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AVID Diva II SP (no arm)

Turntable

Relative price

typical

Among the 40 turntables in the catalogue, this one is typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

DSP-controlled PSU "stolen" from Volvere; 6kg aluminium platter replaces Diva II MDF.

Hi-Fi+ "approaches Volvere in absolute terms".

Tonearm cut for SME mounting; adapters available for Rega.

Competition record

Assessed against 7 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 55 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • mechanical hush ×47
  • speed stability ×3

Who it comes up against

Vertere DG-X Sabre Lite Pack

17 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Anchored brief, the Vertere DG-X Sabre Lite Pack keeps the slot decisively.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on mechanical hush.

On its own merits the AVID Diva II SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.

low noise floorPROXY: Vertere deck house

Technics SL-1200G

17 lost · Anchored, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path, Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Technics SL-1200G keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the AVID Diva II SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

speed stability competitive with any turntable availableStereophile measurements + Audio Appraisal review

Pro-Ject Debut Pro (with cart)

10 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Vocals-First

Against the Anchored brief, the Pro-Ject Debut Pro (with cart) keeps the slot decisively.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on mechanical hush.

On its own merits the AVID Diva II SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.

great PRaT, the Diva is especially funkyHiFi-Advice (Punter) 2021

Michell Gyro 2025

7 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Michell Gyro 2025 keeps the slot by a whisker.

With the Michell TecnoArm 2, the pairing gives up most on mechanical hush.

On its own merits the AVID Diva II SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.

exceptionally quiet, suspended sub-chassis isolates platterHi-Fi News Michell Gyro 2025 review

Technics SL-1500CS (with cart)

2 lost · Silent Path, Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Technics SL-1500CS (with cart) keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the AVID Diva II SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.

stability and focus of the soundWhat Hi-Fi?, 2019 (SL-1500C)

AVID Volvere SP (no arm)

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the AVID Volvere SP (no arm) keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the AVID Diva II SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (no arm)

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (no arm) keeps the slot by a whisker.

With the Origin Live Encounter Mk5, the pairing gives up most on mechanical hush.

On its own merits the AVID Diva II SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.

silent backgroundPROXY: Origin Live Aurora line

What the reviewers said

Diva II with separate PSU upgrade AVID Diva II SP positioning· Bass control
great PRaT, the Diva is especially funky HiFi-Advice (Punter) 2021· Timing precision
smaller and flatter than the Sequel HiFi-Advice (Punter) 2021· Spatial naturalness
lower deck and spring suspension HiFi-Advice (Punter) 2021· Acoustic isolation

How it scores

Clarity

  • Mechanical noise floor 70 from specification

Voice

  • Spatial naturalness 70 from listening evidence

Rhythm

  • Timing precision 76 from listening evidence

Bass

  • Bass control 71 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Acoustic isolation 70 from listening evidence

Specifications

drive typebelt (twin)
motor type24V AC DSP-controlled
speeds rpm33.33/45
speed changeelectronic (push-button)
platter materialaluminium machined solid
platter mass kg6.0
plinth materialcast aluminium one-piece
suspension typerigid (Sorbothane pods)
bearing typeTungsten carbide/sapphire
dimensions mm450/140/390
weight kg12.8
psu typeexternal DSP-regulated
notes