The new generation La Diva
Aqua has never followed the whims of market fashion but has always remained focused on achieving true high fidelity sound reproduction.
La Diva M2 | pure-CD machine
The new generation La Diva is a machine that while maintaining the previous name is completely new, both in regards to the CD mechanic and all the internal electronics, power supply, FPGA decoding, clock, floating digital output circuitry, display, etc., entirely a new design.
This was necessary to increase the performance and sound quality. Our goal is always to amaze our customers.
The La Diva M2 remains a "pure-CD" machine: Aqua has chosen to keep focused solely on CD reading, aiming for the best possible results with this medium. This was done by interfacing the latest and most advanced Philips CD decoding circuit - with digital servo control - to our proprietary Aqua electronics.
The reading mechanism used is designed and optimized solely for reading CDs and nothing else, the modified new CD Pro-8S transport has attained a new level of performance and mechanical silence.
Proprietary circuits have been developed in the coding / output FPGA, in order to implement the galvanically isolated AQlink I2S, AES/EBU outputs, AT&T Fiber, S/PDIF outputs. The internal Master-Clock of the CD Pro-8S has been disabled, therefore managed via FPGA.
This is an important point: during the listening tests, and also in the laboratory ones, we obtained the best results with the use of this fully-floating isolated architecture.
Furthermore, the new display offers a really nice and ultra-visible micro-LED display with adjustable brightness! No LCD or commercial panels, Aqua only uses industrial components.
Aqua has never followed the whims of market fashion but has always remained focused on achieving true high fidelity sound reproduction.
La Diva M2 | pure-CD machine
The new generation La Diva is a machine that while maintaining the previous name is completely new, both in regards to the CD mechanic and all the internal electronics, power supply, FPGA decoding, clock, floating digital output circuitry, display, etc., entirely a new design.
This was necessary to increase the performance and sound quality. Our goal is always to amaze our customers.
The La Diva M2 remains a "pure-CD" machine: Aqua has chosen to keep focused solely on CD reading, aiming for the best possible results with this medium. This was done by interfacing the latest and most advanced Philips CD decoding circuit - with digital servo control - to our proprietary Aqua electronics.
The reading mechanism used is designed and optimized solely for reading CDs and nothing else, the modified new CD Pro-8S transport has attained a new level of performance and mechanical silence.
Proprietary circuits have been developed in the coding / output FPGA, in order to implement the galvanically isolated AQlink I2S, AES/EBU outputs, AT&T Fiber, S/PDIF outputs. The internal Master-Clock of the CD Pro-8S has been disabled, therefore managed via FPGA.
This is an important point: during the listening tests, and also in the laboratory ones, we obtained the best results with the use of this fully-floating isolated architecture.
Furthermore, the new display offers a really nice and ultra-visible micro-LED display with adjustable brightness! No LCD or commercial panels, Aqua only uses industrial components.
• High performance proprietary ISC (Isolated Synchronous Circuit) digital decoding via FPGA with proprietary code
• Fully-Floating custom design for galvanic and magnetic isolation between CD drive unit and digital output (upgradable)
• Ultra massive chassis construction and newly developed high-rigidity sub chassis with Nextel for CD drive unit cancels internal and external acoustic and mechanical vibrations, enabling exceptionally accurate "Red Book" RF signal
• DC disc drive motor allows to read the data accurately and minimize Jitter
• Moplen clamp to avoid flywheel masses and vibrations
• Sophisticated signal processing technology assures excellent CD Red Book signal
• High-performance multi-stage voltage regulator (high-current stage for accurate servo DISC drive rotation, tracking and focus)
• Galvanically isolated output stage (upgradable)
• Jitter free digital interface AQlink (I2S protocol), uncompromising digital connection to our DACs
• etherCON RJ45 (AQlink) output connection to DAC, employs CAT6 cable can connect both RJ45 and professional etherCON RJ45
• 2 separate low noise toroidal power transformers for digital and servo motors/actuators
• MODULAR DESIGN with upgradeable multi board system
• Precision CD Pro-8S transport customized
• High-quality industrial - professional parts selected for sound quality:
- 105° long life capacitors
- low noise Metal Foil ultra-precision resistors
- metallized film pulse capacitor
- ultra-fast diodes
- halogen free cables
• Aluminum top loading tray machined from billet
• Non-magnetic low-resonance aluminum chassis with Nextel
• Field upgradeable firmware
• Ultra-visible micro-LED display with adjustable brightness and off-selectable illumination
• Designed and handmade in Italy
• Output:
- etherCON RJ45 - AQlink (I2S serial bus)
- XLR AES/EBU
- BNC coax (S/PDIF)
- RCA coax (S/PDIF)
- ST fiber (AT&T)
- BNC word clock
• Fully-Floating custom design for galvanic and magnetic isolation between CD drive unit and digital output (upgradable)
• Ultra massive chassis construction and newly developed high-rigidity sub chassis with Nextel for CD drive unit cancels internal and external acoustic and mechanical vibrations, enabling exceptionally accurate "Red Book" RF signal
• DC disc drive motor allows to read the data accurately and minimize Jitter
• Moplen clamp to avoid flywheel masses and vibrations
• Sophisticated signal processing technology assures excellent CD Red Book signal
• High-performance multi-stage voltage regulator (high-current stage for accurate servo DISC drive rotation, tracking and focus)
• Galvanically isolated output stage (upgradable)
• Jitter free digital interface AQlink (I2S protocol), uncompromising digital connection to our DACs
• etherCON RJ45 (AQlink) output connection to DAC, employs CAT6 cable can connect both RJ45 and professional etherCON RJ45
• 2 separate low noise toroidal power transformers for digital and servo motors/actuators
• MODULAR DESIGN with upgradeable multi board system
• Precision CD Pro-8S transport customized
• High-quality industrial - professional parts selected for sound quality:
- 105° long life capacitors
- low noise Metal Foil ultra-precision resistors
- metallized film pulse capacitor
- ultra-fast diodes
- halogen free cables
• Aluminum top loading tray machined from billet
