In what became quite an oversaturated market, Riviera Audio Labs returns to Mono & Stereo with a moment of recalibration, featuring the reviewed APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 amplifier.
Resilient and unwavering in their core values, Riviera Audio Labs’ APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 amplifier continue to follow the brand’s renowned sonic trajectory.
However, this time, the design has been subtly tailored for improved practicality—allowing for easier integration of the amplifiers into high-end audio racks.
APL1 Tube Line Preamplifier
The APL1 tube line preamplifier was envisioned from the ground up for those who seek uncompromising sonic performance—just a step below Riviera’s flagship Reference APL01SE.
Positioned as the mid-tier offering in Riviera’s preamplifier lineup, the APL1 proudly reflects the brand’s relentless design philosophy: a pure all-valve architecture, zero feedback topology, and true Class A operation.
Staying true to Riviera’s engineering principles, the APL1 features a refined double Pi-Greco filtered and stabilized anode power supply—one of five independently regulated supplies within the unit.
Many distinctive design features from the APL01SE have been incorporated, such as the output balance control and specially designed output transformers. These transformers ensure consistent, superior performance across balanced and unbalanced outputs, preserving sonic integrity regardless of the system configuration.
The mechanical construction has been carefully executed with a strong emphasis on structure and vibration control, as Riviera believes these elements are essential to achieving genuine high-end performance.
Core highlights include a fully valve-based audio circuit, zero global feedback, Class A topology, and a robustly stabilized power supply.
Inputs comprise two transformer-coupled balanced connections and three unbalanced ones, in addition to a dedicated tape input/output. The APL1 provides a gain of 8 dB.
Riviera Audio Labs AFS32 Stereo Power Amplifier
The AFS32 hybrid stereo power amplifier embodies the essence of Riviera’s amplification philosophy: Zero Overall Feedback, hybrid topology—valves handling voltage amplification, and solid-state devices delivering power—and uncompromising Pure Class A operation. It delivers 2 x 32 watts into 8 ohms and 2 x 64 watts into 4 ohms, with an effortless sense of musicality and natural control that defines Riviera’s sonic signature.
Each channel’s voltage amplification is managed by a pure triode tube operating exclusively in Class A, ensuring a refined, harmonically rich presentation. The output stage incorporates eight solid-state devices per channel, each rated at 150 watts. This robust configuration allows the AFS32 to maintain a firm grip on loudspeakers while preserving finesse and nuance.
The power supply centers around a heavy-duty transformer rated at over 500VA, coupled with a sophisticated Pi-Greco filter network and distributed capacitance design. With more than 150,000 microfarads of total capacitance, the power supply delivers exceptional stability and dynamic headroom.
Deliberately engineered without current-limiting circuitry, the AFS32 is capable of handling even the most complex loads without compromise.
Due to its inherent refinement and substantial driving ability, the AFS32 performs equally well in single-amplification setups or more advanced multi-amplification configurations.
AFS32 includes two unbalanced RCA inputs and two truly balanced XLR inputs, with an overall gain of 26.5 dB.
The Music
The Dunwells – Lucky Ones
It was interesting to observe how the Riviera Audio Labs APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 amplifier wrapped the low-end of “Animal” in a focused, more defined embrace, offering a touch of shimmering warmth that subtly nods to an equipoised tonal balance.
The Riviera stereo amplifier and preamplifier open up a deeper level of listening, with an evenly distributed frequency spectrum revealing each instrument’s role within the composition. Compared to some similarly priced or more expensive gear, the duo naturally enhances the perceived width and depth, all while retaining unrestrained musical drama.
The APL1 and AFS32 add no exaggeration. While some tube preamplifiers stretch lateral imaging artificially, Riviera keeps the spatial dimension intact, with a unique level of crystalline resolution.
Interestingly, reverb and delay tails gain far better density and an impressive, cavernous reach—without compromising the immediacy of transients.
Too many preamplifiers and amplifiers polish the sound too much, leaving listeners with unanswered questions about the music’s intent. Also, when a preamplifier or amplifier lacks proper balance and dynamic potency, the track cannot reach the necessary visceral impact and dimensionality.
Quite the opposite, the Riviera Audio Labs APL1 and AFS32 do not meddle with scale, weight, or tactile energy. Instead, they allow the physical movement of air—the soundwaves—to carry that vital energy density, striking not just the ears but resonating through the chest.
The Riviera Audio Labs preamp and amplifier leave no room for speculation. They infuse the music with a grander touch of soulful electricity. And when “Animal’s” anthemic chorus hits its peak, the rhythmic drive never loses sync.
The reproduction is neither overly polite nor missing that pure rawness and pulse-locking urgency.
“Animal” can easily push electronics into an unsteady state, quickly exposing whether a preamplifier or amplifier fails to render textural layers clearly—often causing friction, where synchronicity should reign and dissonance creeps in instead.
