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Nimitra2 Computer Audio Server review on Positive Feedback by Marshall Nack

 

Nimitra2

 

Finally, the first Nimitra2 Computer Audio Server review is published. It was reviewed together with Nikola2 Linear Power Supply and EtherStream Network Switch after reviewing previous products. This review feels like the main dish has finally arrived after serving appetizers.

I was pleased to hear that Mr. Marshall Nack decided to review Nimitra2 server after reviewing EtherStream. It’s an honor for Nimitra2 to be the first streamer being reviewed by seasoned audio reviewer in highend audio system.

Positive Feedback

Believe me, I didn’t hear anything like this when the Mac was in-stream. I was always aware of deficits in tone, timbre, texture, and dynamics. To put things in perspective, if we were to use my much more expensive CH Precision transport as the reference, I’d say the Mac with Fidelizer ancillaries reproduced about 60% of what’s to be had, forcing me to assign it to the low-end class of gear. The Fidelizer Optimized Solution with Nimitra2 server filled out the big picture to raise the percentage to around 85%, and streaming vaulted into issue-free mid-fi. Now I could sit back and be comfortably entertained as Cyrus Chestnut tinkled the ivories.

It’s very hard to pick excerpt from this review when there’re so many good good aspects about Nimitra2 product. Please read his full review and see how he feels about Nimitra2 as a genuine highend audiophile and happy listening. 🙂

Nikola2 Linear Power Supply review on Audio Bacon by Jay Luong

 

Nikola2 - Linear Power Supply

 

The first review of Nikola2 Linear Power Supply by Mr. Jay Luong was published in Audio Bacon for a long while. I’ve been very busy and kept forgetting to publish this review but it’s finally up now with very positive results.

I’m glad to see that Mr. Jay appreciates how Nikola2 can bring real sound performance that he can hear from real life instruments. It’s Nikola2 design philosophy to deliver world class tone and timbre as mentioned in his review.

Also, I’m very honored to know that he regards Nikola2 to be the power supply equivalent of my reference USB cable and decided to keep Nikola2 as he mentioned in his review. That’s the best moment for every manufacturer.

Positive Feedback

As far as power supplies still being sold, the Fidelizer Nikola2 power supply has the best tonality and timbre in the entire lineup. It has a fantastic amount of tonal variance, soul, and essence. It’s incredibly tactile, balanced in fullness, and articulates with just enough precision. Because of that, you’re able to hear subtle timbral and cues and resonances that are usually masked by other power supplies. This is consonant with what I hear in real life.

Thank you again for this wonderful review of Nikola2 product. You can read his full review and see how Nikola2 performs compared to other linear power supplies to understand how linear power supply can improve sound quality better.

Introducing Nimitra2 / Nikola2 as second generation of computer audio server and linear power supply

 

Nimitra2

 

Today is the big day for Fidelizer. After years of preparations and refining products for second generation, Nimitra2 and Nikola2 are finally ready for production which are projects I’ve been working for 2 years already.

There’s so much going on behind the scene since last year. As I also have clients ordering custom $5-7k server project since the first Nimitra. I always thought it’d be great if we can build  a product having performance that resembles custom highend server for half price.

With Classic series, it helped me realizing my dream to make highend audio performance affordable at $995. There’s also very good cost effective Nikola Classic at $395. This will keep Nimitra affordable and I can focus on taking second generation to next level.

I planned to launch them last year but could not make it to production stage due to covid situation which affect many companies worldwide causing long delay. I’ve been selling Nikola Signature with Nikola2 circuit board for over a year now, waiting for Nimitra2’s completion.

Now that I can finalize Nimitra2 design and production line, it’s time to embark a new journey. Nimitra2 will pair up nicely with modern DACs in market with custom made chassis, optimized as a streamer to deliver performance based on CD transport with Esoteric’s drive.

 

Nimitra2’s Features (As upgrade from Signature):

-Custom aluminum chassis design for better resonance/vibration control and heat dissipation
-Motherboard and chassis has vibration absorber/isolator material reducing vibration to motherboard
-MOSFET in motherboard’s power supply circuit is upgraded with high quality one from Japan
-All clock modules in motherboard are now upgraded improving sound quality on USB/Ethernet/HDMI
-Capacitors in motherboard are tuned with better resolution and details extraction

With all new improvements focusing on improving purity of signal and reduce interference, I can hear music flowing with richer ambient and micro detail and feel closer to music with newfound improvements on Nimitra2.

MSRP price of Nimitra2 is $2495 USD. For original Nimitra and Nimitra Signature owner, you can send your original unit to upgrade to Nimitra2 at $1,100 for Nimitra and $600 for Nimitra Signature. This upgrade should be a great value for existing customers to enjoy music better.

 

Nikola2’s Features (As upgrade from Signature):

-Input capacitor is changed to dual capacitor circuit design improving power handling
-Diode is upgraded with higher output current to handle devices like Roon Nucleus+ better
-Capacitors are tuned for better transparency and micro detail without sacrificing musicality

With new changes and improvements on Nikola2, it helps music flowing with Nimitra more coherently with timbre and PRaT done right to make music both enjoyable and believable. This can apply to any device Nikola2 powers also.

MSRP of Nikola2 is $749 USD. Nikola2 has a new circuit design so upgrading with top up price is not possible. Also, most changes are about handling some cases better so Nikola Signature will deliver similar performance with some sound signature changes.

