FredM

The Dutch Audio Event 2024 will open its doors today! For those who are interested (and are hopefully able to attent), Grimm will play in various rooms. I’m mostly looking forward to visit the Grimm room (116) with the new LS1 speakersystem in action, the updated/topmodel: LS1c. A session in the Auditorium by the TRPTK record label with Grimm LS1’s will also be very interesting. Have a nice day! From Grimm: October 5 and 6, Grimm Audio will exhibit again at the famous Dutch Audio Event in our home town Veldhoven. In the large demo room 116 Eelco Grimm and Guido Tent play the brand new LS1c model that so far has dropped the jaws of everyone who heard it. As source we use the MU1 for digital streams, but also the new PW1 phono stage that makes a wonderful match with the LS1c. Dutch distributor Music 2 supports us with a wonderful Feickert Volare turntable with Reed 1H arm and VandenHul cartridge. In the afternoon of both show dates, PW1 designer Peter van Willenswaard will give a presentation of the history and background of this unique design. Without doubt a must visit room! The MU2 can be heard in room 61 at our distributor Terrason Audio, who will play it on an active PMC system. Another MU2 can be heard at Daudio, room 14, and at McIntosh, room 65. Be prepared to find MU1s and MU2s in various other rooms too… On Saturday 11:30 and 13:00 in the Auditorium of the venue we present a very special cooperation with Dutch record label TRPTK. Sound Engineer Brendon Heinst will introduce a high end video recording project of the latest album ‘Viriditas’ of the Sibil•la Ensemble (check out the ‘behind the scenes’ story via our blog). TRPTK recently acquired five LS1 loudspeakers for their mix and mastering studio and this is the first album that was made on them. To come close to the sound Brendon heard, three LS1be’s will be used for the sound reinforcement of the video playback in the Auditorium. The presentation is opened with a live performance of the Sibil•la Ensemble and after the video Brendon will do a Q&A. So in one hour the audience will have a live concert, a high end video projection and a ‘behind the scenes’ presentation by the recording engineer. Don’t miss it!

Darko’s podcast with Eelco Grimm about the MU2 is available: https://darko.audio/2024/09/podcast-whats-going-on-inside-an-e18000-streaming-dac/ An interesting interview for sure, with nice insights on the level of detail and the collective experience that has been put in the design. The importance to have control over the various elements in the chain/signal path is made apparent. Grimm’s passion for quality playback is obvious, where every detail matters, with a ‘quite nice’ result 👍

Nice to share, some ‘quite’ positive write-ups on the MU1 and MU2 that have been published during the summer: Twitteringmachines (MU1) https://twitteringmachines.com/in-barn-for-good-grimm-audio-mu1-music-player/ Audio Accessory (MU2) https://www.phileweb.com/sp/news/audio/202407/02/25502.html Hifi Knights (MU2) http://hifiknights.com/reviews/sources/grimm-audio-mu-2/ In addition Stereophile has awarded the MU2 as an A+ level recommended component of the Year 👍

I don’t have the answer, as I understand the MU2 is designed with Grimm’s discrete ‘Major DAC’, which is -in short-partnered with the FPGA/calculations. It’s a different approach. You can have a look at the design documents/blogs on Grimm’s website. Like this one: https://www.grimmaudio.com/publications/the-mu2-major-dac/ (in general: to compare from a technical/spec point of view has its challenges and limitations, as the outcome always depends on the full design and implementation). Good to mention, Darko Audio announced an interview/podcast with Eelco Grimm about the MU2 and its Major DAC. Perhaps your question will be covered. https://darko.audio/2024/09/in-berlin-for-review-the-grimm-mu2/

@stevebythebay @Ronnie112 I fully relate with the darkness preference. I have the MU1 tucked away in a cabinet behind sliding doors, a kinda physical darkness mode slider/button, haha

In seems another MU2 review is around the corner. In this Darko video -about the relevance of large (touch)screens on devices- the MU2 is mentioned and placed in his rack 👍 ps. Imho large (touch)screen are only relevant when in use as a desktop device. In other cases a phone, tablet or tv make more sense (I think this echos Johns summary). Besides Roon for daily use, the MU1 web interface is very easy to use (for the rare occasion that I need to do something, similar to the LS1’s). I guess I would only like to see a ‘popup’ notification when a MU soft/firmware update is available. But I guess I’m splitting hairs, Grimm also mentions available updates in their mailing, this also works.

