further

I have a Mola Mola Makua with DAC. Yes, the case runs hot, but it was a known thing before I purchased. It's never been too hot to touch and never have detected a smell from it. It is important not to obstruct ventilation from below and where there is sufficient ventilation all around for the unit--not unlike Class A amplified and tube equipment--which is advised for pretty much all your audio electronics. Regarding preowned units being on the market, I would not try to read too much into that. While I do not have a Grimm MU1 (using Antipodes K50 G4), there are several happy users posting here and other forums that pair Grimm and Mola Mola. With the advent of the MU2, there will be some that will part from their Mola Mola for the combo MU2 unit, and I suspect that may account for some units being up for sale. That will also mean some Grimm preowned MU1 units will be up for sale, but would not interpret such as dissatisfaction with the Grimm MU1. My experience with the Makua has shown me the sound presentation of the Makua are influenced not only by other components in the system but also by cabling, not only for the Makua but other pieces in the chain. I have strived to be more patient when I introduce a new piece into my system to allow it to break in and for me to better judge the differences in sound quality that such brings for my tastes in my system. The early perceptions may be enjoyable or even jarring, but I have found there is an evolution over time running in these new/changed pieces. Part of that evolution is my perception and what sounds right to me. It's fine to personally prefer a sound presentation different from me or others, I find the Makua with DAC quite enjoyable in my system.

Michael Lavorgna posted his enthusiastic review of the MU1 today, https://twitteringmachines.com/review-grimm-audio-mu1-music-player/ .

I do not believe you need to wait until both Tambaqui and K50 are fully burned in, whatever that may mean in actual playing hours, but I do believe there will be changes as this process goes on. What you perceive earlier on from an output and cable may change as the units accumulate playing hours. That certainly was the case for me. I know you wish to use the player outputs from the K50, but I would not ignore the ethernet connection to the Tambaqui. Optimizing your network is important--in any case you will be running ethernet to the K50. I have found the various inputs to the Tambaqui do produce some different results. You may find one preferable now, but may change preference down line. You may even prefer a certain input to the Tambaqui for certain types of music.

Not knowing, I did a quick search on editing posts and found the below quote from less than a year ago. Regarding inputs, my experience has been preferences may change on an input, but suspect that might be due to the K50 settling in, possible further settling in with the Makua, not knowing what DAC card inputs had previously been used and its recent (at time of my purchase) upgrade of the DAC card, the cables themselves as well my condition when listening. I do rotate listening via ethernet on the Roon Ready input to the DAC card, USB, and AES/EBU. The Audio Sensibility and Sablon ethernet cables I have used were new when I purchased the K50 and modest hours on them when I received the Makua. I did purchase a new Sablon AES/EBU cable after getting the Makua, and had both a Wireworld Platinum USB and a Triode Wire Labs short USB for some time. I have since sold the WW one. The WW one seemed more detailed but not as relaxed and flowing as the TWL. Again that could have been somewhat due to the newer equipment pieces, but also was pretty consistent with previous tubed preamp with DAC, Vinnie Rossi. The WW seemed a better fit for me with the VR at the time. I would start with your existing USB you enjoy now as well as the Roon Ready ethernet input. I do like the AES/EBU, but suggest letting your new equipment settle in before making new, and possibly expensive, cable buys. This should be quite fun and interesting time upcoming for you, but suggest patience as you become accustomed to these pieces and as they evolve with playing time. This falls more into the follow what I suggest, rather than follow what I have done category.

I really enjoy the K50 with the Mola-Mola. Antipodes is a pretty organic presentation. I have been a fan of Christiaan Punter's reviews at hifi-advice.com. I like the style of his reviews and how he compares various input/outputs of the item being reviewed as well as to his equipment and recent reviews of similar positioned equipment. The K50 had been very favorably reviewed by him, but the Grimm MU-1 has now taken the top review spot for him based on his preferences. His site has full reviews of the K50, MU-1, and Tambaqui, as well as other equipment. He now has a work association as well with Taiko Audio, and I do not know how that will affect future reviews. The Taiko Extreme is highly praised by owners, but is approximately twice the list price of the K50. My server prior to the K50 was a Small Green Computer i5 CDR, with which I was happy, and still have though not in use. I used an etherREGEN with it and microRendu to DACs without internet connection. The K50 does not lack information, but is a smoother and more engaging presentation for me than the SGC i5 CDR. They are also priced considerably differently as well. While I found the K50 to improve sound quality pretty quickly, Antipodes suggests that sound quality will continue to improve for a considerable time--recall 6 months was a period they suggested. While it is difficult to quantify smaller incremental changes, I do think my unit continued to evolve beneficially over many months. The K50 has lots of options, including I2S, which the Tambaqui has. My Makua does not have I2S input, but I was able to use with my PS-Audio DirectStream. I2S with the last software update from PS Audio provided me the best sound quality I have had with the DS. I'm a bit promiscuous when it comes to DACs, having several still including the DS. I periodically put the DS back in service. It's kind of a comfort food DAC for me. I do much prefer the Mola-Mola and Lumin X1 though. The K50 will give you AES/EBU and USB options as well for the Tambaqui, in addition to ethernet Roon Ready and S/PDIF and BNC. You also have additional server and player options within the K50--very full featured. If you have not yet done so, recommend you check out the Antipodes Forum, accessible on the Antipodes web site along with videos on setup of your new unit. Mark Cole of Antipodes participates there as well. One word of caution--Antipodes does not want its line pricing discounted, so suggest you not actively discuss in open forum the source or price of your deal. It can be against many forums' rules and have negative consequences for the source of your deal. That being said, congratulations on the deal and your new K50! I am happy with my choice with the K50 and believe you will be as well.

