This fantastic amp deserves a dedicated thread so we can exchange impressions and tips…
The Company – Riviera Audio Labs
Riviera Audio Labs is an Italian high-end company, founded in 2017 and specialized in amplifiers (headphones, line amps, power amps). Riviera may be fairly new, but the designer and mastermind behind these projects, Luca Chiomenti, has been designing amps for decades and has a very solid reputation in Italy and beyond.
For his latest enterprise, he teamed up with partners Silvio Delfino and Marco Muzio to propose super high-end, no-compromise objects entirely manufactured in Italy. I read that they are sourcing parts from the local aeronautic industry supply chain around Naples. I suspect that the name makes reference to the beautiful coast of that area.
AIC-10 headphones amplifier
The AIC-10 is a hybrid amp, pure “A” class, employing a triode valve (ECC82/12AU7 type) in the pre-amp section. It has two headphones outputs (unbalanced 6.35 and balanced 4 pin). Due to the amplifier design these two outputs will sound identical but it is nice to have the choice to match our headphones cables’ termination. On the back it has 3 line inputs and speaker outputs.
On the front, a knob allows to choose the line input, a second knob selects output (high gain headphones, low gain headphones, speakers), a third knob is for volume.
The declared power is 10W per channel at 8 ohms. I haven’t tried this function, but this amp will easily power speakers with medium sensitivity in normally sized rooms. A remote control for volume is also supplied.
Oh, and it costs approx. 15k euros in Europe, ouch! (mine is second hand, still…)
For those who would like to delve into technical details, I paste here some professional reviews and an explanation of Chiomenti about his design philosophy.
How does it look?
The AIC-10 is is quite big measuring 26×43.5×14.5h cm with a weight of 14.4 Kg. Several people mentioned to me that it looks beautiful... I don’t know, I am not particularly attracted by hi-fi gear, but it does look impeccably finished, sturdy yet polished. Mine is anthracite gray, it catches the eye but doesn’t stand out as an alien box in my sitting room. Understated class…
Listening impressions
I’ll start by saying that I really love this amp and I have the pleasant feeling that is a product that will be with me for life. I may change DAC (hopefully in many years), I may be tempted by new headphones in the future, but the Riviera will stay. I believe it will become a classic over time.
It is very versatile, it drives perfectly sensitive as well as difficult headphones. Its sound signature can be tweaked to match cans and taste. Leaving electrostatic headphones aside, I think it can beautifully drive all TOTL headphones in the market today and - I dare to say – it will do so in the future as well. (For the very peculiar Raals I read that there are limitations, others can comment).
So how does it sound? It sounds great! Yes, but how? Well, it depends on the small ECC82 which it mounts. The AIC-10 comes by default with a JJ tube manufactured in Slovakia and that is the best “modern” tube you can get today. However, it is strongly recommended, among others by Chiomenti himself, to replace it with a quality NOS to get the max out of the Riviera.
Which is how I (happily) fell into the NOS hole…
I will give some specific examples with different tubes in the next post.
The Company – Riviera Audio Labs
Riviera Audio Labs is an Italian high-end company, founded in 2017 and specialized in amplifiers (headphones, line amps, power amps). Riviera may be fairly new, but the designer and mastermind behind these projects, Luca Chiomenti, has been designing amps for decades and has a very solid reputation in Italy and beyond.
For his latest enterprise, he teamed up with partners Silvio Delfino and Marco Muzio to propose super high-end, no-compromise objects entirely manufactured in Italy. I read that they are sourcing parts from the local aeronautic industry supply chain around Naples. I suspect that the name makes reference to the beautiful coast of that area.
AIC-10 headphones amplifier
The AIC-10 is a hybrid amp, pure “A” class, employing a triode valve (ECC82/12AU7 type) in the pre-amp section. It has two headphones outputs (unbalanced 6.35 and balanced 4 pin). Due to the amplifier design these two outputs will sound identical but it is nice to have the choice to match our headphones cables’ termination. On the back it has 3 line inputs and speaker outputs.
On the front, a knob allows to choose the line input, a second knob selects output (high gain headphones, low gain headphones, speakers), a third knob is for volume.
The declared power is 10W per channel at 8 ohms. I haven’t tried this function, but this amp will easily power speakers with medium sensitivity in normally sized rooms. A remote control for volume is also supplied.
Oh, and it costs approx. 15k euros in Europe, ouch! (mine is second hand, still…)
For those who would like to delve into technical details, I paste here some professional reviews and an explanation of Chiomenti about his design philosophy.
- Chiomenti on his design approach: https://www.rivieralabs.com/en/project/technology/
- http://gpoint-audio.com/new-riviera...ted-amplifier-test-by-fidelio-on-musicalhead/
- https://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/riviera/1.html
How does it look?
The AIC-10 is is quite big measuring 26×43.5×14.5h cm with a weight of 14.4 Kg. Several people mentioned to me that it looks beautiful... I don’t know, I am not particularly attracted by hi-fi gear, but it does look impeccably finished, sturdy yet polished. Mine is anthracite gray, it catches the eye but doesn’t stand out as an alien box in my sitting room. Understated class…
Listening impressions
I’ll start by saying that I really love this amp and I have the pleasant feeling that is a product that will be with me for life. I may change DAC (hopefully in many years), I may be tempted by new headphones in the future, but the Riviera will stay. I believe it will become a classic over time.
It is very versatile, it drives perfectly sensitive as well as difficult headphones. Its sound signature can be tweaked to match cans and taste. Leaving electrostatic headphones aside, I think it can beautifully drive all TOTL headphones in the market today and - I dare to say – it will do so in the future as well. (For the very peculiar Raals I read that there are limitations, others can comment).
So how does it sound? It sounds great! Yes, but how? Well, it depends on the small ECC82 which it mounts. The AIC-10 comes by default with a JJ tube manufactured in Slovakia and that is the best “modern” tube you can get today. However, it is strongly recommended, among others by Chiomenti himself, to replace it with a quality NOS to get the max out of the Riviera.
Which is how I (happily) fell into the NOS hole…
I will give some specific examples with different tubes in the next post.
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