Still waiting for my MU1 and fancy cables.
Today I learned from Merason that the DAC 1 can only do 176K on USB. 192 is supported on AES and SPDIF however. Which is exactly what the specifications state. I suppose I wasn’t sure what that meant, as I thought that would seem odd. This will not make the MU1 happy in 4X oversampling mode when playing 44k source material.
I’ve asked Grimm if there is any way to force the 4X output to always be 192k (which would be fine for the DAC1) and never 176k. But I doubt there is a way, at least, I doubt there is without compromising SQ (maybe Roon could “pre-upsample” to ensure the 192k cap is hit with 4X oversampling but that wouldn’t be good for sound). Anyone know if there is a solution? Guessing not.
It’s a shame because I really like the DAC1. I even love the way it looks. I like how you can see the circuit boards through the top and how the orange leds illuminate the inside when the lights are low.
My Gryphon DAC is more resolving but that’s probably due to the limitation of my $500 RCA interconnects I’m currently is using while waiting for my new cables. But the DAC1 sounds more natural, open, and musically involving. Vocals are more expressive on the DAC1 not due to performance but due to it being more neutral than my Gryphon DAC which I now understand to be quite coloured. I have mixed feelings on this coloration. The Gryphon’s tone sounds great overall but it makes vocals much smaller. The Gryphon DAC’s bass is bigger and rounder (and more detailed) but the DAC1 has far punchier and rhythmic, “carved” bass. This along with the expressive vocals is what makes this more musically involving than my Gryphon DAC.
All of this would improve with the new cables and the DAC 1 could be upgraded to the MK2 version for presumably better resolution. But very sadly, that won’t ever happen if I end up keeping the MU1, due to the limitation of the DAC1’s AES output not doing 176k. Zero issues with Innuos though, using USB!
I feel like the DAC 1 has some heart and soul to it. Too bad…. But it’s taught me a lot about my Gryphon DAC even without the balanced cables.
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Makes good sense @ghasley and thank you as always. I am really quite interested in the MK2 version of the DAC1 too. In theory it should compete at a much higher level, but there are no reports on how it sounds yet.
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It’s all good and no worries! It’s the internet. There’s a lot of nastiness on these boards but I’ve also gleaned a TON of great info on this forum over the years. Including on this thread. Hopefully I’ve helped others somehow as well.
I could be mistaken but I think @lordmelton may be a bit miffed that I sold the Aurender. But to a very happy buyer upgrading from his N10 who just received it today! To each their own.
Will continue posting updates on the remainder of this journey for sure. Waiting patiently…. Okay, maybe not so patiently :)
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@lordmelton , okay, my mistake.
The DAC1 is a really, really fine DAC. You will find almost all people agree. I enjoy it! It’s not very obvious that it doesn’t do 176k (aside from with USB, so Innuos works great!). I mean, they say everywhere it supports up to 192k so unless you very carefully read the manual how would you know that USB supports all rates but not others? Finally, this DAC is purpose built to be musically enjoyable. No bells and whistles, no frills. If you feel the need for a display, that’s okay! I don’t need one.
This DAC works just fine for USB users (Innuos) as @ghasley used it with.
It’s already been worth the experience!
My Innuos stuff has no display either and I think that’s really cool in a stealth sort of way. I’d actually prefer if the MU1 didn’t have one!
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+1 @arafiq and @lalitk!
I know moving on from the N20 was a bit premature, but while I had planned to have the cash “locked up” in my demo gear until I was through testing, I had a buyer approach me, and I know how long gear can be listed even at fair market value. In short, I am rather fond of BOTH of my kidneys, lol!
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Okay, let’s move on lol….
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Hi @rockrider , catching up…. I did try the N20 with and without my PhoenixNet in the chain. I think I mentioned somewhere in the many posts above, that while the PhoenixNet sounds fantastic with my Innuos gear and definitely improves things, I felt it did add a tension to the N20 that I didn’t like. Likewise, I tried adding the PhoenixUSB to the N20’s USB output. While things became more resolving, they also became less energetic and flat. My conclusion before was that Innuos and Aurender gear are allergic to each other!
Both Phoenix products are absolutely fantastic with the Zenith Mk3 though.
The MU1 and my Shunyata cables should arrive in 1-2 weeks, hopefully.
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“I tried alternating between LEDs on and off and lo and behold the highs and details returned with them turned off”
Innuos has a thing where they are always saying how noisy led’s can be. It’s why they go “stealth mode” for the most part. But this sounds like they must be really noisy!
