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Grimm MU1 Streamer - Really "The Best"?

I've recently become interested in the Grimm MU1.  While reviews of top end players from Innuos, Aurender and Antipodes and others are typically all very positive, the tone of the many pro reviews of the Grimm MU1 go far, far beyond, with some reviews resorting to using superlatives and gushing of positive system transformation and not being able to stop listening to material, etc..  HiFi Advice and Steve Huff (actually calls it "magic") have such reviews.

Given the delay in availability of the Innuos Pulsar which I'm told will be better than my current Zenith Mk3 + PhoenixUSB reclocker, I am interested in replacing my streaming setup with a one-box solution that includes a high-precision clock.  The new streamer will continue to feed my Gryphon Diablo 300's DAC module, which I have no interest in replacing.

I'm actually a fan of Innuos, after they improved the sound of my Zenith with firmware updates and after I added their PhoenixUSB reclocker. I appreciate this commitment to improving sound quality which is why I was so interested in the Pulsar.

The trigger for considering an upgrade is not for improved sound, but rather, to solve some issues I have with too many Audioquest power cords coiled and clumped together. I will get to lose one of them and one of my USB cords with a one-box streamer. I've noticed my sound is very sensitive to positioning of my AC cords and find I often need to re-adjust the PC feeding my amp to get proper sounding vocals at center stage.  One of my subs also seems to be picking up AC noise when the crossover is set above 60Hz. The second trigger is simply system simplification, removing one box.  All that said I don't really have any complaints regarding sound, and the PhoenixUSB reclocker truly did improve the sound of my Zenith.

While the Grimm MU1 has it's 4X upsampling up it's sleeve with reviewers absolutely glowing over this feature and it's extreme ability to separate tones to the left, right, front, and back far better than the rest, I don't see that Grimm has gone to any lengths with regard to power supply management in the way other brands do including Innuos. The MU1's ultra-simplistic interior doesn't bug me, but the lack of transformers and power management makes me wonder....

Are there any updates from folks who have directly compared the MU1 vs similarly classed streamers from the competition?  Did you find it to be as revelatory as the pro reviewers found it? And, how does it compare to other streamers with it's 4X upsampling disabled?  Does it sound like it suffers from it's lack of power management?  I do see that the clock should be very good...

 

 

nyev
nyev OP
1,021 posts
 

Thanks for the thoughts.  I’ll stay to seek out a demo, however there aren’t any dealers in Canada!  Sometimes companies will work with a local HiFi shop to provide a demo when there are no other dealers around, so I will see if I am able to do that.

@lordmelton , what qualities of the MU1 did you find were more suited to classical and acoustic vs other genres?  I don’t really care about DSD and the MU1 is all about the 4X upsampler which is only available with AES, so I don’t think it would make any sense to use USB with the MU1 anyways..

@ghasley , did you directly compare the MU1 to the Innuos Statement (which is undoubtedly great and undoubtedly expensive), Aurender, or other?  If so, can you comment on the differences you noted?

 

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,231 posts
 

Like many of us here on Audiogon, we just keep listening to and demoing gear and when we find something that outperforms what we have we switch. I did purchase @ghasley the Grimm and have no regrets. Unlike many here on Audiogon, I don’t need or seek confirmation bias or approval from the community at large to validate a purchase. Go listen to Aurender, to Grimm or Taiko or whatever. At this level its about what you prefer and then buy the one you like, not the one liked by me or anyone else. I can say that whatever is going on inside the Grimm is very, very good. Good luck.

Agree with the stated sentiment 100%!!!

You have to hear and then select audio components based on only one standard, what you like and enjoy the most, nothing else. No matter how superb someone finds an audio product, there is going to be a dissenter.

This is guaranteed to happen without exception. Subjectivity ensures that opinion and listening impressions will cover the spectrum one end to the other.

I strongly suspect that the Grimm MU1 is an outstanding product. Nonetheless it will not please every single listener, nothing does.

Charles

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ghasley
2,433 posts
 

@nyev

I did not directly compare the Grimm with the Statement. The new version wasn’t out when I was in the market, however, I had heard the previous Statement version, which was impressive. The most recent Aurender I listed to was the W20 and I did not compare directly with the MU1.

 

I will repeat, at this level, it really is a personal preference. They are each terrific. Also, at this price range, you might consider a flight and overnight stay for a prearranged demo at a US dealer. While I recognize that is a logistical and financial commitment, so is buying something to try blind. Additionally, in this price range, purchasing from a dealer who will provide after sales service/support is well worth the money. A great dealer will save you money, especially if they have been there for you with your other gear. The Grimm MU1 is Innuos Statement level performance with a bit different presentation…maybe a little more organic/natural sounding to my ears. The dealer was kindof like “I will sell you a statement or a MU1 or nothing at all but you really should experience the Grimm”. The advice was sound. YMMV and you will find your sweet spot with any one of these units only by listening/experiencing.

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
877 posts
 

^^^^^ This is very good advice.

The Taiko Extreme is widely acknowledged or advertised as the best streamer but there is no way I'm investing that amount of money in such a small operation.

The Grimm will not give you soaring, razor edged guitar solos, which the N20 will.

Others have other priorities and rightly so.

I love DSD, hate DOP so consider your choices there is no right answer, but I'm happy and so is @ghasley and @charles1dad so that's the most important thing when you can stop worrying about your gear and enjoy the music.

nyev OP
1,021 posts
 

@ghasley , that is good advice. Before I consider a flight, I might check if I can somehow get a demo sent to me locally.


While I do have a good relationship with local dealers, I find that it’s not dealers who help you with issues, but rather the component vendor. I’m not sure I’ve ever spoken to a dealer when I’ve had an issue or question; it’s always been direct to the company that made the component.

Maybe it’s just me but I also have found advice from component vendors to be far more insightful than advice from dealers, provided you understand that advice will from vendors will always be slanted in their favour. I’ve had vendors send me detailed product schematics for example, while teaching me how it works while providing me with advice on how best to use it in my home. Never got anything lat that level of depth from a dealer!

 

 

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