The Mu-so has landed

Thanks solid. i guess given the price one cannot expect the muso SQ to better the uniti series.

from what i read in this thread i am given the impression that the hardware design and build quality is great but i am also left thinking the size may be a problem ...

Ordered one from JL  55 mins ago.......just cancelled it !

will await more positive feedback.....mmhh....

(haven't updated to the new app yet...although totally unrelated my UServe died yesterday...bu**er.....mmhh)

Maybe we should just give it time...

I have to question the wisdom of Naim in giving such a well known department store first dibs in selling this beautifully designed product. When I paid a visit yesterday to one of their store's to have my first look and listen, I left disappointed. The two sales assistants I talked to could not have been more friendly and helpful, as this store excels in looking after its customers. However, no-one had a clue how to work it, despite the fact that someone from Naim had been there 4 or 5 days ago to demonstrate the unit. 

My post was born out of frustration after a very busy day at work. I need to sit and digest the online manual and figure out possible solutions to my problem. The app is not greatly intuitive but the more you look the more you find. I want to set it up so my technophobe wife will be able to use it.

I am more than happy with the looks and SQ of the Mu-so.

I was  stupefied to see the Muso for sale at JL before being available at one of Naim's  long time serving dealers.  I bet they are pleased. Go figure! 

Not a first though.

I doubt most high Street Naim retailers sell Bentleys, equipped for music with the Naim for Bentley system, either.

Naim has been diversifying for some time, and needs to for business reasons, even if a few toes get bruised along the way ...

ATB from George

@Paul,

Thanks for replying and taking a personal interest.

I think the Mu-So is really good and I want to be clear I would buy one if I had a slot for it. In trying to summarize my experience of the Mu-So, I am considering the audiophile audience on the forum. Of the all-in-ones it is the best, and very good value despite the price point. I like it a lot, and I hope it builds a new audience for Naim.

I have spent some of my life working with mass retailers, including JL, on high-end electronics. Unfortunately, one or two training sessions for department staff, especially on the floor, won't cut it. The truth is that sometimes their head office is not aware of realities in the stores, and those include moving staff between departments to cover, non-attendance at training events and failing to set-up live devices. The solutions are many and none are very cheap: do it all yourself with seconded staff; train JL staff very regularly, picking different times and days; find ways to present your product to the market that circumvent sales staff such as video screens; supply demo product with a canned demo you know will work out of the box. 

Of course, if you become very successful you gain enough power to require them to sell in a certain way to suit you. Apple obviously, but even Sonos and Beats are able to dictate to an extent. It can be done.

We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of mu-so down under too.

i wonder if Paul can tell us whether the distribution strategy will be the same as in the UK?

will the large retail chains be involved or will it be more likely to be the traditional hi-fi outlets?

Has anyone tried Airplay with the Mu-so? Does it work? And does peer-to-peer Airplay work? This is now available in ios8 giving iPhones and iPads the ability to directly play to an AirPlay receiver without a wifi network, so would make in stores demos from a potential customers iThing very easy.

Very quickly before I'm off to work.  The answer is yes, Airplay works well, streaming radio and music from my MacMini/iTunes. The only issue I have is the app dropping connection with the Mu-so base, even though there is no interruption of streamed music. Paul S has been very helpful and I hope to have the situation sorted later.

Cannot speak for Naim, but this is the upper limit for AirPlay streaming as it is currently standardized, which is ultimately the primary consideration as regards ALAC support.

Maybe Naim should consider to  supply mainstream retailers with memory sticks with music from the Naim label? Of course this presents many  practical problems but when it worked could give a good presentation of what  Muso is capable of.

I find the sound if anything, more on the "polite" or "warm" side.

Did as you said and all is good now, thank you Paul.

Had a quick listen at my dealers today (Overture). I think it was the Naim reps unit who was at the store. Sounded quite nice but I'd need a longer dem with familiar music to form a valid opinion....

A follow up on my drop out problem. It does seem to be a little more stable today. I've reset the Muso and reinstalled the app. The loss of connection resulting in 'No Rooms Found' still occurs but less frequently. Whilst this is happening the Internet radio or AirPlay stream is happily playing. Paul and his team have been very helpful.

Last evening I tried some of the other inputs and was particularly pleased with the USB connection. I played my iPod Classic with ALAC file and it sounds excellent. I also love the artist and album info on the app, unfortunately the app dropped connection as I was browsing though.

I would certainly recommend taking you iOS device or iPod for a demonstration, along with your USB cable. The Muso automatically selects the input and you can play good quality files of music familiar to you.

@newmsie

Hi, I am hoping my mu-so stock will ship to me this week. Australia and New Zealand have been awaiting Compliance Certificates which came through late this week. I will be airfreighting a number to satisfy those expressing interest now. We have had a sample which already has Air NZ Gold Elite status . Along with Statement (thanks everyone at Naim for making that happen!), that mu-so will be on show at the Melbourne Hi Fi show this week. I have had the sample for nearly a month now and it is a really great product. Looks good, feels good and sounds good. It will not disappoint!

mention of extended warranties when I asked the question of Naim at our event last week. In fact, they advised 12 months as standard, but then questioned this given the John Lewis 2yr warranty, so I would like to think that this may well become the warranty period offered by Naim for all mu-so customers.

 

What I can say is that it stole the show on Thursday and we now have a growing back order situation to deal with. A bit disappointed to see that John Lewis get the product first over the dealer network, but then that's business and buying power for you, I suppose.

 

Certainly we and other Naim retailers will need to be holding stock of this excellent product. And here's hoping we get to see some stock very soon...

 

Tony

 

 

Indeed Tony,  it was sounding very nice at your music evening, as was the 500 set up. Thanks for the invite and a good evening. 

 

I know it's plug in and play but I for one would rather buy through an experienced dealer than a retailer albeit a good retailer i.e. JL

 

Gary

Had a quick blast in John Lewis in Oxford Street. Gave it some Tom Sayer, as Steve says the mu-so selects the input, control from the iPhone, had a quick go with a stick I happened to have, but without an available app no selection or inspection of content was possible. Mu-so again coped very well. Assistant was pretty well informed on the product, but did say there was no network/server to check these facilities, she did not have access to any device with the app on it.  

 +1

Absolutely, a Mini Mu-So or Musette would be perfect. About 35cm long would be just right. We have a Roberts iStream Revival radio which sounds OK, but a Naim would be so much better.

I've heard the mu-so twice at Naim dealers so I know how good it can sound so it was a bit disappointing to see so poorly presented on display at the Cambridge branch of John Lewis.  It was just sitting on a bland white shelf with minimal signage and in that noisy environment there was little or no chance of anyone being able to appreciate just how good it is.  John Lewis have a lot to learn if they want to sell up-market equipment. 

For those who think the mu-so is too big, it was completely dwarfed by a huge, retro walnut Ruark R7 Radiogram which was displayed right next to it.

And Naim have a lot to lose if John Lewis don't shift a few. I can't imagine that the sales through dealers will provide anything like the sales volume needed. £895 is lot of money, and if someone can get a Sonos for half the price, without realising the Mu-so's potential, why wouldn't they? Hopefully Naim will provide some good promotional displays to attract the required attention.

Linn and Arcam both tried selling their stuff through John Lewis, and both failed. But if John Lewis can't do the numbers for naim, maybe Richer Sounds will.