Streaming - Naim Audio - Roon Labs
Streaming music has rapidly become a very popular choice for music lovers as part of a good sounding hi-fi system, thanks to huge improvements in streaming sound quality and the wealth of music available. The term "streaming" basically refers to the fact that you're playing music from a digital device stored elsewhere - be it your NAS drive (which can store your CD collection, high res files and other music), from online services (Tidal, Spotify, Apple Music, or the thousands of internet radio stations available), or from files stored your Mac or PC (iTunes or Media Player). Even if you have a large vinyl collections, you can "rip" these onto your Mac or PC for easy access at the touch of a button.
As dedicated Naim Audio retailers we have many models on demo in our showroom, including Mu-So, XS and Classic range hi-fi separates. Learn more in our full Naim range guide or for further advice on the Naim range, please contact us
For over 40 years, Naim Audio has relentlessly pursued the same simple aim: to recreate the performance a musician has recorded accurately and with all of the information wholly intact. Not only that the notes be faithfully preserved, but also so must the emotion and passion that inspired the performance. Its for this reason that Naim are so popular among music lovers - they bring music to life.
Naim Audio was founded in 1973 by Julian Vereker OBE, entrepreneur and self-taught engineer, with a deep passion for music, but was unsatisfied with the sound quality of hi-fi, available at the time. Established in Salisbury, Julian began designing and manufacturing a hi-fi range that ignored accepted design wisdom and focused on aspects of design and performance that made music burst to life.
In that same year they released the NAP 200 power amplifier, soon followed by the NAC 12 pre-amplifier in 1974 (and although this model name is no longer used, much like "NAP" for the power amplifiers, "NAC" is still used to designate Naim's pre amplifier models). These initial designs laid the foundations for 40 years of iconic and award winning products that have followed.
As the brand grew in popularity over the 70s and 80s, they sought to grab the attention of press and public with a series of tongue in cheek adverts (you can see these and read more about the brand in our History of Naim blog). In 1983, Naim released their first integrated amplifier, simply called NAIT, a designation also used in current integrated amplifier models today.
Naim was awarded with the prestigious Queen's award in 1985 and has received this award a further two times since (once winning for Export in 2010 and once for innovation in digital music streaming in 2014). In 1991, Naim released their first CD player, the CDS, which again flew against conventional wisdom with a two-box design (the current flagship CD player shares a lineage with this original model).
Over the years, many Naim models have achieved iconic status, including the Naim NAP250 power amplifier, a favourite among many audiophiles with a latest iteration of this model that continues to this day. As an emphasis over the quality of the Naim range, they partnered with distinguished British brand Bentley in 2008 to provide music systems for their cars.
In 2009, Naim also released the "Uniti" range, which turned the conventional wisdom that "more boxes are always better" by combining power amplifier, pre amplifier, CD player and/or streaming capabilities in one box. Of course, the higher separates Naim systems will always sound better, but the four models in the Uniti range established themselves as such a high performance solutions for a reasonable investment that there are little other options that can compete.
In 2013, Naim also released the Naim Mu-So, a wireless streaming speaker system and another revolutionary move by the brand. To put this into perspective, the release of this product was as much of a surprise as if Bentley released a competitor in the low-priced car category that outclassed all of the established competitors.
The Mu-So has done just that. A hugely popular "lifestyle" music solution, both existing Naim owners and new customers have discovered how wonderful this speaker system sounds as a classy, single box unit for enjoying music in an area where you can't accommodate a full separates hi-fi system.
With a rich heritage and history of pioneering products in the hi-fi industry, Naim have cultivated a brand which is synonymous with the pinnacle of hi-fi, as well as the values and quality of British hi-fi and manufacturing. Naim Audio is designed and manufactured in Salisbury, UK and their relentless pursuit of sonic perfection has seen a host of awards and stellar reviews.
Naim offer a range of integrated amplifiers, pre amplifiers, power amplifiers, CD players, streamers, CD players, DACs, loudspeakers and accessories. In 2011, Naim merged with Focal JM Labs, and with a synergy in design, this makes Focal speakers a natural matching choice for Naim. Other highly recommended options include KEF speakers and ProAc speakers.
Roon Nucleus music servers are a central hub for your music, allowing you to stream your music to Roon network players (Sonos, Devialet, KEF LS50 Wireless, Meridian etc) to fully enjoy stored music, and control it from the Roon app.
Roon Labs was founded by the team responsible for the award-winning Sooloos system, Roon Lab’s aims to provide the listener with the richest and most engaging interaction with your music. Using a Roon Labs server opens up the composition, performance and recording of your music.
The start of these innovative products was in the late 1990’s, when an A&R representative, a record-label owner and a software developer got together with the problem of easily accessing their large music collections. The trio proposed a computer-based platform to that would be able to store and organise a music library giving music lovers the ability to explore their collections in a simple manner.
Nine years after the trio proposed a central database solution to music collections, they conceptualised a music server called Sooloos which was launched in 2008. Sooloos demonstrated the power of computers for accessing music. Meridian Audio subsequently bought Sooloos and two of its original founders remain to continue with product development.
In 2015, the companies agreed that the software developer behind the Sooloos needed to be spun off into a separate company which became known as Roon Labs, with the aim to bring to market software for managing and accessing a music library on any Mac or Windows PC.
The Roon software, expands the Sooloos experience, making it universally available to anyone with a computer. Roon software works by recognising devices and ports them audio which is enhanced for their individual capabilities. The central devices from Roon are the servers from their partners, including a Roon Server pre-installed or available as an option that is installable. With these products, you will be able to enjoy Roon without a PC or Mac.
Streaming and Multi Room audio is the pinnacle of simplicity and innovation. Imagine enjoying the same track in every room as you move throughout your house, or changing what you are listening to from the comfort of your sofa via an app or smartphone/tablet.
We offer a range of NAS (Network Attached Storage) servers and devices, which allow you to rip and store even the largest of CD collections to one place, in high fidelity lossless audio quality. When connected to a streamer or multi room device, you can access an entire music library at your fingertips.
Our range of digital streamers and network players let you access your digitally stored tunes, and are designed with audio quality and hi-fi principles in mind, enabling you to modernise your hi-fi system and bring streaming to your hi-fi without worrying about any degradation of audio quality.
We also offer a range of wireless adaptors, enabling you to add wireless and Bluetooth functionality to an existing hi-fi or AV setup, and start enjoying wireless and streaming audio. As always, we are always happy to offer any advice or support you may need in selecting or trying a product.