
Intro
Contents
On Mother’s Day (at least in the Netherlands) – May 9, 2021 – we at Alpha Audio held a live stream event featuring three insanely beautiful streamers. Top of the bill: the MSB Discrete DAC with Renderer module, the Grimm Audio MU-1 with Mola Mola Tambaqui dac and the Naim ND555 with PS555 power supply. It’s safe to say that it doesn’t get much better than that. We write down our first impressions for you.
Sometimes it’s just great to have the top of the industry in your listening room. The crème de la crème. The ultra class. Top of the bill; ok… now we will stop… In this livestream we have three insane streamers with dac.
The MSB Discrete with renderer module and dual power supply, the Grimm MU-1 with Mola Mola Tambaqui and the NAIM ND555 with PS555 power supply. We go from about 15,000 euros to 20,000 euros and finally 25,000 euros. Each device has a different approach. Each device has its own story. At the bottom line, they strive for the same thing: ultimate reproduction of the source. Is there a difference in reproduction? You bet! Welcome to the world of high-end audio.
Test setup
Of course we need to realize a set-up that can flawlessly reproduce – and show – the qualities of these devices. For that reason we use the Grimm Audio LS1be. The top model active speaker from the Dutch company Grimm Audio. The LS1be is unprecedented detailed and precise speaker. The special thing is that the ‘be’ version manages to combine that with a fluidity and musicality that we have not heard before in a speaker.
We play analog to the Grimms with all streamers. The input is set equal for all streamers, so we are comparing apples to apples. The samples you can download have been leveled at -3dB.
The microphone setup has been adjusted for this stream. As reported, we work with DPA microphones since the last stream. In this M/S-setup we work with a DPA 4006A and a Schoeps figure of 8. This set-up captures the stereo image better and gives less coloration than the ORTF setup with two DPA 4015A’s we used before. I hope you can observe that as well.
I’m curious to know, what is the difference between Grimm&MolaMola vs. MolaMola alone, as it is ROON end point itself, so it doesn’t need the streamer. Another € 10K for another upsampling, is it worth?
The difference is – honestly – huge. The MU-1 is more that just an upsampler. It processes much more accurate.
I’m curious to know, what is the difference between Grimm&MolaMola vs. MolaMola alone, as it is ROON end point itself, so it doesn’t need the streamer. Another € 10K for another upsampling, is it worth?
The difference is – honestly – huge. The MU-1 is more that just an upsampler. It processes much more accurate.
Gentleman: I’m not sure why I keep returning here (lol), but there must be
something ‘missing’ -and there is. A winner ! A clear winner. Let us know
what you/listening panel believe.
And finally, let’s be honest, The term “End-Game” (component) does not,
cannot exist; it’s a constant evolution with some coming closer than others.
Now, which of the three (Streamers) has the panel decided was clearly the
best ?
pj
(P.S> Mine, by a long margin was the MSB Discrete/Renderee module)
Hi Allhifi,
It is impossible to say who’s best. They are all great, but different. That’s why I concluded with: check what suits you best and fits your system. Sorry… :-).
Gentleman: I’m not sure why I keep returning here (lol), but there must be
something ‘missing’ -and there is. A winner ! A clear winner. Let us know
what you/listening panel believe.
And finally, let’s be honest, The term “End-Game” (component) does not,
cannot exist; it’s a constant evolution with some coming closer than others.
Now, which of the three (Streamers) has the panel decided was clearly the
best ?
pj
(P.S> Mine, by a long margin was the MSB Discrete/Renderee module)
Hi Allhifi,
It is impossible to say who’s best. They are all great, but different. That’s why I concluded with: check what suits you best and fits your system. Sorry… :-).