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...
I agree with your assessment on PhoenixNet with MU1. I also believe that PhoenixNet is a purpose-built ethernet switch that is designed exclusively to enhance the performance of all Innuos players except their flagship, Statement. You have a very good AQ ethernet cable on hand, don't think going back to a generic ethernet cable is an option anymore. Given your current system configuration, I highly recommend giving Muon Pro Kit a shot, it will be an icing on the cake :-) |
@nyev :
They all say the same. Completely understandable. They are there to sell you their stuff. Not cables. Make it all one-stop solution, with no need to buy anything else. Solid marketing strategy. As you eloquently put it by the following, which is spot on:
Also:
Yup! Same thing. One-stop solution, no need to buy anything else other than $10K for Grimm you are about to shell out. Marketing department working “very hard”. 🤯🤦♂️
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@lalitk , yeah I wasn’t expecting to be able to go back to a generic Ethernet cable, rather, I was simply curious to put Grimm’s advice not to use an audio network cable with the MU1 to the test. It would be wonderful if manufacturer’s statements not to bother with such cables or power cords were true! It also makes me wonder how they can make such statements when the benefits and differences are so obvious. A small correction on what you said about the PhoenixNET. Both Innuos and Statement owners say the PhoenixNET boosts the Statement despite the Statement including Ethernet filtering or reclocking (not sure which). It’s the PhoenixUSB reclocker that is redundant when using the Statement. Innuos always includes a PhoenixNET when demoing the Statement too (but with noPhoenixUSB). I also see in other forums many, many people using the PhoenixNET with non-Innuos gear and claiming positive results. I think it just has to be well matched from a sound character perspective (would work well I think in systems that could do with some smoothness and taming). Of course, with Innuos it’s going to fit like a glove, but I have my doubts that it is only good with Innuos. I will definitely follow up on the Muon. Looked it up already. It makes me happy that no power cord is needed! I hate dealing with cords and stressing over crisscrossing them etc, and having to dust all around them! One question - I see it comes with an Ethernet cable. Do you recommend using the cable it comes with over and above other high end cables (like my Audioquest Diamond)? |
I recommend buying Muon Pro Kit which comes with Muon captive and a Ethernet cable. The Ethernet cables from Network Acoustics are outstanding and they compliment the Muon passive filter handsomely. They offer 30 days money back guarantee so you have nothing to loose except maybe return shipping cost. Personally, I wouldn’t consider buying PhoenixNet or PhoenixUSB if I am pairing it with a non-Innuos server/streamer. At the end of the day, it just comes down to synergy between components. |
Thanks @lalitk , will go with the Muon Pro kit including cable (will order in a few weeks). As I me mentioned while my AQ Diamond was clearly better overall than a generic cable, it was slightly troubling that there was no question that vocals were clearer and better defined with the generic cable. So I’m looking forward to trying the Muon with a different cable. And regarding the PhoenixNET I agree it’s about system synergy for sure :) |