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I think my experience adding the PhoenixUSB Reclocker to my Innuos Zenith might be a good example of how your streaming performance can be upgraded with more investment. In my case it added precision in the sense of greater focus and clarity for individual sounds, soundstage depth and cleaner separation, and overall more well defined positioning of sounds. It’s not a small difference. I’m hoping that the Grimm MU1 will level these and other qualities up yet again, but the jury is out on that one until I get my unit in my system and broken in. I’ve also realized that I’m seeking a flatter frequency response in the bass and midrange, than my current DAC module seems to offer (coloration is boosted bass or recessed mids - not entirely sure which, or if it matters as it’s relative). I’m not sure the MU1 will address that issue, as my testing of the outboard Merason DAC 1 seems to address the tonal issues, while being less resolving than my much more pricey Gryphon DAC (albeit with basic RCA cables that limit the DAC1’s performance until I get my new cables in)..
I’ve often wondered about my hearing. Tested about 5 years back, and my higher frequency sensitivity is going down, but nothing that is out of step and normal for my age. Maybe that’s the reason I no longer struggle with “brightness” in my system…. But I doubt it!
I was encouraged when I read that Dave Grohl was stating how he is totally deaf and can’t even communicate when he is at the checkout of a supermarket or out at a dinner in a restaurant. Here is the part I was encouraged by:
"My ears are still tuned in to certain frequencies, and if I hear something that’s slightly out of tune, or a cymbal that’s not bright enough or something like that, in the mix, I can f—ing hear the minutiae of everything that we have done to that song; I really can,"
Which maybe not saying much given their music, but that’s probably mean and unfair of me to say!
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“For the record, I found that my hearing began to suffer greatly on my wedding day and has degraded precipitously since that time. “
@ghasley , you might be on to something. Someone should do a study! In the interest of science. There is also the phenomenon that I’ve noticed, where I’ve oddly found it has been more difficult to acquire new gear following my wedding day. I wonder if the issues are related….
Just met someone who bought a pair of Sonus Faber Amati’s, the brand new edition, and he’s not planning to tell his wife until after they arrive! Brave soul!
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My time with the Merason DAC-1 has been truly enlightening. Pretty much everything I said above that I attributed to my Innuos gear I now realize was coming from my Diablo DAC module. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s an excellent performer more resolution than the DAC-1 (which is unfair to say as my DAC-1 remains hobbled by my current basic RCA cable at its lower output voltage vs balanced).
But the significant bottom-up balance of the Gryphon DAC really constrains the midrange. The DAC-1 is showing me how expressive the midrange can be, with far more emotion. And as I mentioned, it’s nothing to do with performance of the DAC other than being neutral. Some songs are now a fundamentally different experience with a fuller and open mid.
Nothing I haven’t said already as I continue to wait for the MU1 and cables, but my realization is, I think my focus on the DAC side of things is really increasing. Will wait to see how the MU1 does with the Gryphon DAC before doing anything drastic, but I’m not sure the MU1 would actually change the heavy tonal balance of my Gryphon DAC. @ghasley I think was predicting where this might end up. I’ve now been looking into the Tambaqui.
Will take it slow though - as I need to! A few things I need to take care of on the financial side of things before I go down that path. Will give me a chance to get to know the MU1 first. Which is apparently ready to ship next week, but shipping will take some time…. Might be a couple more weeks.
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@debjit_g , on other forums and also in some reviews, I’ve seen people mostly say that the Taiko Extreme bests the MU1. At a more “Extreme” cost, of course….
In terms of generalizations I think Christiaan at HiFi Advice seems to do a good job describing the differences between the K50 and MU1, as others seem to agree with him. Check out the reviews and his short YouTube video where he contrasts the two products sound differences. He declared them both “favourites”. I’ve not seen any comparisons at all with the Statement. But all are great from what I understand. Stereophile should be doing their review of the new Statement with Next Gen power supply anytime now. For what it’s worth. They’ve been testing it for many months. I know pro reviews are of limited value but it can help in a general way. Stereophile raves about the K50 and the MU1, but I thought their original Statement review seemed to be less enthusiastic. Not bad, but just not using any of the typical superlatives. So it will be interesting to see what they say about the new version and whether they put it on a pedestal like they did with the MU1 and K50. Statement next-Gen is in a higher price tier though, more along the lines of the Antipodes Oladra. Not that price means anything but sometimes it does (see the Taiko Extreme).
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A used mint condition Mola Mola Tambaqui came up for sale from a Canadian distributor for a fair price, so I went for it. Really looking forward to listening to this pairing, comparing with the Diablo DAC, and comparing with my Innuos Zenith Mk III & PhoenixUSB. The prior owner of my Tambaqui traded it in for a Kassandra.
I feel like this should be a winning combo (one of the designers who had a hand in designing the MU1 also designed the Tambaqui). Not too concerned buying the MU1 and Tambaqui unheard; these two products sell fast on the used market. But hoping I don’t have to go there!
My phone wants to enter “Tampon” every time I write Tambaqui.
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I’ve reverted back to causal listening mode for the past while while waiting for the MU1, Tambaqui, and fancy cables to arrive - just enjoying music. I tend to flip between states with the most time just listening to music.
But a day ago my used Tambaqui arrived. I couldn’t wait for my Shunyata cables to arrive, so I picked up a pair of Audioquest Red River balanced cables to try it with. The Tambaqui only has balanced output connections so I couldn’t use my RCA cables. My first impression after a day of listening - wow, I’ve heard this effect before! Will get to that later.
