Outdoor speaker?

Naim’s Multiroom system is proprietary, and will only work with other Naim streamers. 

The Musos used Naim’s knowhow from developing the Bentley car audio system. Now that they make audio systems for boats, perhaps a spinoff from that will be waterproof Musos for outdoor use?!

Maybe you could buy an Atom, and connect that to some good outdoor speakers?

blythe posted:

Maybe you could buy an Atom, and connect that to some good outdoor speakers?

Probably better to look at something like a Qute 2 second hand, available for well under £1,000, and would drive efficient outdoor speakers well. 

Or given that "hi fidelity" is rather hard to achieve on an outdoor patio anyway, think about a weatherproof bluetooth speaker, or two.

Is the SuperUniti close to the patio?  How about a cheap integrated amp and DAC (or get an old AVR with built in DAC) fed from the Digital Output of the SuperUniti unto a pair of EV waterproof speakers (or similar)

In my student days, it was standard procedure at parties to put an inverted bin bag over your speakers to protect them from the inevitable beer spillages etc. The effect on sound quality wasn’t that bad. So my suggestion is a Muso in a bin liner. Bearing in mind that a non-Naim solution will not play in sync with the other streamers. 

Thanks for all of the replies.... I should have been more specific - As Bart eluded too, there's no need/no solution that will give HiFi outdoors so I was thinking about a wireless speaker - But one that would link up to the Superuniti and Qb to play simultaneously - the SU isn't far from the garden but it would be slightly nicer to have the SU, QB and a garden speaker all at a reasonable volume rather than one cranked up to serve two areas.

adclem posted:

Thanks for all of the replies.... I should have been more specific - As Bart eluded too, there's no need/no solution that will give HiFi outdoors so I was thinking about a wireless speaker - But one that would link up to the Superuniti and Qb to play simultaneously - the SU isn't far from the garden but it would be slightly nicer to have the SU, QB and a garden speaker all at a reasonable volume rather than one cranked up to serve two areas.

That’s why you need a Naim solution - or a workaround solution using Airplay - otherwise you won’t get all the players in sync. 

Digital Out from the SU to an integrated amp with DAC onboard is the way I would do it —volume for outdoor speaker controlled at the new amp.

Nick

Bart posted:

Or given that "hi fidelity" is rather hard to achieve on an outdoor patio anyway, think about a weatherproof bluetooth speaker, or two.

It is actually easier to achieve high fidelity sound outside than it is indoors, as room effects are less or even nil: indeed, the best sound I have heard from any hifi system ever was with my own speakers outdoors. However, unless you live miles from anyone, playing at even a half decent level would be inappropriate other than rare occasions...

Damp resistance or weatherproofing is a consideration if the speaker is to be left out for more than a very few hours, depending of course on weather, especially paper based driver cones, but also mdf cabinets and wood veneers etc., all of which can be very susceptible to humidity. If intended to be permanently set up outside you can get speakers designed for the purpose, but otherwise a simple  approach is to put the speaker in a plastic bag: a thin plastic bag over the speaker has quite a negligible effect, yet can be taped up, and even a bag of silica gel drying agent sealed inside with the speakers if you are wary about taking precious hifi speakers outside. If a wireless speaker the bag won’t interfere with the signal.

The bottom line is, I believe, that only Naim wireless speakers (Muso and QB) will integrate into the Naim system.

blythe posted:

The bottom line is, I believe, that only Naim wireless speakers (Muso and QB) will integrate into the Naim system.

A Uniti Qute or better would do, of course.  And if given the choice, I would expect the digital connection to sound noticibly better than Naim’s Party Mode over Ethernet.  I can attest from experience that an analog connection between amps beats Party Mode significantly in my own system.

Nick

NickSeattle posted:

blythe posted:

The bottom line is, I believe, that only Naim wireless speakers (Muso and QB) will integrate into the Naim system.

A Uniti Qute or better would do, of course.  And if given the choice, I would expect the digital connection to sound noticibly better than Naim’s Party Mode over Ethernet.  I can attest from experience that an analog connection between amps beats Party Mode significantly in my own system.

The OP is already using multiroom between two Naim streamers indoors, so I somehow doubt that he will want to start running cables into his garden! Even if he did, I imagine the three players would probably not play in sync.

ChrisSU posted:

NickSeattle posted:

blythe posted:

The bottom line is, I believe, that only Naim wireless speakers (Muso and QB) will integrate into the Naim system.

