After releasing Nimitra2 with improved hardware modification, I’ve been optimizing Nimitra2 to improve sound quality with new standards. With new VRDS ATLAS transport from Esoteric K1X Grandioso, I finally brought Nimitra2 to masterpiece level with firmware 5.0 update.

Version 5.0 will cover changes in various areas to improve sound quality and also reliability with better user experience. This is probably the biggest update since launching Nimitra 6 years ago. Here’s summarize about major updates in version 5.0 update.

 

Added Windows Server 2022 Sound Quality Optimizations

 

Many people said Windows Server sounds a lot better but personally I prefer sound signature from some Windows 10 builds more so I didn’t look into Server builds as much until this year. When I tried Windows Server 2022 this year, I was blown away by Windows Server 2022’s performance.

If we were to compare how Windows sounds as stock environment, Windows Server 2022 is no doubt the best sounding Windows. But I don’t think sound quality from Windows Server 2019 to 2022 will be improved with any major changes on system files so I tried to crack the secrets.

This year I spent a long long time researching on the difference between my favorite Windows 10 builds and Windows Server 2022. I compared all parts of registry and system configuration between these two and finally managed to crack the secret sauce of Windows Server sound.

The main reason why Windows Server sounds better is default configuration for Server version have some parts that favors sound quality better. I traced the changes and applied the applicable differences I found into NimitraOS and viola! NimitraOS sounded very similar to Windows Server 2022.

But it doesn’t end at just that. Some changes from Windows Server configuration are not for better sound quality. There’s difference ups and downs so I tried to implement bits by bits and adjust configuration for optimal sound quality.

After this long process of trial and error with listening test, I finally managed to integrated Windows Server 2022 configuration into NimitraOS with optimal sonic performance. At this point NimitraOS already has better sound quality than Windows Server 2022.

 

Added Roon Sound Quality Optimizations

 

 

Since Roon 1.8 update, I started using Roon more to discover new music with Roon Radio feature. It also sounds better than previous versions so I started taking Roon seriously and tried to find a way to make Roon delivering better sonic performance highend audio system.

After a long research along with Windows Server 2022 sound quality optimizations, I managed to to find a method to deliver highend audio performance with Roon. Roon has 3 main components which are:

RAAT: Managing audio streaming between devices
Core: Managing core features in Roon core
Appliance: Managing essential tasks like database and DSP

Understanding how each component works, I can optimize Roon in Nimitra with two main principles to improve sound quality:

Core Isolation: Nimitra has 4 cores so I can isolate Roon components into different cores. I still need Appliance to have all cores or Roon will be too slow.
Priority Optimizations: By increasing RAAT’s priority which involves handling audio transport directly so Roon can have better audio performance.

After testing out a few combinations, I managed to sort out Roon Optimizations with the following options below:

 

Roon Core Isolation Policy:

Single core (Recommended for low latency audio playback)
Dual cores (Recommended for high buffering audio playback)
No isolation (Disabled)

Roon Playback Optimizations:

Standard optimizations (For all media sources)
Local optimizations (For internal/external storage)
Streaming optimizations (For NAS/streaming services)
MQA optimizations (For MQA Core Decoder)
No optimizations (Disabled)

 

Default configuration will use single core isolation and standard optimizations. Customers can also inform about their system for applying firmware update with optimal configuration for their system to get the best sound quality possible.

 

Added JRiver Sound Quality Optimizations

 

 

After finishing Roon optimizations, I started working on my favorite platform JRiver to get better sound quality too. With custom tuning for lower latency, JRiver can deliver audio performance closer to live performance with zero latency jitter.

 

JRiver Latency Optimizations:

Ultra low latency (100ms)
Low Latency (200ms)
Standard (1000ms)
Reliable (2000ms)
Relaxed (4000ms)
Safe (6000ms)
No latency change

 

Default configuration will use low latency at 200ms which is stable enough for most cases. Technically it could as low as 50ms but such scenario can only be possible with non-highres format in highly controlled environment.

I also added “Enable pure playback (disable plugins in audio chain)” to be used by default since default configuration can use this feature. This will disable audio related plugins from audio chain completely for true pure playback.

JRiver platform also has improved FidelizerRemote web app supporting light/dark theme configuration and have better library browsing and playback control based on Roon UX too. You can access FidelizerRemote through http://nimitra_sn[written serial in sticker/box].local

 

Revised Sound Signature Profile optimizations

 

I used to offer two sound signature profiles but it’s no longer necessary with new finalized configuration based on Windows Server 2022 that can deliver the best of both worlds. In this firmware 5.0 update, Sound Signature Profile is now changed to options based on Fidelizer software as below.

 

Sound Signature Profile:

Natural harmonics with linear sound
Natural harmonics with rich details
Sharp image with linear sound
Sharp image with rich details

 

Default configuration will use “Natural harmonics with linear sound” option based on Esoteric CD transport as reference. They’re tuned slightly different from Fidelizer for optimal sonic performance with NimitraOS platform and hardware.

 

Improved NimitraOS core sound quality optimizations and quality of life improvements

 

Besides Windows Server 2022 / Roon / JRiver optimizations, NimitraOS also has internal optimization improvement too. I added .NET Framework performance optimizations to improve performance and sound quality with Roon. Some internal configuration are optimized for better sound quality and reliability.

I also updated OpenHome/NAA libraries with improved configuration too. If you use OpenHome feture with Linn/Kazoo/Lumin/Sound Stream app, please inform support during update.

 

Changelog

-Added .NET Framework performance optimizations to improve performance with Roon
-Added JRiver’s latency optimizations to improve sound quality on JRiver’s based platform (FidelizerRemote / uPNP / OpenHome / LMS)
-Added JRiver’s pure playback mode disabling plugins in audio chain completely
-Added Roon optimizations features with core isolation and priority optimizations options
-Added Windows Server 2022 sound quality optimization into NimitraOS
-Improved JRiver audio output configuration for better sound quality
-Improved internal optimizations for better performance and reliability
-Improved internal sound quality optimizations in NimitraOS
-Improved reliability of OpenHome streaming in Lumin/Kazoo app
-Improved compatibility with remote support feature
-Increased hardware detection timer to look for changes after 60 seconds
-Updated FidelizerRemote UI to support light/dark theme with revamped UI
-Updated HQPlayer NAA binaries to latest stable version
-Updated OpenHome libraries to latest stable version

 

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 software 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.