n vs McIntosh Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
n
Control your Naim music server and player from your device. Browse your entire music collection, build playlists, edit metadata, and explore your library with ease. Enjoy a liberated listening experience with comprehensive control.
- Build and edit playlists
- Explore library by metadata
- Edit metadata
- Browse internet radio
- Fast browsing with cached data
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Put your entire music collection at your fingertips with the n-Serve remote control app. For use with Naim’s hard disk player/servers, HDX and UnitiServe, and NaimNet music servers NS01, NS02 and NS03, n-Serve liberates your listening experience, allowing you to browse and listen in comfort. GET THE MOST FROM YOUR MUSIC The n-Serve app has been designed from the ground up by Naim’s team of software engineers to be convenient and easy to use whilst offering comprehensive control of Naim server products. Explore and fully appreciate your music with the following controls: •Build and edit playlists •Explore library by following extended metadata links (e.g. tapping on a performer for a given album shows all the music that performer was involved with) •Edit metadata •Browse internet radio stations and save presets •Super fast browsing experience thanks to locally cached music library data Additional Requirements: A Naim HDX, UnitiServe, NS01, NS02 or NS03 running Version 1.5 software or above connected to your home network.
McIntosh Connect
Control compatible McIntosh audio equipment with a streamlined interface. Manage volume, inputs, tone, and more for select preamplifiers. Easily update firmware and configure network settings for an optimized listening experience.
- Volume Control
- Input Selection & Renaming
- Tone Adjustment
- Firmware Update Management
- Multi-Zone Audio Control
- Network Setup
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McIntosh Connect offers a refined, intuitive interface for controlling supported McIntosh products, currently the CR106 6-Zone Preamplifier / Audio Matrix, C55 Solid State Preamplifier, and C2800 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. Each product provides a tailored in-app experience designed to highlight and control its most essential features. Key Features (all features may not be compatible with all products): • Guided Product Discovery & Onboarding • Volume Control • Input Selection • Input Renaming & Configuration • Tone Adjustment • Output Switching • Balance Control • Input Trim Level • Network Setup & Configuration • Firmware Update Management • Multi-Zone Audio Control (CR106 only) • Experience Creation & Recall (CR106 only) Supported Products: • CR106 2-Channel, 6-Zone Preamplifier / Audio Matrix • C55 2-Channel Solid State Preamplifier • C2800 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Firmware Updates Made Easy Stay current with the latest enhancements. McIntosh Connect automatically checks for firmware updates and simplifies installation, ensuring your system performs at its best. Control of Connected Source Components McIntosh Connect also enables indirect control of select McIntosh source components via the Data Ports on supported preamplifiers. Proper configuration is required; please refer to your product’s Owner’s Manual for setup instructions.
Screenshots
Verdict
n and McIntosh Connect both sit at 3.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 48% of n's written reviews are positive against 25% of McIntosh Connect's. n also leads on iOS requirement (7.1 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.4 for n against 3.3 for McIntosh Connect. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 14 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of n's written reviews are positive against 25% of McIntosh Connect's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | n | McIntosh Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (5 ratings) — better | 3.3 (14 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 47.6% of reviews — better | 25.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 14 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 7.1 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Naim Audio Ltd | McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. |
Customer experience
n
McIntosh Connect
In-app purchases
n
No in-app purchases
McIntosh Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is n free?
Is McIntosh Connect free?
Which has better reviews, n or McIntosh Connect?
Do n or McIntosh Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, n or McIntosh Connect?
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