Grimm MU1 Streamer - Really "The Best"?

So what I think I’m not too bad at is analyzing exactly what I hear with gear. My initial analysis tends to remain even after living with gear for a very long time. My current assessment of the characteristics of the N20 have not changed one bit since my original assessment.

What has changed, however, is how I feel about those characteristics. This is the area where I struggle, as time changes how I feel.

For the first time in a while, I switched back to my Innuos gear and listened all day while working.  And I loved it. It was like the transparency, dimensionality, and air, and life was injected back into the music. I know it seems fickle and just a few posts back I said I was down on Innuos. Just please do yourself a favour and ignore any statements I make about what I like or dislike as I obviously can’t even trust myself with that. Paying attention to how I describe sound is totally okay though - I believe everything I stated in terms of sonic characteristics is totally still valid!

One note I should make - going back to Innuos I tried leaving my speakers at their toed in position that was needed for the Aurender N20 to have a solid image. It’s possible I got carried away with the positioning with Innuos before, and had the speakers toed out too much to boost the image width and crispness. But now, it sounds pretty awesome. Am also appreciating the BIG bass with more clarity and dimensionality. I also have left my DAC filter setting on “Fast” instead of the “Slow” default setting.

I think this is an example of, one server solution is not better than the other; they are simply different. I am glad to have experienced the N20 as before that, I really didn’t know what my Innuos setup added to my system. Now I know! Once I get a different DAC in house I will give the N20 another shot. I’m in talks with a dealer that may be able to set me up with a demo of the Merason DAC1, recommend by @ghasley and seemingly highly recommended by almost everyone who has heard it. The Mk1 version costs 40% less than my Gryphon DAC module, but as we know high cost doesn’t mean better sound. Still waiting patiently for the MU1 to arrive. Wondering if that will be better, or just different!

I will aspire to be a better audiophile. By honing my ability to detect what is truly “better” to my ears, as opposed to merely “different”. A good lesson.

@nyev Thanks for sharing. At the end of the day, we have to stick with what sounds best to our ears. I recently had a similar epiphany. I was quite happy with the Innuos Zenith MK3. The addition of SR purple fuse and Eno filter really took the performance to the next level. By sheer luck, I stumbled upon a rather unknown streamer, and to my surprise it really checked all the boxes for me. I ended up selling my Zenith and bought the Aavik S-280 streamer after auditioning it in my home for two weeks. It was a tough decision since the Aavik doesn't do DSD and I have a fairly decent-sized collection of DSD downloads. In the end, the Aavik just spoke to me in a way that no other streamer has. It has similar levels of clarity, air, and transparency as the Zenith, but to my ears it brings that extra bit of heft and organic quality that was sometimes missing in the Zenith. The streamer just added that special sauce that I never knew was missing. I'm glad I took the road less travelled and found something I really love.

I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions of MU1. 

Thanks @arafiq, very interesting.  I don’t know about the Zeno filter but have you every tried the Zenith with the PhoenixUSB?  It’s really an entirely different experience than the Zenith on its own.  Depending on the DAC used of course.

I should mention I agree that the Innuos gear, with or without the PhoenixUSB, is not a sound I would consider to be organic leaning.  But, it’s certainly not analytical or dry either.   Again, the DAC used can obviously change all of this; my comparison and reference point is a different server (the N20) connected to the same DAC (Gryphon Diablo module).

I was actually all set to purchase the PhoenixUSB but another audiogon member advised me to get the SR Purple fuse instead. He had tried the PhoenixUSB and didn't think it added much. So he sold it and bought the Purple fuse instead. Having said that, these things are so system dependent. It might have worked wonders in my system but I was quite happy with the Zenith + SR Purple fuse + Network Acoustics Eno filter trio, so never thought of buying the Phoenix.

BTW, I still maintain that the DAC module in your Gryphon is top class. I think you will have to get something at least $10K or more to better it. Just my opinion based on hearing the Gryphon Diablo 300 a couple of years ago.