Grimm MU1/Mola Mola Tambaqui combo vs. Grimm MU2

The MU2 also has an analog preamp built in as well as a streamer and DAC. It works very well connected directly to an amplifier.  

@carlsbad2 wrote: " The MU1 has the ability to take an analog input and switch it through to the analog output.  I assume that is what you are referring to.  but it is just a convenience switch, not a preamp.  That assumes I understand it correctly.  I haven't used it."

This understanding would not be correct according to Grimm which state the following:  "The MU2 combines a music streamer with a superb DAC and a reference quality analog preamp."

Numerous reviewers have commented on the quality of the preamp in the MU2 as well as the inbuilt DAC.  It is an MU1 and much more.

I use it as a one box solution from Ethernet to my amp.  It sounds superb as well in my opinion and better than many of the separates which I have used. 

@carlsbad2  I will defer to you and others on the technicalities of the MU2. John Lavorgna in his review states: "I let its internal analog preamp take over for the internal preamps in the review Triode Evolution 300 and my beloved Leben CS600 and I didn’t feel as if I, or the music, lost anything. In fact there was an added clarity and transient speed that I preferred with the MU2 in charge."

Grimm calls it a "relay based analog volume control".

I use an apple remote to control the volume.  When I change the volume, I hear the relay clicks just like I used to hear on the Ayre KXR preamp which I owned many years ago.