Allnic/ZL Technologies L-9000 OTL/OCL
The L-9000 OTL/OCL brings unveiled immediacy to tube preamplification, pairing open, airy staging with vivid transient speed and richly saturated tone. Howard Kneller found its direct-coupled single-ended path especially compelling, revealing three-dimensional images, natural warmth and exceptional low-level detail. It is a distinctive high-end control center for systems that prize musical presence.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
89/100
Features Connectivity
84/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Direct-coupled single-ended operation delivers exceptional immediacy, clarity, low-level detail and performer-like presence.
Open, airy and deep soundstaging combines strong transient speed with fleshed-out, three-dimensional images.
Warm, harmonically textured and richly colorful midrange remains naturally round and surprisingly uncolored.
Cons
The mechanical attenuator’s motor is audibly loud whenever volume is adjusted.
It produces more hiss than some competing preamplifiers and does not match the reference unit’s black background.
Ultimate low-bass extension, impact and transient force fell short of the reviewer’s solid-state reference.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
The L-9000 is described as exceptionally immediate, detailed and captivating, combining openness and transient speed with a notably rich, harmonically colorful presentation. Its spatial presentation is deep and airy, though it favors bloom around images over the most sharply etched outlines, and a competing reference preamp delivered a blacker background and greater ultimate bass impact.
Transparency Resolution
91/100
Kneller heard excellent clarity, detail and transient speed, and called the presentation exceptionally immediate and detailed. The L-9000 was not noisy in normal listening, but it produced more hiss than several alternatives and could not equal the reference C1's especially black background.
Tonal Balance Musicality
95/100
The review repeatedly praises the L-9000's warmth, harmonic texturing and tonal-color saturation. Violin was naturally warm, round and surprisingly uncolored, while piano and double stops gained richness and convincing three-dimensional body.
Dynamics
93/100
Music was portrayed as alive, with excellent transient speed and strong low-end impact from drums. Fine detail such as the ripple of a drum skin came through vividly, although the reviewer found the reference C1 capable of still greater low-frequency shock and scale.
Soundstage Imaging
93/100
The L-9000 reproduced stage width and depth very well, producing an open, airy and deep presentation. Images were beautifully fleshed out and three-dimensional, with the presentation placing particular emphasis on the air and bloom around voices and instruments.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
89/100
The open-case chassis was described as gorgeous and unusually distinctive, while the oil-clutched, 61-step mechanical attenuator is a substantial piece of engineering. The reviewer did note a practical drawback: the exposed mechanical attenuator's motor made a loud sound whenever volume was changed.
Features Connectivity
84/100
Connectivity includes three RCA and two XLR inputs, plus both RCA and XLR outputs, giving it useful flexibility for a high-end line-level system. The L-9000 is otherwise focused on its core preamplifier role, with no phono stage, DAC, headphone output, or home-theater integration indicated in the supplied material.
Value for Money
85/100
At roughly $19,500-$20,695, the L-9000 sits between Allnic's less expensive L-8500 and flagship L-10000 models. The review regards its sound as special and captivating, but does not directly assess whether it represents especially strong value against competing preamplifiers at this price.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
No reviews found yet
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Inputs
- 3 x RCA, 2 x XLR
- Outputs
- 1 x RCA, 2 x XLR
- Input Impedance
- 10k ohms (RCA, XLR)
- Frequency Range
- 5 Hz to 100 kHz
- Voltage Gain
- +18dB
- THD (1kHz, 1V RMS)
- less 0.03%
- S/N ratio
- -100dB
- Maximum Output
- 20V RMS (non clipping)
- Output Impedance
- 90 ohms
- Power Consumption
- 120W
- Tubes
- 6U8A x 2, 12AU7 x 2, 6080 x 2
- Fuse
- 3A/230V, 5A/120V
- Dimensions
- 430mm (W), 400mm (D), 180mm (H)
- Weight
- 19kg (48.4 lbs) unpacked. 24kg (59.5 lbs) packed.
Manufacturer's Description — Allnic/ZL Technologies
The L-9000 OTL/OCL (Output Transformer-Less/Output Capacitor-Less) is a triple gain stage, remote controlled, line-stage preamplifier, without transformers or capacitors in its single-ended signal path.