This is an utterly different sound than what I experienced with the Merason, with my Gryphon Diablo DAC, and with the Aurender N20. In fact this is at the totally opposite end of the spectrum from my experience with the Aurender N20. Here is what I found:
- Unbridled resolution at all frequencies. Without being lean or bright!
- Resolute, stable, rock-solid bass and mid frequencies. Density is great despite the extreme clarity.
- Lighting fast. Like really, really fast. Transients are really, really quick but not at all hard
- Neutrality compared to my Gryphon DAC module which has a boosted low end. So yes, the Tambaqui has less bass and for once I consider this a good thing with other elements being allowed to shine as they are supposed to.
- More bass snap/punch
- Imaging is fantastic with tremendous solidity with respect to positioning.
- Everything is effortless and unforced, but lively and engaging
- Really, really great connection with the music. Not sterile despite the extreme precision.
- Better fine dynamics than my Gryphon DAC
- My Innuos PhoenixNET Ethernet switch is a match made in heaven. It takes the Tambaqui’s sound and adds a focused liquidity to it. Although I guess technically it’s the other way around considering the signal flow.
Music is just fantastic and it’s actually tough to listen critically which is just great! This is clearly better than my Gryphon Diablo DAC module.
Are there any negatives yet? Two but these don’t bug me one bit:
- Could use a touch more body to have vocals and instruments be “larger” - maybe? But maybe this would remove the space needed to do all the things it does so well. So I don’t really think this is a real criticism.
- The space between vocals and all instruments is highly precise, but maybe with not quite as much distance between everything compared with my Gryphon DAC? With all of the positives I don’t even think of this as a negative, more of just a point of note. My Shunyata Omega AES and Sigma NR V2 balanced cables should help separate things when they arrive, not to mention the 4X hardware oversampling of the MU1. Which I’m told is in-transit finally!
Really liking this and feel it is totally aligned with what I am seeking. But it may not be for everyone. It reminds me of exactly the qualities that my Nordost Valhalla 2 speaker cables provided - detail that was really satisfying, delivered with lightning speed and without any lean-ness or hardness.
While this is right up my alley I could see how some may prefer a more fleshy and organic sound closer to what the Aurender N20 offered. But this is just perfect for me. And there is no tension or nervousness that my Gryphon DAC exhibits. It’s completely taken away my urge to tweak. I WILL tweak but because I will consciously do so rather than feeling compelled to do so. I haven’t even removed my speaker grills because it just sounds great and I’m too busy listening to music! This is effortless stress free listening - but with gobs and gobs of detail!
I know the less good things tend to come out with extended listening over weeks. But I really feel like I know this type of sound from my experience with my Valhalla 2 speaker cables, oddly, and that it’s totally aligned with my tastes. I would think that anyone who likes the Valhalla 2 speaker cables, which I know is not everyone, should really try this DAC. I know some people don’t like the Valhalla 2’s but I imagine some of these people may be exposing issues elsewhere in their system with the Valhalla 2’s and attributing the brightness they hear to them. Even in this thread I’ve been blaming issues on the wrong components only to find out later! On that note I’ve always thought the Diablo may not be the fastest sounding amp around but turns out it was the Gryphon DAC module holding things back.
The Tambaqui is clearly a cut above the Merason at more than double the price. But I will go back to the Merason to try it with the balanced interconnects. I still really like this DAC!
Will be interesting to see what the MU1 can do with my Gryphon DAC but at this point I’m guessing I’ll be stuck on the Tambaqui permanently. It’s perplexing how it can be so revealing while totally avoiding sounding lean and while being so musically engaging.
Oh and just for reference - this was all done with the USB output from my Innuos Zenith MK3 and PhoenixUSB.
Sound wise, I’d be totally happy if this was the end of the line. I could live happily with this sound. But now I’m at +1 boxes until my MU1 arrives!
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“if it’s bright when added to a system, there’s something else wrong in the system, in my opinion”
I agree @metaldetektor and that’s exactly my opinion of what people are experiencing when they feel Nordost Valhalla 2 cables are bright (although I found some of them have less bass but not the speaker cables). Revealing equipment can reveal other issues, and in fact the Nordost cables did for me - which took me down a major upgrade path over the past 1.5 years, one that I’m now finally feeling like I’m truly nearing the end of. For the time being of course….
I completely understand how some might prefer a warmer, richer, fuller sound at the expense of detail, neutrality and precision, a sound that some might use the word “analog” to describe. But yeah I think what you said applies to me - if I go that route I’m forever chasing issues. It’s deceiving because the overall tone of the Gryphon DAC module is so pleasing that you don’t at first realize the trade offs. And to be fair I didn’t start noticing them until my system became more revealing.
