Why Naim's failure to update firmware actually does matter....
Posted by: Goon525 on 03 May 2016
(The story so far - when Naim added Tidal as an integrated streaming option last Autumn, quite a lot of people had technical issues, drop-outs etc. It seemed that these might be fixable by a firmware upgrade - one was originally scheduled for before Christmas, then we were told that there were one or two minor problems that made it more sensible to hold it back until early in the New Year. It's now May.)
I joined the Naim family when I bought a SuperUniti four years ago. I've been pleased with both its sound quality and its reliability. I haven't suffered much from technical problems with Tidal (to which I moved from Qobuz because I thought the SU integration was well handled) and continue to be happy - although it niggles me that Qobuz, which for various reasons I'd prefer to Tidal, isn't available.
So why am I bothered about the endless wait for a firmware upgrade that I don't really need because I don't have a problem? Well, I've been giving a little thought to upgrading at some point to 272 + 250DR, following in the footsteps of such as Hungry Halibut here. It seems to offer quite a big upgrade for just one more box (and quite a bit of cash, of course). But I have very cold feet about the level of support Naim now seem to be offering with their streaming gear. I would prefer to feel that I was dealing with a company that was aware of customer requirements and keeping on the ball to meet them. What's happening now about those Tidal customers who (presumably) continue to have problems? What's happening about opening up Naim Streamers to more than two options? The company seems to have gone very quiet - and so, I feel, when I do come to upgrade, I will have to look around more widely.
Posted on: 10 June 2016 by Dingding
I know it sounds nuts but I would like to have to option to have space optimisation. A very well set up system will always outperform a very poorly set up system of higher spec.
Posted on: 11 June 2016 by Dustysox
hi, update again. i expect to release a beta into the beta team this weekend
Trevor
This has now gone live for beta test team!
So, Beta team hows it going? Itching to know.....!! I know..I know.....can't tell...dam!!!
Posted on: 11 June 2016 by Clive B
"I would rather sacrifice a little sound quality for space optimisation software."
Er.....
Er...no way!
Posted on: 11 June 2016 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Posted on: 11 June 2016 by hungryhalibut
hi, update again. i expect to release a beta into the beta team this weekend
Trevor
This has now gone live for beta test team!
So, Beta team hows it going? Itching to know.....!! I know..I know.....can't tell...dam!!!
We are giving it a jolly good thrashing, but as you suspect, we are completely and utterly banned from saying anything publicly.
Posted on: 11 June 2016 by DUPREE
What's the first rule of fight club?
Posted on: 12 June 2016 by Boris786
i would like to have a Mu-so that works. Anyway I am going offline until I have something solid to say: currently talking to Naim and dealer to sort out what is going on.
On the plus side, I have Supernait 2 which i am enjoying through my Linn DS.
Posted on: 14 June 2016 by Trevor Wilson
hi all
an update from my side. the beta team are doing a stirling job at present, lots of encouraging feedback from them reference stability and sound. We are reviewing the status and going through all variants of product and sound quality checks at present, to ensure we haven't missed a trick for all customers of all products in the market. this takes time so please bear with us, its alot of listening we need to go and enjoy
Trevor
Posted on: 14 June 2016 by Dustysox
What's the first rule of fight club?
Eh...that some UPnP sound better than others....Dusty ducks for cover!!!
hi all
an update from my side. the beta team are doing a stirling job at present, lots of encouraging feedback from them reference stability and sound. We are reviewing the status and going through all variants of product and sound quality checks at present, to ensure we haven't missed a trick for all customers of all products in the market. this takes time so please bear with us, its alot of listening we need to go and enjoy
Trevor
Great news Trevor,and thank you for keeping us in the loop. Enjoy..eh...all that listening..btw does it cut out 
C'mon Beta team...tell all......doh!!!
Posted on: 14 June 2016 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Loose lips sink DAC chips. All we can say is that the FW upgrade changes how digital information flows inside the DACs. (We are allowed however to show the new layout here).
Posted on: 25 June 2016 by David Adlam
All I ask is that the app actually works. Thus far the app has been shoddy at best over the last few years. Free apps have worked better than the Naim app has managed. I am at the state of considering selling my unitilite muso and muso qb because the app never seems to think they aexist...and yes i have tried the solutions presented. They work ...for a little while....before descending into a stubborn refusal to recognize anything...despite having used two top line routers over the last couple of years.....
Posted on: 25 June 2016 by Solid Air
@David Many sympathies. It's incredibly annoying when stuff doesn't work.
