Multi-room Protocols

Posted by: Gavin B on 04 January 2018

I have Naim streamers in three rooms, and really enjoy having all three on the go when we have friends round.

I've always assumed that the Naim multi-room protocol is highly specific - it works between Naim streamers but not other brands. This is one thing that deters me from trying and possibly buying other streamers (renderers?).

Is there a common multi-room protocol that works across different (non-Naim) brands?

Is there ever a chance Naim would use a non-bespoke protocol to allow brand mixing? Perhaps they (and other manufacturers) prefer the bespoke nature tying someone into one brand.

Posted on: 04 January 2018 by ChrisSU

Apple Airplay from a Mac, not iOS, alternatively Roon, would do this. The new Naim streamers will work as Roon ‘endpoints.’

Posted on: 04 January 2018 by noname

ChrisSU posted:
Apple Airplay from a Mac, not iOS, alternatively Roon, would do this. The new Naim streamers will work as Roon ‘endpoints.’

More specifically, currently from iTunes on a Mac.

Naim have announced they would be supporting Airplay 2 on the new Uniti range when it eventually sees the light of day from Apple. Airplay 2 is supposed to allow multiple destinations from iOS devices but has not yet been enabled in iOS11.

(Sorry/not sorry, cannot resist the opportunity to add that we are also still waiting for the update from Naim for the Mu-so range to allow their own Multiroom protocol to work from the new Unitis to the Mu-so and Qb)

You might also want to take a look at Airfoil https://rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/

BTW Multiroom is also great when in alone and wandering from room to room, or in any situation where people are in nearby rooms and want to listen to the same thing as they can overhear from elsewhere)

Roger

Posted on: 05 January 2018 by Gavin B

My impression of Airplay / Airfoil type solutions was that these were a lower quality, a bit like music over bluetooth - I could easily be wrong.

Roon does seem to be one 'system' that can combine kit from different manufacturers, although none of my Naim stuff is compatible (ND5XS, Qute, QB). This could be a possible route, although it would require a complete overhaul!

How about other manufacturers' offerings? Bluesound? Is that just within their brand too? (I've had a quick look at their website which doesn't appear to say much on the subject.)