Grimm Audio MU1 and MU2 Music Players

[pvanosta]

Fully agree and thank you for clarifying further. Talking to Grimm with the serial number, once you have your eye on a MU1, is the best way to go, especially if SPDIF is a requirement.

[FredM]

For visitors of the North America Axpona show, from the Grimm website:

 

“Grimm Audio comes to Axponafor the first time! Eelco Grimm and John-Paul Lizars are present and love to demo the full system of MU1, LS1be and SB1 in room 1520. Visitors will enjoy the great sound of this integrated solution that received so much praise from reviewers and customers worldwide. As a sneak preview, the MU2 streamer with built-in DAC will be shown on static. Its official introduction will be at the High End Munich in May, but we could not resist to bring it to Axpona. If you are at the Axpona show, make sure not to miss us in room 1520! “
 

 

[Fourlegs]

The demo MU1 has arrived and is plugged in . . . . . a prime objective is to assess the reported gains to the sound from using a WAVE spdif cable on the output of the MU1 but also I am intrigued to hear the sound of this beautiful streamer. The two black boxes to the rear of the Dave are its ARC6 power supplies.

I have wanted to hear the MU1 for a long time now so I am looking forward to this.

 

[TheAttorney]

4 hours ago, Fourlegs said:

The demo MU1 has arrived and is plugged in . . . . . a prime objective is to assess the reported gains to the sound from using a WAVE spdif cable on the output of the MU1

 

Are you using rca->coax converter plugs on your WAVE cable, which I understand usually come with 75 ohm coax plugs.

 

PS. Like most cool-running components, the MU1 benefits from several hours warm up.

[PYP]

11 hours ago, Fourlegs said:

The demo MU1 has arrived and is plugged in . . . . . a prime objective is to assess the reported gains to the sound from using a WAVE spdif cable on the output of the MU1 but also I am intrigued to hear the sound of this beautiful streamer. The two black boxes to the rear of the Dave are its ARC6 power supplies.

I have wanted to hear the MU1 for a long time now so I am looking forward to this.

 

My dealer suggested leaving the MU1 powered up for the entire demo period and does NOT need to be in stand-by mode.  Strongly agree with that advice.  In my setup, warm up to sound its best requires 12 - 24 hours (after a power cycle, for example).  

[Ronnie112]

I see the first pre views of the MU2 popping up on the internet but limited info for the rest. Looks like the unit is somewhat wider compared to the MU1 but with the same sleek design. Anyone more info to share? Eelco for example? 😉

[aangen]

I was able to enjoy the Grimm room at Axpona multiple times this past weekend. Add a turntable and CD transport and you are done. It was completely stunning sound. In a hotel room no less.

[FredM]

3 hours ago, aangen said:

I was able to enjoy the Grimm room at Axpona multiple times this past weekend. Add a turntable and CD transport and you are done. It was completely stunning sound. In a hotel room no less.

Thanks for sharing, nice to see Grimm’s LS1be speaker system getting better known and appreciated (a gem imho 🙂).
 

At Axpona Stereophile also had a positive experience with the full Grimm setup:

“ I'd take Grimm's tweaked-out statement of excellence over virtually any system I heard at AXPONA that costs up to six figures “

 

Link to Stereophile’s impression: https://www.stereophile.com/content/grimm-audio-brings-improved-version-its-ls1-active-speakers

 

To add, recently HifiPig reviewed the MU1 with Grimm’s LS1be’s & subs:

” If you are a music lover that wants a fit-and-forget system, and has the funds, then you may as well see the Five Hearts as an Editor’s Choice “

Link to HifiPig review: https://www.hifipig.com/grimm-audio-ls1be-mu1-and-sb1-system/

 

[TheAttorney]

4 hours ago, aangen said:

I was able to enjoy the Grimm room at Axpona multiple times this past weekend. Add a turntable and CD transport and you are done. It was completely stunning sound. In a hotel room no less.

I take it that was the MU1 you heard? I understood that the MU2 would be static-display-only at this event. The live MU2 to appear at the Munich May show.

 

From the limited MU2 photos so far, the headphone socket is at the back, with a standard single-ended jack socket.

Analogue outputs are both single-ended and balanced.

[pvanosta]

In an all Grimm system, my understanding is that the MU2 (or at least the built-in DAC portion, which is what sets it apart from the MU1) is redundant.

