I believe you can still use CC via F&F. When you go through the payment options via F&F, the steps prompt you if you want protection (CC) or skip protection (bank transfer). Not sure why you’re buying used…is there no dealer in your area that will allow in-home audition?
In any case, start with K-50 if that’s more convenient. Does K-50 comes with return privileges?
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...
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@lalitk I’m buying used as I plan to resell and experience multiple products living with each for a few months. The K50 for example is known the change significantly over many months of run time, mainly due to its power supply I’ve heard (3 or more months). Often I find with demos, the dealer sends me a brand new unit that I simply pay for and keep if I like it. I’d rather take my time and not be rushed. It’s always stressful (for me at least) not knowing if a piece will work out, your home demo time running out, and having to call the dealer to send it back. Often a few weeks is not enough to discover the one tweak that makes the piece click with your system. I find adding a new piece can expose other issues in your system that you have to work out. The biggest instance of that is when I added Nordost Valhalla 2 speaker cables. OMG did that send me on a journey due to exposed issues, which is ongoing but I feel is very near resolved. Does paying by CC really add protection? How can you prove to the CC company that you never received the goods? |
@phastm3, I’ve heard some who agree with you for sure on the Gryphon DAC. Others say it stands up to equivalent and higher priced standalone DACs and is well served by seamless integration with the amp. I’m guessing you may be right however based on the DAC’s you mentioned. That said, I’m a cable guy and I’d need to invest a lot in the interconnect and power cable for the standalone DAC, plus I’m wanting to consolidate my box’s and more importantly my cables. |
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