Naim Launch Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation

I’m into science fiction in a big way, so that means that by default I’m a Trekkie – a Star Trek fan for those sci-fi challenged out there – which means that when I first saw Naim’s Mu-so Qb design a few years ago I instantly associated it with the Borg Collective’s ships from Star Trek: The Next Generation and their catchy tagline greeting the universe before forced assimilation: “Resisitance is futile.”

I kind of feel that Naim engineers must have thought that too when they designed it. The fact that the Qb just received a significant refresh in its 2nd Generation guise makes me think there must be Trekkies at Naim.

The thing that set apart the Qb in the market to begin with wasn’t just its form factor though, it was its ‘hi-fi in a box’ sound that defied it being so small, and well, boxy. I heard it several times at shows and in bricks-and-mortar shops and was always impressed because it managed to pull off bold sound with color and texture, ran 300 watts without seeming to break a sweat and retailed for south of $1k. The new model comes in at $899 USD, features all-new drivers developed in conjunction with Focal engineers and a new, “10-times-more-powerful” DSP chipset which means more long term bang-for-buck for those looking to get solid sound through multiple digital sources (up to 32bit/384kHz) from a piece of gear with a very small footprint.

With what Naim is describing as “an enhanced feature set,” the Qb now packs in AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Roon-Ready certification, multi-room sync-ability, digital and analog inputs, a sweet handset remote, killer touch-control on the future-fi sensor-equipped top surface of the unit, digital room compensation, full TIDAL, Chromecast and Spotify support along (Deezer, Qobuz, Plex, TuneIn, SoundCloud and Pandora app support also built-in) with Internet radio and good old UPnP for easy communication with other sources. Naim’s proprietary application runs set-up and everything else you need. Available from Naim now. More information HERE.

Press release highlights below

Mu-so Qb gains the new 2nd Generation illuminated volume dial, complete with a full control array and a proximity sensor: it lights up in welcome as your hand approaches it. Easily access key playback controls, your favourite playlists and radio stations, Spotify resume, multiroom functionality and more from this tactile new interface. Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation can also be controlled via the updated Naim app and – by popular customer demand – a new remote control handset.

Available in the same burnished grey aluminum chassis and with the same upgraded speaker grille design as its Mu-so big brother, Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation is the perfect visual as well as sonic match. It can also be customised with optional replacement grilles in the same Olive, Terracotta or Peacock colorways.

Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation’s compact dimensions pack in 300 Watts of music power, served up to all-new speaker drivers – optimized in conjunction with Focal, the acoustic specialist celebrating its 40th anniversary, and Naim’s VerVent Audio associate. Like the bigger Mu-so 2nd Generation, the Qb now has an upgraded ‘brain’, too: a DSP with more than 10 times extra processing power for even greater musical accuracy.

Stream your music in high-resolution quality (Qb can handle files up to 32bit/384kHz) via UPnPTM, or browse millions of songs through AirPlay 2 (including Apple Music), Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Chromecast built-in and Internet radio. Upgraded Wi-Fi connectivity promises a slicker streaming experience, while Ethernet remains an option if you prefer things hard-wired. You can also connect devices wirelessly via Bluetooth. Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation’s USB input, meanwhile, supports music playback from USB drives, while its optical input means you can easily connect your TV and experience enhanced sound quality from your favorite television programs, films and games.

 Link to Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation HERE


Author: Rafe Arnott

Publish Date: Aug 13 2019

Source: Audio Stream