The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging radio frequency-receiver (112; 216; 308; 404), the receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) being adapted to receive analog signals from at least one radio frequency receiver coil unit (106; 200; 202; 300; 400; 402), the radio frequency receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) comprising: an analog-digital converter (118; 226) to convert the analog pre-amplified magnetic resonance signal into a digital signal, means (120; 230) for digital down converting the digital signal and a first communication interface (130; 252) adapted for transmitting the down converted digital signal via a communication link (e.g. wireless, optical or wire-bound).