Grimm MU1 Streamer - Really "The Best"?

@nyev 

Could I suggest, respectfully, that you perform a couple of very important techniques.

First, the differences between servers will be material but at this level they are each very, very good. The fact that all you are changing with speaker setup is a little toe-in speaks volumes. With each material compnent change in my system comes a complete re-setup of the speakers. Once they are marked on my fllor then, and only then, can I reasonably compare the two presentations.

The Zenith is not at the same performance level as the N20, even with the Phoenix. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t like it more but it might also mean that with the Innuos chain being completely optimized for USB and the Gryphon dac board is certainly optimized for USB and your speaker setup optimized for that chain…which brings us to the N20.

Second, you might consider pumping the brakes and excerising more patience. Wait for the proper aes cable to arrive and settle in, take the time to reposition your speakers properly, take good notes. Mark the floor (not with a sharpie but properly notated painters tape LOL). Revisit and repeat. You are about to introduce a third and potentially fourth set of server/streamer variables and you are doing it at breakneck speed. Decide between the two high quality server/streamers you have on deck. A-B til you are sure which you like better and then, sell one on and demo/purchase the next one in the same manner. Then and only then will you possibly get where you want to go. Live with something a while.

Depending on the day, a Bentley is a more satisfying drive than a Range Rover…on other days, the opposite….over a longer period of time….you will prefer one over the other when all things are considered. Listen to bad recordings of good music…which setup makes that exercise more fun. 

Perhaps the most important thing to inject into the process? While the inboard Gryphon dac board is quite good, you seem to be seeking a 10 out of 10 with a steady stream of $10-30k streamer/servers….they will each sound very different, especially if your speaker setup remains reasonably static. It isn’t a race so allow your right brain to guide the experiments and your left brain to evaluate the musical enjoyment.

As always, best wishes with the journey. 

@ghasley 

+1. Wise counsel.

Charles

@ghasley , and others, good advice - thanks. I have no intention to move on to another server anytime soon, even if I end up acquiring another right now. My thought is I can hook the K50 up to a cheap DAC I have and just run it for months. I’ve heard the K50 cand sound rough for a while.  I definitely have not heard the N20 at its best yet, without the AES cable.  I fully expect it will clearly pull ahead of my Innuos setup once I try multiple AES cables.  The fact that in can almost tie my Innuos’ heavily optimized USB with its non optimized USB is very telling.  I still wonder if the N20 will actually be just right in the end, for me, once I try the AES cable.  It has a touch of warmth and that solidity I’m after.  Just need a bit more transparency.

@lalitk , i didn’t mean to imply the imaging was not good with the N20.  What’s happening is purely related to the lack of upper end transparency and resolution compared with the Innuos gear.  The imaging is all intact with the N20.  But without that last touch of air and resolve, you don’t get that effect of suspended in space vocals and instruments as much as with the Innuos.  It’s there, just not as much.  Switching to the Innuos it’s more 3D - not to say the N20 is not 3D, it is for sure.

Lastly, it’s not a deciding factor at all, but if the N20 wins out, I must say that I like the screen.  Even if I’ve had it off in critical listening mode for the most part.  And it’s the only device I’m looking at that has one!

I was waiting until this morning to confirm, but the N20’s bass has become fuller rather suddenly. It’s not as big overall compared with the Innuos boxes at this point, but now it’s got so much more drive and solidity in the bass than the Innuos, despite not being as big and well defined. At this point I’d choose the Aurender’s bass over the Innuos bass (which is still more precise, refined, and accurate, but with less drive, focus, and solidity). The N20’s mid and top end still sounds the same as before. But wow, that bass drive is impressive.  There is a grip there that didn’t exist 1 day prior.

It’s for reasons like this that when I get the AES cable, I plan to use it at least for a solid month prior to comparing to a third server like the K50, should I acquire one now. As I said above I’ve heard accounts that the AES circuits do not automatically break in along with the rest of the unit if AES is not used during initial breakin. If I’m not mistaken I think the original owner used USB so the AES may never have been used. Same goes for my DAC’s AES interface.

With the K50, if the seller agrees to my offer (haven’t heard back so maybe they didn’t accept), it’s simply to acquire a used K50 at a decent price while one is available used. My focus won’t shift for some time yet!