[Closed] Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Gen

I went over to Richer Sounds a few months ago with the intention of getting one. Then I asked them to let me hear it. Oh dear. Nothing at all like the full size Muso, which I thought was OK, but not £1200 good. I think the Qb is regarded as a bedroom system. It's got a very closed in sound.
With all of those systems you need to check out the usability (or otherwise) of the interfaces. Some of them, Denon, Marantz, Audiolab, have shocking controllers which is important if you want to listen to streaming sources.

Not overly keen on Sonos sound seems a bit too processed

This is an excellent observation; yes they are but the problem is that all these one box systems that have become popular lately have that problem and it comes down to the same thing; Class D amplification. There's no doubt Class D has come a very long way and at the high end, I believe it can sound very good (though I have not heard anything at that level myself). But all the cheaper products, including the £1000+ Naim products, use Class D and it makes them sound dry and, as you say, very over processed.

Yes the higher end Naim units don't sound as bad as the cheaper Sonos or Apple Pod examples, but if you're used to something like a Class AB separates system (or perhaps even Class A!) then all those one box units will have the same issue for you.

You'll also struggle with the lack of any spatial/stereo dispersion or soundstage; they all have point source like presentations, unsuprisingly of course. They clearly have a place as otherwise they wouldn't make them, but I suspect that place is more for those wanting to trade up a little from say an Apple or Sonos system rather than someone who actually apprecaiate what a half decent separates system can do but wants something smaller.

Perhaps a better option would be smaller bookshelf speakers with a one box unit from Naim or Devialet (which of course are much more expensive!) Otherwise perhaps swallow the Sonos/APple pill and just accept that they won't be that much worse than the much more expensive Naim unit.

Hah!
I was just about to suggest a stereo pair of half decent bookshelf size speakers.

There's no replacement for displacement as they say in America.

You might need to put them on stands, so they might take up just as much space as a floor stander, but as the name eludes to, you can put them on shelves etc. also for smaller rooms.

I've been in peoples houses where they just have one really fancy and expensive speaker.. And to be fair it's not awful. But the bass and sound stage is all messed up.
You'll never get real sterio from a sound bar or a single speaker unit.

it's nothing a good quality set of book shelf style speakers won't resolve unless you are really squezzed on space.

I’ve been in peoples houses where they just have one really fancy and expensive speaker

Just out of curiosity, what have you heard? I'd be interested to explore.

If you're used to NAIM stuff plus floorstanders I can only imagine you'll be v irritated by anything less. I would a) bring down the system and bugger the space b) go without and don't waste any money.

Thought the Devialet sounded better but hard to tell unless testing in your own home. Naim may be less fatiguing for longer listening sessions.

I have a 2nd Gen Qb. I put my separates up in the loft and this is used instead, for the time being.

Of course, the sound isn’t as detailed as a decent separates system, but I’m pretty pleased with it. It’s a decent compromise between sound and practicality.

To my ears it has enough detail, depth and base, for the size it is.

I will be getting the hi-fi out again one day though. Just need the pesky offspring to spring off.

I’ve got a 1st gen Muso and love it

I’ve listened to a QB in Dicher Sounds and thought it sounded nearly the same in terms of sound

Difficulty with these systems though is listening to them outside the home environment

The Muso sounded rubbish in Richer Sounds but great at home

Agree with comments re Sonos. BOSE are good if you want lots of over processed base

TBH I would just get a couple of Anker Soundcore Boosts if it’s a temporary solution, cheap and not bad sound if you are prepared to not be a sound snob for a bit 😀

Sonos sounds great if you get the amplifier and partner with decent speakers. Every single box ‘Hifi’ I have heard sounds pretty horrible. In order to sound anything like a wide soundstage it has no option but to be heavily processed.

Naim may be less fatiguing for longer listening sessions.

Ironically Naim electronics have a reputation for being extremely fatiguing. I used to have a full stack of Naim electronics (which I was subsequently obliged to sell) and when I was building my system again ten years later I auditioned a system several levels above what I'd had and found myself thinking 'oh for goodness sake give it a test'.

Made my ears bleed.

Yes I don’t know about now but I had a full Naim system a few years back - not the very top end but certainly a good few grand between the CD and pre/power amp etc. Sounded amazing on a good day but very forward driven sound and bad recordings sounded horrible. Not the system for relaxed listening as a rule.

Thank all!

I'm not coming from some £10k+ system just mid-range Marantz, Q-Acoustics floorstanders and Rega P1. So not high end, but decent. 🙂

Rega speakers and electronics are vastly underrated. Good choice 👍

In went for Ruark MR1s and a Yamaha musiccast as my kitchen solution. Ended up adding a sub for more depth, but happy with the build quality and sound now.

I've demoed the mu-so and the unity atom and they were both fairly underwhelming; thin sounding and nowhere near being worth the outlay for what you got, and certainly not close to a proper stereo either. A very expensive kitchen speaker, basically.

my 10p...
If you need decent sound then you need a proper stereo. Find somewhere to mount some bookshelf speakers and use a proper stereo amp (plus sub to support the low end).
If you only have space for one box of electronics then Bluesound Powernode, NAD C700, Yamaha MusicCast et al all do 'just add speakers' streaming amps.
If you just want a single 'kitchen speaker' then have a look at the Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i from Richer. Or two of them in a stereo setup. Great little speakers. Plug and play.

My unqualified 2c but... if you're allowed bookshelf speakers and an all-in-one amp, how about something like the Arcam Solo? https://www.arcam.co.uk/product,accessories,accessories,solouno.htm

Failing that, a single Sonos can be a bit tiring, but 2 Sonos Ones set up as a stereo pair do sound rather better IMHO - and I'd recommend them over a one-box Sonos like the Play 5.

The older Arcam Solo’s were excellent bits of kit. Same price would be the Sonos Amp which is also excellent and you get a much better app.

Thanks again.

Over the weekend I figured out I'd got just enough space to dig out my old amp and then pick up some bookshelf speakers from eBay to tide me over. Then connect a Bluetooth receiver.

This downsizing lark is providing some challenges! A kitchen a third of the size we were used to being the main one - anyone want any pans!! 🙂

Probably a good idea - I demoed the Muso [not at home] and was massively underwhelmed. It would undoubtedly be better in the home environment.

Ended up with a B&W Zepplin which I like a lot.

Sits in the same room as the separates system - doesn’t disgrace itself at all

I went cheapskate (ish!) in the end...

Tangent Ampster and some new Q Acoustics 3020 speakers

https://www.richersounds.com/tangent-ampster-bt-mkii.html

https://www.richersounds.com/q-acoustics-q3020-matte-graphite.html

...sounds decent for the spend, takes up little space and will tide me over.