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The reason I went with Shunyata cables in the end (Omega AES and Sigma NR V2) is because I was impressed by a home demo / bake-off I did with Shunyata Omega vs Audioquest Dragon power cords on my Gryphon integrated, a couple of years back. The Shunyata was great even though I chose the Dragon, and the Shunyata had this lush, liquid smoothness to it with an immersive soundstage. While still being utterly transparent and neutral. And I’ve heard people say the same about Shunyata’s digital cords. I thought this might come be a good match considering the high precision front end gear I’m adding.
Regarding balanced interconnects, I know some say the grade of balanced cables doesn’t matter as much, and I know people feel YouTube HiFi comparisons are absurd. But @jays_audio_lab replaced Transparent interconnects and compared with Sigma NR V2 balanced interconnects… Listen to the intermittent high-hat after 4:30 and compare with the same after 11:00. Easily heard on my phone speakers even, but more pronounced on my tiny desktop Bose computer speakers!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NBuGLB1naqY
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H @lalitk , “transformative” is a good word that I would apply to how I would describe the magnitude of difference that the Tambaqui brings. That said, I normally would use that word for when anyone, not just me, and not just audiophiles, would notice the magnitude of difference in quality. Upgrading my speakers did that in my house. As did my amp. But my family has not commented on the sound since adding the Mola Mola. That said, for me, I continue to be amazed. It’s got the quietness of a high end power conditioner, but none of the constraints on the sound that I found those products all are affected by. And it just gets closer to the sound of actual music vs a digital HIFi system. This morning I did a few back and forths with my Gryphon DAC, which lists for USD $6,000. My initial reaction to going back was “oh that is nice and smooth sounding”. But one moment later I was realizing that the smoothness was simply less musical information coming through, that the sound was less defined, that the bass was more big and round but far less resolute and driving, and that it was tougher to follow the music.
My objectives did evolve in this thread based on discussion, thanks to @ghasley’s suggestions. That said, I only expand the number of cables significantly if I stay with my Innuos server + reclocker solution. If the MU1 is better, it will replace both Innuos boxes and I will be at the same number of boxes as I was at when I started out. The balanced interconnect was an extra cable however. There is still an off-chance that the MU1 will lift the Gryphon DAC to the extent the Tambaqui is not needed. But I think the chances of that might be slim.
Currently, the Tambaqui is feeling really special; I like it as much as my Gryphon amp. I’ve not felt that way about any other components in my system, even though some do a really excellent job too (PhoenixNET, Torus, etc).
Back to the MU1, it will be interesting if it is an upgrade from my two Innuos boxes. Christiaan at HiFi Advice has said that subsequent revisions of hardware, software and Roon have changed the MU1 since his review. And one comment I saw was that Roon 2.0 did cause the MU1 to become more subdued which was less to his liking. He said he’s stopped using the MU1 as a lead reference because of how Roon updates can cause swings in sound quality. One disadvantage of the MU1 to be aware of I guess. At least, until Grimm provides alternative and more stable sounding player software support as an alternative to Roon.
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@thyname , yes the Grimm is known for doing more with less, and the price did just go up $2,500 right after I bought it. Being hostage to Roon updates with potential impacts to sound is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the MU1 takes control and Roon does less to the sound than in most cases. At least so I’ve read. But as I said above the MU1 apparently IS subject to SQ variances with Roon updates.
I would imagine Grimm is hard at work developing the support to use an alternate player, or even their own player. Maybe it will coincide with the launch of the MU2 player/DAC combo?
Of all its weaknesses you mentioned, this is the only one I really care about.
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@thyname the components I’ve been swapping out since January include the Aurender N20, Merason DAC-1, and now the Tambaqui. My MU1 should arrive in a week or a few days later (really this time). It will be connected to the Tambaqui via AES of course.
This rotating of gear is an unusual process for me as well and I’ve never done this before January. I set out shopping for a streamer and my search expanded to trying outboard DAC’s, and I tried this approach to get a better sense of what I’d be living with than a home audition would offer which for me has its stresses. This way I avoid the part where I feel pressed to make my decision in a week or two, with and eager dealer waiting to hear what I thought. I’ve been keeping each piece at least 4 weeks or longer.
My swapping is really an in-depth way of shopping really that goes a step further than home demos…
Still, I take your point as pro reviewers can live with a piece for 6 months before they do a review. It’s certainly possible I may have an evolved view of the Tambaqui in 6 months. Based on my experience I think it’s really likely the Tambaqui will be “the one” that stays for many years. The Grimm, who knows!
Of note I was not happy at all with my Zenith Mk 3 which I bought in 2019. Last year I added the PhoenixUSB and this was a pretty major uplift. The Zenith sound really wasn’t recognizable after adding the PhoenixUSB. Not everyone has this experience with the PhoenixUSB though, as it is DAC dependent. I will get around to trying my Tambaqui with and without the PhoenixUSB to see why difference it makes with it (I’ve been running the Tambaqui with the PhoenixUSB so far). As I said the PhoenixNET is such a perfect match for the Tambaqui’s sound; things are looser and less smooth without it.
