Ranieri Audio Labs debuts Varieta at Axpona 2025

Vanieri Audio Labs, a fresh face in high-end audio from Chicago, is poised to steal the spotlight at AXPONA 2025 with the debut of Varieta (VER’-ee-eh-ta, Italian for “variety”). Priced at $7,499, this groundbreaking preamplifier is the first universal Direct-Heated Triode (DHT) design, offering audiophiles the freedom to swap between over a dozen 4-pin medium-base tube types—think 300B, 801A, 45, 10Y, and beyond—with a simple dial twist. Set to premiere in Room 715 from April 11-13, Varieta redefines tube rolling, letting listeners sculpt their sound as effortlessly as a musician tunes an instrument or a connoisseur selects the perfect glass for a fine bourbon.

A New Era of Sonic Flexibility

Traditional preamplifiers tether users to a fixed sonic profile, but Varieta breaks that mold. By placing DHTs—renowned for their lush timbre and expansive soundstage—upstream in the signal chain, it liberates audiophiles from the power limitations of output-stage tube designs. The result? Unmatched versatility to tailor your system’s character to suit your mood, music, or evolving setup.

“I designed Varieta to fill a void I felt as an audiophile,” says Paul Ranieri, Owner & Chief Engineer of Ranieri Audio Labs. “DHTs have long been prized for their natural sound, but their use in final amplification restricted speaker options. By reimagining them in a preamplifier, I’ve removed those constraints and unlocked a playground of tonal possibilities. Each tube—whether it’s the 300B’s warmth, the 801A’s detail, or the 45’s dynamics—brings something unique. Varieta lets you explore them all in one beautifully engineered package.”