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Aqua Acoustic La Diva M2
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.
• 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) outputconnection 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
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Professional Reviews 92/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
96/100
Features Usability
87/100
Value for Money
86/100
Built for precise timing and a low-noise digital handoff, the La Diva M2 turns Red Book CDs into an incisive, fluid listening experience. Jason Kennedy and Edgar Kramer praise its dynamics, tonal texture, and rock-solid build, while the top-loading design and generous output options make it a serious, beautifully engineered transport for revealing DACs.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Exceptionally clear, fluid, and rhythmically confident sound with strong transient attack and dynamic expression.
Very low noise floor and excellent digital signal integrity, with no blurring or vagueness in leading edges.
Top-class build quality with a customized CD-Pro8-S mechanism, vibration control, and premium finishing.
Unusually rich digital connectivity for a transport, including AQlink Pro I2S, coaxial S/PDIF, AES/EBU, fiber, and word clock.
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Cons
The manual top-loading design can be fiddly if the transport is placed on a lower shelf, especially when using the magnetic puck.
It is a pure CD transport, so it offers no USB output and no support for SACD or DVD-Audio.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
Reviewers consistently describe the La Diva M2 as fluid, dynamically expressive, and highly engaging, with superb detail retrieval and excellent tonal texture. It is repeatedly praised for strong timing, transient speed, bass control, and a vivid, musical presentation that stays cohesive and natural.
Overall Sound
95/100
Reviewers hear a transport that sounds fluid, full-bodied, and very musical, with terrific immediacy and a strong sense of rhythm. Across multiple discs and DACs it is described as dynamically expressive, open, and incisive without losing flow.
Digital Signal Integrity
94/100
The La Diva M2 gets strong praise for precise servo control, externally generated clocking in the FPGA, and galvanically isolated AQlink I2S. Reviewers report very clear leading edges, extremely low noise, no blurring or vagueness, and strong timing with no digital edginess.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 87/100
For a single-purpose transport, reviewers think it offers unusually rich connectivity and sensible day-to-day operation. The top-loading design, adjustable display, IR remote, and wide range of digital outputs make it easy to integrate, while the software side is not really a factor for this CD transport.
Streaming Software
82/100
This is a pure CD transport, so reviewers do not discuss streaming software or app behavior. What they do mention is straightforward disc-player usability: top loading, front-panel controls, an adjustable display, and a basic IR remote that keep operation simple.
Features Connectivity
98/100
Connectivity is a standout, with AQlink Pro I2S, coaxial BNC and RCA S/PDIF, AES/EBU XLR, AT&T/ST fibre, and a word-clock output. Reviewers explicitly call it a powerhouse of connectivity options for a disc spinner.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
96/100
Reviewers are enthusiastic about the chassis and mechanism, calling the build solid-as and highlighting the anti-resonant Nextel finish, metal flick switches, and conical rubberized feet. The customized CD-Pro8-S mechanism, thick steel enclosure, carbon-fibre top panel, and vibration control all reinforce the sense of serious construction.
Value for Money
86/100
The reviews acknowledge its very high price by implication, especially alongside a much cheaper Yamaha competitor, but they stop short of calling it overpriced. The value discussion is mostly framed as an audiophile choice for those prioritizing pure CD performance, rather than a universal bargain.
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Authorized dealers for Aqua Acoustic La Diva M2
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- Ars Antiqua Audio — in-store — Boadilla del Monte, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Concept - Luxembourg — in-store — Gare, Luxembourg, Luxembourg (website)
- Audio Connect — in-store — Bydgoszcz, Województwo kujawsko-pomorskie, Poland (website)
- Audio Magic — online and in-store — Preston, Victoria, Australia (website)
- AV Corp — online and in-store — Jawor, Województwo dolnośląskie, Poland (website)
- Delve Audio — in-store — Caldwell, New Jersey, United States (website)
- Elite Audio UK — online and in-store — Pittenweem, Escocia, United Kingdom (website)
- Fred's Sound Of Music AV — in-store — Portland, Oregon, United States (website)
- Hearken Audio — online and in-store — Kitchener, Ontario, Canada (website)
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