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Of note, Christiaan at HiFi advice now says the new streamer from Playback Designs is the best he’s heard. He seemed slightly down on the Grimm with the latest Roon update softening the sound, while he acknowledged this could be a welcome change by some. In his opinion Roon sounded best at v1.8 and went backwards at 2.0, but has since made some tiny improvements.
@ghasley did you notice the sound change with Roon 2.0?
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@lalitk , interesting, let us know your thoughts. I’ve heard the S1 punches above its price point
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Good point @metaldetektor.
I ran into someone who sold his MU1 to purchase the new Playback Designs streamer. He is already concerned he will miss his MU1 and was contemplating contingency options to get one back in case he has seller’s remorse.
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Still trying to figure out how the Tambaqui can be this revealing and “musical” at the same time. I think its secret is in how transients are presented. While the transients are so, so quick (finally my system matches the transient response I adore with headphones), the real trick is how stunningly gentle they are. Gentle is the wrong word because there is great impact as well. But there is no sudden edge to the transients, while at the same time still being well defined.
I’m enjoying the Tambaqui to the extent that I wish I had an excuse, to sell the Tambaqui and buy a Mola Mola Makua Pre-amp with the Tambaqui module installed. I’ve seen some people report the Tambaqui performing even better as a pre-amp add-on module, vs as a stand-alone. If somehow it were possible to just use my Diablo as a power amp for now I might actually have considered this! Just for the purposes of a future upgrade path for my amp. More fantastical musings.
Either my Tambaqui is improving or I’m warming up to it more, but it sounds more lush and inviting than yesterday. My interim cheap AQ Red Dawn interconnects are burning in too I guess.
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@jetter thanks and I wasn’t aware you could actually use the Diablo as a power amplifier. But my thought of buying a Mola Mola Makua preamp and using the Diablo 300 as a pure power amp was more of a fantastical musing after being so impressed by Mola Mola’s Tambaqui.
@arafiq yes you were right. I really didn’t know what to expect with the Tambaqui, despite its price tag. I’ve seen in other posts that a few can find this DAC to be lean and analytical. While I certainly don’t like lean and analytical and at times have struggled with that side of things in prior iterations of my system, that is not in the slightest what I get with the Tambaqui. Maybe I did detect a bit of that on the first day, but after settling in it became lush and inviting. Obviously system synergy is playing a major role. But I think I “won the lottery” from the perspective of system matching. I feel like the trio of the PhoenixNET, Diablo and Tambaqui (and yes, Innuos Zenith and PhoenixUSB too) are so unbelievably dialled into the precise sound that I’ve been chasing all these years. Total spacial precision and clarity but solid, tangible, rhythmic, propulsive, muscular, fast yet totally unforced, the best dynamics I’ve heard on my system, all while having an incredible smooth flow of music. And a word I don’t often see in reviews: pretty. Can’t put my finger on it but some music just sounds pretty to me, for the first time. The bass has become stronger and even more resolute over the past two days. That’s a good subjective word for how I would describe the sound - resolute. I lot of this I was unknowingly searching for in my random testing of stuff. Blind squirrel found a nut.
Last year I made a TON of upgrades after selling my car to fund everything, and while performance when through the roof I think I felt that ever elusive musical engagement was still lacking. The Tambaqui has utterly closed this gap in my system.
I’ve had long term plans to eventually add a turntable to my system (my Diablo has a phono card) but I now feel like I will be disappointed on that front if I don’t spend an unreasonable amount to get to the level of performance and musical engagement I’m getting now, and the chances I will get there with the right voicing for me seems slim…. This sound is not just good (it is), but more importantly I just can’t get over how it simply ticks all my boxes for my personal tastes so perfectly.
Of course there are even higher end DAC’s which I was curious about (CH Precision aNR EMM Labs DA1) but I’m not so keen to even look at these anymore.
The one thing that I’ll repeat as a ding against the Tambaqui is it seems to have slightly less breath, air and space between everything, and maybe some other DACs might present a bigger, grander and richer sound than the Tambaqui’s more focused approach. But its resolute solidity and precision while still being utterly revealing is well worth the trade off for me, as I get more musical enjoyment at the slight expense of HiFi spatial pyrotechnics and overall scale, which possibly, for me, may even be attributes that get in the way of the music to some extent..
I spent last night playing all sorts of albums I love that for decades have sounded like crap on my system, being thin/harsh or bad recordings. For the first time every single one of them sounded great on my system with the full extent of the musical content clearly coming through without any unpleasant aspects. My system became more revealing AND harsh recordings have become highly enjoyable. So cool!
Update: Just remembered my criticism of the lack of space and air may be entirely related to the $300 AQ Red River balanced interconnects I’m using, which I’ve read are decent but known to clobber spatial distances. So the Shunyata cables should help with this when they arrive, as should the MU1’s 4X oversampling. But really, I’m not feeling I’m missing anything at all right now. Pretty sure I’ve never felt that way about my system before, ever, in the decades I’ve been at it.