I have to say though, the app is faultless for me. Little comfort, I know.
Posted on: 25 June 2016 by hungryhalibut
All I ask is that the app actually works. Thus far the app has been shoddy at best over the last few years. Free apps have worked better than the Naim app has managed. I am at the state of considering selling my unitilite muso and muso qb because the app never seems to think they aexist...and yes i have tried the solutions presented. They work ...for a little while....before descending into a stubborn refusal to recognize anything...despite having used two top line routers over the last couple of years.....
I'd suggest that it's your network that is shoddy, rather than the app.
Posted on: 25 June 2016 by Boris786
Nope. I am told by Naim that there are issues with the Android app and they are working on a solution. In the meantime they have advised me to use a different control point, which does work.
Posted on: 25 June 2016 by RBB
This is in line with my experience using the android app with Muso. It will be playing Tidal or internet radio (for example) but the app loses the connection and stubbornly refuses to acknowledge its existence.
Posted on: 25 June 2016 by Simon-in-Suffolk
All I ask is that the app actually works. Thus far the app has been shoddy at best over the last few years. Free apps have worked better than the Naim app has managed. I am at the state of considering selling my unitilite muso and muso qb because the app never seems to think they aexist...and yes i have tried the solutions presented. They work ...for a little while....before descending into a stubborn refusal to recognize anything...despite having used two top line routers over the last couple of years.....
David, I really don't think this is anything to do with the Naim app, which in my experience (iOS) is one of the most solid and reliable out there. It does sound like your home network / wifi is letting you down.. perhaps by the use of buggy consumer network equipment.. as your description implies your network / tablet is not correctly supporting multicast discovery.
There are severeal threads going back over the years on suggestions with how to fix in errant home networks in this regard.
Simon
Posted on: 26 June 2016 by Boris786
I do not know if Naim have changed something but recently muso played through for couple of hours on Tidal. Previous record 30 mins with average probably 5 minutes afore falling apart. Looking promising.
P
Posted on: 26 June 2016 by Boris786
I do not know if Naim have changed something but recently muso played through for couple of hours on Tidal. Previous record 30 mins with average probably 5 minutes afore falling apart. Looking promising.
P
Posted on: 26 June 2016 by sjbabbey
Posted on: 27 June 2016 by spurrier sucks
Some days I have no drop outs which is great but then I have days that I have drop outs. Great when it works but frustrating when it doesn't.
Posted on: 02 July 2016 by Hol
I find it baffling that some people, who are not experiencing any problems with a particular product, automatically assume that those who do have some problems with it are not using it properly, without so much as contemplating the possibility that said product might have bugs resulting in compatibility issues with some other equipment, for instance.
I have to chime in with those who are not happy with the (Android) app, which has IMO poor ergonomics, does not run in the background (cannot think of another similar app lacking such a basic 'feature'), is incredibly sluggish (the only app that would not run properly on my admittedly oldish Galaxy S3) and has been pretty unstable (though the latest updated seemed to improve things significantly for some users).
I think this comparison is fair enough: the Naim app is rated 3.6 with more than a quarter of its users giving it 2 stars or less, whereas AIMP remote control (used to be free, a couple of dollars now I think) is rated 4.1 with only one out of ten users giving it 2 stars or less.
The really frustrating thing though, is that either Naim are content with this, or they lack the resources to improve their app, as months go by without updates.
Posted on: 02 July 2016 by Adam Zielinski
I find it baffling that people buy inferior operating systems and complain they don't work well....
iOS app just works, like the Apple computers....
Posted on: 02 July 2016 by Mike-B
I find it baffling that people buy inferior operating systems and complain they don't work well....
iOS app just works, like the Apple computers.... 
My iPad iOS app works OK as does my S7 Android app
Posted on: 02 July 2016 by Goon525
I don't really want to get involved in the Apple v Android debate (though as it happens I'm happy enough with Apple), but I might just point out, given that I initiated this long running thread, that we're now in the seventh month since the firmware update was delayed until just after Christmas. Still ain't happened.
Posted on: 02 July 2016 by Adam Zielinski
I don't really want to get involved in the Apple v Android debate (though as it happens I'm happy enough with Apple), but I might just point out, given that I initiated this long running thread, that we're now in the seventh month since the firmware update was delayed until just after Christmas. Still ain't happened.
And did the world stop, social order collapsed and dogs started barking out of their backsides?
It's going to be ready when it's ready...
