Grimm MU1 Streamer - Really "The Best"?

To me it just doesn’t make sense to put a $10K streamer in front of a $4,500 DAC

That's what I thought too. So I proceeded to upgrade my DAC - Lampi, BA LABO, Linn Klimax, Weiss 501, Pasithea, Bartok, and finally the Mola Tambaqui. With the Mola and its built-in streamer I felt like I was settled for awhile.

[note: I found it confusing that the Mola distributor STRONGLY recommended adding a $6K Auralic server/streamer + a $3K USB cable! The Tambaqui is $14K!! WTF? Why?? It kept niggling at me... ]

Then I got curious about clocks and jitter. Down the rabbit hole of Master Clocks, cascading clocks, USB to AES Clocks, ad nauseum. Oh, and more cables (bnc, 110ohm AES, USB, etc. etc.).

Early mid-2022 I began noticing increasing media coverage of the MU1. Since playing with all my clocks convinced me that there was significant upside on the streamer side of things [note: Now I get it!] I decided to demo the Grimm unit. Paul, my dealer, told me to forget all my clocking paraphernalia - take it all out of the system and just play the MU1 through the Tambaqui - period.

Well I purchased the unit (anyone looking for a clock?). I won't describe the sound except to say all my streaming music sounds very "analog" and I no longer really care what the resolution of a recording is. That alone frees my mind to focus more on... The Music.

Adding the MU1 cleaned up bunches PC's, IC's, ancillary boxes, AND MY ROON Nucleus+, returning my system closer to that "straight wire with gain" (well, figuratively speaking).

That the MU1 has ROON incorporated is pretty important (and often overlooked) , as Grimm has (with Roon approval) modified the Roon hardware/software to interface and integrate seemlessly with the MU1. In addition to optimizing communication this also serves to eliminate multiple boxes & cables. Let's remember too -  the Nucleus+ with 2tb is $4K.

So now I think I'm settled for awhile. 

I was at the Audiofest show In Toronto Canada a few months ago & by far & away the best sounding server, in at least 2 rooms, was the latest Baetis Reference series.  It sounded like music in a way nothing else did.  I did not run into Grimm server so cannot speculate on that comparison, but not listening to a Baetis server if you're in the market for something of extraordinary audio quality, is a complete non starter. Especially since if you buy it direct from them, they'll upgrade less expensive models to close to the reference level, for a lot less.

“Baetis Reference series.  It sounded like music in a way nothing else did.”

@john1 

What other servers you have heard and compared to draw that conclusion? 

“To me it just doesn’t make sense to put a $10K streamer in front of a $4,500 DAC”

@davespencer , I do get how rationally this may seem unbalanced, pairing a DAC module in an amp to a far more expensive streamer. But in practice I can totally see how this could make sense. The Gryphon Diablo 300 DAC module is absolutely up there with the Tambaqui performance wise, it’s really the nuances in transparency and tone that I’m picking up with the Tambaqui that makes all the difference. I do think it is likely the MU1 will lift my Diablo DAC module and I’m looking forward to testing that configuration despite the fact that I’m really enjoying the Tambaqui.

I agree with you on the multi-box thing. I’m sure that approach yields amazing benefits but thinking about all those cables you were listing, that is not a small cost. If you are at the point where you are out to buy the endgame level of every component and have the funds for the cabling, I can see that making sense. But if not, going for top-tier but fewer boxes makes sense I think.  IF the MU1 and my Diablo DAC module are enough for me, an AQ Dragon cord would be an elegant addition to a minimalist system approach. Certainly couldn’t afford Dragons for an endless number of boxes.  And I really find going up the power cord chain on digital equipment makes a really big difference.

I still have not ruled out the possibility that the MU1 could lift my Diablo DAC module and that I may end up selling the Tambaqui, although I think the chances are small. The Diablo DAC module has a charm with its bolder, “front row” presentation, but not one I’d pick over the Tambaqui. But just maybe, when combined with the MU1 some of the DAC module’s weaknesses will be mitigated. Looking forward to finding out.

Also I should re-emphasize how much I enjoyed the Merason DAC1. Which today I’ve sold for about what I paid for it. That DAC is one that I could get sentimentally attached to, for both the sound and the way it looks. Really is a special product. Listened to it a final time last night and while it doesn’t resolve as much as the Tambaqui, it’s sound is really pleasing to listen to. Quiet, clean, smooth, rhythmic with an inviting sound. I can imagine people describing it’s sound as “analog”, unlike the Tambaqui which I would say is digital without the associated flaws. Another case where a far more expensive streamer could elevate it.

@nyev, sorry I just saw your question. There is no generic cable that came with my Grimm mu1. I am using a borrowed (from friend) Shunyata Omega AES cable.I am also going to try then Sablon and Nordost.