Naim’s High End Network Streamers Add Apple AirPlay 2 and Siri Support

British hi-fi specialist Naim Audio announced that Apple AirPlay 2 can be added to its ND 555, NDX 2 and ND5 XS 2 network streamers via a free over-the-air update. Apple AirPlay 2 enables advanced multi-room functionality and Siri voice control and, following similar updates to Naim Audio’s Mu-so and Uniti ranges, will now be available across the company’s entire family of music-streaming products, including its $20k flagship reference network player.
 
The latest products to include the update are the Naim Audio ND 555 (available now, $24,698 including 555 PS power supply), Naim’s reference network streamer, marrying an advanced streaming platform with classic analog technology – and the best source component the company has ever developed; the 
Naim Audio NDX 2 ($5,999); and the Naim Audio ND5 XS 2 ($2,799) entry-level player.

AirPlay 2 is a proprietary Apple technology allowing music to be streamed from an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac computer and Apple TV to a compatible Naim device. Audio can be sourced from Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, Internet radio and podcasts, and controlled via Apple’s Home app, Control Center or Siri voice commands.

Apple AirPlay 2 also supports multi-room playback for owners of multiple streaming products that support the Apple standard, including a 10 different Naim systems. Users can ask Siri to play a particular album, song or playlist in sync across all compatible products in every room or a single room, as well as different music in each room. Additionally, AirPlay 2 features enhanced buffering to improve audio streaming performance across the network.

Once the update is available, the Naim app will prompt users to perform an over-the-air update. Apple AirPlay 2 system requirements: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV, Mac computer and Home Pod must have iOS software version 11.4 or later.
Alongside Apple AirPlay 2, Naim’s range of streamers offer support for Spotify Connect, Tidal, Bluetooth, Chromecast (built-in with support for other music streaming apps including Deezer, Qobuz), Internet radio, UPnP streaming (supports high-resolution WAV, FLAC and DSD files at resolutions up to 32bit/384kHz), while also being Roon Ready.
www.naimaudio.com