A Uniti Qute or better would do, of course.  And if given the choice, I would expect the digital connection to sound noticibly better than Naim’s Party Mode over Ethernet.  I can attest from experience that an analog connection between amps beats Party Mode significantly in my own system.

The OP is already using multiroom between two Naim streamers indoors, so I somehow doubt that he will want to start running cables into his garden! Even if he did, I imagine the three players would probably not play in sync.

I have never found connecting residential speakers, indoors or outdoors, using actual wire to be an exotic solution, but expectations move on, I suppose.  

I have never heard a wireless implementation that was not bettered by a wired alternative, sound-wise and for reliability, to my disappointment; though some wireless speakers do impress me with their accomplishments, nonetheless.

For a Naim solution that actually works, I like both your MuSo-in-a-bag, and my deluxe alternative using the Qute and speaker wire.  Even if not wiring back to the SU, Party Mode should get the job done.  

Nick

Decision, Adam?

As i say, its for a garden so sound quality is not relevant to the same extent as an indoor system. The environmental noise puts end to that.

Judging from the wise folks who have replied above, a non-Naim speaker cannot be connected so I’ll have to do without, or get a little Qb and move quickly if the weather turns

If it helps I have Roon enabled which currently I use on my Atom. As a bonus I can activate otherwise redundant Apple Airport express(s) as an end point and then utilise also otherwise redundant HiFi bits to create two extra zones that can access my digital library. Both happen to run outside as well, allowing app control of both the Atom and the outside zones. Most agreeable. 

cdboy posted:

If it helps I have Roon enabled which currently I use on my Atom. As a bonus I can activate otherwise redundant Apple Airport express(s) as an end point and then utilise also otherwise redundant HiFi bits to create two extra zones that can access my digital library. Both happen to run outside as well, allowing app control of both the Atom and the outside zones. Most agreeable. 

For the OP, using Roon’s multiroom instead of Naim’s could be an option. To use it with a Superuniti, though, would need an Airport Express attached by an optical cable, and all streamers to be run over Airplay. 

ChrisSU posted:

For the OP, using Roon’s multiroom instead of Naim’s could be an option. To use it with a Superuniti, though, would need an Airport Express attached by an optical cable, and all streamers to be run over Airplay. 

If you don’t already have a spare Airport Express, a Raspberry Pi and Allo DigiOne or similar might be a better option.

Eloise posted:

ChrisSU posted:

For the OP, using Roon’s multiroom instead of Naim’s could be an option. To use it with a Superuniti, though, would need an Airport Express attached by an optical cable, and all streamers to be run over Airplay. 

If you don’t already have a spare Airport Express, a Raspberry Pi and Allo DigiOne or similar might be a better option.

I don't actually know what an All DigiOne is! But the point I was trying to make is that with Roon multiroom, if one of the endpoints (i.e. an outdoor speaker in this case) has to run over Airplay, then all of them must run on Airplay, otherwise multiroom won't work.

ChrisSU posted:

I don't actually know what an All DigiOne is! But the point I was trying to make is that with Roon multiroom, if one of the endpoints (i.e. an outdoor speaker in this case) has to run over Airplay, then all of them must run on Airplay, otherwise multiroom won't work.

I though Roon allowed you to use end points such as the Atom and RaspberryPi alongside Airplay endpoints?

You are likely right, I’m just asking to confirm.

Eloise posted:

ChrisSU posted:

I don't actually know what an All DigiOne is! But the point I was trying to make is that with Roon multiroom, if one of the endpoints (i.e. an outdoor speaker in this case) has to run over Airplay, then all of them must run on Airplay, otherwise multiroom won't work.

I though Roon allowed you to use end points such as the Atom and RaspberryPi alongside Airplay endpoints?

You are likely right, I’m just asking to confirm.

You can’t mix them, unfortunately  it has to be either all Roon, or all Airplay. 

ChrisSU posted:

Eloise posted:

ChrisSU posted:

I don't actually know what an All DigiOne is! But the point I was trying to make is that with Roon multiroom, if one of the endpoints (i.e. an outdoor speaker in this case) has to run over Airplay, then all of them must run on Airplay, otherwise multiroom won't work.

I though Roon allowed you to use end points such as the Atom and RaspberryPi alongside Airplay endpoints?

You are likely right, I’m just asking to confirm.

You can’t mix them, unfortunately  it has to be either all Roon, or all Airplay. 

Thanks... always happy to be educated :-)