Riviera Audio Labs’ APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 amplifier transcend such shortcomings. Their recognizable harmonic integrity never drifts apart or wrestles with dense harmonic layering. They preserve the music’s coherence, no matter how demanding the sonic landscape becomes.
Djo – Crux
Djo—Joe Keery of Stranger Things fame—returns with his third album, Crux, recorded at the iconic Electric Lady Studios in New York City. This legendary facility provided Keery and producer Adam Thein with the opulence of studio-grade gear and instruments, to fully explore their creativity.
There’s something disarmingly honest about Crux—a slowly revealing, emotionally enticing surrender that poses more than a few challenges for electronics and the high-end audio system.
I’ve learned over the years with evaluating countless high-end audio components, how initial aural hype, later on, almost always results in some form of listening fatigue.
As with every piece of music, the Riviera Audio Labs APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 amplifier do not announce themselves with bravado or over-polished, instant impact. Instead, they present a sonic intimacy that can only stem from true refinement. And that counts more than every awesomeness at the “hello”.
One can immediately sense the shimmering magnetism of the APL1 and AFS32, yet they also unveil their full potency gradually—layer by layer—exploring familiar music.
This Riviera duo evokes a unique, innate sense of presence, devoid of artifice, yet infused with clarity that doesn’t overwhelm the music’s other virtues. It allows the music to swing with grand gestures while nestling a subtle power rooted in timing.
“Basic Being Basic” instantly brought back memories of my previous encounters with the Riviera Audio Labs AFM-100SE and AFM-50 amplifiers, as well as the APL-01SE preamplifier—a fascinating juxtaposition of lightning-fast, thunderous and feather-like motion, along with Technicolor-smooth tone.
With many preamplifiers, dynamics are the first casualty—often compromised by underdeveloped signal paths, inadequate power supplies, circuit design flaws, or poor material choices.
Many amplifiers and preamps may claim to deliver depth or dynamics, but most fall short of rendering true three-dimensionality.
Authentic spatiality demands electronics capable of capturing not only what is present, but also what lies between the notes.
Supported by the AFS32, the Riviera APL1 preamplifier delivers fast attacks and natural note decay without slowing the pulse that drives the Crux—a remarkable feat at any level.
And that’s where the magic of Riviera Audio Labs resides: in its ability to resonate with music through two critical anchors—time and phase.
Exploring this in full would warrant an essay of its own. To put it briefly, the APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 stereo amplifier deliver the essence of music with precision and extraordinary timing. And, in true Riviera Audio Labs fashion, the aural impact lingers—pleasantly and meaningfully—long after the final note fades.
Al Stewart – Year of the Cat
Where many preamplifiers lose scale and dynamic pressure, the Riviera Audio Labs APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 stereo amplifier introduce a front-to-back depth that’s rarely achieved—even at far higher price points.
This Riviera pairing allows for a much deeper sonic dive on Year of the Cat, uncovering spatial and harmonic layers with a level of intimacy that far surpasses its targeted market segment.
“Midas Shadow” unveiled a (non)surprising ebb and flow of musical momentum, with the APL1 and AFS32 adding an excellently curated sense of inertia, unfolding a broader and more dimensional sonic landscape.
Even at this level—and higher—many preamplifiers, whether tube or solid-state, tend to isolate Stewart’s vocal unnaturally.
In contrast, the APL1 and AFS32 bring a refreshing sense of unity to the reproduction. On Year of the Cat, their impact goes far beyond subtlety—delivering a fully formed 3D spatial presence and an expanded soundstage, striking vibrancy, and naturally scaled transparency, all while preserving the integrity of the music.
Across a spectrum of genres, this potent Riviera duo never concealed the subtle sweetness, fluid smoothness, unrestrained dynamics, and—the ability to reflect the sonic sphere without distorting or stretching it into something unnatural.
The APL1 and AFS32 invite you into submarine depths of listening—encouraging you to set aside judgment, remove your analytical hat, and become emotionally immersed. Once again, I can’t think of a more fitting compliment.
The Conclusion
It quickly becomes evident that the Riviera Audio Labs APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 amplifier are far more than the sum of their parts—designed and envisioned from the ground up not merely to work together, but to breathe together in sync.
These are electronics with intent, designed from the ground up not to impose themselves upon the music but to reveal what is musically present. When music unfolds through them, it’s not about a hi-fi parade of sonic fireworks. Something rare occurs: a refined, never-forced reproduction with tactile depth and superb transient agility.
Reproduced music should not be about overt enhancement, but rather a sense of unity—with the APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 amplifier, that is precisely what happens.
Even with complex music material, is treated with a sense of order, delivering a top-tier level of density and spatial resolution. Reproduced music is imbued with natural clarity and that elusive horizontal and vertical depth that is seldom truly heard.
