FOLLOW-UP

ZESTO LETO ULTRA II LINE PREAMPLIFIER

On the outside, the Zesto Leto Ultra II line preamplifier ($10,900),¹ which Ken Micallef reviewed earlier this year,² looks a bit different than most other audio components. The designs on its faceplate resemble ocean waves. Waves are also evoked by the bending mirrored plate above, which obscures transformers and other electronics and, in dim light, reflects the Leto’s gently glowing 12AU7 and 12DW7 tubes. Otherwise, the Leto’s only important features are three front-panel knobs: one for volume, one for source selection—and a third that Zesto calls its “presence control.”

The presence control is a tone control with a very specific purpose: to tame the high end on especially rowdy recordings. Based on my first exposure