Mu-so Qb

It's £595. Perhaps your dealer will do a three-for-two offer. Or perhaps not. 

glevethan posted:

I cannot understand the problems or compromises in setting up a pair for stereo playback.

The argument was that the performance of the Qb as a standalone solution would be hobbled by making it two-speaker-stereo capable, and also that the customer would be paying for a lot of 'gubbins' in the 'second' unit they'd never use.

Bart posted:

I absolutely will audition this for our kitchen.  The Mu-so is too big for the only countertop location I can devote to a music player.  I'm not sure but it looks like there is no broadcast FM reception.  That's actually something I still need (want), as Patriots' football games are broadcast on FM, but the broadcast is not streamed during the game; that requires a subscription to the NFL's streaming service and I've resisted paying for it.  I'd have to pay to listen to the game via the internet.

Then you better wait for the next step from Naim. A overprized pocket radio. Will fit nicely in any place you choose. 

dayjay posted:

I took my friend to my dealers in December, he left the shop with a Muso.

Yep, the marketing strategy works. I introduced a lifelong friend to Naim at a dealer and he too left with a mu-so. He wrote me a few hours later to say he "Loves Naim". He'll be shopping shortly for a full set-up.

So if two people dislike the Muso,and trading them in for,something better the strategy works? Yeh..sure.

Timmo1341 posted:

robert- posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

So buy the Sonos. 

Please don't tell me what to do.

So don't post provocative comments!

 

It's a forum.

It never hurts to hope Nigel, but somehow I doubt it.

I was hoping for £100 less but that's a bit silly considering I have yet to see or hear one. 

Robert

but you seem to forget.that in this Forum you're not allowed,to,say anything negative about Naim. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

robert- posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

So buy the Sonos. 

Please don't tell me what to do.

You say that the Sonos is cheaper and looks better. So if you want one you can buy one. Why slag off something you neither like nor want? If you make that type of comment you are very likely to get a suitable riposte. A considered and sensible post will much more likely get a considered and sensible answer. 

What is it with people that they have to pick at everything that comes out? If people don't want one, there is a very simple answer. 

Well said - I doubt he's actually heard either!

fred40 posted:

So if two people dislike the Muso,and trading them in for,something better the strategy works? Yeh..sure.

But Fred, I haven't seen the sales figure but I'm willing to bet that they sold more than two.  I'd also hazard a guess that there are more satisfied buyers than not.

As someone above has so succinctly stated, this is a Forum whose purpose is to allow members to air and debate their respective views. The original post was hardly very provocative, but possibly a little blunt. I simply interpreted the original post as a statement of his opinion.

Not an opinion I share, but a legitimate one nonetheless.

Play 3 is OK for the money but the lack of above 16/44 playback is disappointing. More so now they've had an opportunity to address it with their new generation of players and failed to do so. B&W A5 knocks spots off it for sound quality (but not ease of set up or use) but you would expect it to. Mu-So is in another league. I'm not putting it up for Pope but it is the best device of its type I've owned or heard.

That's honest feedback from someone who has owned and used all three. Plus some others. If I didn't want to spend too much I'd still take a 3. It's honest if a bit gutless. Good software too. I will listen to the new Naim offering as will Helen. Until then I won't speculate or compare something that doesn't exist with something I haven't heard (new Sonos range). So not much entertainment value from me - sorry.

Naim are good about people dissing them in here. They don't seem to mind providing its not gratuitous and endless.  I guess they feel pretty comfortable about how their business is going and don't feel the need to defend themselves. Particularly when so many customers will do it for them!

Although I do remember a thread when Paul cut in on a serial moaner and told him Naim didn't want him as a customer. That was memorable. And I've always made a point of being polite to Paul since

Timmo1341 posted:

"I doubt he has heard either"

well, he won't have heard the Naim product (unless he works for Naim), but the point is moot. Of course he can respond for himself, but I don't believe he commented on the relative sound quality of the Naim & Sonus devices.  He simply stated that the Sonus was cheaper and that in his opinion, the Sonus looks better.

Perhaps, I had better add my own opinion. 

I think that both the original Muso and the new product look fantastic, and better looking than anything else I have seen. But in my personal opinion the price is jusT a little bit higher than I would be prepared to pay for such a device.

I would not buy a Sonus either, I hasten to add.

However, if someone were to give me one for Christmas, I would certainly find room for it in my kitchen.

Ok I have looked and listened

gorgeous.  Really stunning bit of design and implementation. Already ordered one

i know the sonos kit intimately well. This is much better. Period. 

Typical die hard naimie. Did not see it. Did not heard it. But its better then anything else. Maybe. 

Shame that it is not available sooner - as it would be perfect for my wife's birthday present  

I have heard it

@Harry. Have you tried the second generation Play 5? I passed on the first generation, opting for the B&W A5 instead, but the second gen product is remarkable for its size and cost. 

The great advantage the Mu-so has when comparing the options is it's width.  It creates a much more convincing image. I'm very happy with my Mu-so but putting a couple of smaller units like those from Sonos in a stereo pair works very well indeed.  Based on the hifi in a box solutions I own and use regularly, on sound quality I'd rank them like this:

1. 2 x Sonos Play 5 second gen (Tested for 1 week, I don't own.)

2.= Mu-so

2.= 2 x Sonos Play 1

3. B&W A5

4. Sonos Play 1

I haven't listened to the new Play 5 enough to rank it as a single unit. I shall put off my buying decision until I've heard the Qb. On paper it would work great in our kitchen ;-) leaving me able to put the A5 in the basement.

neatfred40 posted:

So if two people dislike the Muso,and trading them in for,something better the strategy works? Yeh..sure.

The fact that there is a boyont secondhand market for Naim gear with strong secondhand values is good for us consumers, good for dealers and good for Naim. Virtually all my upgrades have been done with the help of healthy trade-in deals and I have also benefitted from the savings to be had from ex-dem and second had gear traded in by others. I'll bet there will also be a strong second hand market for Muso given time. It's all good.

Naim have been really smart Muso Qb by broadening their market even further with no signs of diluting or diminishing the development and quality of balck boxes. Let's face it us audiophile old gits are a diminishing breed. Digital and steaming technology has helped rejuvenate the market but I still see a need for some reinvention to attract a younger consumer into the Naim fold.

Enter Muso and now Muso Qb. From this thread alone there is clear evidence of Muso bringing new customers into the Naim fold and evidence that these new customers love the brand and are now trading up. Muso gives these new customers a taste of really great sound quality available today and will surely tempt some to audition Naim black boxes. Muso of course is also very tempting for existing Naim owners for smaller rooms, sons, daughters etc which is the icing on the cake of this new market. Brilliant new product development and brilliant marketing.

Finally the point has already been made that volume sales from Muso will keep Naim in a healthy financial situation and fund further product development into those balck boxes that give us all so much pleasure.

As I have already said, it is all good!

Chris Dolan posted:

Shame that it is not available sooner - as it would be perfect for my wife's birthday present  

When is it available? My wife's birthday is the 19th.

jon honeyball posted:

Ok I have looked and listened

gorgeous.  Really stunning bit of design and implementation. Already ordered one

i know the sonos kit intimately well. This is much better. Period. 

Press member, enough said.

Production has started.  Deliveries in March 

jon honeyball posted:

Production has started.  Deliveries in March 

Thanks