Another review of Nimitra arrived since few days ago. I was busy with lots of stuff after BAV 2017 event and finally have time to wrire about it today. This time it’s from TNT-Audio written by Richard Varey, our Fidelizer Pro user and also a reviewer. 🙂
This is probably the first review of Nimitra coming from non-highend system. You can learn Nimitra’s performance comparing to Fidelized PC and Rasberry Pi streamer platform in [Review] Nimitra Computer Audio Server article.
In my exploration of digital music playback, which so far has included a PC optimized with Fidelizer, a Raspberry Pi streamer with onboard DAC, and several open source software operating system options as alternatives to Microsoft Windows, this is the best sounding setup, as I expected it would be. The sound quality is crisp, very dynamic, very detailed, and the sound is natural, big and open. Especially impressive is the separation of instruments and voices and the believability of the soundstage image.
Actually, he received the first demo unit for reviewing and review itself is finished few months ago. It took a while until his review going live.
With the new Obsidian album by Mika Sasaki, a 24bit/88kHz download from www.highresaudio.com, no extreme attention was needed to experience palpable difference between Nimitra and a typical computer based setup. The expansion of soundstage, transparency, and more detailed focus were repeatedly of no small portion. Nimitra managed to preserve balanced sound across a complete spectrum and a tonal balance much closer to reality. It just felt more complete and believable with Nimitra in action.
Nimitra used my MSB Technology USB ASIO driver for full support of PCM files up to 24/384kHz and DSD256. Function was flawless and the sound was excellent. Nimitra just sounded smooth and rich with the Analog DAC. I felt the overall sound was easy to listen to for extended periods and was most definitely superior to what I could achieve with an unmodified OS PC or Mac. Overall detail and focus were first-rate with the Nimitra. In some ways, the Nimitra reminded me of the Playback Designs Syrah Server in terms of its excellent playback qualities.