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@ghasley should have both next week, however I need to travel for work and will be gone most of the week which is terrible. And my wife said she will NOT set everything up to commence burn-in while I’m on the road….
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Over the past two nights I’ve noticed sound with the Tambaqui to be significantly clearer with greater dynamics and more dimensionality at night, after midnight. Which is typical for most people I know, but the difference between day and night has become a bit more noticeable with the Tambaqui I think. My theory on why this is, is either the Tambaqui has greater headroom in terms of performance so with clean power the boost is more noticeable, or, that the Tambaqui is particularly sensitive to dirtier power. Certainly don’t see those big transformers in the small Tambaqui that larger DACs have.
I had this issue in my system before and the solution was to upgrade everything to the extent things sounded acceptable during the day. And the Tambaqui still sounds great in the day. But late night listening spoils me a bit.
Unfortunately I have found that while conditioners do reduce noise, the relative difference between day and night remains, as both day and night get better. That said I find conditioners adversely affect tonal balance and as such I went with a Torus RM20 isolation transformer instead. Which also reduces noise but without impacting balance, and not resolving the day/night difference (day/night improves equally so gap remains).
I’ve concluded there is no solution short of what I’ve read that some audiophiles have done: at their expense, convince their power company to upgrade the city transformer feeding their house. That’s not happening!
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@fleschler I did upgrade my house’s AC circuits to address the issue last time (along with component upgrades). Dedicated 20A AC circuits using 10AWG wire, all audio gear on the same phase, Shunyata receptacles, etc. I don’t have a dedicated breaker panel for my system however.
I really need to get around to the Synergistic fuse upgrades though; everyone seems to say how much of a lift they add. Do you have specialty circuit breakers in your panel as well?
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@fleschler glad to hear the day-night problem went always for you as your system improved. For me it was the opposite. As my system started to become more revealing the problem emerged. And yes the problem was diminished as I further upgraded from there. But now with the Tambaqui DAC I do find that at least for 5-6 hours a day, its exceptional performance with soundstage, dynamics and clarity collapse more than maybe my other DAC’s do during those hours. The Tambaqui can sound a touch more congested than the others when the lower is bad, with dinner time being the worst. But then again, the Tambaqui also does better in these areas than my other DACs do when the power is “clean”.
Still trying to make sense of this! @fleschler did you notice any components you upgraded in particular that helped the most with the issue?
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@fastfreight , I am using an Audioquest Hurricane for all my source equipment. One of these Hurricanes is the old braided style and definitely doesn’t sound as good as the others. I keep this one on the PhoenixNET. Once I get things sorted gear-wise, I do plan to upgrade my cords. They are also 3m cords which is not practical (long story).
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@fleschler , thank you, I will hold out hope that experimenting with the SR fuses will at least help with the day/night swings in quality. This has actually been on my audio to-do list for a while now.
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@ghasley @metaldetektor @svenjosh , can either of you tell me if the MU1 comes with a generic AES cable as an accessory?
My MU1 is scheduled to arrive on Monday but I don’t yet have any ETA on my Shunyata cables and I have no other AES cable currently. The prior AQ Diamond cable I was testing the N20 with was a loaner.
If the MU1 doesn’t come with any generic cable I will buy a cheap one so the MU1 including the AES / 4X OS circuit can be burning in while I’m travelling for work Tues through Friday this week.
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@metaldetektor , thanks for confirming. No SPDIF either. I will pick up the cheapest AES cable I can find. Don’t care if it sounds good or bad; really just to have it fully set up and burned in (mostly) by the time I’m home on the weekend. With any luck the Shunyata cables will also have arrived by then.
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“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.
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@svenjosh , can’t wait to hear of your testing of the Sablon and Nordost AES cables vs the Shunyata AES! I ended up buying the Shunyata Omega AES (hasn’t arrived yet), after first trying to find a Jorma cable. If there is any way for you to try a Jorma I suggest adding it to try alongside the Sablon and Nordost. Like the Omega and Sablon, the Jorma seems to be mentioned a lot in pro reviews and in forums and is apparently good with the MU1 and K50. But I just couldn’t find one! Very interested in Sablon and Nordost though!
@fastfreight we receive our MU1’s on the same day…. What AES cable are you using?
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Received my MU1 (still no AES cable though). Powered it up and configured Roon. However, I'm not able to access the internal 2 TB drive to load files. Also, the instructions say that I'm to add sdb1 to the Roon storage folder (per my serial number as directed by the manual, and because there is no HEAP found), however when I go to the mnt folder per the instructions, there is no sdb1 listed (I see sda1, sda2, sda3 only).
Also, when I go to the IP address in Windows File Explorer, it takes me to the Roondata folder which is password protected, and not a Music folder like the instructions indicate.
Am I doing something wrong? Or is there something wrong where it's not finding the hard drive?
