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...

 

 

nyev

Showing 4 responses by snopro

Nyev, if you want Vana Ltd. in Nesconset, NY deals with Jorma cables.

I received mine from him and it is an excellent AES/EBU cable.

 

 

Hi Thyname,

The Grimm MU1 was at the CAF in the GTT Audio room. Bill was running it with Mola Mola gear and Vivid speakers. I wasn’t crazy about the sound it was a little bright. Maybe it was the Class D amps?
I have the Grimm MU1 and Mola Mola Tambaqui dac in my setup and the sound is wonderful!
 

 

Glad you are enjoying your MU1 and Tambaqui combo. I have the same setup and love it. Give your MU1 and AES/EBU cable a couple hundred hours of break in. It will get fuller and better tonally without losing that openness and detail. The dynamics and bass detail is great! It really controls the bass wonderfully and vocals will come around with more hours on it. 

On Qobuz check out Dan Patlansky: Wooden Thoughts Album, songs Big Things Going Down and Hallelujah. The guitar sounds so real with great dynamics, bite, and feel. It sounds awesome! Streaming sounds really good, if the recording are well made!

@nyev  

I have a Jorma, HIJIRI HDG-X, and borrowed my friends Tron. All three are excellent AES cables and would be happy with anyone. None blow away the other. The differences aren't night and day. The Jorma might be more open in the treble and hits a little deeper in the bass. The Hijiri and Tron sound more similar to each other. Their midranges are a touch fuller than the Jorma. They are all very open and transparent from bass to treble. 

I think it will be whatever cable has best synergy with your components! In my setup I like the Hijiri best, its a touch more natural and brings out emotions more especially with vocals. Probably will put the Jorma up for sale or just might keep it too. I do like what it offers.

Where do you live I might be willing for you to check it out. I also would like to hear your thoughts on the Sablon.

Like I said it is all highly subjective. I could live with any one and be happy!