Grimm Audio MU1 and MU2 Music Players

[krass]

I use the stock power cord that came with it and am very happy.

[Ronnie112]

All tweaks aside, after one more week of warming up, a big shout out how good that new MU2 is. The spacious imaging was already incredible straight from the start and expanded even further. The biggest win was an opening midrange with instruments and especially voices coming across with such a natural warmth, to the point I sometimes looked around if someone just actually entered my room. So lifelike.

 

And that low end! The MU1 (and Pasithea) was no wuss in that department, but the MU2 is just in another league. Not just more grunt but a plasticity in the lower octaves that I never heard before. Maybe because I have small speakers, but now it almost seems they play way beyond their size, going lower (35hz measured in room) and with more drive . Especially if I crank up the volume, which I rarely do beyond 85dB. But this afternoon Metalica entered the room and the sound pressure easily went beyond 95dB, with not a single sign of stress. The double bass drum had an impact I didn't know my speakers could handle.

 

About that volume control, it is good. Very good actually. Previously experiments with connecting straight into power amplifiers were not always successful. It did provide an extra notch of transparency, but most of the time at the expense of drive and smoothness. I think my remarks about unreal drive and plasticity of the bass tells it all. The attenuator of the MU2 is just very good, combining best of both worlds, ultimate transparancy with plenty of gain. My amp is switched to poweramp now and will remain that way.

 

Almost cannot believe the MU2

may improve further, with more mileage or tweaks. But it probably will. Miracles exist. They happen in Veldhoven and now also at my home.

[Vincent des Champs]

23 hours ago, FredM said:

I was keen to try out different power supply topologies in practice with:

I have gone through most of your options and can echo your experiences.. but there is only one solution that works/ improves on all aspects: Stromtank 💪🏻 other ‘power enhancers’ all have downsides..

[FredM]

Spoiler alert

The first comparison with MU1 & Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC is in: MU2 wins. Elsewhere a Rossini is sold

 

[PYP]

13 minutes ago, FredM said:

Spoiler alert

The first comparison with MU1 & Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC is in: MU2 wins. Elsewhere a Rossini is sold

 

spoil me completely, please.  Who has written that the MU2 wins?  

 

Of course, I want to make this comparison myself (especially given my use of Mola Mola amps which might influence my own conclusion).  Since I'm addicted to simplification, reducing the number of boxes is attractive.   But it would also mean that the possibility of the LS1 speakers in the future would be eliminated.   The MU2 makes sense if I want to keep (or upgrade) my passive speakers.  

[matthias]

59 minutes ago, Vincent des Champs said:

Stromtank 💪🏻 other ‘power enhancers’ all have downsides..

Stromtank has downsides as well:

It is AC > DC > AC then in the device downstream the Stromtank AC > DC, too much conversions.

Much better than Stromtank is the upcoming Taiko BPS. Even the price might be competitive as Stromtank is expensive.

If someone is interested I would recommend to do search on WBF about Stromtank. I would never buy one.

 

Matt

[Vincent des Champs]

12 minutes ago, matthias said:

Stromtank has downsides as well:

It is AC > DC > AC then in the device downstream the Stromtank AC > DC, too much conversions.

Much

Good ol’ Matthias always having his opinion without even having first hand experience…  enjoy your Taiko 40k+ BPS 👋 

[matthias]

13 hours ago, Vincent des Champs said:

Good ol’ Matthias always having his opinion without even having first hand experience…  enjoy your Taiko 40k+ BPS 👋 

Usually "argumentum ad hominem" like this one is not allowed on forums.

If this is different here then @The Computer Audiophile can comment on this.

 

After reading the comments of very experienced Stromtank users on different forums it is impossible to claim that it is the only one solution that works/improves on all aspects.

 

Matt

[Vincent des Champs]

24 minutes ago, matthias said:

After reading the comments of very experienced Stromtank users on different forums it is impossible to claim that it is the only one solution that works/improves on all aspects.

Please allow me to clarify: in my experience the Stromtank does have no downsides regarding SQ.

Sorry that you feel personal attacked.. it was meant as teasing since you always seem to contradict things with no first hands experience or with arguments like ‘they say that on website xyz’. Won’t happen again. Hope you are doing well. 

[Ronnie112]

Yes, let's keep this forum a friendly place. Enough turmoil happening in the world already.

[matthias]

7 minutes ago, Vincent des Champs said:

Please allow me to clarify: in my experience the Stromtank does have no downsides regarding SQ.

OK, no problem this sounds much better.

The great advantage of forums is that you get a broad spectrum of opinions. And like a puzzle at the end there might be a certain picture.

So it is not only about your or my opinion.

 

Matt

[Vincent des Champs]

Let’s stay on topic: the MUx are wonderful products that make us Dutchies proud! However, I moved on to a different streamer and so from my personal experiences no input here anylonger ☺️

[FredM]

15 hours ago, PYP said:

spoil me completely, please.  Who has written that the MU2 wins?  

