![avid turntable with sme tonearm avid turntable with sme tonearm](https://www.maplatine.com/en/8412-thickbox_default/avid-diva-ii-p-turntable-sme-309-tonearm.jpg)
There is a reason for that but I’ll get to that point later on. This is a recognised package from AVID, one that its distributors are happy to present to potential customers and so I will reserve my comments on the turntable and the package as a whole. It's possible that the Jelco tonearm, while nicely built, does not have the integrity of the Rega RB300/301 found on many similar turntables in one form or another. My review sample features a SME fitting and a SME IV tonearm.
#Avid turntable with sme tonearm series
That model was rather different, however, and had an SME Series 309 tonearm onboard. We were a little surprised that, despite a good showing, the Diva II didn't seem to perform as well as its predecessor, the original Diva, did back in 2003. String tone is better than average and at least one panellist thought he heard a resemblance to its first presentation several hours earlier. Surface noise is kept well at bay, helpful with even slightly worn LPs. It's also appealingly open, a quality that combines well with strong bass, but imaging could be stronger. That said, it's a vibrant and pacey deck that's slightly lean through the upper bass and has reasonable, if not totally enthralling, timing. Alas, although I really wanted to like these turntables, the fierce bass came along with either a dry midrange and rough, dark, treble or an overly controlled delivery. It has a relatively dry balance that is closer to CD – a quality that will not necessarily endear it to vinyl fiends. There were two sub-chassis turntables that did provide great bass: the Michell Gyro SE with Tecnoarm and the Avid Volvere SE with SME 309 arm. The arm cable is a plug-in type with an SME connector and can be upgraded if required.Īlongside the Townshend entry, the Diva II is one of the most neutral sounding turntables around. This is a simple Japanese design with VTA adjustment, sprung anti-skate and dynamic downforce. Motor: 24v 12mNm AC synchronous with dedicated PSU/control unit. Speeds: 33 1/3, 45 rpm, via different diameter pulleys. The Jelco arm is supplied by Avid, as is the cast mounting plate that it sits on. Type: Belt-drive, rigid subchassis turntable. Speed change is not achieved here: this is achieved in the old-fashioned way with an alternative drive pulley. The motor is switched on and off by a separate power supply in a well-finished case. The decision to leave the tonearm business was not taken lightly, especially as we have played a key role in the design and development of the world’s best tonearms. The motor is a separate unit in a heavy steel housing that sits underneath the platter and transmits drive via a round belt to a steel sub-platter. SME press release (December 3): SME will exit the tonearm retail and OEM business with immediate effect shifting our focus on our core turntable and tonearm combination business.