I preface this by saying that, in what follows, Peter Cymbiosis did not sell me ANYTHING...

Yesterday, the doctor made some home visits in the Eastern Counties. I was third on the list, arriving at about 5.30pm, and spending about 4 hours doing arm surgery.

I'll let another Forum member concerned tell you his side of the story, but suffice to say there was a pristine Nima and almost brand new Nordost Heimdall arm lead floating about, which came my way. Peter removed my Ittok, and fitted this new arm and lead, re-set up the deck and cartridge.

If you have read another current thread started by Rob B, you'll know I was hoping to have a new Tramp2 whilst Peter was here. We established, sadly, that this will not fit with a Nima, because the arm pillar / cable exit is much deeper than the Linn fitting, and it fouls one of the Tramp's feet.

Never mind! Not having a Tramp fitted meant being able to judge more purely the difference between the Nima/Heimdall and Ittok.

I am not sure I was quite ready for the difference! The first thing is that the presentation is (what I described as) less 'Motorhead' in style than the Ittok! So, no balls-out. But with Frankie's 'Pleasuredome' and Gomez 'Bring it On', and after Peter left John Martyn 'Solid Air' and this morning Kate Bush 'Aerial', it is clear that - especially for the money - this is a class act, with air, spaciousness, boogey-factor and a superb degree of resolution (even without the benefit of a Tramp2).

Sadly it went on too late for a curry, with Peter rightly needing to get home (and my thanks and apologies to his family for letting me keep him out so late).

My sincere thanks to Peter (who - as I said at the top - did not sell me ANYTHING) for his generosity of time.

And thanks also to the source of the Nima/Heimdall, who I'm sure will reveal himself in due course, when his own baby called Linn comes back home transformed...

I really have made some great flesh-and-blood friends through this Forum, who understand the need to 'scratch the musical itch' in a way not quite understood by SWMBO (though she has a good try)

Thanks, guys!

James

EDIT - PS plus a lower noise floor and inkier blacks

Hi James,

Excellent service from Peter as you say.

Glad you're happy. I look forward to hearing the new set-up.

I was with Peter around the middle of the day, with another customer, where we had great fun comparing a CDS3/555PS and CD555 head unit.

New music was discovered by all - and that's what it's REALLY all about.

John.

James,
I've been intrigued by te Nima for some time now, but not seen any 2nd hand......whats the price new? I take it its a big step up from the ittok (i'm running one too).

Is the general consensus that it gives a similar presentatin to the aro but just not quite as good?

All the best
Ryan

...and I was that "Other Customer!"

The good doctor P came over with the intention of setting up a S/H CDS3 for an extended home trial. It sounded great!

But somehow he's left me instead with his demo CD555 which even as I type this is gently but insistently weaving its magic...

This was a fascinating comparison and maybe later I'll post in a bit more detail once I've got my head around the experience.

If you value the integrity of your wallet, or indeed your marriage, don't do this comparison...

Oh, and who said SL2s didn't do bass?

Tony,
sorry I couldn't be with you yesterday afterall, owing to unavoidable circumstances.

Perhaps there'll be another opportunity when you've finally made your mind up about the cdp

All the best, and glad the 555 is a suitably great experience!

James

quote:

Originally posted by ryan_d:
James,
I've been intrigued by te Nima for some time now, but not seen any 2nd hand......whats the price new? I take it its a big step up from the ittok (i'm running one too).

Is the general consensus that it gives a similar presentatin to the aro but just not quite as good?

All the best
Ryan

Ryan,
Comparing Ittok and Nima/Heimdall, all I can say is that I am still in shock!

This morning I've listened to a few previously unlistenable records (because of their mix) and they are much better. And have just had on 'Stadium Arcadium' - if I say 'woah' to Gomez' 'Bring it On', it's 'double woah' to 'Dani California'!!

I think, new, the Nima is about £350-400 (with standard lead). As Andy C and Peter will tell you, there is bit of a knack to fitting it to an LP12. The Nordost Heimdall cable is around the £250 mark.

The Nima is about 1/4 the price of an Aro (which is not tenable for me). Having listened to Jon Honeyball's Aro'd set-up (even pre the recent changes) I can say there is a similar 'family style' in sound that comes with a unipivot arm. Open, spacious, airy, PRaT rather than a kick in the goolies.

Right, I'm off to a conference...!

All the best,
James

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
...and I was that "Other Customer!"

The good doctor P came over with the intention of setting up a S/H CDS3 for an extended home trial. It sounded great!

