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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
1,024 posts
 

@metaldetektor, I personally didn’t see how your post could have implied you were affiliated with any sellers - all good from my perspective.

And, I think your assessment that the used (and scratched) MU1 list price seems a little high is valid, despite the fact that it has a memory and ssd upgrade.  List prices are easy to figure out.  If I’m not mistaken, the N20 lists for $2k more than the MU1 and yet I paid less for my used mint condition N20.  Which I think was priced fairly for a mint condition unit used for only two months.

nyev OP
1,024 posts
 

Update: rather than buying an AES/EBU cable outright to try with my Aurender N20 and Gryphon Diablo DAC and compare with the USB interface, my dealer confirmed they can get a demo Audioquest Diamond AES cable sent to me to try.  This will make my comparison with Innuos USB (and Aurender USB too) more apples to apples, since I currently am using two Audioquest Diamond USB cables with my Innuos Zenith Mk3 + PhoenixUSB.

My incoming Aurender N20 just took off from Chicago/O’Hare and is currently cruising at 35,000ft.

nyev OP
1,024 posts
 

My new N20 arrived.  Plugged it in and connected it.  The unit is still physically cold.  Played a few tracks.  Out of respect for both brands (coming from an Innuos Zenith Mk3 plus PhoenixUSB Reclocker) I will wait to comment publicly on what I hear until I’ve run it overnight.  But for now I’ll say two things:

1) I can’t believe how a different music server can sound so different. And,

2) The N20 sounds very, very nice.

My demo AES cable (Audioquest Diamond) is probably arriving in a week.  When it does, I’ll compare it versus USB (also using an Audioquest Diamond).  I am also going to see if my Innuos PhoenixUSB improves the Aurender USB output, which would imply Innuos does USB better.  But not really a fair comparison as Innuos would have the advantage of the separate box and power supply.

Okay I’ll say one more thing for now.  I REALLY want to try the Grimm MU1 and the Antipodes K50 as well, and my plan was to buy and sell each of them used so I could live with each for a while and really get to know what I like best.  But as of now my biggest fear is that I will be unable to part with the Aurender N20.  I’ll describe the sonic differences I perceive after I’ve run it overnight, and I’ve had a chance to go back to the Innuos setup for a while.

 

 

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,235 posts
 

But as of now my biggest fear is that I will be unable to part with the Aurender N20.  I’ll describe the sonic differences I perceive after I’ve run it overnight, and I’ve had a chance to go back to the Innuos setup for a while

An impressive start for the Aurender. I’m very curious as to how the Innuos and Aurender “house sound/signatures “ contrast. I’m looking forward to further comments/listening impressions.

Charles 

nyev OP
1,024 posts
 

I want to say more now, but I just know how much things can change through warmup!  The seller of the N20 had the unit all boxed up for weeks after using it for only a month or two.  I think it needs at least 12 hours or so of run time.  Also I should ask the seller how many hours he broke it in.  Not going to say the Aurender is “better”, because at this point there are a few things the Innuos does better, and a few things the Aurender does better.  But that said I am really liking the sound of the Aurender.  I’ve also snuck a quick test adding the PhoenixUSB Reclocker to the N20 output.  Sound changed less than I expected, but it changed.  Hard to say at this point whether I prefer with or without the reclocker.  It’s different!  Things will become more apparent after some warmup/breakin.

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