PYP

Please let us know what you hear as you lower the fixed setting. I'm currently experimenting with a fixed setting of -7dB. Very interesting...

agree that it is hard to describe the differences of excellent DACs. @nmcleod did a great job, and I'd like to give it a try too, mostly because I've been thinking about the differences for more than three months now. The MU2 is wonderfully musical, but why? Whether a DAC like the Tambaqui disappears (so to speak), depends on getting many things right. It is more sensitive to power cords, for example, than the MU2. And more sensitive to the quality of the AC (SQ varies more during the day and night, for example). As I listened more to the MU2, I became convinced that some of the excitement folks report about the Tambaqui is actually an emphasis on certain frequencies. I believe that it was voiced (very tastefully) that way. The MU2 is more linear. Emphasis on certain frequencies will more easily draw one's attention to the gear rather than to the music, but the ear/brain adjusts to this if it isn't too exaggerated (it isn't) and then one's attention goes back to the music. But I think that the adjustment takes some effort (brain power) and the lack of that effort is experienced as relaxation while listening. That doesn't mean if the music has great rhythm that you won't get up and move around when listening to the MU2. The very low jitter (I assume) gives it PRAT that equals the Tambaqui (a great strength of the Mola Mola DAC). Somehow, you simply hear more music with the MU2 (when I first heard it the thought bubble above my head was: now I can hear all the music). It allows you to hear a layer that was missing with the Tambaqui, at least in my setup. And it doesn't highlight anything to present the additional information. It is just there. Part of that information is the subtle interaction of the musicians. You can hear a musical conversation that you hadn't heard before. Pretty cool. Lastly, I would add that tone and timbre is more "natural" (whatever that means to different people). Since musicians spend so much time perfecting their own tone, this is important to me as a listener. Likewise, I want to hear as much as possible the sound of the particular type of guitar/piano/etc. that the musician chose and/or tweaked. Sometimes, when we get a new piece of equipment, the greater focus we give the listening experience can yield these kinds of results. We listen more intently. But when you are still having that experience three months later, even during casual listening, something that the gear is doing (or not doing) is significant and desirable.

Perhaps Eelco will comment. I typically follow the recommendations of the designer; however, I like to experiment and I go with my ears (not, of course, if that would damage the equipment or void the warranty). I am now listening with Roon's volume control set to Device Volume. It sounds great too. Perhaps some of the differences are so small that you need to get into hyper-analytical mode to hear them. That isn't how I listen. I understand your issue is different since you hear the "typical" settings as too hot.

One MU2 owner reports on another site that he uses a -7dB setting and in Roon's audio menu setup he uses the Fixed Volume setting instead of Device Volume. I have the MU2 at 0dB fixed volume. For a long time, I've been using Roon's Fixed Volume setting, but I'm going to try Device Volume and set at 92 volume level just to determine if there are any differences in sound. I have had no issues/complaints with the former settings. As long as you are NOT setting the MU2 above 0dB when using a preamp, I cannot imagine any operating problems occurring during experimentation. I know that is not what you intend to do.

The following is from the Grimm FAQ: #2 Playback sounds distorted with Roon at volume ‘100’. When using an external preamplifier and using the MU2 with fixed volume at the maximum Roon setting of ‘100’, distortion occurs on some music. The MU2 has 8 dB of exces gain at the top of the scale. This is intended to only be used with soft sources and can cause clipping with loud sources. The display of the MU2 shows “+8 dB” when Roon is set to 100. When using the MU2 with an external preamplifier, please do not use levels above ’92’ in Roon, which equals “0 dB” on the MU2 display.

As one would expect from digital gear, it improves quite a bit over time. From my perspective, the break-in is from the midrange out, meaning that the midrange sounds great early on, but the refined HF and low, lows develop over time. I thoroughly enjoyed the Tambaqui for five years (especially once the MU1 was added), but honestly think the MU2 is on another level (I know not everyone agrees with that and that results are system-specific and all about synergy and ones preferences).

entering your cool listening room must be like entering a spaceship. that you can get them off their phones is amazing. 😉 Looking forward to the article...

I believe that @Marcin_gps has posted here that he has used (or is using)his own server without additional switches and had a very good result. There are other streamers/servers that are also mostly immune to upstream noise (I use one as a result of having been through a process of adding multiple upstream devices as you describe, but this thread isn't the appropriate place to discuss other products). Still, I use a passive filter which makes a slight improvement in my particular network. My point is that what you are looking for may already exist (that is, mostly noise immune streamer/servers or streamer/DACs). Audiophiles will always experiment and tweak. As streaming has grown and become one viable path toward high fidelity sound (could we say five years ago? And some will disagree that high fidelity can be achieved with streaming) and folks have finally acknowledged that there is noise carried by the network signal, the marketplace has grown accordingly. While I myself try to achieve simplification, and my streamer/DAC is one such measure, I do not see the advantage of combining routers and switches. Folks like me, who desire convenience of TV/internet connections with built-in troubleshooting capabilities (ie, excellent app), will continue to use the router provided by the ISP.

Thanks for the fun read, Chris. Live in Munich is now in my listening queue. I have learned a lot by reading John Swenson's posts. He should be better known for his knowledge and contribution, both to these designs and to UpTone Audio where his partnership with Alex results in very high quality products at a reasonable cost. "This is what I want and why I got into this wonderful hobby in the first place, back in what my twelve year old daughter correctly calls the nineteen hundreds." LOL. You have raised her well!

I hope this is not too personal, but have you thought about whether you crave danger? I mean, your avatar is a female in a praying mantis pose leaning against the bait. Perhaps sharing good music can be dangerous too.?!

I usually reply: "This is a crazy hobby." And they know what I mean. One time, two electricians walked in and both stared at my speakers. Once I explained the work that needed to be done, I went into another room. I heard one say: "Do you know how much they cost? They cost $xx,xxx!" He was correct on the current price! I said from the other room: "Correct. It is a crazy hobby." They both laughed. Because that is what a reasonable person does when they realize how much crazy audiophiles spend on their gear. Although, now that I'm thinking about it, I consider myself reasonable and never laugh about how much I've invested.

"Everyone likes music and everyone is interested in taking little break in the work day to experience something they didn’t know existed." Agreed. And when it is possible, it is also fun to play the system while they work (an open floor plan makes this easy). For a painter who was working in our dining room, I put on some Brazilian guitar music without his asking. After about 10 minutes he commented that it was "prefect" for what he was doing. Worked for us too since he did a perfect job. Someone who worked on our kitchen for two days enjoyed classical on day one and jazz on day two (he made positive comments both days). His work was also exemplary. Of course, I know they do great work for all their clients. That is who they are. But that they had a unique, pleasant experience was gratifying.

here is one vote for you to just keep doing product announcements/"reviews" the way you enjoy doing it. It is a unique approach and fun to read, especially because it is written by a music lover who enjoys live performances as well as music I don't typically listen to. And you often introduce products I wouldn't know about otherwise and that gives me a greater perspective of the total marketplace. It is fair for folks to ask for something that very specifically satisfies their criteria, but given how many readers there are we all have to acknowledge that there is no way to satisfy all those requests.

Very interesting. Might future plugins work with the Grimm Audio MU2 which, I believe, uses a Linux OS?

Your questions would seem to suggest that you cannot arrange an in-home demo. I assume you have contacted the distributor in your area: https://www.squarewavehk.com/grimm-audio/ Or are you trying to decide if you want to arrange an in-home demo and asking MU2 owners to help you decide by providing an overall assessment?