HFA Review - Music Servers: Antipodes K50 and Grimm Audio MU1 

Glad you like them!

They make a great pair!

The modular approach is indeed a great idea as it makes it possible to start with a relatively affordable server/renderer and convert the system into separates as the budget allows. The nice thing is that even their most affordable server offers the full and relaxed sound that I have come to associate with the brand.

That would be nice indeed, but for now, not on the agenda. Of course there are many extensive server reviews on hifi-advice.com, for instance of various Antipodes server models, two Aurenders, the Grimm, and many more.

Thanks Cy!

Most definitely:-)

When using Roon, the Oladra is calmest, and the MU1 is more expressive. In terms of silence and decay, they are about even, but I'd wager you may find the Oladra more magical. When using UPnP or Squeeze, the Oladra jumps ahead in other areas, such as articulation, transient behavior, and transparency.

@@hifi-advicehigh-endaudioeq3675 dankje Christiaan! Sorry ik bedoelde eigenlijk in vergelijking met de K50. Met name met betrekking tot rust in de muziek, het tegenovergestelde van een wat nerveus geluid vaak geassocieerd met ruis in digitaal..

@@nicktube3904 K50 and Oladra are both calm and non-agressive but Oladra is more refined and has higher resolution. If you have further or more specific questions, please post them as comments under a relevant article on the hifi-advice website where I think they will serve to the benefit far more readers🙂

@@hifi-advicehigh-endaudioeq3675 thank you! Yes, I will do that in the future.

I haven't heard the N20 but I have owned the S10 and N10 and I find those to sound very different from the Antipodes K50.There was a marked difference between the two Aurenders. The S10 was more direct and expressive (and arguably drier) and the N10 smoother and gentler (and arguably less lively).

Hi Nick, The performance of both servers is codependent on Roon performance but the K50 also allows other server/player solutions which have different relative strengths. In general, though, under equal circumstances, the K50 sounds bigger, richer, fuller, lusher, and more relaxed. The Grimm on the other hand is more refined and precise and cleaner/leaner but arguably more transparent. Both have great focus. The measure of depth and 3D imaging greatly depends on the output format/interface. For the best depth and layering, use the K50's AES/EBU outputs. Used in that manner, it sounds a little deeper and more enveloping than the Grimm. Tangibility is a little subjective and personal as it ties in with crispness and/or depth perception, depending on what matters most to the individual. Therefore, in terms of tangibility, overall, I would say it's a tie between the two.

I wish I could tell you! As it stands, I still have to hear a Taiko server in my system. But that will most definitely happen at some point.

Hi Bigmunf1, I've had neither of the brands in my system just yet, and at this point, there are no plans for reviews. But I must say there have now been several commenters requesting reviews for both brands so I'll see if I can get review samples in at some point. Can't promise when this will materialize, though.

@@hifi-advicehigh-endaudioeq3675 Thanks for the reply. I actually just changed my profile name from Bigmunf1 to DBT Audio, so I am the same guy responding back to you. Lol…. I appreciate the quick response! I’m using an Electric English 8Switch (just purchased) > Mac mini > Intona USB isolator > Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC > preamp and so on, with local music library, Roon and Qobuz. Do you like streamers/music servers or network bridges in the chain of a setup like mine described above? I’m trying to avoid adding a streamer to my setup as I don’t know if it will improve enough to justify the cost?

@@DBTAudio Hi DBT, I generally prefer using a streaming endpoint over a computer with an interface. For me, so far, that has always led to better results. But there are plenty of people who will disagree with this. My advice would be to not change anything if you're happy with what you got:-) The improvements are real but also in part relative to the situation. So, if you're on a budget, then money might be better spent elsewhere.

@@hifi-advicehigh-endaudioeq3675 it seems like most hifi enthusiasts prefer a streamer over computers. I keep hearing computers are noisy and I’ve never used a streamer to compare. I appreciate your feedback and I may consider auditioning some streamers in the future. One thing I like about using my computer is I can display Roon or whatever music player I’m using on my big screen tv. Not sure if I can do that with a streamer? I probably shouldn’t have a big screen tv in the center of my system do to reflections. Thanks so much!

Indeed, noise is one of the most-heard arguments and it seems a valid concern but there will no doubt also be other aspects to it that have not surfaced yet. What does seem like universal truth is that it is easier to get good sound by separating the server and renderer. That's not to say that it can also work very well the other way around... Anyway, I simply use my ears when evaluating equipment and so far, that has led me down the separates path. When you add a streamer/renderer to an existing Roon setup, it simply becomes an endpoint to choose from and you can still control that endpoint from any other Roon-connected device, including your PC or a TV using Roon Display.

