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

@nyev Congrats! Looks like you've finally found the sonic bliss you were looking for. I just wish you had tried the SR Purple fuse with the Innuos. When you mentioned, "stunning detail, tangibility, solidity, impact, and music that is totally alive and captivating with more athletic drive to it", this is what I experienced when I tried the fuse with the Zenith as well.

I'm glad you took the time to learn what you wanted. I hope the Grimm works out for you.

@arafiq , I still have my Innuos gear and I’m not planning to part with it anytime soon. I’m still planning on trying the tweak with the SR fuse for sure!

With the MU1 (likely hobbled by interim very basic cables) I am missing some of the low end fullness and smoothness of the Innuos, and yes some depth too, but at the same time I can’t unhear the level of detail, tangibility, energy and drive the MU1 serves up! Based on my research I am pretty sure that my interconnects I have on order will add the overall tonal qualities of the Innuos that I like to the MU1, in addition to the smoothness and depth.

Maybe the SR fuse will add the detail, tangibility, solidity and energy I’m missing to my Innuos gear… With the cables and the fuse being massive variables, maybe this race isn’t decided quite yet!

@arafiq would you be able to remind me what SR fuse the Zenith Mk3 needs? I will order one.

 

 

@nyev 

Originally the Zenith used a slow blow, 2A, 250V, 5mm x 20mm fuse.

Innuos recommends that if audiophile fuses are used, they should be 3.15A.

So, as recommended here, you should get a Slow Blow SR Purple Fuse, 3.15A, 250V, 5mm x 20mm.

Here you can see more information about changing the fuses in the Innuos:

https://innuos.com/kb/replacing-the-fuse-on-innuos-products/

@aewarren ​​​​@nyev, I have the M1 magic in my Tambaqui and like it. I have not tried SR purple.

anyone compared?