Review Grimm MU2 streamer - dac - pre amp 

When I saw Hans’s review I knew this device was something special. And what a confirmation! Thanks for the video and looking forward to read the full review. Have a good weekend Jaap and Martijn

I have had a Grimm MU2 for the past 3 days to check out. This was before I saw this review. They have got it all exactly right. What I am most surprised about it how good it makes the whole system sound, I also am finding myself listening to all sorts of new music just because it sounds sooo good. Amazing piece of kit. Well worth a look at. Great review they got it bang on

The way you describe the difference of the CD transport sound vs streaming via the same device is the same I hear with a lot of systems, and proves - for me - that I like good CD transports more than streaming. Based on the description, the MU2 seems to be a must listen, at least for reference. A similar experience I had when listened first time to the (then) new Lavardin IT amp in Paris in a system recommended by JC Crozel (RiP): the transparency, cleanness and the amount of low level musical information, notably in the deep bass region, completing an organic whole-ness of the music. Since then things improved even more, and this description sounded like a wonderful experience. I hope this sound quality will trickle down in price with time.

Nice video. I'd like the MU to be modular so customers don't have to spend the full price up front. For instance, DAC+Preamp if you don't need the streamer (yet), or streamer + preamp, or streamer/DAC, or just the DAC, and add other modules later as needed. That would lower the entry price and offers a growth path into Grimm to customers

Hi guys, great descriptive feedback on the MU2. Please please tell me you are going to do a listening comparison video :) Not straightforward with an all-in-one + Roon server product but would love to be able to get some idea of what you experienced. Thank you and keep up the good work

Sounds like an end game product? I'm always sceptical with all in one products. Due to your reaction I'm tempted to check it out, after all it's soon Christmas. Once again great review. 👍

I love my MU1. I pair it with a Bartók and its just amazing. I'm sure the MU2 is spectacular also. The quality of the sound paired with the emotional connection it provides is other worldly. I have no idea what Eelco and the guys have done. It really is magical. You do have to describe it like that.

I am really really interested in the MU2 but I wonder Alpha Audio whether you think that Roon in any way holds the MU2 back in terms of sound quality? I had the MU1 on loan from a dealer for about 3 weeks but in the end and after many comparisons I concluded that Roon was a factor in preventing the MU1 from surpassing other high end streamers. Having listened to many streamers over recent years I have concluded that the playback software had a significant impact on the sound quality. For my ears the Logitech Media Server and Squeezelite player is the best I have heard. I well remember a comparison listening test that you did including Roon and you were very disparaging of Roon and its effect on sound quality. Mind you I also recall you guys saying that the MU1 was the only device you had listened to which was immune to local network influences and yet when I listened to the MU1 it was clear that network changes had a big influence on the MU1 sound. I wonder if this is the same with the MU2. On the other hand the MU2 price is no doubt attractive but I do wonder how it really sounds compared to my reference system which is the Antipodes Oladra mk2 connected to the Mscaler via one of my Wave Storm RF filtering spdif cables and with a Chord Dave connected directly to a pair of ATC 150 active speakers. This of course is best to my ears when not using Roon because that seems to rob the system of so much of the magic which I appreciate so much.

Really enjoyed. Hello from London. What amp would you pair with mu2 and tads ? Would a nilai be good enough?

Lots of high praise - now I have 2 things in mind: 1) I want to listen to that M2 marvel on a hifi fair, and 2) I want to ask (who joins in?) the Grimm team to think about a 5k trickle down variant :)

Listen to music, agreed!. And i think its hearing what the mic hears. I know there's mastering. But still. Eelco Grimm wants to do it as a professionel. I had him on the phone, regarding their cables. Eelco is a peaceful person.

Hello guys, great video and really looking forward to the full review! As I listen to classical, jazz and mostly rock; just wondering if it would be safe to say that the MU2 suits all of these genres?

At Munich Jaap mentioned that he would wait until the review to say whether he prefered this to the Mola Mola. Well I've been waiting for this and the Beekhuyzen reviews for your opinions vs Chord Dave and Tambaqui. 😢 I know I'll have to listen for myself and I'm guessing that you're really excited about the MU2 but you promised..........😢😢

Prokofiev’s recording as mentioned has a lot of stereo effects on the violin (on Chinese R2R dac). Are you sure it is well positioned in the recording as stated?

By the way I looked up that Maria Milstein album on Roon to hear what you described. Check out the last page of the Qobuz supplied PDF. It was mastered on Grimm LS1 speakers. 👌

that volume knob is way cool, but hey at least it's not €67000 like that Danish thing you posted in your website :p

Mm mmm,, I am also dreaming,, 😅‍‍🖐 Thank you guys,, 👍🌟🌟👍

Well then, I hope you both have a very Merry Christmas from behind the cold steel bars. 😜

The return of the one box Stereo system..just add an amplifier of your choice….

Wonder how this would compare with Weiss 501 or dCS Lina..

Digital has come of age at last, it seems. Time for a sigh of relief. The quest ends here? Who cares. Connect to music completely. Lovely . I heard the mu2 at the Veldhoven show, but since it wasn't compared to another streamer/dac, I have no idea what it actually does. So I agree with you that going to a demo is a treat. But an even better one is to do what you did: compare it to your known reference. And then the price. Yes, in it's class it's probably a good deal, but for 95%of audiophiles it is still unobtainium. But with it being so far below the 50-100k you would expect for top-equipment , one can hope for a mu 0,5 for 1/4of the price....

will be possible to use it not only with Roon to not be locked to something that mean expensive monthly feed and no guarantee about service in the future?

What is the sound differences between the sonnet vs. mu2 dac?

Can you send info what track you mention for the chamber music and percussion?

Hi, Perhaps this is comparable to the Linn Klimax, only for the price of the Linn you get 2 Grimm devices. But let's be honest, the Grimm is only for a small group of music lovers. Because 18,000 euros is a lot of money. We can dream again. Grtz Phil

It's a shame there is no intermediate product between the MU1 and the MU2. Infact it would be nice to have a Dac + Streamer but without a pre amp, in case you want to use it as a digital source on top of an integrated amp. Grimm Audio people, if you would ever do this, the name could be MU1.5

you should review some if Ian Canada stuff - he seems to make better stuff than most streamers.

The problem is Pass Labs is lo-fi to begin with. Not a very useful observation. Tell us how it compares to world class preamps like those from Dartzeel, Soulution, Gryphon, CH Precision, FM Acoustics, etc. Does it play in that league?

an all in one product that does all this? - for that money most people would prefer to renovate their bathroom - but in fact, price aside, this could be the end of product reviewers and all other audio brand competition. oh my.

I'm also reaching that point where I want less gear and more music. Reference level quality with least amount of boxes and cables to deal with.

Sound clip?

Now I need to sell a lot of boxes to gather $ 😢

Grimm MU2 fantastic device. 18.000€. As streamer plays Tidal , Qobuz , your music. But 18.000€ to stream Tidal and Qobuz???? As you are a investigator, how wants to know the true value of any product, the noise of switches .... and measure and show that. Its a fact! Its of the most relevant to know what tidal and qobuz are sending in packges of bytes over internet to my Grimm MU2. To measure that. And Grimm MU2 AS A TOP DEVICE MUST GIVE TO HIS OWNER THE BYTES INFORMATION THAT IAM EARING AND PAYNG FOR. Because what Im ear from that streming services is the Superlative Quality of the Streamer and Dac in this case Grimm MU2!!!!

$27,000 here 😧