And FWIW, @aangen and @FredM : I totally agree. I have been chasing that Audio dragon for 45 years now and had most of the current 'mid' high-end brands in my system at one point or another (Thiel, Martin Logan, Bel Canto, Devialet, Marten, Mark Levinson, etc...). That all ended as soon as I got the full Grimm system in my living room. I barely look at the 'classic' hifi magazines anymore and just focus on the music...

[aangen]

On 4/18/2023 at 7:46 AM, pvanosta said:

 That all ended as soon as I got the full Grimm system in my living room. I barely look at the 'classic' hifi magazines anymore and just focus on the music...

I feel, with my current setup, that I have solved Audio. Time to enjoy and maybe look for another hobby. Well at least the Time to enjoy part.

[FredM]

Hans Beekhuyzen also uses a Grimm MU1, when reviewing other products it’s interesting to see how they perform in a setup with a MU1.
 

In earlier isolation feets/platforms for equipement and DAC’s are covered. Now Hans has reviewed the MUON Pro Ethernet filter.
 

Where other network filters seem to have little to none effect on the MU1, the Muon Pro filter appears to have more impact: 

 

 

[Ronnie112]

It is interesting how Ethernet filtering does seem to improve the MU1's performance. Was triggered earloer by this review: https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/digital-interface-reviews/network-acoustics-muon-pro-ethernet-filter/ Tested with a Grimm MU1 and Antipodes streamer and leading to a 'more organic' signature. 

 

I apply a Synergistic Research UEF switch with 2 ethernet filters plugged into the free sockets, which also made a more than subtle difference. Anyone else any experience on the ethernet filtering topic?

[PYP]

2 hours ago, FredM said:

Hans Beekhuyzen also uses a Grimm MU1, when reviewing other products it’s interesting to see how they perform in a setup with a MU1.
 

In earlier isolation feets/platforms for equipement and DAC’s are covered. Now Hans has reviewed the MUON Pro Ethernet filter.
 

Where other network filters seem to have little to none effect on the MU1, the Muon Pro filter appears to have more impact: 

 

 

very interesting.  He clearly likes the effect, but his description seems to indicate a subtle difference.  When I've tried ethernet cleaners with the MU1 (already had the cleaners), there was a shift in perspective -- meaning the sense of where you sit in relation to the performance.  That isn't bad, but it may not be what you prefer.  Of course, as with all gear, you have to try it at home.  I will be interested to see how he feels about the filter over the long term.  

 

Personally, I prefer to pursue larger improvements (if possible).  Having applied many tweaks over the years, I found myself pulling them out after making larger changes (for example, a new power distributor) and getting to know my setup without the additional flavoring.   And then leaving the tweak out permanently.  Just my own experience given where I am in the hobby at the moment.  

 

[kennyb123]

7 hours ago, Ronnie112 said:

is interesting how Ethernet filtering does seem to improve the MU1's performance. Was triggered earloer by this review: https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/digital-interface-reviews/network-acoustics-muon-pro-ethernet-filter/ Tested with a Grimm MU1 and Antipodes streamer and leading to a 'more organic' signature. 

Thanks so much for sharing.  I think I need to get one of these.

[Ronnie112]

25 minutes ago, kennyb123 said:

Thanks so much for sharing.  I think I need to get one of these.

Never hurts trying out to see if it is an actual improvement or just adding some flavor or a shift in focus. Agree with PYP that not every tweak is indispensable.

[kennyb123]

1 hour ago, Ronnie112 said:

Never hurts trying out to see if it is an actual improvement or just adding some flavor or a shift in focus. Agree with PYP that not every tweak is indispensable.

The posts I’ve seen of this filter have all been glowing.  Some of those are from those who have Antipodes servers, so that is a positive sign.  
 

A tweak need not be indispensable for me to consider it worthwhile.  It has to help my system do a better job at getting out of the way of the music with the magnitude of the improvement easily justifying the purchase price.  One can advance their system quite far without having to go as far as only pursuing tweaks that are indisputable.

 

Since this is the MU1 thread, I should mention that I found Christiaan’s impressions to be extremely positive.  He’s been on the hunt for music servers that close the gap with the very best CD transports.  That pairing the MU1 with this affordable network filter accomplished without having any obvious downsides is a heck of a testimony.

