Focal Naim Reviews

FocalNaim is hands down the most terrible I’ve ever had to use. I’ve had numerous connectivity problems when trying to configure my MuSo Qb2 in the past but today’s experience beat them all. I had to connect the MuSo to a new wifi network so had to reconfigure using FocalNaim . Whatever I tried, FocalNaim on my iPad could not find the MuSo. Eventually FocalNaim on my iPhone did. Once reconfigured i.e. connected to the new wifi, neither FocalNaim on my iPhone nor iPad could find the MuSo. I rebooted both devices. I reinstalled FocalNaim on both devices. Eventually, my iPad showed my MuSo. But when I clicked it to start configuring radio stations, the configuration screen briefly shows but then the network configuration immediately took over. And keeps doing so. No way to get to the MuSo’s actual app. My iPhone app still didn’t find the MuSo. I powered the MuSo off/on and eventually FocalNaim did see the MuSo. But when selecting it to configure radio stations, the same thing happens as with the iPad app: the wifi configuration immediately takes over. And so here I am, with an expensive hi-tech audio device that can only play stations that Naïm selected for me because FocalNaim doesn’t allow me to change those settings.

Keeps losing connection with my uniti atom, have had for less than a year. It will work fine for days and then just lose the device. Getting back connected is a bit if a nightmare.

This time however, after powering down both the phone and the atom, uninstalled app (twice), confirmed both phone are connected and on same network (atom plays radio, remote works), etc etc etc, it will not find the atom at all after 3 days of trying everything I could think of.

The streamer loses most of its functionality without app. Extremely frustrated and disappointed.

Using Focal Bathys headphones, there is an annoying “beep beep” at irregular intervals that sounds like a notification of some kind but I cannot figure out how to turn it off. This is different than the sounds made when connecting and more like a child’s train toy. Please advise how to get rid of this; it makes the listening experience very unsatisfactory. Multiple support requests on Focal’s website have gone unanswered. Very disappointed in the lack of available support and documentation for these headphones, which sound terrific.

Here we go again. Latest “update” downgrades FocalNaim from being modestly functional to totally nonfunctional. Hard to understand how a company that claims to be at the cutting edge can’t provide a decent app. I will never buy another Naim product.

My previous review: Since the last update I can’t get FocalNaim to connect to my Mu-su, it just hangs up on “searching for rooms”. The Mu-su is connected to my local network and is accessible from other devices. FocalNaim desperately needs a make-over or complete rewrite. At best it is clunky and unattractive, at worst, as of now, completely dysfunctional. Naim, you can do better than this.

I ordered a Naim because of the brand’s reputation. Like other reviewers have stated, it simply will not connect to the internet. I have tried using the program to set it up on an iPhone 12 Max, a Samsung 20 Ultra, an iMac Pro and and a new MacBook Pro. The program will go so far, and finally says “Unexpected Error”. I even have 2 networks and have tried it with both. Same thing. I get so far on FocalNaim and then nothing. My WiFi is Google Fiber and is extremely fast, so pretty sure it’s not the WiFi. I have now spent almost a day on it. I am so frustrated that I am returning it for a refund. A simple WiFi connection has to be this convoluted? I have never in 30 years had this issue with any other program or product. How tough can this be? A lot of other companies have this down to a science.

The WiFi is fine. It worked flawlessly on the Devialet unit it was replacing and every thing else that is connected it it, except the Naim. I am on Goodge Fiber and Orbit WiFi 6, which is backwards compatible to 2.4. The same errors are received on a PC laptop and Apple laptop. You will find several examples of the same issues with a Google search.

I just bought the Muso 2, and after three days of trying to start up FocalNaim and connect the speaker to the WiFi network, I’ve had absolutely no success. I’m trying to be patient, because the sound and hardware are incredible, but this is wearing thin. This means that I can’t use FocalNaim at all, since it can’t find the room and it won’t let me proceed. The instructions it came with, which are nearly non-existent, required a google search. I’ve followed all the various ways to overcome this issue. I now essentially own the most expensive Bluetooth speaker ever. I really don’t know why this process needs to be this difficult. If I can’t get this going, I’ll have to return it.

I have had my Naim Muso for about 2 years and love it, however I don’t enjoy having to reconnect the device and app every time I get the update. I also don’t like having to setup the preset stations for the radio when you update FocalNaim or being asked to register my product each time FocalNaim is updated.

Otherwise I am pleased with the quality of the sound and ability to use the AirPlay for enjoying my music library.

I purchased Naim Muso 2 one month ago. Naim Muso 2 is an excellent music streamer and I enjoy listening to it. However, FocalNaim that controls many of the features on Muso 2 is unstable and unreliable. FocalNaim crashes frequently and disconnects from Muso causing you to lose the features that are provided through FocalNaim . Within the past month of owning Muso 2, FocalNaim has crashed 3-4 times, and is very difficult to reconnect. You get to a point where you stop relying on FocalNaim which is a shame because FocalNaim provides several benefits to Muso. These features are useless without a reliable App.

The hardware is amazing but FocalNaim is unstable and frustrating. Using it with an atom. Thinking about returning it just be because the atom is way too expensive not to work perfectly. Come on guys fix it!

Update: the new release is generally a lot better. Seems to be a little more stable for qobuz , and now able to add to and create new playlists from the naim app, which was badly needed. Now if they would fix Chromecast integration, specifically with pandora. I think the update made that worse. Airplay works perfectly all the time, but sound not as good as Chromecast. So I moved the rating up to 3 stars. Fix Chromecast and I will give it 5 stars.

