Grimm MU1 Streamer - Really "The Best"?

@nyev 

Often I will cut multiple strips of painters tape, the same number of strips of heavy duty graph paper (the kind with precise grids). I place the strips according to precise measurements. I mark the paper with the corresponding measurements and then go to work. Once I get them dialed in, making notes along the way, and then I snap photos. I make notes of everything, down to the cable, the time of day, the tracks used and the resolution of the file. Then, once dialed in, I put it all away and just live with the final product for a while. Its a rare occurrence that things dont need readjustment, with new notes, photos, etc. Really smart (or impatient) people rarely go these lengths and thus, they get random and unrepeatable outcomes.

Everyone has their technique…the one Ive settled with works for me…YMMV.

Yes, I found getting the positioning the best it could be before the tweaks became less frequent took a lot of incremental adjustments over a long period of time. I’m sure I could further refine the speaker positions with the N20, but the towed in positions solved the initial image issues I had observed.

I had two issues with the painter’s tape. First, the edge is flat, when I’m measuring the exact position of the round Herbie’s slider. The sharpie enables me to apply a small amount of curvature, by tracing the slider at four points around the slider. This allows me to “seat” the speaker’s four sliders more accurately within these small curves, ensuring the desired position is re-achieved. I can then have several incremental markings that I can flip between when experimenting with minute changes. The other issue I had with tape is, over time, sliding over it and damaging its position. Anyhow, that seems to have worked for me with my prior Innuos setup, albeit over the course of months (with intensive effort in the first week or two of positioning, followed by intermittent tweaks over subsequent months). I’m satisfied that I have achieved the optimal positioning with the Innuos gear. Until something changes in the system or room, as you pointed out!

Yes, time of day totally matters too…. I still have better performance at night after midnight, with better special separation and depth. Nothing unusual there!l, but annoying nonetheless!

One thing I noticed about positioning. I gave up on measuring until the very end. I find that going on my ears usually results in a near symmetrical (and a few times exactly symmetrical) position for the speakers. If there is a slight discrepancy at the end, I then adjust one speaker at a time while marking their original positions, to see which one should move to match the other.

My latest process, which is constantly evolving. But for me personally my current process is way ahead of what I used to do.

Speaking of “pumping the brakes”, one seller responded that their K50 is confirmed by Antipodes as being the V1 hardware, prior to the major 2021 revision in response to the supply chain issues they were facing. I don’t think there is any consensus on how the sound changes, other than both versions sound great. The revisions were major as I mentioned, to the clock, power supply and other areas, so there must be some degree of sonic difference even if one is not “better”. That said, I think I’d still want to be testing the latest rev.

The other seller hasn’t got back to me on my offer. Will let it go. Just trying to line up opportunities for the future for testing the other two, as opportunities arise to buy used. At this level, opportunities only come by once in a while. My focus remains on taking my time getting to know the N20 regardless of what happens!  The recent  development with respect to bass is rather exiting.  The whole presentation has a lot more presence and energy as a result.

If only I could get Sablon and / or Jorma to respond in regard to the AES cable. Will try calling them next.

You would have had the Jorma last week from The Cable Company. I’ve found when manufacturers have a distribution partner, they expect it to be used.