AVID Ingenium, Diva II SP, and Sequel SP

Diva versus Sequel

The Diva’s tight and focused, ballsy sound provides arguably less romance than the Sequel but in terms of bass incisiveness, solidity, expression, and all-out funkiness, given identical circumstances, even the Sequel does not improve on it. Then again, the Diva can be made to sound more mellifluous and the Sequel tighter and more incisive, by the choice of arm and cartridge.

It seems that most of the Sequel’s advances stem from its bottom chassis, and it’s likely that the more floaty suspension makes for that beautifully large soundstage and the heightened sense of flow while also introducing the slightly less incisive bass as noticed.

It’s also worth noting that for this direct comparison I am really zooming in on the differences. it’s not like the Diva is not soulful or the Sequel cannot funk. They are both very neutral and most definitely all-rounders. Judged on their own, both players remain true to the records that are played, and both relay the music in an exceedingly transparent manner. If I’m honest, both the Diva and the Sequel are even more linear and uncolored than my Origin Live turntable.

In order to achieve the very best possible balance for each turntable, I would recommend paring the Diva with a sophisticated and slightly smooth-sounding cartridge such as the Audio Technica AT33Sa (see below) and the Sequel with a neutral and robust sounding cartridge such as the Dynavector 10×5, or preferably a model higher up in this brand’s range. Personally, I prefer low-output MCs for their higher resolution and greater sense of subtlety.

All that said I think that by now I have a very good grasp of what the decks are capable of but I should still note that my observations only pertain to the limited range of tonearms and cartridges that I had available. If this review made anything abundantly clear, it’s that, with another arm and another cartridge, the balance can always be titled in a very different direction.

Audio Technica AT33sa

After having almost finished this review, I also obtained an Audio Technica AT33sa cartridge. This article is already getting way too long so I will save all the details for an upcoming separate review of this cartridge.

Suffice to say that, surprisingly, this 800-euro low output MC cartridge with Shibata stylus works equally well with both the TA-3 arm and the PU7 arm. It upgrades the TA-3 arm by adding finesse and air and achieves a perfect balance with the Diva. Meanwhile, it also enhances the PU7 arm’s inherent smoothness on the Sequel and further increases the resolution compared to the Dynavector cartridge.

Back to the Ingenium

In all my enthusiasm in taking the Diva and Sequel to ever greater heights, it would almost seem like I had forgotten all about the Ingenium. I really hadn’t but the decision to try the TA-1 arm and CA-1 cartridge with the Diva and Sequel simply required following that path until the end. Anyway, the Ingenium may be the entry-level player, but its chassis and bearing are top-shelf and most definitely worthy of hosting a better cartridge and maybe even a better tonearm, although the Audio Origami PU7 would be misplaced simply due to it costing almost double the Ingenium’s price.

Ingenium with TA-3 arm and Nagaoka MP-150

Considering that the Nagaoka is a much more precise cartridge than the entry-level AVID CA-1 cartridge, this time around I made sure to mount the arm with the right amount of VTA by raising the pivot point the required 3,5 mm by using stacks of 3 metal washers.

Going from the TA-1 arm with CA-1 cartridge to the TA-3 arm with Nagaoka cartridge, it is instantly clear that the Ingenium does indeed have the basics right. After having enjoyed the Diva and the Sequel, I do now hear the platter’s MDF material as a dark wooden coloration and muffling of texture and fine detail. It’s an organizationally simpler sound with less transparency and expression. The Ingenium also sounds less solid and forceful than the Diva, but it has to be said, it is still surprisingly groovy and engaging and otherwise really not too dissimilar in overall character. It has the same kind of undisturbed calmness and gently smooth fullness that I have come to find typical of AVID turntables. Also, just like its larger brothers, but unlike many rival entry-level turntables, the Ingenium has a sound that is never lean or synthetic.

That makes sense, of course, given the same bearing and differently-styled but just as rigid and torsion-free chassis. The biggest difference from a mechanical point of view is in the platter and I have a strong feeling that this is responsible for the bulk of the aforementioned differences with the remainder stemming from the simpler AC motor and, perhaps, the single belt. Having heard first-hand just how great the Diva is, I only wish the Ingenium also had an aluminum platter, but then it would probably easily cost 1000 euros more.

But apart from comparisons with the upscale models, and more to the point, the Nagaoka works absolutely beautifully with the Ingenium. Now, the tracking is really great, coming close to the Diva’s when that turntable was fitted with this arm/cartridge combination. It takes no effort at all to hear the increase in refinement and precision and although the platter injects the sound with its own character that can be interpreted as warmth or thickness, especially when used with the CA-1 cartridge, the match with the neutral and linear Nagaoka still culminates in a relatively neutral and subjectively rather even-handed sound.

Of course, there are many other cartridges, and I’m sure that others will make a good match or even a better match. But the Nagaoka demonstrates nicely what more the Ingenium can do and at 370 euro, it is a no-brainer upgrade.

Coming away from the Ingenium, I am well aware of its limitations but I also remain surprised at how well-balanced this entry-level turntable is and just how engagingly it performs. I mean, it costs 2700 euros less than the Diva and even includes an arm and cartridge! Of course, the extra money buys very tangible performance improvements but for those who don’t want to spend Diva-kinds of money and still want a player that sounds organic and that looks like it costs serious money, there is no beating the Ingenium.

