Advance Paris A10 Apex Integrated Amplifier Black

Advance Paris A10 APEX — Hybrid Integrated Amplifier

The A10 APEX is the natural evolution of Advance Paris' acclaimed A10 Classic — refined, upgraded, and released as a limited 30th Anniversary Edition to celebrate three decades of French audio engineering. At its heart is the same hybrid architecture that made the Classic a cult favourite: an ECC81/12AT7 tube preamplifier feeding a muscular Class A/B power amplifier stage. The APEX edition takes this formula further with improved DAC electronics, lower-noise power supplies, premium passive components, and a striking all-black finish with high-contrast white VU meters that sets it apart from the silver-fronted Classic.

Delivering 130 watts per channel into 8 Ohms (198W into 4 Ohms), the A10 APEX has the grunt to drive demanding loudspeakers with authority, while its tube preamplifier stage brings the warmth, musicality, and harmonic richness that solid-state designs at this price rarely achieve. A switchable High-Bias mode doubles the Class A bias current, extending the amplifier's Class A operating window for an even more immediate, textured, and dynamic presentation at moderate listening levels.

Hybrid Tube / Transistor Design

The preamplifier section uses a pair of ECC81/12AT7 twin triode tubes — visible through a backlit window on the top panel — chosen for their favourable overload characteristics and low-noise performance in this low-voltage application. The result is a sound that combines the immediacy and tonal richness of valve amplification with the grip, control, and power delivery of a solid-state output stage built around a substantial toroidal transformer. It's a combination that works exceptionally well across genres, from delicate acoustic material where the tube warmth shines, to demanding orchestral or electronic music where the Class A/B power stage flexes its muscles.

Built-In DAC and Digital Inputs

The onboard ESS Sabre ES9018 DAC handles digital sources with resolution and refinement, supporting PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz across all digital inputs, with DSD64 and DSD128 playback available via the USB-B input. Three optical inputs, one coaxial, and one USB-B provide broad digital connectivity, while an HDMI eARC input transforms the A10 APEX into the heart of a TV-based system — with CEC support for automatic power-on and volume control from your TV remote.

Analogue Connectivity

On the analogue side, five unbalanced RCA line inputs and one balanced XLR input cover most source requirements, while a built-in MM phono stage with RIAA equalisation lets you connect a turntable directly without an external phono preamp. Outputs include a pre-out for external power amplification, dual subwoofer outputs (configurable as mono or stereo), a fixed rec-out for recording devices, and an AMP-IN input that allows the A10 APEX to be integrated into a home cinema system as a dedicated stereo power amplifier for the front left and right channels. A 6.35mm headphone output on the front panel handles private listening.

Design and Control

The A10 APEX is unmistakably Advance Paris — the iconic VU meters, the glowing tube window, and the substantial chrome volume knob create a front panel that's equal parts retro charm and modern sophistication. The limited 30th Anniversary black finish with white VU meters gives the APEX edition a distinctive, premium look. An infrared remote control provides full access to source selection, volume, bass, treble, balance, and bypass mode (which defeats the tone controls for purist listening). Trigger in/out connections allow synchronised power control with other components, and an optional A-BTC Bluetooth dongle adds aptX Adaptive wireless streaming from smartphones, tablets, or computers — plus the ability to stream any connected source to Bluetooth headphones.