Thanks for the reply! It is what I feared …
When I run the Valkyria out of the AIC-10 speaker taps I can feel some background noise, so I am afraid that would be worse with the Levante.
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I actually don’t think Levante would necessarily be worse. It would really depend on the tubes. Levante is designed with 12at7 but if you roll it with 12au7 like people use in AIC the gain is significantly lower and at least in my case, the noise floor is very very low.
I’m demoing Valkyria in a couple weeks and can try it from both ends 
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Great! Looking forward for your impression then!
I like the idea of using the 12AU7 for the Levante, I have stocked some nice samples of those over the last years 
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Keep in mind you need a pair and not a single tube though.
I find myself alternating between G73R and pinched waist 7062s depending on the mood. Also have ECC40 with adapters that have a nice sound to them.
Ill share impressions in a few weeks. Moving houses next weekend and then ill get the pair to demo.
Welcome to the forum, always fun to have Lampizator-Riviera partners in crime here!
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Oh yes, I have 4x G73-R and 4x Mullard CV-491 from the 50’s …
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I plan to try a combo like that in my Poseidon at some point 
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With the AIC-10, the G73-R is my favorite for warmer cans like the Valkyria, providing the amount of clarity and snap these benefit from.
With the Immanis (or Susvara or AB-1266 TC) I prefer the more laid back, meatier Mullards.
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Levante HP out is ass compaired to the taps. Its not even worth entertaining using it instead of switching cables imo. A solid few tiers behind aic even on the very first switch between the two.
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Yeah I think the safeguards because of the amp’s power that they put for the HP out is completely killing that usecase. I might mod the resistors at some point but that voids warranty and Riviera refused to do it when I ordered mine unfortunately
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It might not be the resistors, at least not directly.
The difference between attenuating the output, and attenuating at the input is that with the latter (i.e. the volume pot) your amplifying a smaller signal, and that results in less distortion and a different mix of harmonic distortion. The cost is the noise floor, you effectively end up with more overall gain on any noise at the input.
Attenuating at the output (resistors connected to the headphone jack), you are amplifying a larger signal, so less relatively speaking noise, but you’ll also potentially end up with a different “quality” to the output.
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Not to mention the gain from the rear taps if you keep to the stock 12at7
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Hello! Did you have the chance of trying the Valkyria with the Levante?
I am very tempted by moving from AIC-10 to Levante in order to expand my speaker options without the need of getting a separate amp, but as headphones (Immanis and Valkyria) will likely retain most of my listening time I don’t want to downgrade there…
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didn’t have a chance yet, this will have to wait until September when I return from travels unfortunately
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Any recommendations on where to pick up a G73 ECC802S and or Mullard M8136?
Brent?
G73R is usually Hanoi Tubes
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I’m assuming that’s the eBay store?
He has an ebay store or you can get in touch w/ them via FB.
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“Riviera says it’s good after one hour, but I’ve found it’s best after 10 hours”
10 hours lmao, you better plan accordingly!
Wow, 10hrs. That’s a long warm up time lol. I don’t find that’s necessary. I feel after an hour or so it’s solid.
I do want to hear the Red October eventually, tho I think the AIC10 is probably more versatile. From what I hear the RO is really good with the 1266 but Sus works better with AIC10. And I’m sure the same with the Utopia 22. Maybe the HD800 goes well with either.
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I have had this for the past couple of months now.
Going into it I was quite skeptical about all the hype to be frank. I think this is the first time an amp performed at a level that would make me comfortable having it as my only amp and let go of the Studio.
I feel like the AIC-10 is the Rockna Wavedream Sig equivalent of amps. Gets everything right and handles whatever genre you throw at it without breaking a sweat. The color it infuses is very desirable. I kept going back to that heft and warmth in every track when comparing it with the Studio.
The grip it provides in the lower frequencies is fantastic. That’s where it stands out and comes ahead compared to the Studio and even the LTA Z40+.
The JAR800 was a great pairing with the AIC.
Having said all that I don’t think I can currently afford to keep both amps. It’s probably prudent to get rid of the pricier one and be content with my Studio. So anticlimactically this post is also a sort of interest check on the AIC-10. I’ll eventually get around to make a for sale post.
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You had a Studio T… THIS WHOLE TIME?!
You should have tried the Riv a year earlier and i would of taken the T off your hands.
But back to the Riv. It seems like a universally liked piece due to that body and heft. Did you get a chance to roll any tubes with it?
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