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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
1,023 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
10,234 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
1,023 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.

nyev OP
1,023 posts
 

After decades of having experience with breakin/warmup time with components, inevitably with every new piece I try my mind tries to convince myself that breakin/warmup won’t happen in this instance, and in every case but once I’ve been proven wrong (I didn’t notice any breakin effect with my Gryphon amp). The Aurender N20 has changed a lot already. Very glad I resisted the urge to comment on the sonics at first, as it’s much better now. It was doing some great things at first but the few weak areas I noticed during a very brief initial test are no longer an issue.

I should also emphasize this is not a fair face off between Innuos and Aurender.  The Zenith Mk3 and PhoenixUSB reclocker’s cost is lower than the Aurender N20. I expect Innuos would prefer if I was comparing a Statement (but not the new one with upgraded power supply which is double-uber expensive).  Statement was a bit more than I wanted to spend and there aren’t any used however.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,076 posts
 

“But as of now my biggest fear is that I will be unable to part with the Aurender N20”

@nyev

As a long time Aurender user, my suggestion would be to not let N20 go before you had a chance to compare it with MU1 and K50.

Once N20 settles in your system, you will hear clearly that it excels in terms of low frequency extension and slam. You will also notice an edge in terms of perceived detail. N20 doesn’t quite smear or soften the top end details as Innuos. In contrast, Innuos is little more gentle on top end. I found N20 to be ultra detailed without being etched or forward. 

You are in phase 1 of your audition, take your time. Phase 2 would be optimizing the N20 with cabling, isolation and after-market fuse. There is a grounding lug on N20 (more on that later). For now just listen and compare :-)

Both Innuos and Aurender makes great streamers and from here on your personal taste of the sonic signature in the context of the rest of the system will ultimately be the deciding factor in your choice of streamer.

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