For whom?
Contents
Who is the target group of Grimm Audio at the MU1? We see a target group with either a set of LS1be that is ready for a high quality source, and/or a target group that wants simplicity and minimalism. Especially when the MU2 and MU3 will be there soon. Then the MU really is a central hub. Please note that the MU1 costs around 10,000 euros and that the MU2 and MU3 will therefore cost (significantly) more. It will therefore be a target group with the willingness to invest a serious amount of money.
But that target group is there. After all: all high-end brands have a streamer in their assortment. Think Aurender, Auralic, dCS, Lumin, NAIM, Linn… go on and on. Is the MU1 a special appetite, then? Yeah. In some ways, yes. Think of the versatility and the special and very effective upsampling and clock that knows how to make music from any digital source.
Conclusion
Some reviews are ticking themselves. This can be positive or negative. But fortunately it is often positive. The Grimm Audio MU1 can not just be caught. That's not so much because of the musical performance: they are excellent. Rather, it is a challenge to capture the way of playing and performing in words. That is really difficult in this case. Because... how do you explain that the Grimm Audio MU1 creates a feeling? That the difference with a 'normal' streamer is not a matter of sound ... but more the touching of the essence of the piece? Yeah... that's that. But that's what we're talking about with the MU1.We hope that Grimm will soon be able to dot the 'i' in the software. Then he'll be up to speed with the LS1be... ...or flawless.
My hope is that there will be more than just a slight sonic improvement. Noting that the Weiss 501 will up sample to 195Mhz and use its own low jitter clock, on data it receives from the Grimm via AES/EBU connection.
Hi Jaap, great review.
I know you have reviewed both the MU1 and Weiss DAC 501. I’m wondering if you had ever paired the MU1 with the Weiss and could offer your impressions? I have a Weiss DAC501 Mk 2 version and am very interested in the Grimm product.