Finally I have had enough. Some may dismiss this as a rant, but when you’ve spent a few thousand buying into the Naim streaming promise only to be constantly disappointed by barely functioning software for more that 15 years it has to be said. I bought the Uniti gen 1 back in 2009 or so, and then the Muso gen 1 in about 2015. Whilst they sound pretty good, the actual day to day experience of using them is utterly dreadful. I’m principally talking about the mobile device software and general reliability when you try to choose and play music from the range of sources that exist nowadays, but also, the unbelievable decision to kneecap my Unity by removing internet radio capability with a botched update guidance is unforgivable. I’m going to have to basically throw it away because it does not really work any more. This is just another example where the customer comes last in the decision making process. No one told me obsolescence actually meant unusable. Even on the Muso I’m unable to stream reliably over UPnP which is the core functionality of the unit (it doesn’t have Chromecast). The lack of serious software development over the years has been catastrophically bad. The old forum has been replaced now, but many complaints from the early 2010s have still not really been addressed. Essentially the Naim/Focal app is still the same bad initial design, and it feels like you’re using something from the dark ages. The app store reviews (2.1 on Android) should tell you everything you need to know.
So, goodbye Naim. I feel like you’ve taken my investment for granted, so I won’t ever be buying one of your streaming products again.
I bought a WiiM Pro Plus streamer for 200 EUR and it is frankly awesome. I can stream my music using pretty much any control point I want, and it just works. It also sounds great plugged into my valve amp. I can’t hear any real difference compared to my Naim streamers. The point is that WiiM take their software development really seriously, with a cadence of updates and attention to the user experience that seems absent in Naim products. In 2026 it’s the software that defines whether your digital music product is good or bad. Naim just don’t get it.
I know that some people at Naim have worked hard to support the streaming offering, but sadly the company strategy has been an abject failure on this front.
If you’re seduced by the Naim heritage and about to drop serious money on a streaming product, I recommend you take a step back and consider what you really value in your system.
Unfortunately the Uniti didn’t really work well when it was new, let alone as it got older. I resorted to plugging a 30 EUR Chromecast into it for streaming and that worked much better. That workaround shouldn’t have been necessary though.
All my Naim boxes work just fine. Including internet radio on a SuperUniti and UPnP on our Mu-So. No need to move on here. And zero issues with the app.
I have used a ND5 XS 2, NDX and NDX 2 Naim streamers. I have been statisfied with each one and have loved the sound of the music.
My current system is XPS DR > NDX 2 > Hi-Line > SuperCap DR > NAC 282 > NAP 250 DR > NAC A5 > ProAc D30RS – also: C2960C-8PC-L Cisco Catalyst Switch, English Electric 8Switch and Grado Statement Series GS1000e Headphones & HeadLine w/NAPSC, I also use AV Options SuperWiremold Deep-Cryo Power Strip with AV Options TibiaPlus12 Deep-Cryo AC power cables. Blue Jeans Cable Bonded Pair Cat 6a Ethernet Cable.
…the system sounds fantastic!
I retired November 1st 2020 and at my age I have no plans of upgrading my system.
In five years of owning a Core, NDS555, an Atom and a QB (had a MuSo and CD555 prior) the only problem I’ve had was with Spotify Connect after firmware release 3.8 which admittedly I found the fix myself after Naim Tech were unable to help. This could also be quirk with my ISP or router.
I’ve had zero problems with local streaming whatsoever, or Internet Radio etc. All very smooth and in all fairness has been plug and play.
The original MuSo back in 2014, could be a little unreliable over WiFi, but then again nor were many routers at the time.
I believe that many people have problems with many products, not only Naim, through their own stubbornness in not keeping firmware, software and apps, iOs and/or Android versions up to date. It’s 2026, not 2006. The amount of times you read on this forum alone ‘I don’t have auto updates on’, ‘I don’t trust (insert company) to do the job properly ‘ or ‘I don’t like the new version ‘ is laughable if you want everything to work properly.
Pay for decent ISP, invest in a decent router, set everything up properly and keep it all up to date.
