Naim Audio Adds Crestron CI Driver Support

September 29, 2022 — Focal Naim America Booth 21099 at CEDIA Expo 2022.

Naim Audio, the British hi-fi specialist with 49 years of audio expertise, has added Crestron driver support for its range of music-streaming speakers and systems. Joining existing Control 4 driver support, the new software gives CI installers even more ways to integrate award-winning Naim performance.

The new drivers allow installers to seamlessly control connected Naim products from Crestron’s wide range of touchscreens, remote controls and apps, so high-performance music streaming can be more easily integrated into discreet custom installations. The driver also supports volume control and source switching through the Crestron interface, allowing installers to customize the user experience any way they like.

Crestron driver features list:

• Enhanced browsing experience now allows access to both your personal music collection and recommended content on Tidal and Qobuz
• New Favorites menu allows quick selection of a wide variety of your most used content – including internet radio stations and TIDAL/Qobuz playlists
• Search feature to quickly find music on streaming service
• Browse and playback your high-quality personal music collection from a Naim Uniti Core hard-disk music server or UPnP server
• Full switching control of digital and analogue inputs, including HDMI-ARC
• Driver has streaming service credentials built in

The Crestron driver works with all Naim products based on our unique, latest-generation music streaming platform: the Mu-so and Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation wireless speakers; Uniti Atom, Uniti Star and Uniti Nova streaming systems, and ND5 XS 2, NDX 2 and ND555 dedicated music streaming players. Further Naim products – including the Uniti Core music server – can also be integrated, offering the ability to rip and store music collections in flawless quality for playback through home installations.

The Naim Crestron driver offers two control methods for a Naim streaming product. One is as a Media Driver, allowing browsing and playback of music services. The other is a traditional Zone Driver – enabling source switching, volume control and other functions. An installer can use either or both in a project, allowing them to integrate the Naim product in the most suitable way for each installation.

The driver connects the Naim product to a Crestron processor over a network connection, so does not require any special cabling. Both wired or wireless connection can be used, but we would advise a wired connection for optimum performance.

AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in and Spotify Connect features continue to operate as normal, and the Naim App and individual product remote controls can also be used.

The updated Naim Crestron driver is available now from our development partner, Intrinsic.

About Naim

Founded in 1973, Naim is an award-winning audio manufacturer based in Wiltshire, UK. With a history rooted in engineering and design excellence, Naim has won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise on three occasions, most recently for its ground-breaking design of digital music systems.

Naim shares the same intense relationship with music as its customers, a passion that has driven them to design and engineer hi-fi products including digital music systems, amplifiers and loudspeakers that connect people with their music. For Naim, music always comes first. Every product is the subject of intense scrutiny from a team of engineers who spend months or years perfecting designs, never content until the music speaks to their hearts and souls as well as their heads.

Naim also has partnerships with Bentley Motors – the Naim for Bentley premium audio system is available as an optional extra on all Bentley cars – and Princess Yachts, which offers a range of class-leading, multi-zone Naim audio systems across its luxury yacht range.