There are S10 and N10 reviews on Hifi-Advice.com. I may indeed do an Aurender review for RU-vid but probably only if I can get hold of a new model.

The moment I saw the Oladra prototype, it had me lusting after it! Love the looks. I have applied for a review sample, so far, no agreement has been reached. But you never know.

These are Artesania beechwood discs on carbon fiber linear arms. They are specific to these Artesania racks. It's not so much isolation as it is coupling, although the system does aim to dissipate vibrations.

Thanks Tom!

Hi Tami, I agree that the future will more and more be focused on streaming audio. I do maintain that it is essential to keep your local library just in case a music service removes content or, the internet connection fails, or heaven forbid, the streaming service company folds altogether. Your suggestion is a great one. I'll ponder on it and may indeed do a review covering the highlights. For now, it might be worth reading my latest additions to the Qobuz article on HFA.com as it offers some nice insights. www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/audio-software-reviews/qobuz-revisited/

​@@hifi-advicehigh-endaudioeq3675 I agree. I still buy CDs and LPs if I hear something I like. There is nothing like picking up a record from your shelf even 20 years after you first played it. True music love never fades! 😀And who knows what streaming services will be available 20 years from now. I think of streaming as replacement for radio tuner of the olden days 😀 The sound quality gap (local vs. cloud stream) is closing. I had a chance to listen to a system with Ansuz Acoustics X·TC network switch (€2500). It made a significant improvement to sound quality of Qobuz music stream (with a high end renderer and DAC). Comparable to adding a reclocker or high end power supply upgrade. Now Ansuz Acoustics have top of the line D·TC SUPREME network switch for €13000! I wonder what level of improvement it would bring to the sound of streaming service 😀

Hi Tami, "I think of streaming as replacement for radio tuner of the olden days" Same here! And as a discovery tool. While network switched certainly have an audible influence, I wouldn't go as far as using a 13k version, even though I'm sure it might make a surprisingly large difference. I just think the ~12k that remains after getting a Bonn, NuPrime, or Melco will probably be more beneficial when applied in other parts of the system. And while the gap between local and streaming is indeed closing, I don't think the residential network is necessarily the weakest link. More likely, that's on the end of the Streaming Service. But who knows, I might be proven wrong:-)

Not sure, but I am more than likely pronouncing it incorrectly😄

Got it from the horses mouth: Mark Cole confirmed it is an-TIP-oh-deez. Oh, and thanks for the great reviews. 👍

😊@@swatsonphysicsmathteacher5079

A lot more for you to learn.

@@tonyduo Please explain.

If you are keen about music and get to certain level, you will understand cheap computer sounds shit. But if you are a beginner, it’s very common to think they are just 0 and 1, all sound the same.

​@@tonyduo I'm a music producer and a programmer. At its core, any kind of digital file will eventually translate into 0 and 1 as long as it is kept in a digital medium. The only time coloration can appear is when analog conversion takes place, that's why DACs sound different. As long as you have a digital file and pass it along to a DAC without converting to analog at any point before that, the source device can whatever you want it to be and it will make no difference.

hahaha I’m very sorry about this kind of producer 😂

That would probably be me on my main website where I initially reviewed the Servers, the CH components and the Jorma cables:-)

​@@hifi-advicehigh-endaudioeq3675 Who would guess! Styles totally different but good to know. In any case, half of my notebook is filled with notes from your reviews. Right now I am planning to connect my CX as HQPlayer server to Holo Audio May that I plan to buy. After a lot of research this to me looks like the very best bang for the buck in this moment in time. I think I originally bought CX based on your review. Maybe I'll use Pi2AES as you described. But without the diagram it was not very clear, I put that in my To-do list. I subscribed just in case you publish a video about connecting all these things

Interestingly, Antipodes prefer Ethernet inputs. They say previously Ethernets were noisy so they lost contest to other inputs. But now, with their stuff, that is no longer the truth.

Good to hear my reviews have helped you and thanks for subscribing!

Actually, Antipodes maintain the position that the quality of the connection is highly dependent on the quality of the interfaces on both ends as well as on other circumstances. That said, there sure are advantages to using Ethernet over USB. I should also mention that AES/EBU, even though I prefer it and I find it to work more consistently than USB, is not necessarily the best interface for all people or all circumstances. My advice is to always try it multiple ways to see what works best in any given situation.