 

Fidelizer will provide free shipping during introductory period for all Nimitra / Nikola purchases in December 2021. I hope this will be a fine Christmas present to audiophiles worldwide and happy listening. 🙂

Fidelizer Nimitra Firmware 4.0 Updater is released with Device/Sound Signature Profile options

 

Nimitra Firmware 4.0 Updater

 

It’s been a long while since last time I released Nimitra Firmware update. There’s a lot of on going internal optimizations and improvements with Nimitra after 3.0 release including new platform and supported protocols.

Version 4.0 will cover many changes and improvements on NimitraOS platform and also updater itself. Here’s summarize about major updates in version 4.0:

 

Added Device Profile and Sound Signature Profile configuration options

 

Nimitra Firmware 4.0 Updater - Main

 

Device Profile is Fidelizer Pro’s Audio Profile but I changed wording to device to avoid confusion. Nimitra will be configured as Network Player by default for general purposes but you can choose different profile for Nimitra to work with specific device better now.

For example, you can change option to Streamer for better sound quality with Network Player/Endpoint device. You can also choose Audio Player if you don’t use streaming or networked storage at all too for better optimizations.

Sound Signature Profile is a unique new configuration added in NimitraOS sound quality optimizations platform. Some clients prefer to have analogue sound reproduction but there’s also those who prefer high resolution with finer details.

You can choose sound signature of Nimitra to match with your system better. Nimitra will be configured with real sound signature profile but both options are good in different aspects so you can try both and pick what you prefer more in your system.

 

Support AirPlay, Logitech Media Server, OpenHome (Lumin / Kazoo) platform

Current models of Nimitra will have new platform integration support by default and older model can be configured to launch them too with remote support. If you want to use these features, please contact Fidelizer support for remote assistance.

 

Improved compatibility with JRiver and JPLAY7

In this update, JRiver will always scan for music in libray during startup reliably to make sure you won’t miss any new added track. JPLAY7 will also have Nimitra’s recommended configuration and optimizations on its services to be more reliable too.

 

Improved NimitraOS core sound quality optimizations and quality of life improvements

After over 2 years of firmware 3.0 update, NimitraOS has been improving with internal updates through time with clients and firmware 4.0 will bring better sound quality standards. Besides sound quality improvements, boot time is also decreased also.

 

Changelog

-Added AirPlay/HQPlayer NAA/Logitech Media Server/OpenHome integration support
-Added device profile option to optimize Nimitra device for optimal sound quality in different setups
-Added external application launcher support
-Added sound signature profile options to choose between real sound performance and audiophile sound performance
-Changed audio detection notification message to “Audio ready”
-Changed JRiver platform to always perform full library scan on startup
-Fixed JRiver startup issue on 64-bit platform running 32-bit version of JRiver Media Center
-Fixed Windows update failing to be turned off completely on some early units
-Improved compatibility with JPLAY7 and its Femto service
-Improved MinimServer optimizations to work with renderer platforms better
-Improved NimitraOS sound quality optimizations for better sound quality
-Improved optimizations with dual core processor server such as Weiss MAN301
-Improved platform optimizations code to decrease boot time
-Updated HQPlayer NAA daemon software to version 4.11

 

Nimitra runs on specially tuned NimitraOS platform with special version of Fidelizer. All these optimizations are specially tuned for Nimitra’s hardware and software configuration, separated from Fidelizer 8 optimizations.

Nimitra/NimitraS customers can send request for firmware update and I’ll update Nimitra firmware through Teamviewer or request download link for applying update manually. This update is highly recommended for all Nimitra users.

Introducing Classic series of Nimitra and Nikola, the most affordable highend audio products

After successful launch of Nimitra and Nikola Signature lineup, I gained a lot of experience and knowledge about building affordable products with better price performance ratio. After a lot of design and listening tests, Classic series of Nimitra and Nikola is finally ready.

The original Nimitra and Nikola have some limitations on pricing and they reached maturity in Signature series later. Classic series has improvements and corrections on original design for 2 years optimizing to get the most from Signature series.

 

Nimitra Classic - computer audio server

 

Nimitra Classic provides full support of Roon Core and Roon Ready with many other features such as DLNA/uPNP, OpenHome (Linn/Lumin), HQPlayer NAA, Airplay, and Squeezebox ready to be used with same optimizations as Signature version with only hardware changes as below.

-Same software features and optimizations as Signature version
-Cost most effective solution for sound quality / features / services
-Compact 1.5mm aluminum thickness chassis for small space
-Cost effective motherboard design with high precision event timer
-Trusted industrial quality components with high reliability

Since audiophile network switch is becoming standards in 2020, WiFi module will not be installed by default for better sound quality. You can choose to install WiFi module if you want to. I can still setup JPLAY and others as optional requests also.

 

Nikola Classic - linear power supply

 

Nikola Classic shares the same circuit design as original Nikola. It has some parts changed and adjusted to deliver better price performance ratio with high synergy to perform well in any system musically with some changes as below.

-Same circuitry design as original Nikola
-Regulator tuned for high synergy musical performance
-Compact 1.5mm Aluminum chassis for small space
-Audiophile grade capacitors used in some flagship products
-16 AWG teflon insulated copper internal wiring

I managed to find better cost effective parts with some design changes to bring the better performing products at more affordable price. Nikola Classic will be an ideal linear power supply solution for EtherStream and many other products with linear power supply too.

 

The price of Nimitra Classic is $995 USD and price of Nikola Classic is $395 USD. All Nimitra and Nikola products will have free shipping during introductory period until 31st October 2020 with 30-day money back guaranteed.

You can also purchase Nimitra and Nikola Classic series with EtherStream with free shipping and 2 outputs termination at $1785 USD. This combination is even more affordable than Nimitra Signature server and I hope this will help making highend audio more affordable.