Naim app versus JRemote app

Posted by: Bert on 07 September 2016

Guys,

I have been using the Naim app since 2012 (previously called nStream), but recently bought JRemote as alternative controller for my NAC-N272 and UnitiQute. JRemote is an iOS app for iPads/iPhones from JRiver. It works only in combination with JRiver Media Centre (JRMC) which is a media server (music library manager) running on your PC or Mac. When comparing the two apps, there are some differences in functionality and user-friendliness, which I summarised in this table.

 What I like about the Naim app is its ‘lean’ and slick looks, however the functionality of JRemote for streaming is better. JRemote has now become my default controller for streaming, but I still use the Naim app to control other inputs such as internet radio or CD.

Any views/experiences from this forum?

 

Naim app

JRemote app

UPnP controller

The Naim app can only control Naim streamers

(+1) JRemote can control any UPnP device in parallel, including Naim, Sonos, Smart TV’s etc.  (only when you run JRiver Media Centre on your PC/Mac)

Other sources

(+1) Naim app can control any sources to your Naim including internet radio, CD or any other source

JRemote can only control UPnP streamed music

Robustness in UPnP network

(-1) General the Naim app works OK, but after many updates in the Library made in JRMC, the Naim app often cannot find my NAS in the UPnP network. I need to shutdown and restart my NAS to let the Naim app ‘find’ the NAS again.

(+1) Reliable, never an issue

Updating library

(-1) After making changes in my music Library in JRMC, I sometimes need to delete the UPnP cache or the Coverart cache to synchronise the library. Also, once in a while an album stays forever in the app library, while it is removed from the main library.

(+1) The library shown on JRemote is always synchronised with JRMC, including coverart, album name or any other tag.

Also the other way around: you can edit tags in your library on JRemote

Playlist management

(-1) Creating a playlist in the Naim app is possible, but takes time. Iif you make any change in Title/Album/Artist of a track in your playlist, you get a red cross, need to remove the track and re-enter.

This is a real nightmare if you change tags regularly.

(+1) Playlists are easily created in JRMC (e.g. from an artist you can select all 5-star tracks and paste them into a new playlist)

Tracks in playlists are automatically updated if you change any of their tags.

 

Playlist import/export

(-1)The Naim app cannot import or export playlists from/to other media servers

(+1) JRMC can import/export playlists from/to other media servers in several formats

Additional tags (rating, comments)

It is not possible to add any tag (rating, comments) to tracks or albums in the Naim app

(+1) All tags are visible and editable in JRemote - this is particular nice if you want to rate your songs while listening.

In JRMC you can even create new tags like “Album comment” or “Album source” which are then added to each track on the album

Coupling of devices

(+1) The Naim app is perfect for multi-room playing

(-1) JRemote can ‘link’ multiple devices, but they do NOT play synchronised as a multiple room system

Posted on: 07 September 2016 by Adam Zielinski

Whay is JRemote again?

Posted on: 08 September 2016 by Huge

There's a fundamental logical flaw in your test method here...

You have compared JRemote operating with it's own UPnP Server (which is actually part of the same application suite) to the Naim app operating with with a non-Naim UPnP Server (one which is, in fact, principally designed to be controlled by a different application).

The test would only be a fair comparison if you compared the Naim app and JRemote when both are accessing a 3rd party  UPnP Server.
JRemote would probably immediately fail this revised test as it's only designed to connect to JRMC.

Posted on: 08 September 2016 by Bert

Thanks Huge!

My table is not intended as a test, but a simple comparison of the functionality of two apps for those Naimers who use JRiver Media Centre as server. I should have made that condition more specific, but I guess it's pretty clear from the text.

The largest deficiencies of the Naim app for me are:

  • it does not show any attributes to the song such as rating or comment (other than the defaults artist, album, title)
  • maintenance of playlists is cumbersome.
  • synchronisation with the library is not perfect

 JRemote has solved these issues conveniently.

Are there any other apps available with similar functionality? I would be interested.

Posted on: 08 September 2016 by Adam Zielinski

Actually NAIM app performs sorting based on available metadata and whatevert the UPnP server recognises.

Normally one can sort by: Artis, Performer, Genre, Album, Composer, etc.

Posted on: 09 September 2016 by charlesphoto

I've been using the Lumin app to play from Upnp with a microRendu, and what I like about it over the Naim app is when you scroll by, say, genre, one isn't confined to backing into and out of folders for each genre - it shows a continuous stream of all the album covers within all of the genres. Same with by artist, date, etc. Makes it a much more fun way to browse and find new things - almost like Roon lite. I think Naim could go a long way to making browsing a better experience. 

Posted on: 09 September 2016 by Eloise
charlesphoto posted:

I've been using the Lumin app to play from Upnp with a microRendu, and what I like about it over the Naim app is when you scroll by, say, genre, one isn't confined to backing into and out of folders for each genre - it shows a continuous stream of all the album covers within all of the genres. Same with by artist, date, etc. Makes it a much more fun way to browse and find new things - almost like Roon lite. I think Naim could go a long way to making browsing a better experience. 

Interestingly thats one thing I don't like about the Lumin app...  The other being that it ignores "sort order" fields so (for example) The Beatles comes under T not B; and Brian Ferry comes under B not F .... ahhhhgggggg (first world problems).

Can use UPnP folder browsing with the Lumin to allow (for example) you to dig down from Beethoven to Symphony No. 9 to London Symphony Orchestra ... but then if I'm doing that I find Naim app better.

Anyway just my preference!

Posted on: 09 September 2016 by charlesphoto

Just goes to show that there's no 'perfect' player app. Would be nice if somebody made a third party app that combined the best of them of all and the ability to highly customize. I'd pay $ for that....