Aqua
LinQ Modular Network Interface
Introduced 2019$6,320 MSRP
The LinQ is Aqua's modular network transport/interface, built around a fully isolated, upgradeable multi-board platform with up to four plug-in renderer modules (Roon-ready HQPlayer Core+NAA, UPnP/DLNA, Squeezelite, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect) and a proprietary internally-developed, galvanically isolated LAN switch stage. It deliberately omits a USB output, instead delivering its cleanest signal over Aqua's proprietary AQlink I2S connection alongside conventional S/PDIF, AES/EBU, and dual-AES outputs.
MSRP
$6,320
Used market · Good
$5,250
-17% vs MSRP
as of Sep 1, 2026MSRP to used market
From $6,320 at launch to $5,250 today.
Specifications
- Price
- $6,500–$7,850 depending on configuration per The Absolute Sound (2024); entry price ~$6,320 with one module per Tone Publications; base "Renderer 1" configuration €5,960 (~$6,320) including one module, Core configuration €7,450 (~$7,850) per Dutch retailer FWD; UK price £4,982 base / £5,990 with Roon+UPnP per Hi-Fi News
- Weight
- 9 kg
- Dimensions
- 450 x 100 x 370 mm
- Chassis build
- Aluminium anti-resonant cabinet with Nextel finish; OLED display, optional RC5 IR remote; designed and hand-made in Italy
- Digital input
- 1x Ethernet (RJ45), DHCP auto-configuration, no manual network setup required
- Digital outputs
- AQlink I2S (Ethercon RJ-45, PCM 32-bit/384kHz / DSD128 max); dual-AES/EBU XLR (PCM 24-bit/384kHz / DSD128 max); single AES/EBU XLR (PCM 24-bit/192kHz / DSD64 max); S/PDIF BNC and S/PDIF RCA (PCM 24-bit/192kHz / DSD64 max each)
- Network isolation
- Internal custom-developed, galvanically isolated LAN switch module; two separate low-noise C-Core power transformers for network and digital-decoding circuitry
- Power consumption
- 5W
- Jitter performance
- 8psec via Mytek Bridge DAC, 9psec via Musical Fidelity MX-DAC, at 48/96kHz sample rates
- Dimensions w x h x d
- 450 x 100 x 370 mm
- Available renderer modules
- HQPlayer Core + NAA (cascade), HQPlayer NAA, UPnP/DLNA (JPLAY Certified), Qobuz Connect, Squeezelite, Tidal Connect — up to 4 module slots, sold separately
- Jitter performance measured
- 8psec via Mytek Bridge DAC, 9psec via Musical Fidelity MX-DAC, at 48/96kHz sample rates
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