Clamp tightening

Depending on the tonearm that is used, AVID turntables can have an overly business-like, vice-like kind of replay. Prior to the experiences that I gained from this review, I always thought that the clamp system was to blame. After all, experiments with other turntables have confirmed that removing the clamp leads to a freer and more fluid sound. In retrospect, though, I have learned that this can indeed happen with SME and Rega tonearms and certain cartridge combinations, but not at all with the Audio Origami PU7 arm.

When removing the AVID clamp, the record is lifted in the center and thus only supported there and at the sides. Even when playing the first track (where the record is supported and actually flat), this leads to a thinning and graying of the sound, with lean bass and desaturated tonality and not at all to any more fluidity or flow. With the clamp in place, the sound is very noticeably more robust, dynamic, and propulsive.

Interestingly, I did notice that the sound can be affected by the clamp’s tightness. AVID recommends a hand-tight tightening of the clamp. I tested this out and found that too loose is not good but neither is turning it too tightly. Too loose and you won’t push the LP down enough, leading to a thinner sound. Too tight and the music will start to sound spatially and dynamically restrained. The best balance is obtained by turning the clamp just until you can feel it pushing the LP onto the platter and then give it about 2 extra centimeters, equivalent to the amount of one of the clamp’s indentations. At first, this may seem like it’s too loose and you’ll want to apply more force but soon enough you get a feel for it. Bottom line, I encourage the user to just experiment with it.

Summary and Conclusion

The beauty of reviewing a cross-section of a manufacturer’s products as I have done here is that it illustrates the company’s vision perfectly. From the entry-level Ingenium to the high-tier Sequel, the products ooze substance and quality.

The Ingenium provides superb value for money. In its price class, I think it has virtually no competition. Of course, as an entry-level turntable, it can be improved upon, but I remain surprised at how well-balanced it is and just how engagingly it performs. For those who don’t want to spend Diva-kinds of money and still want a player that sounds organic and that looks like it costs serious money, there is no beating the Ingenium. And because AVID has made no compromises with its chassis you can always upgrade the player later with a better cartridge or perhaps even a better arm.

All of AVID’s designs share the same foundations of a powerful motor (and even more so in heft and torque, as you progress up the range) combined with an extremely stable, 100% torsion-free chassis.

Of course, the better motors and electronics, as well as the heavier aluminum platters and the elaborate suspension of the higher-tier Diva and Sequel, all add up to ever more impressive results. If the budget stretches, the Diva II SP warrants a higher recommendation than the Ingenium, but at a significant extra cost, and it doesn’t include an arm or cartridge.

In and of themselves, the AVID turntables have a forcefully solid, grounded, and tonally full-bodied, but also slightly relaxed and gently smooth presentation. The interesting thing is that they are also very neutral and highly revealing of all the aspects of the tonearm and cartridge that are mounted on them. In fact, the Diva and Sequel seem to be considerably more neutral, linear, and transparent than any other turntable that I have used thus far.

Their super-rigid chassis and impressive bearing and platter work together to provide a concentrated, super-robust foundation. With the wrong arm and cartridge, this can lead to a sound that seems vice-like, with reduced breathing and flow and a certain restraint spatially and dynamically. But with the right arm and cartridge, the music is bold and grounded as well as extremely lifelike and convincing. For instance, with the Audio Origami arm and any cartridge that I tried, the Diva, and the Sequel even more so, sounded consistently stellar, with just the right balance between technical perfection, unbridled dynamics, ultra-refinement, and free-flowing naturalness.

If there is one thing to take away from this experience, it is that besides tonearms and cartridges, I think there are many more ancillaries in and around the system that may be limiting factors, but one won’t soon find any limitations within the turntables themselves.

As has no doubt has become crystal clear after reading this review, I am quite impressed. And indeed, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Diva and the Sequel models. The Ingenium is also recommended in terms of value but in absolute terms, if the budget stretches, a big leap in performance can be made by going for the Diva II SP.

Update December 2022

After the Sequel SP turntable was on loan once again for the purpose of reviewing the BORON cartridge and I positioned the player from the Artesania Modular Platform to the Artesania Digital Server Platform instead of my usual Origin Live turntable, I was in for a surprise.

Apparently, both turntables work much more synergistically on the latter platform. Now, I realized that I had erroneously attributed external aspects to the turntable itself… a rooky mistake! Yes, the Sequel SP is super-articulate, ultra-neutral, and very precise, but with synergistic support, it craftily avoids verging over to the analytical side.

Moreover, the Sequel SP now also gained some of the qualities in which the Origin Live turntable previously still excelled, such as delicacy, flow, and decay. The Sequel SP was already hugely impressive in many other terrains but these remaining aspects were what made me prefer the Origin Live.

Meanwhile, the BORON cartridge offered a level of resolution and openness that my trusty Aidas Rainbow could simply not achieve. And after some final fine-tuning on the CH P1 phono stage, the turntable performed absolutely fantastically across the board.

Diva II and Sequel SP

Associated Equipment

External Links

Distributor for the Benelux: Hexagon Audio
Manufacturer’s website: AvidHifi

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