NaimNet brings multi-room audio to the audiophiles

If you're not completely up on Naim Audio's full product line, we can hardly blame you. After all, it's hard to be a frequent shopper of a company that sells a $23,000 pre-amp. But if you've got to have the bestest of the best, with a little UK flavor, exorbitant pricing, and now multi-room capabilities, Naim has a solution. Their new NaimNet product line, powered by StreamNet tech, uses IP networking tech for a scalable multi-room CD-quality audio network, and is based on plain-old CAT5E wired networking. They don't call their system "plug and play," Sonos sure seems to have them beat for ease-of-use, but at these prices you'll probably be opting for the custom installation anyways. NaimNet can be operated via PDAs, PCs and a stand alone control interface. Their first NaimNet products will be a four-output DAB/FM tuner, a multi-room pre-amp, and power amps for rooms, including concealed versions. Naim plans on having both top-end and "low cost" AV systems available for their system, and will support interoperability with home automations and other AV setups. NaimNet is scalable up to 1.8 million rooms, and will probably cost that many dollars by the time you get your house outfitted with the tech.

[Thanks, Tom]

[Andir2.0 @ Jun 20th 2006 5:16PM]

"NaimNet is scalable up to 1.8 million rooms"

Phew...I was starting to run dry on multi-room choices for my new home. If I don't add on this will just work!

[jim @ Jun 20th 2006 5:25PM]

Is that another UMPC he has in his hands?

[shmengie @ Jun 20th 2006 6:22PM]

i just checked naim's site (naimusa.com) and was flabbergasted at the pricing. $20,300 for a cd player that needs a mandatory $7,850 power supply? there is no source - analog or digital - that needs that. it's status only. for $28,000, that cd player better sex me up...

[Al Wilkes @ Jun 21st 2006 3:59AM]

Not all of Naim's products are that hilariously expensive. They do create great "low budget" audiophile stuff (full system under $10,000).

I'm a fan of the Linn sound, myself. :)

[g @ Jun 21st 2006 7:39AM]

ummmmmmm??? Squeezebox (http://slimdevices.com/)

g

[Mikey @ Jun 21st 2006 4:11PM]

Very simple some people want a Mercedes-Benz and others are just fine with a Hyundai. Assuming that NaimNet is flash upgradable to IPv6 then the house your talking about could be more like 577 Duodecillion rooms, but who knows maybe thats not enough either.