 

It seems more MU2 devices are in the open. It was shared on a FB post at Alpha Audio

 

[FredM]

In addition, Hans Beekhuyzen seems to have the first in depth MU2 review 👍. He calls it ‘Shockingly good’.  Currently for Patreon members only:

 

https://www.patreon.com/theHBchannel?fbclid=IwAR3yRV3sZ75ugDUmzkqD6b8KSu8Ba9IBnsw6sWzZvp7fUgHfq4CYWPV9U2c

[PYP]

When the MU1 was first available, there were many reviews using the Mola Mola Tambaqui, probably because of availability (two Dutch brands) and exceptional quality/execution of design.  Perhaps there will also be many reviews that compare the MU2 with this synergistic combination.  I look forward to those while the supply of MU2 ramps up and makes an in-home demo possible.  

 

Innovation is always good.  Moving the art of design forward is always good.   Competition based upon ideas is always good.  The Tambaqui is also software driven.  Might there room for improvement? 

[Mike123]

2 hours ago, FredM said:

In addition, Hans Beekhuyzen seems to have the first in depth MU2 review 👍. He calls it ‘Shockingly good’.  Currently for Patreon members only:

 

https://www.patreon.com/theHBchannel?fbclid=IwAR3yRV3sZ75ugDUmzkqD6b8KSu8Ba9IBnsw6sWzZvp7fUgHfq4CYWPV9U2c

Did Hans designate MU2 in his reference 1a and jettison his DAVE?

[Low325]

Hans will probably have to create a ref 1c with the MU2 in place 😂. 

[Ronnie112]

Subscriped to his channel to hear what his findings with the MU2 are. Don't want to rob him off by simply copying the findings here. Suggest to take your own subscription instead. But I do agree with his conclusion, the MU2 seems to be a clear bargain.

[FredM]

4 hours ago, Ronnie112 said:

I do agree with his conclusion, the MU2 seems to be a clear bargain

And for simplicity reasons, the cost for things like cables, platform and footers weren't even included in the comparison.
 

Loved his smile at the end 🙂

[FredM]

4 hours ago, Mike123 said:

Did Hans designate MU2 in his reference 1a and jettison his DAVE?

I have a feeling he already made up his mind (but as a reviewer I guess he also needs to be able to test separate DAC’s and streamers)

[skatbelt]

11 hours ago, matthias said:

OK, no problem this sounds much better.

The great advantage of forums is that you get a broad spectrum of opinions. And like a puzzle at the end there might be a certain picture.

So it is not only about your or my opinion.

 

Matt

 

The problem is that your contributions are often unfounded. How can you say that product X, which is not even on the market yet (if it ever will), is better than product Y? Do you have shares in Taiko or otherwise affiliated?

[aangen]

Don’t feed the …..

A friend of mine sent me a Mola Mola Tambaqui. I finally get to here it. But hearing the MU2 would win. Sigh.

[Fourlegs]

Hmmn, well the Mu2 is obviously going down well and it will be great to hear it. Ultimately for me the MU1 (into an ARC6 Dave) lost out probably mainly due to what Roon was doing to the sound. 
 

The big question for me will be whether Roon also drags down the sound of the MU2. 
 

I will look out for the Mu2 arriving at my dealer so I can have a listen. 

[Vincent des Champs]

1 hour ago, Fourlegs said:

 

The big question for me will be whether Roon also drags down the sound of the MU2. 

Since the MU2 uses the exactly same digital frontend as the MU1, the degredation in SQ will be equal I suppose.. I never really did in depth research about the influence of Roon on SQ.. but with my new streamer offering Roon endpoint functionality and an internal (MPD based) web player, I did: the differences are real and not subtle at all (at least the character of the sound is altered: Roon sounds rounded and woolly/ less precise, MPD is far more dynamic and expressive indicating the noise floor is lower). Of course Grimm Audio pulls fancy FPGA tricks to minimize the difference/ influence but (as Christiaan Punter suggested in his reviews on HFA) the working of those tricks differ from one Roon version to another.
 

With the upcoming MUx SW update offering different streaming protocols I realize maybe I have let go my MU1 streamer a little too soon…  MU2 will enter the building here someday for a fair comparison 👌

[Fourlegs]

19 minutes ago, Vincent des Champs said:

Since the MU2 uses the exactly same digital frontend as the MU1, the degredation in SQ will be equal I suppose.. I never really did in depth research about the influence of Roon on SQ.. but with my new streamer offering Roon endpoint functionality and an internal (MPD based) web player, I did: the differences are real and not subtle at all. Of course Grimm Audio pulls fancy FPGA tricks to minimize the difference/ influence but (as Christiaan Punter suggested in his reviews on HFA) the working of those tricks differ from one Roon version to another.
 

With the upcoming MUx SW update offering different streaming protocols I realize maybe I have let go my MU1 streamer a little too soon…  MU2 will enter the building here someday for a fair comparison 👌

Yes it will be interesting to see what software protocols are enabled by the impending firmware update to the MU devices. From my own experience LMS + Squeezelite is much better sounding than an MPD based player and streets ahead of Roon.