What it is
Conrad Mas "cascading" design — Diva II shares core elements with Acutus flagship.
Hi-Fi+ "more of the same with a definite nod toward the big AVID turntables like Sequel and Acutus".
RIGID: despite the Sorbothane elastomer pods and visual similarity to Volvere/Sequel, the pods are NOT a sub-chassis suspension — they are fixed parts of the chassis with sorbothane internal damping. Diva II is a rigid design, not sprung. Suspended sub-chassis starts at Volvere SP.
Who it comes up against
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 (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.
acquit themselves respectablyHi-Fi+ (Dickinson) 2015
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 (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.
acquit themselves respectablyHi-Fi+ (Dickinson) 2015
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 (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.
acquit themselves respectablyHi-Fi+ (Dickinson) 2015
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 (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.
acquit themselves respectablyHi-Fi+ (Dickinson) 2015
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 (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.
acquit themselves respectablyHi-Fi+ (Dickinson) 2015
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 (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.
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 (no arm) is the stronger record deck — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Origin Live Encounter Mk5 gives up mechanical hush under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.
acquit themselves respectablyHi-Fi+ (Dickinson) 2015