I won't be able to troubleshoot until the weekend unfortunately, as I'll be travelling the rest of the week! @fastfreight I'd be interested in your experience! @svenjosh , I believe you had a demo unit but if your serial number is higher than 13.0.002.XXX then the process should be the same as with my unit.
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@lalitk yes I’ve reached out and from what I’ve seen in other forums yes they provide tech support. But unfortunately right now I’m sitting on a plane and will be gone for the week unfortunately.
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@lalitk thank you and you are right; can’t wait to get back! I do have a hunch something is wrong with my MU1 however. It’s pretty clear in the manual I should see the hard drive on my home network, and it’s not there. Grimm have a FAQ on their site with this issue and resolution posted and I followed their directions to no avail. The only indication that there is an optional hard drive at all is on the cardboard packaging.
I’ve read others say that they’ve been given detailed directions on replacing hard drives themselves (to increase capacity etc), so hopefully that means there is no scenario where I need to ship the unit anywhere!
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@svenjosh yes my kids have a Mac so I can try that when I get back home this weekend. But I really think something is wrong with the drive not being recognized by the MU1 at all, as it doesn’t show up like it says it should as sdb1 in the mnt folder in Roon’s storage settings. So the two issues together point to an issue I suspect.
I’m totally comfortable working inside and messing with the drive or replacing it if I need to. But will wait for direction from Grimm of course. I should hopefully hear back before end of week.
As I said the only sign there is an optional internal drive is that it says there is one on the label on the packaging. I almost wonder if they forgot to install it!
@svenjosh (or others), when you navigate in a browser using the MU1 IP address (or use your phone to scan the QR code on the MU1 screen), do you see any reference at all to the internal hard drive? I don’t, here or anywhere else on the MU1, menu screens. It’s a bit odd they wouldn’t at least show the drive and it’s capacity status.
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Feature request for a software update I suppose. Not an essential feature but something that would have helped me identify if the drive was actually being recognized by the MU1. Also as a convenience to monitor capacity. I only really care about sound quality so I wouldn’t dock points for this, but Innuos and Aurender have more polished and robust software for sure. Another thing I noticed was just how incredibly light the MU1 is compared to my Zenith. Maybe because it’s missing a hard drive lol…. Again not a criticism (unless they actually forgot to install the hard drive….) as all I care about is how it sounds.
I noticed on the website they state conclusively right in the features list that they will provide an alternative to Roon. That will be very interesting when it happens as I would expect there is a good chance it may sound even better. But not everything Grimm says will happen does happen. Like their plan to enable FM radio capabilities. Bet a lot of people were like “but that’s the reason I bought it!”. Funny that they made a world class high precision streamer/server with low jitter and sophisticated 4X OS hardware and software but they were like nope, too hard, we give up!…. when it came to enabling the FM tuner.
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@svenjosh , I was being a bit sarcastic about Grimm abandoning plans to enable FM tuner, I’m not sure anyone at all cares and I certainly do not :)
I didn’t actually think the chances were very high that they would be developing proprietary player software (although I had hoped). I think the chances may still be good that they add something like Squeeze or MPD support. I even this would be massively valued by their audience for any SQ improvements that might realize.
In re-reading Grimm’s statement on the website, I am pretty sure I had misinterpreted their statement:
“For customers who prefer to only run a simple playback system without Roon’s extras, we will offer a solid alternative.”
I think this simply means they are suggesting the MU1 as an alternative to other servers/streamers. Not that they are developing an alternative to Roon, unfortunately!
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@adasdad , yes I carefully considered the K50 vs the MU1. I went with the MU1 because 1) The general consensus is that it favours neutrality and precision over fullness and richness, 2) I liked the concept of it’s 4X OS and how much people like it, and 3) the MU1 was cheaper and was just about to increase in price by $2500 USD.
I think I was maybe biased towards “neutral, transparent and precise” after my experience with the N20 (which could have been just in the context of my system of course).
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@metaldetektor , nope, nothing under advanced related to storage. So yeah seems like something may have been missed in the QC process I guess.
While I’ve been traveling for work my 12 year old son has been kindly helping me troubleshoot over FaceTime….
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@metaldetektor , after you mentioned that storage status is displayed on the Advanced tab I checked the online manual to see what it should look like. Sure enough I see there is a bar indicating consumed space. But I got my wife this time to send me a screenshot of the advanced settings (yes I have a very patient family, considering I’m traveling and call home to get them to troubleshoot my audio gear!). In the screenshot, there is no such storage capacity bar but the rest looks the same as in the manual. This confirms that the MU1 is not recognizing the drive and that it’s not user error on my part. I still think they may have forgot to install the drive!
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@metaldetektor , thanks, but did both of those things and there is no reference to any hard disk on the overview page. But then again @svenjosh doesn’t see any hard drive info on that page either but has no issue accessing his MU1 folder on the disk from his Mac (not via the MU1’s web interface but rather through the Mac’s Sharing utility).
