Advance Paris A8 Apex Integrated Amplifier Black

Advance Paris A8 APEX — Hybrid Integrated Amplifier

The A8 APEX is the most compact amplifier in the Advance Paris APEX range, bringing the same hybrid tube/transistor architecture found in the larger A10 and A12 models into a slimmer, lighter chassis that suits smaller systems and rooms without compromising on musical engagement. At 76 watts per channel into 8 Ohms and 110 watts into 4 Ohms, it won't trouble the power reserves of its bigger siblings — but for the bookshelf speakers, standmounters, and moderate floorstanders it's designed to partner, it offers more than enough authority, and delivers it with the warmth, richness, and dimensionality that define the APEX sound.

Like the A10 and A12, the A8 APEX is released as a limited 30th Anniversary Edition finished in black with high-contrast white VU meters — a visual identity that ties the entire APEX range together. It shares the same REM-19 infrared remote control across all three amplifiers and the ACD APEX CD player, making it straightforward to build a cohesive Advance Paris system.

Hybrid Architecture and High-Bias

The preamplifier section employs a pair of ECC81/12AT7 twin triode tubes, visible through the acrylic front-panel window, feeding into a Class A/B solid-state power amplifier stage driven by a single 240VA toroidal transformer. The tube preamp contributes harmonic richness and a natural, three-dimensional midrange that solid-state designs alone rarely achieve, while the transistor output stage provides the grip, current delivery, and bass control needed to keep speakers firmly in check. A rear-panel High-Bias switch doubles the Class A bias current, extending the amplifier's pure Class A operating window — particularly rewarding at lower listening levels where it brings an added smoothness, texture, and immediacy to vocals, acoustic instruments, and quiet passages. The amplifier will run warmer in this mode, so adequate ventilation around the chassis is important.

ESS9018 DAC and Digital Connectivity

The built-in ESS Sabre ES9018 DAC — the same chip used in the A10 APEX — handles all digital sources with PCM support up to 24-bit/192kHz and DSD64/128 via the USB-B input. The digital input selection differs from the A10 in configuration: the A8 provides two coaxial and one optical input rather than the A10's three optical and one coaxial. A single HDMI eARC input completes the digital section, offering direct TV connection with CEC power and volume synchronisation from your television remote — a feature shared across all three APEX amplifiers.

Analogue Connectivity

Seven unbalanced RCA line inputs provide generous source connectivity for an amplifier at this level, and a dedicated MM phono stage with ground terminal allows direct turntable connection without an external phono preamp. There are no balanced XLR inputs on the A8 — that's a feature reserved for the A10 and A12 — but for most systems at this price point, the RCA complement is more than sufficient. Outputs include a pre-out for external power amplification, a single subwoofer output, a fixed rec-out, and an AMP-IN input for integrating the A8 APEX into a home cinema system as a dedicated stereo power amplifier for your front left and right channels. A front-panel 6.35mm headphone jack handles private listening.

Choosing Between the A8 and A10 APEX

The A8 APEX shares the same ESS9018 DAC, the same tube complement, the same HDMI eARC integration, and the same High-Bias mode as the A10. Where the A10 steps ahead is in raw power (130W vs 76W into 8 Ohms), the addition of a balanced XLR input, dual subwoofer outputs with mono/stereo switching, Zone A/B speaker terminals for multi-room use, and trigger in/out connections for full system synchronisation. If your speakers are reasonably sensitive and your room is modest in size, the A8 delivers the core APEX experience — the tube warmth, the musical engagement, the modern connectivity — at a lower price and in a more compact footprint. If you're running larger or more demanding speakers, or need the flexibility of dual subs and multi-room switching, the A10 is the logical step up.