Isn’t the Grimm MU1 a server/streamer combination? Any sonic advantage to using it in the streamer, or Roon endpoint, capacity only?

@jbuhl - I appreciate your thoughts but would like to stay focused within the approximately $5-10K (new) price range for clarity when comparing devices.  Also, anything significantly below or above that price range would likely be paired with a whole different level of system components, which would affect the reliability of comparisons.  However, if you or anybody else are aware of sub-$5K streamers that truly compete with those listed then, for sure, discuss them here.  Otherwise, I respectfully suggest you start a new thread for a different price range.  

@audphile1 - Good points.  I thought I heard Aurender was, or was soon to be,  Roon ready.  I unintentionally left Lumin out.  What would be the the appropriate Lumin product (streamer only, $5-10K)?

After looking a bit closer, the streamer market seems fluid with manufacturers revamping line-ups, frequently upgrading models, and increasing prices.  This may not be the time to put money into a newest model streamer.

In the Lumin line-up, the U2 at $5,000 would fit the range while the U1X at $9,200 seems to be the former U1 with a better outboard LPS.

Auralic continues to upgrade streamer models with the Aries G2.2 (that recently upgraded the G2.1) apparently being upgraded to a G3 at $10,899.

Good thoughts on the Rose.  Their units have been getting positive feedback lately.  I have owned the Bricasti M5 and while I like the Signature Rendu better, it is still a good unit so bettering the SQ of the Bricasti through the Rose is an achievement. 

@yyzsantabarbara - I remember hearing about Playback Designs and their buffering technology at least 10 years ago. Amazing seems to be a frequently used descriptor. Many praises about the SQ. Pricy though for the new stuff - Playback Designs MPS-X Streamer, $11,500. American company, certainly worth a look.

BTY, I would be comparing any other streamers that I try to a Sonore Signature Rendu SE optical that I picked up a few months ago.  As you said, smooth - like butter on a hot biscuit.  I am currently running the USB into a Singxer SU-6 DDC for purposes of connectivity flexibility.  The SU-6 doesn't change the general character of the Sig Rendu and it certainly doesn't hurt SQ.

Good suggestions here - thanks everyone.

The HiFi Rose RS130 looks interesting and would maybe be good for what I intend. I was also interested to learn more about the Musica Pristina A Cappella III, and the American company which I was not previously aware of.

I was asked about the price range, and would answer by saying that I own a $1,500 streamer/endpoint, the Metrum Ambre. It is competent, operates flawlessly without any glitches whatsoever, and sounds pretty good, so I agree that streamers do not need to be expensive to sound good. However, I also own a Sonore Signature Rendu SE optical, and that unit displays an even more natural tone as well as a more dimensional presentation. These are not night and day differences but certainly noticeable. I want at least that higher level of performance and I suspect I will need to be above $5K to achieve it.

I was hoping to hear from more of you who have made direct comparisons between some of these units but I guess I am not surprised that not too many have.

The Holo Red looks interesting but not sure what would make it outperform my Metrum Ambre as a Roon endpoint.  The Ambre is a Raspberry Pi device with onboard LPS and Femto clocks.

What I do like about the Red is the option to use it as a streamer/endpoint or as a DDC, but I already have a Singxer SU-6 DDC.

@nymarty 

I have heard the Innuos Pulsar and Auralic Ares G2.2 but not in my system or with the same DAC. 

Understood that the set-up was not the same but otherwise can you share any particular thoughts about the sound of either of those two streamers in comparison to the other, or was your impression simply that they both sounded good?

@fastfreight 

This is really only an issue if you have two systems, where one runs Core and the other needs to be endpoint only.

I am running three systems with my server/Roon core in my network room and a separate endpoint connected to my network for each of the three systems.  Based on my listening, the streamer/endpoint has more influence on SQ than the server to the point where it seems the server only needs to be competent and reliable.  The endpoint in my main system is a Signature Rendu SE optical that feeds a Singxer SU-6 DDC.  The SU-6 provides a variety of outputs that I have connected to two different DACs that I alternate in that system.  I have been interested to read the positive reviews of the Grimm MU1, but I don't really want to go back to another one-box solution (previously had Antipodes DX and Mojo DejaVu) so I have been looking at the different high'ish end steamer options for my main system.

You will continually hear that other software sounds better than Roon.  I believe this but love Roon, so I want to have both available. 

I went with the lifetime Roon option early on and I like the metadata too much to give it up, so I have been looking at streamers that work well with Roon.  I sort of keep coming back to the Innuos Pulsar and would also be interested to try their Sense app player, but only if I could easily/quickly switch between it and Roon.

No USB output on the MU1, correct?  Just S/PDIF (via RCA) or AES/EBU?

Thank you @ianderson for your post that directly compares some of the options I am considering. 

I have a SGC i9 G3 on its way here so will start there on the server side along with my current Signature Rendu SE optical as the endpoint, which I believe would be considered a step up from the opticalRendu depending on the PS you used.  I like having an endpoint with a USB output, which I can connect into my Singxer DDC, from which I can run a variety of output connections to a couple of different DACs I am using.

After getting the i9 set up, I believe my next step may be to compare endpoints between the Sig Rendu SE o and the Innuos Pulsar about which I keep hearing good things.  The other configuration I considered was to purchase an Innuos Zenith M3, to use as a server only, to feed the Pulsar as the endpoint.  Either way, having the Pulsar as an endpoint would allow me to try the Sense app, which is possibly a reason to choose the Pulsar over the Sig Rendu SE o.  My plan is to get the i9 set up and then directly compare the Pulsar against the Sig Rendu SE o in my system.