Ferrero L9

Reviewer: Simone Ragionieri
Source: Generic 5G router into Taiko Audio network switch both powered by a Zayin Audio Suprareg; Taiko Olympus XDMI Server; LampizatOr Horizon 360 DAC
Headphone amplifier: Riviera Audio Labs AIC-10
Headphones: Spirit Torino Valkyria, Raal 1995 Immanis
Loudspeakers: Diesis Audio Aura SE
Cables: complete Faber's Cables La Potenza loom
Power delivery: Faber's Cables La Potenza power distributor and ground box, Furutech NCF AC wall plugs on a dedicated spur
Room size: 5 x 4.5 x 2.7m
Room treatments: Eight ceiling diffusers, floor-to-ceiling acoustic curtains on sidewalls, Vicoustic VicTotem Ultra VMT in front corners
Review component retail ex VAT: €TBA

Designed by engineer Alberto Ferrero whose background includes sophisticated military electronics, with voicing input by Acustica Applicata, their Ferrero L9 is a classic valve preamp with EL84 gain, 5AR4 rectifier and EL34 stabilizer tubes plus "tech innovations from cutting-edge parts completely new to the audio industry and derived from the military sector to optimize tube linearity with high input impedance, high gain, low noise, extremely low output impedance and total absence of DC at the output." With our man in Milan already in possession of his loaner, we'll soon learn how thermionic past and 21st-century Italian military present meet up in 2026. With Acustica Applicata also distributing the exotic valve electronics of Alieno, one expects the uncommon. Simone felt likewise to request this assignation. – Ed.