My Makua runs warm to hot as well, regardless if using the DAC card inputs, or other preamp preset options, including Direct, which I have one preset configured for as a home theater bypass connected to my home theater processor. I do turn off the presets when not in use, but do not disconnect from power. I live in an area that can reach triple digits nearly half the year, so I generally turn off or put into standby much of my audio and video equipment when not in use. With presets off, the Makua cools down. I do leave my PF Buffalo and DC4 power supply on at all times, my X1 power supply and also leave my K50 on. Antipodes recommends leaving their equipment on. My K50 seems to run cool and leaving on overnight allows it to receive any updates Antipodes issues and manages. If I plan to be away from home for more than a couple days, I will power down all and disconnect power cords and ethernet connections as lighting/electrical protection for the system. There appear to be some vents under my Makua, and suggest caution not to cover those should you employ 3rd party feet/vibration/isolation devices. I totally agree with PYP's recommendation of allowing room for air flow for electronics.

Regarding the Sablon ethernet cable, Mark Coles posts on the WBF. Per this link, he is using Telegartner cat8.1 plugs on his newer 2020 iteration of his ethernet cables, https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/sablon-ethernet-2020-model.30473/page-2. There are pictures on the linked page and on following page, post #52, showing difference between Cat6 and Cat8.1. I have used his 2020 ethernet cables without issue. I also have Audio Sensibility, but the shielding did not work out for me coming into the etherREGEN, when I used it in my chain. I do not know if Steve from AudioSensibilty still builds them the same. He is a very responsive guy, and I let him know about it. I did not have that issue to and from K50 and Makua. I at times change my ethernet cables--all Sablon, all AS, and combo of both just for fun of different presentation. I find the Sablon a richer, fuller presentation, while the AS more defined imaging. As an aside, as I recall I received a longer AS cable about the same time I received the Makua. Neither had much run time in my system and I tried going from the switch directly to the Makua. Individual notes seemed suspended in black space--I had never experienced anything like that before. It did seem to emphasize certain elements of the played music more in isolation though. With further hours on both, the presentation became more cohesive and less individually prominent. I have an image of myself sitting with a stunned open mouth expression when I first paired them though.

I also like suggestions from Barrows. In my case I am using a PF Buffalo modified switch and a Sean Jacobs power supply. The modified switch has a Pink Faun Ultra OCXO clock. Currently I run ethernet to the K50 and use the Antipodes Direct Stream ethernet output (not available on K20 and K21) to the Makua. Supposedly the Antipodes Direct Stream supplies cleaner signal, but I have not read how that is accomplished--not shown using Antipodes Reclocker. I configured this way allowing me to use shorter RJ45 ethernet cables. I do have a longer cable that came with the K50 and another from Audio Sensibility. Frankly, I was pleased with the sound quality and have not tried swapping since early days of both K50 and Makua. I do run fiber from the PF Buffalo to a Lumin X1. Fiber is very clean and relatively inexpensive method of running ethernet and excellent for longer runs with its isolation from noise. I think Lumin made a great decision including it with the X1 and, I believe, the new P1.