Pretty sure something isn’t right with my MU1 but I doubt it will be hard to resolve once Grimm gets back to me. I had asked them a question prior to my purchase and they took a few days before responding. So I will be patient.
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@fastfreight , glad to hear everything is sounding great! Looking forward to hearing how the sound changes from my Innuos setup feeding my Tambaqui! Detailed yet unstressed is definitely what I am after as well. Sorry I can’t help you with your particular issue. I trust that you can access your MU1’s internal storage without the issues I have (assuming you opted to include storage in your MU1)?
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@fastfreight , hope you are getting your issue resolved. Just wondering if you’ve noticed any burn-in effects of the MU1, assuming you’ve been running it 24 hours? @ghasley mentioned he thought it should only require a few days. Any changes in the sound?
Eelco Grimm sent me a note indicating that their support engineer would be in touch with me on Monday and he had a couple of theories as to what could be going on with my drive issue. He also noted that he has seen this thread. Maybe this thread has helped them sell a few MU1’s….
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@jedclampet great to hear. Currently flying home and get back late tonight. Will be able to listen to my MU1 with my Tambaqui late tonight, as I purchased a basic AES cable while travelling (an older Cardas), while waiting for premium cables to arrive. Will be listening to Tidal Streaming as I still have the hard disk issue that Grimm will get back to me on.
Why is it that so many MU1 owners end up pairing it with a Tambaqui (or vice versa)? It it just due to precedent, that they are both Dutch, and have both had a common designer that had a hand in their design? Or, does this pairing actually sound better than other alternatives? For me it’s the former I suppose.
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@dchang05 I tried the N20 with an Audioquest Diamond USB and also a Diamond AES. While the Omega is certainly better than the AQ Diamond, I would not expect the Omega to have more detail. In the past (with my Innuos gear) I’ve tested a Nordost Valhalla 2 USB and found it to be better than the AQ Diamond, but it didn’t have any greater detail (but I didn’t think it was worth the cost). The Diamond is known to be a revealing cable.
With that said the N20 had less high frequency detail and dimensionality than the Zenith and PhoenixUSB. However, I’m starting to think my Innuos setup may achieve that be slightly boosting these frequencies or presenting them in a more forward way. Either way, there were certain instruments, high hats etc that I heard loud and clear with my Innuos gear that was very difficult to hear with the Aurender.
I also noted above how Aurender says their AES interface will be better than their USB interface, due to the high precision clock that is only used with AES. It’s stated right on the N20’s web page in the first feature bullet. That said I could not reliably tell the difference when comparing the Diamond USB and AES cables. I thought the AES sounded better, but if it was it was so close that I couldn’t be certain.
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My initial thoughts on the MU1 (streaming until I get my hard drive issue resolved) - fantastic. As expected. Perfect solid tangible detail.
I’m also using an old, non-current generation Cardas AES cable until my premium cable arrives. The dealer who sold me this old cable (purchased while traveling) wasn’t even able to identify the model - we only know that it is green! We found a few examples of sales on Audio Mart to figure out that it was pretty much the most entry level AES HiFi cable you can get, and it was old.
With that HUGE caveat - and I can’t stress that enough - I really enjoy the sound of the MU1 and I really enjoy the sound of my Innuos gear, both feeding the Tambaqui. The MU1 is clearly more capable when it comes to detail - the details and texture of electric guitars leap out of my speakers in such a tangible, raw yet refined, and different way. The Innuos by comparison is smoother, but not in a way that you notice missing detail unless you do a direct comparison. Unexpectedly, the Innuos gear has a fuller and more linear, 3D depth presentation - but I think that may be due to my very basic AES cable I’m using currently with the MU1. The MU1 has way more, I was going to say hardness but that would give the wrong impression - more impact and grit than Innuos. From snare drums to kick drums and bass, the impact and pacing is fantastic and better than with the Innuos. I’ve also now noticed that the Innuos Zenith plus PhoenixUSB Reclocker have a forward presentation of mids and treble. This makes vocals “pop out” a bit more, with very smooth vocals and treble. The vocals are slightly more enjoyable on the Innuos currently due to that “pop-out” effect and the smoothness.
Again, so important - I am probably just describing the limitations of my current very basic and old AES cable, so it’s not as if I’m forming any conclusions whatsoever with the MU1 at this point! I also notice very little difference between the 4X and NOS modes, but again, that is likely due to being performance-capped by my AES cable.
I also tried the MU1 direct to my Diablo 300 DAC and it sounded very enjoyable - with less detail than with the Tambaqui but really enjoyable. Do I like it better than the Innuos in this configuration? I think so, but too early to say definitively.
Not sure where every combination will land in terms of what I will LIKE the most, but I’m going to wait until my cables arrive to figure that out! I expect the cables to change a lot, especially in terms of spatial positioning/imaging, dimensionality and depth.
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Oh one other thing, I see Mola Mola advertises that the Tambaqui has specific filters for each input - USB, AES, etc. So these differences presumably have an impact.
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