I have no regrets moving up to the Grimm MU2 from a MK2 (Massive and JKR trannies installed) and BHK Pre combo. I am also pleased that the new software is a winner. It confirms my bias for
FPGA based designs.
Judging whether the new MK2 is better than the MU2 is a bit tricky. This relies on isolating a DAC only test but this is tainted by the source differences and the preamp used. SACD or Redbook, using MU2 pre or a better one, etc.
Looking at the larger picture, I see the MU2’s combination of a fine streamer, DAC and pre to be a killer combination and value. Saving the cost of two mega power cords and interconnects help too.
Given how the DAC does so much to make or break a system, I’m sure there are others out there
( like MSB) that sing with the angels, but I’m not in that strata. I’m still very keen on Ted releasing a no compromise TSS DAC in our lifetime.
Nothing wrong with your approach, and we have different needs. In fact, I maybe the only one that keep both MU2 and MK2 in the system😆
When I replaced Euphony Summus 2 streamer with Lumin U2, I was very happy with the SQ improvement. Suddenly streaming was free of murky and dark sound. I thought U2 was an incredible streamer in the 5K price range (I still do).
But owning Grimm MU2 for almost six months, I can confirm that MU2 improves my system more than U2 did over Summus2. When I used Lumin, I would listen to CD/SACD more than streaming. But with MU2 most of my music enjoyment is from streaming. I still buy SACDs and occasionally CDs, but many have not been opened for listening lately.
Side-by-side SACD does sound superior to streaming during critical listening (with the latest Blue Sky update on MK2, not before), but in casual listening (90% of my time), the streaming SQ from MU2 is so satisfying that I often do not even turn on PST/MK2 anymore.
The MU2 is truly the heart of my system, more so than other upgrades I have had from the past two years.
I must have missed the fact that you had a Euphony Summus 2. That was on my short list for some time. I am sad at the depths Euphony has sank. But on the positive side it has encouraged Pink Faun to step up and create a better solution.
I was a Euphony fan early on. The good old days.
I’ve been listening to my Christmas CDs which get pulled out once a year. The addition of the MU2 this year has made a remarkable difference. It continues to impress.
A strong testament for the Grimm MU2.
Well, I finally had some time for critical listening with the MU2 and the newer tubes in the CJ pre, started listening to Paulo Fresu, and all critical listening stopped. I hear only music…
Anyone interested in a MU2 Jamie has one listed at Audio Experience does not mention hard drive but it may of been overlooked? $14k I’m sure the price is negotiable.
$17,500 msrp shown is without any optional SSD for music storage, 2TB or 8TB SSDs are offered as options.
I’ll find out the specifics from Jamie today. @aangen has a source for generously discounted MU2’s or MU1’s
The MU2 for sale does have a hard drive waiting on verification on what size.
They seemed so nice we invited them to Dinner.
Afterwards:
Interesting evening.
First we listened to fine music with the Vivid Spirits and a BACCH-SP adio.
Then we listened with Grimm LS1c speakers with no BACCH.
We listened to the same songs. Wow!
Those Grimm speakers are really something!
They are not Vivid G1 Spirits, but they play in the same sandbox.
Best Audiophile night of the year so far.
The MU1 speakers!
@aangen Is that at Juan’s place?
My MU2 is due here tomorrow…
That is. I saw an MU2 there last night. His system was just incredible last night! Never heard better!
Congrats @andynotadam
The MU2 will need break-in to properly open up. And once the sound opens up, you’re going to love it.
I burned mine in by letting music fully play through the system throughout the next day (without tubes).
I was fortunate to borrow Greg’s MU2 for a few weeks before my MU2 arrived, so I heard firsthand how closed-in my un-broken-in MU2 sounded at first.
Only if he has tubes.
Thanks to Al’s help getting the Spirits out of their place and setting up the LS1C, I’m now on 24 hours in. I spent most of the day learning how to dial them in, both from a positioning perspective, and then using the LS1 Control app to adjust the DSP settings slightly to balance the subs (the Grimm subs, not the Perlisten, which are switched off), etc.
Al, I ended up positioning them much wider than we did last night, with about a 30-degree toe in. I started this morning about 14ft apart, and I slowly worked them back in over a few hours and landed on 11ft apart from tweeter to tweeter.
The LS1C’s are 4ft from the front wall, and listening distance is also about 11ft to the ears.
Currently, the LS1C is connected to the Aurender N30SA streamer/server and Aurender MC10 master clock as I don’t have an MU1 yet in possession. An experienced reviewer will be stopping by to drop off the MU1 that goes with this system and will preview the LS1C. This is one of the reasons I set these up to the best of my ability today.
First impressions of the LS1C is quite positive. The coherence is impeccable, and the soundstaging is simply enormous. I will say that these guys do require careful and precise positioning to sound their best. It’s interesting that while they can cast a very wide stage and sound good from almost any angle, I find they have a fairly narrow dispersion regarding the central sweet spot. All of this demonstrates that the LS1C can perform amongst some of the best speakers I’ve heard as long as there is flexibility with setup in the room.
I’ve got them in possession until mid-March, so I’m excited to see how far I can take them until I have to ship them for AXPONA. They’ll be in room 1530, and coincidentally, Bliss Hifi’s (my) room is right next door in 1526.