One other minor quibble- app seems to want to default to tidal. I have to be careful when searching or I end up with tidal results which wont play because I don’t subscribe.

It has been about 9 months since my previous review. I’ve since realized the song option I talk about below either has been fixed, or it’s an option that has been added. Either way, thank you Naim for addressing me personally and answering my query. I’ve raised my review to three stars.
Also, I’ve had a lot less issues than before, I’m assuming glitches have been worked on and for that I also thank you.
I’ve noticed that just like a computer, most issues go away when you unplug it and plug it back in.

So why not more than three stars? Because it’s still not as smooth as using the Tidal app directly. Of course I don’t use the tidal app directly because I don’t want to lose sound quality through Bluetooth.

(Previous review)
It’s a constant struggle to get Tidal and Naim to work harmoniously. The latest issue is that it will say, “ready” except it will not play whatever you choose. Also. Naim, if I click on a song and nothing is playing, it means I want that song to play. Why does it open a drop down every time to see if I want to play it next or queue it. I have a $10,000 music room setup (and I know it’s low compared to other Naim equipment owners) and I can’t even stream one song without having issues. It’s embarrassing!
I currently use FocalNaim on my iPhone and I have a Naim Atom.
Issues not as bad with the Muso.
Please fix it!

Recently I find I can’t get to the Home Screen on the Naim app.

I can get to the Local Music screen and when I select the “<“ icon it’s back to a mostly blank screen.

I see the house icon in the upper left hand corner. But when I selected it I get a blank screen.

I can use the Star remote to see the main screen directly on the Star unit but I prefer using FocalNaim .

The only change I made recently is to a a Naim Mu-so 2 in another room. But FocalNaim worked fine when I installed the Mu-so.

I am seeing the same thing on both my iPhone 12 and new iPad Air apps. Both are running the latest Naim apps (iPhone was upgraded 3 week ago to ver 6.4.1).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

For some reason my app isn’t responding to my mu-so steaming device. I can’t power it on via FocalNaim and I am currently hooked up to same wifi on both devices. It still says unable to connect. But I can play music through my Bluetooth on the device. I’ve reset router and reset device and it will work one time and then the message returns the next time I connect device through app.

Started off a bit shaky. It would often lose its connection and I’d have to reset the unity and my iPhone as well at times. I believe there was some kind of interference due to the fact that I have moved. I’m using the same internet mesh and the connection is spot on and fast now.
The manual could use some work. And there are options I’d like to have that I’m not sure are available yet.

FocalNaim is a very good companion for the Focal Bathys wireless headphones. It has the Mimi thing in it which is also a good thing. The equalizer is weird, and can’t be set easily. If the Bathys is connected to more than one device, even to this device - FocalNaim won’t work with it. Happens to be that Sennheiser PXC and other ones they make wireless doesn’t have these issues. I would give FocalNaim a 3.75 ratings..

The Naim app works well for me. I am having an issue with a firmware upgrade, but I requested information from the Forum and expect it to be fixed shortly. If I have any criticism at all it would be adding a more beautiful visual user interface. I realize that Naim is not a huge company and so everything is a work in progress. The Mu-so is an AMAZING music player. I think FocalNaim will catch up…

This is as far as I can get… I can switch over the EQ if I’m fast enough, but this error pops up every time after about 5 seconds. I think this is because the headphones were paired already and FocalNaim tried to pair them again - which I cancelled. Uninstalled and reinstalled and still having issues.

I noticed that abysmal rating for the Naim app and thought I’d share my experience. I’ve now owned three separate products that rely heavily on the Naim app - (Muso, ND5 XS & NDX), and I have none of the problems other commenters seem to run into. FocalNaim is extremely stable on my iPhone X, and I find it incredibly easy to access local files from my UPNP server, Stream from Tidal, and manage my multiple rooms from my phone.

Perhaps I missed out on some of the issues earlier customers had, since I’ve only been using Naim streaming gear for ~1.5 years, but I’m a very happy camper!

What I previously wrote: "FocalNaim will not play tracks since the 6.61 update earlier today. Everything else looks normal, but pressing the play arrow does nothing."

What I just discovered: There is nothing wrong with FocalNaim whatsoever. In fact, it works flawlessly on both my iPhone and iPad. The problem I encountered was in my Naim Uniti Core, not FocalNaim . After rebooting the Core by unplugging and replugging it in, the problem disappeared.

My apologies to Naim and FocalNaim developer.

Was hesitant after reading bad reviews. Just got Bathys cans, needed the firmware update so downloaded FocalNaim . Installed fine, opened up and quickly found my cans, auto prompted the update, ran it and installed via bluetooth. Set up the bathys quickly with a hearing test. Was impressed. Had absolutely NO issues with FocalNaim . Maybe others here had issues due to the hardware? Functions are limited, but how much do you need? Controls the eq, LED, and the ANC. Works fine for my needs. Thanks for a well made app.

After reading all the negative reviews, I felt obligated to provide my experience with FocalNaim . So far, nothing but positive. I actually like FocalNaim better than the Lumin app that I am had grown accustom to. It works just fine, no issues finding my equipment, connecting, navigating, etc. I really like all the album/artist info that you can dig into. Overall, a very good experience. By the way I’ve only used FocalNaim to play FLAC and DSD files from a NAS drive on my network, so this review is only for that experience.