Riviera APL-01SE

One slightly used preamplifier in dark titanium, from spring 2025 and sold complete with all accessories and original flight case.

Reference Tube Line Preamplifier

The APL01SE represents the ultimate expression of Riviera’s expertise in the domain of preamplifiers. Every aspect of its design has been meticulously optimised to prioritise musical performance over mere technical specifications.
The audio circuit is entirely tube-based, employing a Class A, Zero Feedback configuration to deliver exceptional musical results and demonstrate remarkable technical performance. The SRPP design, meticulously optimised to deliver the specific type of distortion with an ‘aural’ distribution of harmonics that ensures absolute transparency to the human ear, a hallmark of Riviera’s designs.
The power supply, a traditional linear and non-switching configuration, is remarkably oversized, featuring a transformer of approximately 200VA. The power supply has been developed with music in mind, employing unusual and elegant solutions such as a double inductive pigreco filter and a parallel stabiliser circuit for regulating the anode power supply. The APL01SE employs a total of six separate stabilised power supplies.
The balanced (true) inputs are made with high-quality transformers featuring a mumetal core and external mumetal shielding.
The volume control features a TKD motorised potentiometer of the highest quality, with an internal ladder-type configuration that is truly unparalleled in the market. The result is comparable to that of the best stepped attenuator while offering the fine-grained precision found in a true potentiometer. It is also elastically mounted on the chassis to prevent the transmission of vibrations.
The balance control is implemented with two separate potentiometers for Left and Right, mounted on the output to circumvent the degradation of sound quality typically caused by the standard solution of two potentiometers in cascade at the input.
The only capacitor on the signal is a mix of capacitors from different technologies, selected and optimised for the best sonic result.
The signal output is routed through customised transformers of exceptional quality, for both balanced and unbalanced output. This ensures that both outputs offer the same reference-level results. Riviera believes that the mechanical behaviour of a device, especially a preamplifier, has a significant influence on the sonic result, which is why a great deal of effort was put into the mechanical design. The APL01SE weighs over 25kg, with many parts machined from solid aluminum. Everything in this unit has been designed to contribute to a reference level result.

All-valve audio circuit
Zero Feedback
Class A
Solid-state power supply with double pigreco filter, stabilised with unconventional circuitry
5 unbalanced line inputs
2 balanced line inputs (transformer)
1 customisable Aux input
Tape input/output
Transformer outputs
2 balanced + 2 unbalanced line outputs (suitable for multi-amping)
Gain: 10.5dB
Input impedance: 47k
Valves used: 2x 6350/6463
Remote control
Dimensions: 44x49x19.5(h) cm
Weight: 27 Kg