[aangen]

After getting my BACCH-SP adio I have totally lost interest in tweaks. I prefer to research music while listening. But I keep a green permanent marker nearby in case an urge appears.

[TheAttorney]

I've previously raved over the Sablon AES cable connecting my MU1 to DAVE - compared to similarly priced, or lower priced, alternatives.

My gut feel was that the Sablon would compete well against much higher priced rivals, but I've never had the opportunity to find out.

 

Well, now a post at WBF has done that comparison for me, here. Spoiler alert: The Sablon did very well.

 

 

[soupcon]

4 hours ago, TheAttorney said:

I've previously raved over the Sablon AES cable connecting my MU1 to DAVE - compared to similarly priced, or lower priced, alternatives.

My gut feel was that the Sablon would compete well against much higher priced rivals, but I've never had the opportunity to find out.

 

Well, now a post at WBF has done that comparison for me, here. Spoiler alert: The Sablon did very well.

 

 

i'm curious how the transparent XL Gen 5 I use compares with the sablon. It's been a long time since it was reviewed, though the review was pretty stellar.

[TheAttorney]

39 minutes ago, soupcon said:

i'm curious how the transparent XL Gen 5 I use compares with the sablon. It's been a long time since it was reviewed, though the review was pretty stellar.

I'd be curious too, but based on long ago experience of much older gen Transparents,  I'd expect the pricey XL Gen V to give a top class sound, and it wouldn't make financial sense to jump ship at this point. My post was really for those that have not yet made a large investment in a top class cable.

 

In the past, I've occasionally justified spending too much money on hifi by convincing myself that it's a long term investment - only to find the dreaded upgraditis rearing it's head just a few years later. I must resist, I must resist...

 

[Evo1668]

I think I must be an outlier of MU1 owners not using the usual aes cables mentioned on here - one cable I have been bowled over with which I do use with the MU1 is the lesser known Anticables from Paul Speltz - sounds extremely musical to me and Paul offers a complete money back guarantee 

[PYP]

On 4/11/2023 at 9:04 AM, FredM said:

For visitors of the North America Axpona show, from the Grimm website:

 

“Grimm Audio comes to Axponafor the first time! Eelco Grimm and John-Paul Lizars are present and love to demo the full system of MU1, LS1be and SB1 in room 1520. Visitors will enjoy the great sound of this integrated solution that received so much praise from reviewers and customers worldwide. As a sneak preview, the MU2 streamer with built-in DAC will be shown on static. Its official introduction will be at the High End Munich in May, but we could not resist to bring it to Axpona. If you are at the Axpona show, make sure not to miss us in room 1520! “
 

 

The Absolute Sound's Jonathan Valin wrote this about the LS1be:

 

"Next up was the powered (by built-in Class D amps), DSP’d, $40k Grimm Audio LS1two-way with subwoofer. Like almost everything at this show, the Grimm was a little bright in the upper mids. That aside, it was quite good sounding, with a very nice blend with its subwoofer. The soundstage on a Melody Gardot cut was enormous, and the timbre and focus of her voice were quite lifelike. While I wouldn’t call the LS1 a Best of Show, it came close, which is a first in my experience for a powered, DSP’d speaker."

 

Two of his BOS choices were for speakers near the price of the Grimm, but these are attached to electronics that cost somewhere north of $150,00 (one might be twice that).  It would have been interesting if he had listed the complete price of each setup.  

 

I wonder if Grimm simply plugged their setup into the wall or used some kind of conditioner.  

[fas42]

5 hours ago, PYP said:

 

"Next up was the powered (by built-in Class D amps), DSP’d, $40k Grimm Audio LS1two-way with subwoofer. Like almost everything at this show, the Grimm was a little bright in the upper mids.

 

Audio is moving in the right direction ... real life sound is "bright", but many audiophiles shrink from this characteristic as if it were the Black Death; more accurate reproduction will always show this behaviour.

 

Historically, "brightness" meant distortion - because if this aspect is a tiny, tiny bit wrong then it can be unlistenable - The Game is to absolutely nail the reproduction of this quality; if you do, then 'magic' is in the room ...

[The Computer Audiophile]

16 minutes ago, fas42 said:

real life sound is "bright"

Um, OK.