Tales from Grimm Audio
We welcome this Dutch brand to Upscale Audio
The disc on the top of the MU series offers control of volume and many other functions.
Once upon an ultra-low-jitter time...
When K. E. Heartsong of Audiokey Reviews wrote that the Grimm Audio MU2 would make you free up shelves on your audio rack to accommodate "this one-box assault on the state-of-the-art," we sat up, because it was the third time we'd heard this in the recent past.
At Upscale Audio, both our product manager, Ashraf Nashed, and sales specialist, Bill Rudolph, have replaced several respectable components between them with the MU2. Also between them are over three decades in the audio industry and two pairs of excellent ears, so when we heard they were moving streamer, DAC, and preamp off their shelves, we learned everything we could about this relatively new Netherlands-based audio brand. We now carry the MU1 streamer and the MU2 streaming DAC, so follow along if you'd like to hear this tale from Grimm.
The Grimm Audio MU2 is a server, Roon Core, streaming DAC, and preamplifier with analog volume.
Grimm Audio was founded in 2004 by Eelco Grimm and Guido Tent. Eelco is a sound engineer who sought to create better recording gear, and his powered monitor, the LS1, was the first product to cross over into the consumer marketplace as European audiophiles discovered how well it worked in hi-fi systems.
The MU series began as a way to offer a complete system with a networked source component and the LS1, and soon, the MU1 streamer had its own following as people used them with other DACs.
The MU2 was launched late last year. "It is a groundbreaking product in terms of sound quality and feature set," says Jean-Paul Lizars, Grimm's North America director of sales. Jean-Paul points out that the MU2 replaces up to five components: a Roon Core computer, NAS, streamer, DAC, and preamplifier. "The value is unprecedented given the audio performance versus cost."
By putting it in their systems, Ash and Bill have paid Grimm Audio the highest compliment. Reviewers are full of praise too. "No matter what you play, there is never any harshness, edginess, or even remotely stereotypical digital about it," writes Christiaan Punter of hifi-advice.com. "It’s got fluidity, grace, and charm, and its pacing is spot on, always toe-tapping and neither hurried nor slow."
Michael Lavorgna of Twittering Machines writes, "If you want to hear the best digital music reproduction I’ve heard by an obvious and distinct margin, you’ll need to find a Grimm MU2 to listen through."
Our favorite summation of the MU2's natural sound reproduction was by Christiaan, who wrote in his review, "It’s weird but the MU2 sounds warm without being warm." This means you can hear the wood bodies of violins and the tar in singers' chests without the whole picture being warmed up.
Our demo units of the MU1 and MU2 will be here any day, so the rest of our sales team will soon be up to speed on Upscale's new digital brand. Talk to us to find out if you can live happily ever after with Grimm.
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Grimm Audio MU1 Media Player / Streamer $12,500.00 |
Grimm Audio MU2 Media Player / Streamer / Preamplifier $17,500.00 |
Kevin Deal's New Analog Source
"I couldn't get it out of my head, the first time I saw it," said Kevin about the Reed Muse 3C friction drive turntable. "It was like something out of Metropolis."
Not a long time later, Kevin had ordered one for his main rig at home and was asking us for input on what finish he should get. Known for its highly engineered tonearms, Lithuanian brand Reed also makes three turntables built to spaceflight quality, as you can see in the photo of the Muse 3C drive, below.
The 3C is powered by two DC motors and, to prevent mechanical vibration, uses traction rollers of different, mathematically non-multiple diameters, spinning at different velocities. You can switch to a belt drive as well. The table can be equipped with one or two tonearms with effective lengths ranging from 9.5” to 12”.
Look forward to more information as Kevin's Muse 3C comes in and is set up in his listening room.
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