Measurements and conclusion
Contents
We measured the Grimm PW1 with our Prism dScope IIIE. We measured both MC and MM. We terminated the open input with a shorting plug. This is to prevent pickup. We ended up measuring it single ended to keep it comparable to other measurements. Frankly, it didn’t make much difference in the measurements.
We also did another measurement on the power supply side of the Grimm PW1. This was done with the Tekbox LISN and Picoscope 5000.
Measurements Grimm PW1
The frequency response and phase are definitely neat: response is a straight line. The bandwidth of this pre-amp is wide; that is obvious. Phase is smooth. It rises quietly toward 50 KHz. Probably due to the large bandwidth.
As mentioned, we see a low noise floor with very few harmonics. We emailed back and forth a few times to check things out. Measuring a phono stage with high gain (MC, that is) is particularly tricky. And we know what we still pick up some small things, but it’s close to what Grimm himself is measuring.
On the supply side (the LISN measurement on the Picoscope 5000), we don’t see any crazy things. It’s just all exceptionally clean; we wouldn’t expect anything else from a linearly powered device in this price range.
Hi Jaap, thanks for the logical respons. Especially as Alpha-audio it is hard to make statements on products when circumstances are that different.
One remark on comparing digital on vinyl. I my opinion it’s certainly possible as long as the master used are basically the same. E.g. “Mobile Fidelity Labs recording – No one Cares – Sinatra” sounds very similar on my high-end analogue- and digital- front-end although both have their characteristics.
I hope to meet you and Yung (and others) again at one of the coming Audio – Shows, to talk in more detail on this and am very thankfull for the already “legendairy” and unique LIVE-sessions you are hosting as Alpha-audio team.
Hi Jaap, thanks for the nice review and Peter van Willenswaard, I met him more than once on the A&T demo sessions in the past. As expected the Grimm PW1 beats the Primare R35 which is pricewise more than 3x cheaper. How would you compare it against the Moon 610 LP (6.7KEuro and even the 810 LP (12.5KEuro) which you tested September 14, 2021?
Another question, as asked earlier to Yung testing the Le Son LS10 MK2. You remarked on the Technics SL1200 MK2 sound with Le Son LS10 MK2 but not on the STD with Le Son LS1 MK2 combo although you mentioned that the LS10 brings just that little bit more than the already fine high-output Le Son LS1. Was that using the STD?
Last question. Would you say the PW1/SL1200-LS10MK2 combo betters a 8KEuro streamer-dac combo or will that be close call… Thanks in advance for any reply!
Hi JJ,
Thanks for the reply. I will try to answer your questions. How would I compare it to the Moon 610? I don’t know. This set-up is totally different. Different speakers, amp… etc. So I really cannot say anything about it.
We haven’t tested the LS10 on the STD. We use the LS1 on the STD. But the characteristics of the LS1 and LS10 are just different. You hear that immediately.
Does the PW1 / SL1200 beat an 8K streaming setup? Again: I cannot say. It totally depends on what set-up and what you are looking for. In my opinion it doesn’t make sense to compare vinyl to streaming. The experience is totally different, just as the presentation of the music.
Best regards,
Jaap