Grimm MU1 Streamer - Really "The Best"?

@sns , I edited your statement for accuracy:

"I’d be very interested in your comparison of AES if when you did get the Antipodes"

Trying to stay committed to giving each of these three and the Statement too (which Nuno at Innuos has actually directly offered to send to my local dealer, who is not an Innuos dealer, for me to try).

I’ve been deliberating whether to continue with the "buy used" route where possible (the MU1 may not be possible), or to try to switch to working direct with dealers/companies to get a demo. From a cost perspective, it’s not all that different really, after I compared all the possible outcomes. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m always apprehensive of involving dealers/vendors unless I’m fairly confident I’ll buy a particular product, and involving 3-4 vendors in this with all the shipping involved seems excessive to ask of them all, when I will in the end only buy one of them. I did conduct a Shunyata vs Audioquest shootout for power cables where they each sent me demos, and I ensured both companies knew what I was up to at the outset. Shunyata in particular was extraordinarily helpful through the process with proactive communication from Richard, and for the most part I chose Audioquest only because of personal preference.

As I said, Innuos generously offered to send a demo Statement for me. With Antipodes I’ve heard they offer 30 day returns when buying direct, which would work for me. And Grimm is more restrictive - they offer a 14 day return policy as part of their purchase contract, but only from the time they ship the unit, and they require tracking info when returning the unit for proof it was returned on time. I guess it’s doable but that would be rushed.

If I proceed with buying the used K50 for sale now, it means I may need to involve my dealer with the Innuos and Grimm servers (I think we get around the import duty if it’s sent to my dealer, or at least I never directly pay for it), and I’d feel bad if I chose the K50, or the N20 for that matter, in the end.

Trying to figure out the most reasonable path to trialing all 4 servers without putting out the companies and dealer too much. I’m totally willing to pay for shipping and their time helping set this up, but I don’t think that really helps from their perspectives.

@ghasley 

The ‘network’ part of my Merging Technologies DAC can be bit confusing to anyone if they are not familiar with the concept of RAVENNA. So what does RAVENNA network configuration allows…..Peer to Peer connection to any numbers of computer or streamers over your network. The Merging DAC has the capability of controlling multiple sources over the network, for example I can connect and toggle between a Innuos Statement, K50 and N20 from its source menu for side by side comparison, all over Ethernet. Think of Merging DAC equivalent to an Analog Preamp but in digital domain. 

Now the clock, The MERGING+CLOCK is designed to provide Synchronized Perfection to multiple components simultaneously that can accept Master / Word Clock inputs, like N20 and my Merging DAC.

You can read up in detail about Merging CLOCK here, 

RAVENNA

This open and published IP network technology had been created to meet the demands of national broadcasters and focused on essential requirements of extremely accurate clocking, high resistance to packet loss and very low latency. Initially it did not encompass high PCM sampling rates and certainly not DSD. However, it was not difficult to make changes to allow that, so Merging worked closely with the developers to make sure that sufficient channels at up to DSD256 could be handled with an accuracy that exceeded anything previously available. It remains the only logical choice for the professional and the audiophile and is now available in MERGING+NADAC. The added bonus to using an advanced networking solution is being able to send and receive control information as well as audio data. This opened up exciting possibilities in the studio and now you can enjoy these same benefits in your own home. 

This was inevitable but I sent an offer for the used K50. Will figure out the path forward for trialing the other streamers later. Should be a good offer as it’s been listed a while. But I won’t proceed if they counter.

Hopefully I can get my analysis of these products completed before the recession hits. Otherwise I’m prepared to lose some cash. These products at this level will sit listed on the used market for many months at the best of times. Interestingly that used MU1 seems to have sold in a flash. At least it’s not listed anymore. Sort of wished I just scooped up all three lol…. It’s a very satisfying process to validate these products and be confident of their respective strengths and weaknesses.  And, learning a bit more about my own preferences in the process.

Tried going back to my Innuos boxes for the first time after a few days. Wow. Just blown away by the added resolution, transparency, air, and separation. Voices and instruments hanging in space etc. But at the same time, on my “revealing” system I am missing some groundedness/focus that the N20 offers. The image with the Innuos setup is not as “locked in place”. I also suspect the Aurender is warm leaning while the Innuos is strictly neutral, which makes some material a tad thin (but never bright). Will see how the N20 fares once I get the AES cable. And hopefully, the K50 as well!

Nothing new, just really validated my prior assessments.

I can imagine how the new Statement Next-Gen sounds, based on reports, and based on my own experience with lesser Innuos products. I bet it fixes all the issues I have aside from the touch of warmth/richness that I seem to want.

Yep. Going back to the N20 (with presumed limited USB performance so not a full test), it’s just so much more solid sounding, with a nice warmth to it. Less going on with imaging though. And a very subtle high-hat on one particular track is totally audible with the Innuos gear, and not so much on the N20’s USB output. If the AES cable will help the N20 with high and low resolution, with a smidge better separation and depth, the N20 may very well be the winner yet.

As another aside, connecting the PhoenixUSB to the N20’s USB output, adds a touch of transparency but there is something lost. Less warmth, less “upbeatness”. Definitely prefer the N20 without the PhoenixUSB.  And without the PhoenixNET as I mentioned before.  It’s like it’s allergic to Innuos gear.