If you are positive you would be satisfied with USB only and/or possibly ethernet to Roon Ready Tambaqui, and wish to go with Antipodes, then the K21 works. However, if you think you could also explore I2S, AES/EBU, and/or SPDIF, then the K22 offers those. I have a K50 and a Makua with the DAC card. The Makua does not have an I2S input, but I have used I2S from the K50 to another DAC I still have. With the Makua, I commonly do use the Roon Ready ethernet, AES/EBU and USB in different listening sessions. I do not upsample to the Makua. My opinion is the Makua (Tambaqui) does have presentation differences with these various inputs, and do feel cables also have an influence. My current cables are "relatively" modest in price--Sablon ethernet and AES/EBU, Audio Sensibility XLR, power, and ethernet, and Triode Wire Labs USB, XLR, and power. However, the variations in presentation are differences. Different is not necessarily better or worse. Much is system and listener perception dependent on what seems right. I would suggest, if possible, getting playing hours on your Tambaqui before adding too many pieces at a time. I feel there is some evolution from audio equipment "breaking in" and your impressions may go through some roller coaster like ups and downs as this takes place. My experiences have been that the settling in and evolution period can be different for various pieces. The more new pieces at the same time, the more difficult, I believe, it is to attribute responsible audio changes. I believe you will find the Tambaqui an excellent piece. Enjoy.

Are you using your room correction and your subs just for home theater/mulit-channel only or also for 2-channel music? If the former, there should be a way with your processor to configure an input as direct (without processing) or home theater bypass and another configuration that uses the same input but is set to go through your processor converting analog to digital for processing and back to analog again, allowing processing for subs and room correction. Some users do not wish to go through additional conversions like this, but some report their room correction hardware/software produce superior results for them. You may wish to try your T2 direct to amps utilizing Leedh option available to your Lumin. Leedh really is quite good and would give you a chance to evaluate sound quality of your T2 without additional processing. I do believe Leedh can provide you with better sound quality results that many preamps will and even possibly your processor. I have an X1 and used Leedh prior. I now have a Mola Mola Makua preamp with the DAC (similar to Tambaqui). The preamp on the Makua is very good, and I currently use the X1 through the Makua utilizing the Makua volume control. I could configure the X1 to use Leedh and the Makua as bypass/ direct for that input, and have in the past but , for now, prefer Makua for volume control. My front speakers have aged quite a bit now (not as much as me ;-} ) and have low end down to 20 Hz. I do not use separate subs with them for 2-channel, but do utilize subs through my Marantz processor for home theater for my surrounds and the dedicated sub channel. I have one input for the Makua set up for direct/bypass that connects to the Marantz processor for home theater usage. I appreciate how confusing and involved this can be, but simply purchasing additional unit(s) without knowing they will integrate with your system and your objectives can be a very expensive and frustrating route. I do encourage you to first experiment further with your T2 before replacing. The new P2 has some preamp capabilities the T2 does not have. I have found Lumin support here and other forums to be great. A local dealer may also be very beneficial for you to trial and assist in setup for you to achieve the results and desired configuration you wish.

I very much look forward to your feedback of the MU1 with your Tambaqui. I agree the Mola-Mola app is very functional for set up as well as more common tasks to include switching inputs, volume control, etc. I, at times, do have to go through some fiddling around for reconnecting via Bluetooth. For typical common/mundane tasks like switching inputs and volume control, I typically manually do so on my Makua. The supplied Apple remote, for me, had more latency than I wanted. I did see on recent GTT YouTube video that Mola-Mola will be shipping with new metal remote control and intends to provide to prior owners as well.

Peter, I left on a trip shortly after your posting to resolve my issue. I shutdown and removed power from my audio gear as well as my modem/router before I left. I returned earlier this week and powered all again. The condition of indicating Offline still persisted. I decided to try enabling Minimserver as well as Roon on my K50 Server Dashboard. That did result in Minimserver (Antipodes) showing in Lumin App Library as available. Selecting it allows music to play. A prior K50 Server option in library shows but is Offline. Enabling Minimserver on K50 Server Dashboard along with Roon has not affected Roon working. I previously did not have to enable Minimserver on the K50 for the Lumin App to show and play music from hard drive installed on the K50 and managed by the Server Dashboard. I just tried toggling Minimserver off on the Server Dashboard, and Library again went offline. As noted, this was not the case prior. Possibly there were software changes pushed through that did not require user participation. I will post this in the Antipodes forum for Antipodes response. I am fine with needing to enable Minimserver in the K50 Dashboard but am curious why now and not prior. Should I get further info from Antipodes on this, I will post a followup. As always, I appreciate the support you provide here and in other forums.

I have been using the Lumin App with the M1 for some time without issues. I did recently update the Firmware when alerted on my system for the X1, but do not recall if this is the first time I have tried playing the X1 since that. I also recently updated the App as well.

If you have M1 version of Mac, you can use the same version of Lumin App as one for the iPad.

Peter, I also just tried switching to Roon, and X1 does not show as an audio zone option, even with restarting Roon Server and Player on my Antipodes dashboards. Other options are shown, and am playing music through another DAC via Roon now, but X1 not shown as available.