• Non-magnetic low-resonance aluminum chassis with Nextel
• Field upgradeable firmware
• Ultra-visible micro-LED display with adjustable brightness and off-selectable illumination
• Designed and handmade in Italy
• Output:
- etherCON RJ45 - AQlink (I2S serial bus)
- XLR AES/EBU
- BNC coax (S/PDIF)
- RCA coax (S/PDIF)
- ST fiber (AT&T)
- BNC word clock
SPECIFICATIONS
Disc Compatibility
|
CD, CD-R
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CD Formats
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Red Book
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Drive mechanism
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Customized CD Pro-8S
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Master-Clock
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Managed via FPGA (decoding + outputs)
|
CD Decoding strategy
|
NXP / Philips CD decoding, jointly to Arm7 controller
|
Disc Drive Motor
|
Precision DC Motor
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Servo power supply
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High-performance multi-stage voltage regulator (high-current)
|
Digital decoder
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Proprietary ISC (Isolated Synchronous Circuit) via FPGA
|
Digital isolators
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Custom designed discrete circuit with high-speed isolators
|
Digital Output
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1 AQlink PRO - I2S serial bus (etherCON RJ45)
2 S/PDIF 75 Ω (1 coaxial BNC, 1 coaxial RCA) 1 AES/EBU (XLR) 110 Ω 1 AT&T (ST Fiber) |
Word Clock Output
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1 coaxial BNC 75 ohm
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AQlink (I2S bus)
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CMOS level
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Native Sample Rate
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16 bit / 44.1kHz
|
Front Panel
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Standby, Display, Play, Pause, Stop, Previous, Next Switches
|
Display
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Micro-LED display with adjustable brightness and off-selectable illumination
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Remote Control
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Infra Red (RC5)
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Disc loading
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Top-Loading (Manual)
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Dimensions
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( W x D x H ) 450 x 370 x 100 mm
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Weight
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10 kg
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Front finish
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Satin Alu Silver or Satin Black
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Case finish
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Grey Nextel powder coated
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MORE PICTURES
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INFO AND SUPPORT
Owner's Manual
La Diva M2
FEATURES
LATEST REVIEWS
"The Aqua Acoustic Quality LinQ Network Player, Diva 2 CD Transport, and Formula DAC possess a naturalness and realism that make them sound different, and in many ways better, than other digital. ....
If you’re in the market for a digital front end, these exceptional products from Italy should be on your shortlist. They made an indelible impression on me, and I suspect that they will on you, as well. "
Read the full review >
If you’re in the market for a digital front end, these exceptional products from Italy should be on your shortlist. They made an indelible impression on me, and I suspect that they will on you, as well. "
Read the full review >
Robert Harley, editor in chief of The Absolute Sound
"Unlike many other manufacturers, Aqua does not bulk up, but relies on a relatively light construction that is nonetheless mechanically solid and a delight to the touch - the basic operation via toggle switch on the device alone is a show in itself. In order to fully exploit the Redbook format, Aqua components communicate with each other via I2S. The result is an incredibly lively, open style that belies bitrate number games and leaves the majority of streaming setups behind." (TRANSLATED)
Michael Vrzal - Read more >
Michael Vrzal - Read more >
FIDELITY AWARD 2024: Superior!
SoundStage! Australia Products of the Year Awards 2023
"There’s no disputing the excellence of the CD format even in these days of high-resolution streaming which can stretch to multiples beyond the Redbook standard’s humble 16-bit/44.1 kHz. In fact, a sizeable percentage of experienced audio enthusiasts still rate the CD as the sonically superior digital format.
The Aqua Acoustic Quality La Diva M2 is at the vanguard of the CD format’s purest principles. It’s a transport only, which allows mating to your DAC cocktail of choice with its own concoction of flavours. Its disc-spinning mechanism’s excellent design will precisely read the pits and flawlessly dispatch an undistorted flow of data to its DAC destination."
Edgar Kramer, editor in chief of SoundStage! Australia
Read the full review >
The Aqua Acoustic Quality La Diva M2 is at the vanguard of the CD format’s purest principles. It’s a transport only, which allows mating to your DAC cocktail of choice with its own concoction of flavours. Its disc-spinning mechanism’s excellent design will precisely read the pits and flawlessly dispatch an undistorted flow of data to its DAC destination."
Edgar Kramer, editor in chief of SoundStage! Australia
Read the full review >
La Diva M2 | HFA Award
"The La Diva M2 retains all the aspects for which I feel that the CD format still has the edge. These include the unequaled free-breathing sense of flow, the more organic imaging, and a superb level of refinement and air. Along with this, the M2 brings a newfound level of richness and tonal saturation and considerably wider and deeper soundstaging, compared to the original La Diva."
Christiaan Punter | HFA Hifi-Advice
Read the full review >
Christiaan Punter | HFA Hifi-Advice
Read the full review >
"If you are still committed to the compact disc, Aqua Audio’s La Diva transport and Formula xHD DAC is the loveliest combination I’ve had the pleasure to listen to. Period."
Jeff Dorgay | TONEAudio
Read the full review >
Jeff Dorgay | TONEAudio
Read the full review >
DIGITAL PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
and the Magazine Cover!
and the Magazine Cover!
