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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
sns
3,334 posts
 

I do like advice of using Cable Company, I used them extensively years ago when trying to determine the value cables of all kinds bring to systems, very enlightening! Never had issue with returns and I must have gone through hundreds of cables in total.

 

@nyev I'll be very interested in outcome. SPDIF/ AES/EBU is intriguing in that at least some high end streamer manufacturers use it as their reference scheme. I presume its easier to implement in dacs as well, perhaps even in dacs with optimized usb, AES/EBU could provide best sound quality, you're comparison could enlighten here.

 

I also really like the Innuos Statement with new Sean Jacobs ps, and they continue to believe in usb, provide optimal, perhaps best usb rendering. For anyone thinking I'm dissing on Aurender, I consider Wadax, Taiko Extreme the two big dogs, up to now Aurender W20SE, Innuos Statement, Antipodes K50 tied for third, Statement may now be pulling ahead of Aurender, Antipodes with new PS and optimized usb for me. I've done my due diligence on streamers for quite some time, go to the most experienced streamers on audiophilestyle and whatsbestforums for advice. I believe  all of the above streamers can provide highest sound quality, the best for any single individual's setup is the determining factor, this is choice for that individual to make. Just because I went in different direction doesn't mean I don't highly respect all of these manufacturers.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,592 posts
 

“I consider Wadax, Taiko Extreme the two big dogs, up to now Aurender W20SE, Innuos Statement, Antipodes K50 tied for third, Statement may now be pulling ahead of Aurender, Antipodes with new PS and optimized usb for me.”

@sns

Which one of the top flight servers/streamers you auditioned in your system? And which DAC or DAC’s did you pair these servers to arrive at your ratings of one, two and three?

 

sns
3,334 posts
 

Since there's been some discussion of rendering, usb in particular. I was just reminded by poster in my network thread about the 5v power feed in usb. In case some aren't aware, some dacs don't require the 5v feed for power or handshake, in this case either purchase usb without the 5v feed or tape over 5v leg inside connector. Noise rides on this 5v line, removing should decrease noise floor. I've long done tape method with my favored AQ Diamond USB.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,592 posts
 

@nyev 

Couple of brands for your AES cable consideration; Audience, Acrolink (if you can find it used), Acoustic Revive and Combak (aka Harmonix). 

sns
3,334 posts
 

@latik This not based on my own listening, this based on many reviews/comparisons over last couple years. This is simply my order of preference, not an objective or presented as objective order of hiearchy. Whatever the true order, I don't believe there's any question these are amongst the best streamers out there. May be others I have no knowledge of. I also base my ratings on the amount of proprietary technology that's gone into these particular streamers. I know some Individuals that have  been trying to clone the Taiko for some time now, gave up the pursuit and simply purchased the Taiko.

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