Yes I used the PMG 512 as an endpoint both before and after it was Roon certified.
Great. Thank you for that clarification.
That was one of the most useful and succinct posts I have read on any forum! I really enjoyed it! Thank you!!
Please do not test the Playback Designs MPD-8! I fear that DAC.
It would be fun if you could spend some time with a Mola Mola Tambaqui. I had one for four months. Totally fell in love with it. The guy who sold it to me didn’t need it anymore after buying a MPD-8.
Just got back home an hour ago, and first thing I did was turning on PMG512. Well, Roon again could not find PMG512. Is it because of WiFi? I do not think so since all other devices have no issue connection to it. I did a number of resetting cycles and finally it showed up. The thing is that I have had no connecting issue before until today.
I really cannot say which one is better between PMG and MU2. As I mentioned before, the setups for both are different. Specifically, PMG512 is powered by a Stealth Cloude Grande LE power cord, and it connects to Gryphon D333 by Fidelium XLR. Grimm MU2 is powered by an SRA Takshaka power cord and connected to D333 by Audience FrontRow Reserve XLR. MU2 linked by a Shunyata Omega ethernet, Muon Pro System, and a LHY SW-10 Pro switch with MPS ethernet to an Orbi satellite. PMG512 uses WiFi. The Orbi sat. is powered by an IFI iPower Elite PS plus an AQ Dragon Source power cord (they make noticeable improvement if you want to know). Lastly, all units including the satellite are plugged into a Gryphon PowerZone power optimizer.
In this setup PMG sounded cleaner, with better definition, and showing more dynamic, and MU2 sounded more relaxed and layback. Then I switched power cords, PMG sounded closer to MU2’s served by Takshaka, the sound is a bit warmer, where MU2 gained a bit texture and detail with Stealth CGLE. So, power cord change has made quite a bit difference, and more on PMG than MU2 somehow, and my preference became less sure also. I simply cannot declare a winner.
But I do have some general idea about the difference between two. MU2 has a little more warmth which brought a sense of realism. PMG512 on the other hand sounded cleaner, more detailed, and more dynamic. This presentation sometimes sounded a little analytical. Power cords and interconnect selection can easily sway one’s preference.
I am happy to have both. I will use PMG for better recordings (very revealing), and MU2 for relaxation. Lastly, neither one can beat SACDs when playing through PMG SACD. I played a DSD file and disc with the exact same recording from the transport, PMG512, and MU2. Disc wins!
I do not mean PMG512 sounds analytical, nor MU2 sounds warm. These are the difference of these two great network players. On their own both sounded neutral and nature.
Thanks for sharing those first impressions. I hope you will update us if anything changes with more burnin of the PMG 512
Your PMG DAC is nowhere near broken in yet.
Any comparisons are not conclusive.
PMG just hit 100 hours, it probably done most, but not all break-in. Time will tell.
Wonderful job. Thanks for the review. I probably would have gone MU2 route if I had the money. In the end with the credit I had plus the $500 cheaper since I was early down payment it was just over $6k for me… After tariffs hit the MU2 was out of my range at that point. Probably twice as much. I still have not done the comparison of my ARC Pre vs PMG 512 as Preamp. I will at some point.
Thanks for your initial impressions. I’m curious if the PMG would still sound on the leaner side if it was connected to the Omega and Muon Pro? One thing for certain is that your options of accessories and their variations are endless. Much appreciated.
I believe after the Tarrifs the list price for an MU2 is now $21K. Initially it was $17K but available for $14.5k to anyone who knows me.
The Streamer functions of the MU2 are reliable and trouble free. For whatever that is worth. And now, the MU2 offers many streaming options. Not just Roon.
In a few weeks I may give it a try to make sure PMG512 is completely broken in. I assume it will sound a bit different from WiFi. But in order to use Roon Core I need to connect ethernet to MU2, and I have a Chinese silver core ethernet can do that. But the new arrangement will bring in a new set of variables too.
They sound different but close is SQ. When I put an AQ Dragon HC on MU2 and Stealth LEGC on PMG they sounded so close to each other, surprisingly. But Dragon has a lean sound with great bass extension, so that makes sense. I still think with the right cable either one will be an excellent choice.
That is a big plus. For me personally it is important to have Roon core in MU2. I have tried put Roon in a PC, and it sounded way worse.
No doubt the MU2 is a better overall device as it does/can eliminate a few other boxes . But its still 6k more. I guess I don’t have all the fancy cables that many here do either. So if you save a few power cords and network cables I guess that adds cost. I have Roon Rock (not a PC - Rock is rock solid device) with LPS, NAS w/ LPS, non have fancy power cords. Not too much spent there. I do have a Melco fed via fiber and MP w/. cables to the PMG 512. So decent network setup. But the network side would stay with MU2.
Even still I am very happy with the 512. For me that extra 6k is just not in the budget.
The fun thing about the MU1 and MU2 is power cables don’t make much of an improvement. At least in my experience.
I must have imagined that Stealth CGLE and The Grande sound good with my MU2.
Now which one you really like? 
This week I have tried a number of power cables on both PMG512 and MU2. Of course a great PC improves any component, but to my ear PC made much more difference on PMG512 than MU2 also. So, Al is right, but he does not have any cheap cable so it is likely MU2 only sounded a bit different. Maybe I will stick a PSA complementary cord to find out how MU2 will be affected.
By the way, audiophile fuses did not make much difference on MU2 too. I have a saved M-2 fuse that I will put into PMG512 later, and I expect to hear more difference.
Remember the shorting plugs that made noticeable improvement on MK1, and to some on MK2? I have one for HDMI and one for USB. I will try those in a later day.
As you say, the Grimm gear doesn’t respond much to fuses, if at all. Many, many Grimm users have responded to the lack of improvement power cables and fuses make with the Grimm gear. But the Muon Pro absolutely makes a wonderful difference and should be used with any and all MU1 and MU2 gear.
Good, then I don’t need to spend $$$$ on a Stealth power cable for my MU2
My experience is that with both the Grimm MU2 and PMG 512, you can readily hear differences with different power cords. The ones included in this survey are AQ Dragon, Stealth Dream 20/20, CGLE and The Grande.
You and the other Paul may have had similar results with those cords on your MU2 and MU1.