Metronome’s updated AQWO series is aimed at listeners who still value a dedicated digital front end built around optical discs, but who also expect modern usability and careful system integration. The two highlighted components, the t|AQWO 2 SACD/CD transport and the c|AQWO 2 external DAC, are not general-purpose lifestyle products. They are specialized digital separates, each focused on a clearly defined role: one reads SACD and CD media, while the other performs digital-to-analog conversion with a choice of DAC architectures and an optional tube output stage. That separation of duties is central to their appeal. Rather than combining every function in one box, Metronome has developed a transport and DAC intended to be partnered, configured, and powered with attention to mechanical stability, electrical isolation, and long-term usability.
A transport designed around physical media
The t|AQWO 2 is first and foremost an SACD/CD transport. That makes it a product for users who have invested in disc libraries and want a dedicated machine for extracting digital data from those discs before passing it to an external DAC. In an audio market increasingly shaped by streaming, a purpose-built transport remains attractive for a specific reason: it gives disc playback a permanent, high-quality role in a system rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Metronome’s approach emphasizes the mechanical side of disc reading. The t|AQWO 2 uses a proprietary optical drive with top-loading disc operation, a precision mechanism, and an internal vibration-decoupling system based on three bearings. These details matter because an optical transport is a physical device as much as it is a digital one. The disc must be held, read, and controlled consistently, and unwanted vibration is one of the factors manufacturers try to manage in high-end disc playback. The top-loading layout also gives the transport a deliberate, tactile operating style that will appeal to owners who enjoy the ritual of playing physical media.
External power as part of the architecture
One of the more distinctive design choices is the use of a separate Metronome Elektra power supply for the t|AQWO 2. This remote supply includes three toroidal transformers, with independent power dedicated to different parts of the transport circuitry. The purpose of this architecture is not convenience; it is separation. By moving power supply duties into a dedicated enclosure and dividing supply responsibilities among multiple transformers, the design gives each circuit area its own electrical support.
The same broader philosophy appears in the c|AQWO 2 DAC, which is supplied with a Metronome Electra power supply using four toroidal transformers. In the DAC, those transformers are assigned to individual circuit blocks. For prospective owners, this helps explain the market positioning of these components. They are not compact digital accessories built around a single wall supply. They are full-scale separates where power delivery is treated as part of the core engineering, alongside the disc mechanism, conversion stage, and user interface.
A 7-inch touch display with its own supply
Both AQWO 2 components use a 7-inch touch display. In practical terms, the large screen should make operating information easier to see from a normal listening position, especially compared with small text displays common on many digital components. For a disc transport, that can make everyday use more straightforward: track information, playback status, and menu navigation are easier to interpret when the interface is physically large enough to read at a distance.
Metronome also gives the display its own power supply so it does not affect the rest of the circuitry. This is a small but telling point. Displays are necessary for modern usability, yet they are also electrical assemblies within the chassis. By powering the screen separately, Metronome is attempting to preserve the advantages of a modern touch interface while maintaining separation from the audio-related circuitry. The result is a product that does not reject contemporary control features in the name of minimalism, but integrates them in a way consistent with the rest of the design.
Classic appearance with substantial construction
The physical construction of both components is also part of the AQWO 2 identity. Each uses a front panel machined from a 20 mm thick aluminum plate, and the t|AQWO 2’s disc-loading tray is made almost invisible to preserve a classic component appearance. This design language matters in systems where equipment is expected to look permanent, substantial, and visually coherent rather than temporary or computer-like.
The availability of black and silver finishes also supports system matching. That may sound simple, but it is useful for a product intended to sit among other high-end separates. The design is not built around novelty shapes or decorative excess. Instead, the thick aluminum, concealed loading arrangement, and large display create a balance between traditional hi-fi presence and contemporary operation.
The c|AQWO 2 DAC and its dual-DAC concept
The c|AQWO 2 is described as an external DAC without additional functionality, which is itself an important positioning choice. It is not presented as a streamer, preamplifier, or all-in-one digital hub. Its role is digital-to-analog conversion, and Metronome has expanded that role by using two separate DAC chips: the AKM 4499EX from Asahi Kasei and the ESS 9039 from ESS Technology.
The appeal of this arrangement is flexibility within a dedicated DAC. With a button press, the user can select between the two DAC implementations, giving the component two conversion paths rather than one fixed architecture. The source material describes this as providing two different sound characters; without making listening claims, the practical point is that the owner is not locked into a single DAC-chip approach. For listeners who value configurability but do not want a multifunction component, this is a distinctive way to offer choice while keeping the product’s purpose narrow.
Optional tube output stage for additional character
Metronome also offers an optional output stage based on Philips NOS JAN 6922 tubes operating in class A. When combined with the two DAC-chip choices, this option expands the number of available output configurations. The significance is not simply that tubes are included as a nostalgic feature. Rather, the optional stage gives owners another layer of system tailoring at the analog output end of the DAC.
This can be especially relevant in high-resolution systems where the DAC is a major contributor to overall system character. Some users may prefer the standard output arrangement; others may want the tube option for a different presentation. The key attraction is that the choice is built into the product concept rather than requiring the owner to change the entire DAC or add a separate buffer stage.
Streaming as an option, not the central identity
The t|AQWO 2 also offers an optional network streaming module. This is a notable addition because it recognizes how many modern systems combine physical media and network playback. At the same time, streaming is not what defines the component. The t|AQWO 2 remains a transport whose main purpose is SACD and CD playback, with network capability available for those who want to extend its usefulness beyond discs.
That approach may suit listeners who do not want to abandon physical media but also do not want their digital front end to feel isolated from contemporary sources. By making streaming optional, Metronome keeps the product focused while allowing owners to choose whether that capability belongs in their system.
Conclusion
The Metronome t|AQWO 2 and c|AQWO 2 are most suitable for listeners building a serious digital front end around separates, especially those with SACD and CD collections who want disc playback treated as a primary source. The transport’s proprietary top-loading mechanism, vibration-decoupling system, external Elektra power supply, and large isolated touch display all reinforce its disc-first purpose. The c|AQWO 2 complements it with a focused external DAC design, dual DAC-chip selection, a substantial multi-transformer power supply, and an optional class-A tube output stage using Philips NOS JAN 6922 tubes. Together, the updated AQWO components stand out for their combination of physical-media commitment, modern control, careful power architecture, and configurable conversion options. They are best matched to owners who value dedicated engineering, tactile operation, and the flexibility to shape a high-end digital source without moving to an all-in-one platform.
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