Naim Mu-so || 1st generation
What HI-FI 5 stars (2019)
So, to the important question! Does it sound as good as it looks?
Yes. Yes, it does. The maximum volume isn’t quite up there with the Devialet Phantom’s ‘legal limit for a nightclub’ level, but this is true room-filling sound, and there is no trace of distortion even at maximum volume.
There’s little this Mu-so can’t do. Naim has included nearly every streaming method into the mix – there’s aptX Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, UPnP, Spotify Connect, Tidal, and internet radio all on board.
The crisp display also indicates which streaming option you’re currently using. There’s a claimed 450W of power coursing through the Mu-so’s sonic veins. Six custom-designed drivers (two dome tweeters, two midrange and two ‘racetrack’ bass drivers) are hidden behind the grille, each powered by a 75W digital amplifier.
The DSP technology – a high-performance 32-bit silicon chip – has been developed from Naim’s work on Bentley’s in-car audio systems. And finally, the bass reflex port is ribbed and flared to minimise distortion.
The Mu-so supports all popular audio formats, from low-res MP3s and Spotify streams to 24-bit/192kHz WAV, FLAC and AIFF files. And so long as you connect via Ethernet, you can get full-fat high resolution audio. Once connected, everything can be controlled via the Naim app.The smart, sleek design extends to the Mu-so’s control dial and touchscreen interface. Tap the illuminated icons to pause or play a track, or spin the dial to select any of the three wired inputs, or switch between five preset radio stations (you can set presets using the app). The power behind the Mu-so’s sound is astonishing. It drives all songs with a sure-footed sense of rhythm, rich detail and lashings of deep, rumbling bass - something you simply won’t get from other wireless speakers.
The scale of sound is huge, thanks to soaring dynamics and a wide soundfield. The Mu-so is as confident and composed with subtle details as it is with complex rhythms, thanks to a precision that permeates every track the speaker delivers.
For hi-fi sound from a wireless speaker, the Naim Mu-so still can’t be beaten!