Grimm Audio MU1 server

[lmitche]

5 hours ago, FredM said:

SW has a similar or even greater impact on SQ as HW.

Greater, for sure. In a perfectly tuned system with the best hardware, modifying a single parameter can change SQ from unlistenable to musical bliss.

[FredM]

2 hours ago, TheAttorney said:

I've only just realised the significance of this.

My DAVE AES input's limit is 96kHz. And I've just checked that my M-Scaler doesn't even have an AES input!

Which severely restricts the options I have with MU1's AES output.

 

The proof of the pudding will be in the hearing, but these limitations (not particularly MU1's fault) mean that I may not get the full potential of the MU1 with my Chord equipment, so may need a Plan B sooner than I had expected ☹️.

 

 

In this fragment you can find an explanation what the FPGA does, and why AES-out is chosen. I don’t know how AES-96 will pair with the DAVE DAC. Indeed, the proof of the pudding is in the hearing 😀

 

 

56 minutes ago, lmitche said:

Greater, for sure.

Somehow I was quoted without typing the message 😁😁😁

 

[matthias]

15 minutes ago, FredM said:

Somehow I was quoted without typing the message

 

It was mine.

 

Matt

[matthias]

3 hours ago, TheAttorney said:

The proof of the pudding will be in the hearing, but these limitations (not particularly MU1's fault) mean that I may not get the full potential of the MU1 with my Chord equipment, so may need a Plan B sooner than I had expected

 

If one likes the concept of MU1 it might be the best to wait for the MU2 since the pairing with the DAC is not perfect (like in your case) 😀

 

Matt

[FredM]

Indeed, synergy is key.
From specs only it’s hard to predict, it’ll depend.

The proof of the pudding is..

[FredM]

10 hours ago, johnli said:

btw, how are you enjoying your MU1 Fred?

It’s a true pleasure, the experience as I shared earlier still applies. 
 

Which reminds me, as you also use LS1be’s: Recently the Grimm LS1be were tested in a live session, together with two other active speakers (connected with a dCS front end). Great to see the reaction of the listening panel when the LS1’s played, even with goosebumps for the panel. Very familiar 😀

Here you can rewatch the session (the MU1 is also mentioned shortly)

TL;DW

https://www.grimmaudio.com/reviews/alpha-audio-the-ls1be-is-in-its-own-league/

 

[johnli]

I'm glad you're enjoying yours too

 

FYI, the LS1 be will have an upgrade in both the DAC board and the subwoofer.

it will cost money!

[Darryl R]

Can anyone elaborate on the power supply in the MU1?

[lmitche]

22 hours ago, matthias said:

 

It was mine.

 

Matt

Not sure I could do that again.

[FredM]

6 hours ago, johnli said:

I'm glad you're enjoying yours too

 

FYI, the LS1 be will have an upgrade in both the DAC board and the subwoofer.

it will cost money!

 

Perhaps techniques from the new MU2 DAC are reused in the LS1be. Interesting for sure, nice to have this upgrade option ahead, curious how it will sound 😀
 

 

4 hours ago, Darryl R said:

Can anyone elaborate on the power supply in the MU1?

Here you go, with thanks to the time stamp from @Alpha Audio😉

 

[matthias]

2 hours ago, FredM said:

Perhaps techniques from the new MU2 DAC are reused in the LS1be.

 

When will the MU2 be launched?

Thanks

 

Matt

[FredM]

9 hours ago, matthias said:

 

When will the MU2 be launched?

Mid 2021 is mentioned in the interview above (in the timestamp list underneath the video there’s a shortcut: What’s next?)

[matthias]

2 hours ago, FredM said:

Mid 2021 is mentioned in the interview above (in the timestamp list underneath the video there’s a shortcut: What’s next?)

 

Another question, maybe they addressed it too in the video but I missed it:

When do they launch their own software player as alternative to Roon?

Thanks again

 

Matt

[beautiful music]

48 minutes ago, matthias said:

 

Another question, maybe they addressed it too in the video but I missed it:

When do they launch their own software player as alternative to Roon?

Thanks again

 

Matt

+1

[FredM]

57 minutes ago, matthias said:

When do they launch their own software player as alternative to Roon?

I can’t remember that I’ve seen an estimated release date.

@johnlior@nevillekapadia, perhaps that you know something?

 

[Darryl R]

19 hours ago, FredM said:

Here you go, with thanks to the time stamp from @Alpha Audio😉

 

 

Thanks FredM.  I had hoped for a little more info, but I didn't expect it.  I'm very interested in any breakthrus in SMPS's for the server piece, as I'm so tired of messing with expensive LPS's.  In my case, USB is the best option, and the MSB Pro-ISL/USB interface is integrated with the MSB Femto33 clock.  Hence my interest in the power supply aspect.

[nevillekapadia]

On 12/9/2020 at 11:09 PM, FredM said:

I can’t remember that I’ve seen an estimated release date.

@johnlior@nevillekapadia, perhaps that you know something?

 

I wouldn't know either, but they did significant updates for their software recently. One of them was that you can choose to play it with an output of 88.2, 96, 176 or 192Khz. 

[FredM]

A recent review on Stereophile, including some nice format conversion comparisons with the FPGA board (heart of the MU1).
 

Ps. At home I even use the FPGA board for the FL and FR (active) speakers in a HT-setting 👍 (via Toslink to uncouple the HT gear with the stereo gear)

 

CD

Quote

The same recording, upsampled to 176.4kHz and sent to the MBL DAC via the MU1's AES/EBU connection, was dramatically better. The tonal balance was still warm, but the congestion was reduced, adding depth to the soundstage and increasing the separation between instruments and groups of instruments within that stage.

Lossy

Quote

Even lossy-compressed audio, like the 128kbps stream of BBC Radio 3's Night Tracks program, to which I have become addicted, benefited from the MU1's upsampling.

24/192

Quote

I selected "The Trader" from the Beach Boys' 1973 Holland album, which I had ripped to a 24/192 PCM ALAC file. Now that was intriguing. [...] the sound was noticeably more palpable, with a better sense of rhythm, than the network connection.

 

 

DSD

Quote

I had the same experience with DSD-encoded files, like Christian Tetzlaff and Lars Vogt's superbly idiomatic recording of the Brahms Violin Sonatas (DSD128, Ondine/HDtracks ODE1284-2D). There was simply more there there with the AES/EBU outputs.

 

 

Summary

Quote

[...] And, especially via its upsampled AES/EBU outputs, it sounds superb. For those who can afford it, the Grimm MU1 is a highly recommended digital audio solution.

For the full review:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/grimm-audio-mu1-music-streamer