that NaimNet was the way to go for a multi-room system, and started planning accordingly.  I bought an HDX but the expansion beyond this was stalled while we got the house re-wired, including Cat 6 througout. 

 

We are now at the point of reviving the project and I am wondering whether NaimNet is still the way to go, or has thinking moved on since I last looked at it?  I realise that with all the different streamers around there's the possibility of playing different things in different places but, in addition to this, I am looking for the ability to play the same thing in several places at once, and to control everything centrally.  Am I right in thinking that (sticking with Naim) NaimNet is the only thing that will deliver this? 

Posted on: 10 June 2012 by NickSeattle
I am also considering NaimNet for the same reason. Wireless solutions can have latency issues. Still, I am inclined to look at Sonos and Bose for non-hifi zones; maybe my preconceptions against them are unwarranted. Nick
Posted on: 10 June 2012 by trickydickie

I don't know anything about Naimnet but Sonos does what you want but it depends on what your expectation is regarding sound quality.  Sonos can yield excellent results with good electronics, a decent DAC is essential but it will fall short of your HDX. It will sync the sound throughout the house perfectly though.

 

The Play 5 is great for a bedroom or study and adequate for music on the go and the user interface is probably the best in the business.

 

The other thing it does well is internet radio and streaming services such as Spoify, great for music discovery.

 

I used to use Sonos everywhere in the house but since the arrival of the NDX in the main system I use the NDX mainly there unless I require the same music in more than one room.  As listening of this nature tends to be more casual the drop in quality doesn't bother me as it still sounds very good feeding he DAC in the NDX.

 

Richard

Posted on: 11 June 2012 by Manu

NaimNet is still the way to go if you need synched Hi-Quality audio.

 

 

Posted on: 12 June 2012 by JonathanP

I have Naimnet around the house - 1 dozen or more locations.  It works, but is quirky, and you feel with the interfaces that it is rather last-generation.  I wonder whether Naim is prioritising it?

Posted on: 13 June 2012 by endlessnessism

I would be interested to hear the response from someone at Naim.  NaimNet doesn't get a lot of prominence on the Naim website but I suppose its a specialist thing and not for every one.  Do Naim see it as the way to go for high quality multi-room or are they now plowing a different furrow - maybe a Sonos-like model but with better-quality kit?  Several Unitiqutes or NDXs with the ability to play the same thing simultaneously (which I don't think they can do at present)? 

Posted on: 13 June 2012 by nudgerwilliams

+1 from me for Streamnet enabled Uniti products.  UnitiServe already is - so why not for Uniti and Qute?  I have 3 systems on the ground floor in my house - Uniti in the lounge, Arcam kit in the kitchen / diner, Zeppelin Air in the study.  I want to have the same music playing in all three areas, which I do now using Airplay (Airport Express devices plugged into the Uniti and Arcam kit).

 

I would be much more likely to buy Qutes to replace these other systems if they did the Streamnet thing (as I already have a US).

Posted on: 13 June 2012 by Richard Dane
Originally Posted by endlessnessism:

I would be interested to hear the response from someone at Naim.  NaimNet doesn't get a lot of prominence on the Naim website but I suppose its a specialist thing and not for every one.  Do Naim see it as the way to go for high quality multi-room or are they now plowing a different furrow - maybe a Sonos-like model but with better-quality kit?  Several Unitiqutes or NDXs with the ability to play the same thing simultaneously (which I don't think they can do at present)? 

 

Naimnet have their own dedicated website: http://www.naimnet.com/

 

It is a more specialised product and one that is always best presented and explained by a qualified professsional installer.  It has some unique advantages to offer, particularly, as Manu says earlier, in offering perfectly synched high quality audio right across the house.

Posted on: 13 June 2012 by rhr

NaimNet was the original reason for me buying a HDX prior to pulling ethernet cable though out my house. However, in the last 3 years UPnP has started to mature and I have purchased a couple of UPnP  devices (Qute and Sneaky DS) to evaluate them.

 

The latest software for the Linn DS system supports an open extension to UPnP called OpenHome. This contains Songcast which allows syncing of high resolution music. One would hope Naim is working on a similar system, or to support the same open standard.

 

I'm still delaying my final decision until a winner appears, I'll continue to use plugplayer on an iPhone with an in expensive dock in rooms where sound quality matters less.