This is where Riviera separates itself. It doesn’t merely perform within the domain of separation and focus—it grants a natural tranquility and a sense of unaltered musical flow. There is something fundamentally right in the way the APL1 and AFS32 balance harmonic relationships that define emotional depth and dimensional integrity—something that neither many vintage nor modern electronics can do.
The APL1 and AFS32 do not shout and don’t mask the music. Instead, they ably unveil the musical narrative, layer by layer, allowing the listener to access the music’s inner crux—where each note, pause, delay, and decay invites you into a seamless and captivating listening experience.
These two components possess an emotional anchor that is increasingly rare in contemporary audio circuits. They do not merely scale with the source’s quality—they scale with the intent of the music. And that, perhaps, is the highest compliment one can offer.
Subtle gestures in minimalist compositions feel as momentous as the thunderous peaks of orchestral crescendos. The APL1 and AFS32 deliver that rare sensation of musical weight, of arrival—drawing the listener into a state of aural communion.
Many modern recordings are frequency-crowded and prone to turning into tonal fog. Yet, Riviera’s preamplifier and amplifier don’t need to lift any veil. Everything is already there—delivered with the powerful golden trio of timbre, tone, and color. The authoritative low end is always retained, and transients are snappy and lightning-fast when the music demands it.
One issue common with many electronics, regardless of price, is compromised headroom. The APL1 and AFS32 avoid these sonic pitfalls entirely. They remain potent and transparent without becoming edgy or brittle, precise without sounding sterile, and imbued with a natural, non-oversaturated warmth.
Achieving this elusive balance—preserving energy flow without emasculating it, taming wildness without sterilizing it—requires the right design decisions from the voicing stage onward.
Any true high-end component should allow for unrestrained exploration of the tonal and dynamic wilderness, toappreciate music as it is—not chasing the illusion of hyper-transparency that so many modern amps and preamps pursue.The APL1 and AFS32 serve as a compelling antidote, offering noble natural clarity and sonic purity. They don’t sound like compromised utilitarian tools. Quite the opposite—they operate as a seamless, harmonious whole, guided by a natural logic and emotional continuity that follows the music.
In an era of ostentatious luxury, Riviera speaks the language of the silent connoisseur—the one who knows that the real investment is in what can be felt, coded deeply into the DNA of the electronics.
This is a quiet luxury, where true opulence resides not in unneeded ornamentation, but in performance—refined through expertly voiced circuitry, topology, and the mechanically solid, precisely engineered chassis–reflecting Riviera Audio Labs’ commitment to Italian manufacture, not as a marketing gesture—it’s audible.
Riviera Audio Labs doesn’t seek conventional audiophile approval. This standout boutique manufacturer doesn’t chase trends or marketing noise. The APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 amplifier exist for a singular purpose: to serve the music—for those willing to listen deeply enough to understand what that truly means. Fidelity to sonic and musical truth.
The APL1 and AFS32 stylish appearance exude permanence. Every curve is designed not just to impress, but to endure. This is Italian elegance—not in a flashy, superficial way, but with a purposeful fineness of Italian industrial design.
This is not high-end gear meant to be flipped or forgotten. This is the equipment you grow into.
For what they represent, I am wholeheartedly granting the Riviera Audio Labs APL1 preamplifier and AFS32 stereo amplifier the 2025 Mono & Stereo Upper Echelon Class Award. ❖
The price
- APL1 preamplifier – 22,500 EUR (without VAT)
- AFS32 Stereo amplifier – 24,000 EUR (without VAT)
Technical specifications
APL1 Preamplifier
- All-valve audio circuit
- Zero Feedback
- Class A
- Stabilised power supply with double pigreco filter
- 2 balanced inputs (transformer-coupled)
- 3 unbalanced inputs
- Tape input/output
- Transformer-coupled outputs
- 1 balanced and 2 unbalanced outputs
- Gain: 8dB
- Input impedance: 47k
- Valves used: 2x ECC82/12AU7
- Dimensions: 44×50.5×16.4h cm.
- Weight: 21 Kg.
AFS32 Power Amplifier
- Power 2x32W into 8 ohms | 2x64W into 4 ohms
- Zero Feedback
- Pure Class A
- Hybrid circuitry (Triode, BJT, Mosfet)
- 2 RCA unbalanced inputs
- 2 XLR balanced inputs (true balanced)
- Gain: 26.5dB
- Input sensitivity: 130mVrms for 1W/8 ohm (2.83Vrms); 0.75Vrms for 32W/8 ohm (16Vrms)
- Input impedance: 47k
- Valves used: 2x ECC82/12AU7
- Dimensions: 44×50.5×19.5h cm
- Weight: 32 Kg
Contact
Riviera Audio Laboratories s.r.l.
Web: www.rivieralabs.com