Grimm MU-1 server review - A new force in digital source?

Nevillekapadia

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Aug 30, 2010
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6Moons review of Grimm MU-1 by M&H

I have waited a long time to get the right server. I think I have found one that serves the purpose especially for streaming Tidal and Qobuz.

Though this is not a cheap unit, it certainly needs to be compared in listening to the higher brands out there like Taiko (comparative and mentioned in review), Lumin, Aurender, etc.

Being a DSD fan, it was quite unnerving to know that the FPGA card converts all your source from 44.1K to 4xDSD to 176.4/192khz. I found that the conversion greatly benefits red book and streaming. And there was no downside in converting higher files to 176.4Khz.

There must be something in the waters of the Netherlands (first Taiko, now Grimm) where digital is making a new sound! Eelco Grimm and Guido Tent are really at the cutting edge of digital knowhow.

I've had the unit since just over a month to listen too. The burn in time was about 2 weeks, and it sounds great out of the box.

The soundstage and ease of flow brings it closer to that level of master tape sound experiences.

Definitely a keeper and worth trialling an audition if you are in the market for one. Especially at these tough times with what we globally are all going through, sometimes a glimmer of light for listening may just what is needed to lift's one's spirits. Mine certainly has.

Neville
 

nonesup

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I think you forget Pink Faun from the Netherlands.
On the other hand, how are you going to compare an Extreme (Server) with a Lumin that are either Network Players (A1, X1, S1, T2, D2) or Transport (U1, U1 mini)?
 

Nevillekapadia

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I think you forget Pink Faun from the Netherlands.
On the other hand, how are you going to compare an Extreme (Server) with a Lumin that are either Network Players (A1, X1, S1, T2, D2) or Transport (U1, U1 mini)?

Hi Francisco,

Yes there are certainly more Players in the Netherlands and global field. It’s that Phillips experience amongst them all that probably gives them the edge.

The Grimm is quite new and comparisons to others would come down the line once it gets more opportunity to showcase itself.

Unfortunately Munich didn’t happen this year with a production unit.

Though the review does give a nice understanding of its performance capabilities.

Neville
 

Nevillekapadia

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Aug 30, 2010
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Hi Neville, congrats and thanks for sharing!! I’m looking forward to hear more on your experience. Which other products did you consider?

The Grimm MU1 tops my one-box-solution short list. I’m fascinated with the design and have utmost confidence the Grimm team.

Please find this recently started topic on AS, good to share/connect:
https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/58754-grimm-audio-mu1-server/

Fred, thanks for the link.

In regards to what I considered, it would have been quite a few brands like Melco, Lumin, Antipodes and the Taiko. The Grimm did something more with passing the signal through it's FPGA card. Most of all it negated the need for having to get into tweaking by using additional ethernet and modem switches. Since the Grimm is designed to use AES/EBU or SPDIF, and not USB or ethernet cables it just makes life easier. Of course if you wanted to use a USB output, you could do so but then it's performance would not be paralleled and you would get back into the same grind as all the other streamers.
 

sbo6

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I'd be curious see how the Aqua LinQ compares as a streamer.
 

Nevillekapadia

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I'd be curious see how the Aqua LinQ compares as a streamer.

Very interesting about the Aqua LinQ streamer, which too has an FPGA card, and avoids a USB output.
It has quite a few different proprietary outputs that probably match its own brand of DAC's, quite ideal.

The difference I find is that the Grimm FPGA card upsamples red book to 176.4Hz, which probably requires more complex calculations to give you a better performance of CD playback. Especially with streaming Tidal/Qobuz and a CD rip for the NAS or internal hard drive all play equally the same. Ofcourse there are times that the large record labels, insert DRM into the streaming file to avoid duplication. This makes any type of song sound worse or as good as MP3.

Finally a lot comes down to how good the calculations are to keep that flow of music relaxed with plenty of detail.

I think RickyV on the link below, seems to feel the same over the Taiko.

RickyV link is #7
 

matthias

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Mar 14, 2019
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Since the Grimm is designed to use AES/EBU or SPDIF, and not USB or ethernet cables it just makes life easier.

So it uses WiFI to connect to the modem/router?

Thanks

Matt
 

matthias

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Mar 14, 2019
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Room acoustics and loudspeakers tend to play a much larger part than different streamers. No offense but it looks to me like you’re trying to make a point by quoting something out of it’s original context.

I visited XFi 2019 as well on Sunday.
Although I admit that the Aequo Audio speakers are not my cup of tea, the Taiko Audio room was for sure one of the best sounding rooms of the show.
On the contrary I could never endure listening to a set-up with Grimm LS1 speakers at HE Munich in the last years.

Matt
 
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Nevillekapadia

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Aug 30, 2010
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I had a 6 hour continuous session with the Grimm today and it was not fatiguing at all listening to digital content for that long. The flow and detail are quite astounding.
 

thomask

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Dec 9, 2018
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"I certainly would not have expected it after raving about the K50 relatively recently, but the MU1 has impressed me deeply. It may not offer all of the big Antipodes server’s functionality, but sonically, it takes what the K50 does, which is to sound like music, not clinical computer replay, while further adding to it to provide the best I’ve heard yet from a Music Server!"

Partially quoted from above review.
 
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aangen

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Dec 10, 2020
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www.weirdenergy.com
My Grimm MU1 arrived today. Sadly this Roon Restore process takes hours and hours and hours and hours and.......
Can't wait to hear it but so far wait is all I get.
 
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aangen

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Dec 10, 2020
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Minnesota
www.weirdenergy.com
After listening to and enjoying the MU1 for a week I pronounce it and endgame piece of gear. It can give my Turntable a run for its money. It's quite extraordinary! I simply cannot spend enough time listening to it as it is endlessly entertaining.
 

DomA

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Mar 29, 2022
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Question about the server software, will it only use Roon?
Can it be configured to use other server software, e.g. MinimServer?
thanks
 
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