- OTL, OCL Direct Coupled preamplifier
- Two SEPP 6080s output
- True Dual Mono design
- 61-step Silver Contact Constant Impedance attenuator
Allnic Audio’s Technology
Remote controlled 61-step constant impedance attenuator
Mr. Park has completed development of the world’s first 61-step, constant impedance, “bridged” type attenuator. Allnic’s new attenuator is now the most sophisticated on the market, and we believe, without a doubt, also the absolute best sounding. With fixed impedance and no (± 0db) channel unbalance at any volume level, the new attenuator will astound users with its elevation of the fidelity and purity of any system in which it is used. This revolutionary and currently unique, oil clutched, motorized attenuator will be standard equipment on the L-8000 preamplifier and L-10000 OTL/OCL, L-9000 OTL/OCL, L-8500 OTL/OCL preamplifier.
OTL/OCL Ciruitry
OTL/OCL means “Output Transformer-Less” and “Output Capacitor Less”. In an OTL/OCL preamplifier, there is no coupling device between the preamplifier and the power amplifier, that is, the preamplifier’s final output tubes are directly connected to the power amplifier. Normally, an Output Capacitor or Output Transformer for separating AC music signal from the DC operating potential; if this is not done, the latter will destroy the power amplifier or loudspeakers. But these two types of coupling devices are effectively obstacles to signal transmission that add their own character (color), increase distortion, and consume small signals according to physical efficiency theory. In addition, they limit signal dynamics. Because of all these adverse effects, OTL/OCL has been considered the best solution for amplifiers in order to maintain signal purity. Some circuit experts might worry about DC potential in the music signal, but there is no need to worry. Allnic uses a “floating power supply circuit” which prevents the creation of any DC potential in the first place.
Soft-start Circuitry
Allnic uses soft start circuitry that, after sufficient warm-up only, provides the high voltage supply to the plate of each tube. This protective design results in prolonged tube life and fewer and less frequent issues with tube performance.
Beautiful 100kHz square wave response
We can show you how beautifully a 100kHz square wave response is reproduced.
New vacuum tube damping technology
Allnic Audio’s patented “Absorb GEL tube damper” technology prevents harmful vibrations from reaching the signal/gain tubes and, therefore, prevents micro-phonic noise propagation in the tubes. The Allnic Audio Absorb Gel damper technology effectively solves a problem that plagues most tube amplification systems. Provided other tube components do not introduce micro-phonic noise into your system, with the Absorb Gel damping system, you will enjoy a degree of transparent sound that will surprise and please you.
Powerful driving circuitry
Allnic believes in the importance of using high-quality, low noise and powerful driving circuitry in all its amplifying devices. Therefore, for example, in the M-3000 mk2, we employ the E282F tube (E55L for M-5000) in triode mode as the second stage driver tube, with a load of about 6 k ohms, and using 20 mA of current. The listener can easily hear and even “feel” the differences between this design and other, more conventional, ones. Please imagine, as you listen to the M-3000 mk2, its sound compared to the sound of an amplifier with conventional 12AU7 or 12BH7’s used as drivers, with a load of about 47 k ohm, and using 2 to 3 mA of current.
Analogue power tube current monitors
In order to provide constant current (bias) monitoring for the power tubes, Allnic uses a separate analogue current meter for each tube. The meters make it exceptionally easy to see the status of each tube at any time and to respond immediately to any variation in bias by use of the bias control knob for the relevant tube. The meters offer a simple, unambiguous indication of each tube’s status compared to conventional LED bias monitors.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Allnic/ZL Technologies L-9000 OTL/OCL
- Audioplus Hi End — in-store — San Benedetto del Tronto, Marche, Italy (website)
- East End Hi-Fi — online and in-store — Brookhaven, New York, United States (website)
- Kronos Audio Visual — online and in-store — Staplefield, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Live Fidelity — in-store — Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands (website)
- Moorgate Acoustics — online and in-store — Woodseats, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Norsk Audio Teknikk — in-store — Sofiemyr, Akershus, Norway (website)
- Perfect sense Audio — in-store — Stockholms län, Sweden (website)
- Rennaissens — online and in-store — Boulogne-Billancourt, Île-de-France, France (website)
- SALLINGBOE AUDIO — in-store — Svebølle, Denmark (website)
- Salon One Audio — in-store — Ormond Beach, Florida, United States (website)
and 6 more verified dealers