The MU2 review is now available at Stereophile 👍 https://www.stereophile.com/content/grimm-audio-mu2-streaming-preamplifier

Perhaps more information on uPnP/DNLA will be available with the summer update. I’m curious how it will work compared to Roon; SQ, UX and how easy the player software can be selected (as Roon supports 3 other music zones at home with Roon ARC for commuting)

Indeed, the emotional connection with music is just something special. That’s what it’s all about imho (with no need for dissective listening or overemphasising /compensating certain area’s). Thanks for mentioning @PYP, it’s quite funny to re-read my first experience with the MU1 after a while. Happy to share that the goosebumps / chills remained ever since btw 😃, just sit back and enjoy the rides! ps I also noticed this quoted part above. Grimm walks the talk: Recently Grimm announced a big upcoming software/firmware/DSP update for existing LS1 speaker systems (around this summer). Great dedication to (continue) supporting existing owners 👍

It sure seems promising 👍, looking forward to read the full Stereophile article: https://www.grimmaudio.com/reviews/stereophile-mu2-delivers-thrills-and-chills/

1+ Sonic behaviour absolutely key At the 2023 Dutch Audio Event I was able to attent to Grimm’s MU2 presentation in the auditorium. The Grimm designers/engineers (Gertjan Groot Hulze and Pieter Meijer) had a very insightful story 😀. Much of the technical subjects went over my head, but I can remember quite a lot straight lines/linear graphs in the presentation (as in: pretty true to the source/artist intend).

I suspect that the MU1 fits the LS1 speakers best. I recall that Eelco once mentioned that the MU1 was developed as-one with the LS1 speakers as thé go-to digital source (and ease their choice to select a perfect front end at demo/shows). Next to the LS1’s the MU1 of course also does its magic with 3rd party DAC’s. With more and more MU1/DAC users moving to the MU2, it’s an interesting indicator how powerful an end-to-end design is. The LS1 has a keen design imho, as with the MU1/MU2 there is quite a lot going on in 1 speaker (where drivers, amps, DAC’s, DSP, .. are tuned as one). In the context of your question, I think it’s worthwhile to highlight the LS1 inputs. The LS1’s support various digital inputs: USB, XLR and of course the proprietary input from the MU1. The digital signal is converted to analogue at the very end of the path (just before entering the amps). Each driver has its own DAC and Amp. Next to the LS1’s digital inputs it’s also possible to connect an analogue source (turntable, MU2, ..), the analogue signal will be converted to digital at the entrance, where after it is processed as digital and converted back to analogue just before the amps (similar to an digital source path, with a DAC and Amp for each driver). If I would guess, I think that a full digital signal path using Grimm’s proprietary connection from MU1 to the LS1 would be beneficial compared with an analogue input. In the upcoming LS1 software/firmware/DSP update, insights from the MU2 development are used to further optimize the LS1 (as shared in the ‘press release’). For more in-depth information on the LS1 speaker systems, a lot design choices and details are available on the Grimm website. LS1be overview: https://www.grimmaudio.com/hifi-products/loudspeakers/ls1be/ LS1 White paper: https://www.grimmaudio.com/wordpress/publications/speakers-white-paper/ LS1 manual: https://www.grimmaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/Manual-LS1-EN-V3.00.pdf MU1 & LS1Be review: https://www.grimmaudio.com/reviews/hifipig-5-hearts-for-ls1be-mu1/ To add: MU1 digital out is connected to “L/R” in the diagram (dark grey dot), via Grimms proprietary connection. The “switches” in the diagram (on the left) are small optional devices to increase flexibility and easily connect additional sources (eg on a desktop). The LS1 also have its own analogue and digital connection in the speaker itself.

I’m also very curious how the new LS1c sound, can’t wait to hear them 🙂

Indeed, the match with the MU2 wil be nothing to worry about 👍

Pssst, it seems the Grimm Audio product line up might be expanded with an Amplifier (time stamped link below)