But somehow he's left me instead with his demo CD555 which even as I type this is gently but insistently weaving its magic...

This was a fascinating comparison and maybe later I'll post in a bit more detail once I've got my head around the experience.

If you value the integrity of your wallet, or indeed your marriage, don't do this comparison...

Oh, and who said SL2s didn't do bass?

Dr P is coming here next week with my Piles Of Fraim.

Maybe he will be picking up the 555 on the same trip? If so, pop down and have a listen-ette...

Hi All,

Good. I'm glad I left you all happy yesterday, and thank you all for your kindness, lunch, tea and bisciuts etc Most welcome.

Yes, James the Nima is not an Aro. But it is a fraction of it's cost. It certainly hinted at what is possible with an Aro

Clearances using the Nima/Nordost Heimdall combo were the problem, so I can see why many owners run their LP12 bottomless. But with a little application and addaptation we had everything sounding very nice indeed.

As James said, the specific combination just wouldn't allow for the use of a Trampolin2 due to how far the cable hangs down from the arm, and it really was not possible to rectify this on site at a customer's house. The lead just wanted to occupy the same space as the rear right Trampolin foot !

Anyway, the standard (old type baseboard in James case) or Solid Baseboard, does not have a foot in the same place and so one can enlarge the hole as required to allow for the essential free suspension movement. This is what we did.

Once completed, we sat back to enjoy.

I am not a Roksan dealer, but I'm sure one could tell you how much it is if you wanted to know.

Kind regards,

Peter

Thanks James, I'll be keeping my peepers peeled for one.

Ryan

Cheers Peter,
do you reckon the cable made much of a difference. Thats a hefty price for a bit of wire

Ryan

quote:

Originally posted by jon honeyball:

Dr P is coming here next week with my Piles Of Fraim.

Maybe he will be picking up the 555 on the same trip? If so, pop down and have a listen-ette...

Thanks for the invite Jon, if I get a chance I'll see if I can pop over!

Regarding Dr P. picking up the 555; nice man though he is, should he attempt to prematurely remove said player from these premises, regrettably he will not leave here alive!

quote:

Originally posted by ryan_d:
Cheers Peter,
do you reckon the cable made much of a difference. Thats a hefty price for a bit of wire

Ryan

One for tonym as the Nima was only provided for fitting with this cable. I never saw the standard one.

Peter

quote:

Originally posted by Cymbiosis:

quote:

Originally posted by ryan_d:
Cheers Peter,
do you reckon the cable made much of a difference. Thats a hefty price for a bit of wire

Ryan

One for tonym as the Nima was only provided for fitting with this cable. I never saw the standard one.

Peter

J.N. can help with this one Peter...

Hi Ryan,

Difficult to tell, as the Heimdall lead upgrade accompanied a better cart and phono-stage.

I trusted the opinions of others who reckoned that the Heimdall comprehensively trounces the uprated Roksan item. The Heimdall lead and a Nima are still a cracking v.f.m. combo.

It sounds like James is experiencing a bit of an epiphany compared to what he was getting from his Ittok - I did too.

John.

May well have to take the plunge then...

Thanks
Ryan

Well. . . as the vendors of the Heimdall tone arm lead, I can confirm that a comparitive demo was offered to JN but declined on the basis of 'sod it, just go ahead'. In the case of the Linn, there was some added inhibition due to the time taken to fit and route the wire (and get the bounce).

On the NA decks, which are exceedingly easy to access, we have swapped cables around quite a bit & the Heimdall has emerged as our favourite, with a lot more information, refinement and certainly no loss of PRaTT. In fact maybe even a bit more of that.

We have always had to place special orders for these (and the Tyr) leads, because the connector needs to be straight, rather than the Linn / SME ones at 90 degrees. Any Nordost dealer can supply them - so I am certainly not trying to ambush sales.

JWM : you will find it takes ages to run in. And could go off colour a little on the way. It sounds daft, I know, but it is the way with these things.

Alastair

Good news, James. I'm glad you like the Nima. I noticed today that Infidelity had a second hand one up for sale and I thought about it.....but nah, I'm going to wait for an Aro.

Shame about the Tramp 2, though.

Mark

Mark, you won't mind then if I make enquiries then?

Ryan

quote:

Originally posted by ryan_d:
Mark, you won't mind then if I make enquiries then?

Ryan

Ryan

No problem, mate. Give them a call and ask for Derek.

They're a long way from Liverpool, though!
Mark

They can post.....

Down in london next week so might pay a visit.

Ryan