92%
Grimm Audio PW1
For many generations, true lovers of sound and music are inspired by vinyl playback. Even in these days of high performance digital audio playback systems it is hard to imagine a future without LP’s. There’s just something magical to it.
Grimm Audio’s co-founder Peter van Willenswaard spent a life time designing and improving phono preamps, both in solid state and with tubes. Of all stages of audio amplification, phono preamplifiers pose the biggest challenges to a designer. With moving coil cartridges, deep bass signals of a mere 50 nV require no less than 90 dB amplification!
For the PW1 “Phono Wizard”, Peter managed to develop a solid state phono preamplifier that matches his best tube based designs. Peter believes that designing a good phono preamp is not about achieving the lowest possible harmonic distortion as an isolated parameter. He searches for an elegantly minimalistic circuit design in which he optimizes the ‘electric environment’ of all the active components, in conjunction with a meticulously tuned power supply. Needless to say that passive components like capacitors and resistors are carefully picked.
The result is a well balanced design with Peter’s signature sound, that is very spacious, detailed and open, but at the same time rhythmically addictive and emotionally involving.
The industrial design had to justify this quality. Michiel Uylings of MU1 fame matched the sonics with a simple but powerful cabinet shape and Grimm Audio’s design team made the copper shielded interior look like a piece of art. Truly a design for generations to come.
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Grimm Audio PW1 — compact phono stage with extraordinary quiet and musicality
The PW1’s most compelling trait is its ultra-low noise topology: a custom low‑magnetic toroidal transformer and copper‑shielded interior let Grimm fit a silent linear power supply into the same chassis without the usual hum, a point measured and praised by Alpha Audio and echoed by ANDRE MARC.
Sonic character balances tube‑like fluency with solid‑state control — spacious, detailed imaging, muscular bass and nimble dynamics are repeatedly noted by The Ear and Best of High End. Connectivity and fine tuning are exhaustive: MM/MC inputs, RCA/XLR outputs and mirrored gain/load DIP options under a sliding panel make the PW1 ideal for serious cartridge matching. For listeners who demand precision, transparency and flexibility in a small, elegant package, the PW1 is a strong, well‑engineered contender.
Pros
- Exceptionally low noise and integrated silent linear power supply thanks to a custom low‑magnetic transformer and copper shielding.
- Musical, spacious presentation that combines tube‑like warmth with solid‑state clarity, delivering detailed imaging and strong dynamics.
- Wide cartridge compatibility and precise matching: extensive gain and load options for MM and MC accessed via mirrored DIP switches.
- High-quality compact build and thoughtful engineering — minimalist industrial design with careful component selection and first‑class fit and finish.
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Cons
- Gain/load DIP switches sit under a sliding bottom panel and can be fiddly or awkward to access for some users.
- Premium positioning and price may be more than some buyers need if they don’t require the PW1’s high‑precision setting options.
- Rear-panel balanced connectors can feel a little cramped depending on cable and plug size.
Transparency
93/100
Multiple reviewers emphasise an exceptionally low noise floor and internal 'silent' power supply (Alpha Audio measured ~-100 dB at the MM input), and several sources note the internal toroidal transformer and copper shielding that remove the need for an external PSU (Best of High End, The Ear, AudioKey). No reviewer reports hum, hiss or noise problems; the measured noise performance and repeated 'quiet' descriptions justify a top-tier transparency score.
Sound Quality
91/100
Numerous reviews call out rhythmically compelling performance, strong punch and 'endless headroom' with energetic, involving presentation and solid bass impact (Best of High End, The Ear, AudioKey, The Ear review). The PW1's design for low noise and speed underpins excellent micro- and macro-dynamic retrieval.
Cartridge Compatibility
92/100
The PW1 supports both MM and MC with extensive selectable load and gain settings (33 Ohm to 1kOhm, 47k for MM, three MM capacitances, MC gain up to ~77 dB plus optional +10 dB), with mirrored left/right adjustments accessed under a sliding bottom panel (Alpha Audio, AudioKey, The Ear). Reviewers note effortless matching to a wide range of cartridges and the ability to handle very low-output MCs, supporting a very high compatibility score.
Build Quality
90/100
The PW1 features a compact, well-finished industrial design, copper-shielded interior, and a custom low-magnetic-field toroidal transformer enabling an integrated internal PSU without noise penalties (Alpha Audio, Best of High End, AudioKey). Reviewers praise the meticulous component choice, mirrored PCB layout and first-class fit and finish, earning a top-tier build score.
Value for Money
89/100
At roughly $4,900–£4,695 the PW1 is positioned as a high-end but justifiable purchase; multiple reviewers call it a new reference for its segment and say it 'won't hold back' good cartridges (AudioKey, The Ear). One review questions whether buyers needing only basic features could opt for cheaper alternatives, but the consensus praises its combination of performance, features and integration, supporting a 'justified premium' value rating.
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