I went down the Roon route; I have used Roon since 2007. With a lifelong membership, I started with an Intel i3 NUC and a March DAC; I now have a Nucleus One with a Topping D90 DAC. The Nucleus One is running version 2.66. I suspect that one day Roon will stop supporting the Nucleus One in the future, Roon works on a special version of Linux; I believe that Naim uses an embedded version Windows, a version that is no longer supported, which is very sad.
Thos, sorry to hear this. Just to be clear on one thing here, your Uniti wasn’t “Kneecapped” by Naim removing iRadio capability - what happened was that the Vtuner iRadio service became unreliable and so Naim developed their own in-house iRadio service and also managed to develop a way to get the early streamers to utilise this (not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination). So iRadio capability was retained and even improved for all bar the very first units. IIRC you were having some issues with the software update on your Gen 1 Uniti in that you couldn’t get the new Naim radio service to work. Despite our attempts here to help I think you were last going to contact Naim support for assistance. But we heard no more afterwards. What was the outcome of that?
Apart from the radio functionality usually with UPnP issues they are most of the time network related. And network issues can be caused by a lot of things. Even an iron object that doesn’t seem to stand in the way of a wifi signal can still cause issues in stability. And yes, there are devices that handle those instabilities better than others.
Almost all the issues I encountered were ultimately solved by changing things in my network set up. So I’m a really happy camper now with my ND5 XS 2. But one thing is sure, these things can be a real pinta… So I hope everything will work out eventually.
It’s a pretty poor app when compared to most we use, but it is functional.
The Tidal app is an example. It has had a few quite large updates over last 2 years and it is a fabulous responsive and highly usable app. So there are always options to avoid the naim app.
I am guessing the naim software team is small and overloaded.
TBH, I don’t want the Naim team overly focused on designing the ideal streaming software. I’m happy that they’re spending their time building stuff like the N50 and NC electronics that deliver the house sound. If the streamers work (which they do) that’s great. If the streaming software is serviceable, totally fine.
If you went back to the pure analogue days, it would be like complaining that the remote doesn’t have the buttons where you want them or it’s not clickey enough.
I’m new on this forum but have been using Naim products and upgrading my system for years now. Never had a single problem with anything other than a blown fuse after a power cut. Maybe I’m one of the lucky ones. And I guess i’ve tempted fate now!
Unfortunately streaming is a lot more complex than putting a record, CD or the radio on. And multiple developers, manufacturers, buyers deciding that newer is better, even if not compatible with older, makes it hard for anyone to be certain about the future viability of their streamer purchase. I have had my own Naim, and now Auralic, issues so am not immune.
I like the Wiim Ultra streamer, direct into my Michi DAC it sounds better than my old 272, however not as strong as the Auralic, which is still on my shelf despite recent app issues, as the SQ is superb.
Now I am debating whether to move to Eversolo T8 as the functionality of the Auralic starts to suffer perhaps. The T8 while not cheap is at least a more reasonable price point than Aurender, HiFi Rose and others, which could just as easily go the way of Auralic imo. Will WiiM support last for ever? Don’t know, but if not, it’s an easier give up at its price point. Eversolo too.
One also has to wonder if Naim’s new owners will continue to support their current streaming platform. Will their own hardware and/or app eventually become less functional? Disappear from the App store even? I just can’t have any confidence in longevity.
Until there is some agreed standard for software and app implementation with common ground across a significant number of manufacturers, I will remain reluctant to invest heavily in streaming again. And I will certainly keep my streaming to a dedicated unit rather than an integrated option by the same reasoning. So, for me at least, a very expensive Naim streamer or a Naim multi-use product with streaming just doesn’t figure in my own plans.
Streaming to my NDS works just fine, very fine.
Admittedly I do this from Roon, using the Roon interface for multiroom playback with Chromecast based devices.
The output from Roon is either Squeezelite bridged to UPnP, or Roon RAAT converted to S/PDIF.
I have the Naim app & an Asset based UPnP as a backup, but no internet based streaming services then just Naim iRadio
