Advance Paris is celebrating its 30th anniversary and has released an anniversary product line called Apex. The Apex series consists of the A8, A10, and A12 amplifiers and a CD player called the Apex ACD. All four products feature valve amplifiers and modern DAC chips.
Advance Paris Apex
According to the manufacturer, the Apex series sits directly above Advance Paris’s Classic range and includes four flagship products, all in an exclusive, limited-edition black finish with contrasting white VU meters. The A8 Apex, A10 Apex, and A12 Apex integrated amplifiers feature analog and digital inputs, while the compact ACD Apex CD player has digital analog outputs, the latter in RCA and XLR formats.
Each amplifier features Advance Paris’s signature hybrid tube/transistor design, delivering the clarity, precise dynamics, and detail that define the brand’s unique approach to French audio engineering.
The Apex amplifiers are, in a sense, a refinement of the components in the Classic series. Enhanced electronics surround the digital circuits, including low-noise power supplies, ESS Technology voltage regulators, and premium passive components such as resistors, capacitors, and operational amplifiers.
The A8 Apex and A10 Apex utilize the high-performance ESS9018 DAC chip, while the flagship A12 Apex features the ESS9039 DAC chip for enhanced sound quality. These DACs deliver clear, detailed, and accurate sound across the entire frequency spectrum, ensuring precise dynamics and tonal balance.
One of the most compelling upgrades in the Apex series is full eARC HDMI compatibility, making these amplifiers a seamless fit for a modern TV setup. The hi-fi system now responds to the TV remote for power and volume, making it incredibly convenient.
Advance Paris Apex: Bluetooth connectivity
All three Apex amplifiers are also ready for the brand-new A-BTC Bluetooth dongle, the first offshoot of Advance Paris’ upcoming Nova flagship line, which debuted at the High End audio trade fair in Munich and is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2026. The A-BTC streams wirelessly from smartphones, tablets, and computers. When paired with the A10 Apex or A12 Apex, it can even send any connected source to Bluetooth headphones for discreet listening.
The ACD Apex CD player completes the range, with analogue tube outputs in RCA and XLR.
Advance Paris A12 Apex
The A12 Apex sits at the top of the Apex range, taking the Classic line and elevating it to a full-fledged flagship. At its heart is a hybrid design featuring a preamplifier with two ECC81/12AT7 tubes, delivering the warm, musical tone for which Advance Paris is renowned. The 2 x 190-watt Class AB amplifier, powered by two toroidal transformers, provides the power to drive even the most demanding speakers, while the High-Bias function doubles the Class A bias for added authority at higher power levels.
Connectivity is modern without compromise: Bluetooth aptX AD-LL streams via the A-BTC module from smartphones, tablets or computers, or sends any connected source to a pair of Bluetooth headphones. HDMI eARC ensures the amplifier responds to your TV’s power and volume commands, and the dual speaker outputs for Zone A and B offer flexibility for multi-room set-ups.
A wide range of analogue and digital inputs are available, comprising eight analogue inputs (5 x RCA, 1 x Phono MM/MC, 2 x XLR) and eight digital inputs (3 x optical, 3 x coaxial, 1 x USB, 1 x AES-EBU). The USB and optical/coaxial inputs handle 24-bit/192 kHz PCM, with USB also supporting DSD64–DSD128 for high-resolution playback.
Additional features include adjustable loudness, bass, treble and balance, automatic standby from 5 to 60 minutes, trigger IN/OUT, PRE-OUT/AMP-IN connections for subwoofers or additional amplification, a fixed REC-OUT and a voltage selector to choose between 110 and 220 Volts.
Advance Paris A10 Apex
The A10 Apex is also a hybrid design, combining a preamplifier with two ECC81/12AT7 tubes for warm, musical tone, and a 2 x 130-watt Class AB amplifier that delivers power without sacrificing refinement. For those seeking extra punch, the High-Bias function doubles the Class A bias, allowing the listener to enjoy Class A performance at higher power.
Bluetooth aptX AD-LL via the A-BTC module allows users to stream from smartphones, tablets or computers, or send any source to a pair of Bluetooth headphones. There is full HDMI eARC support, as with the A12 Apex you can control volume and power using your TV, and the dual speaker outputs (Zone A and B) provide additional flexibility for multi-room setups.
The A10 Apex has slightly fewer connections, but there are still seven analog inputs and five digital inputs. The optical and coaxial inputs support PCM up to 24-bit/192 kHz, while the USB input goes even further, supporting both 24-bit/192 kHz PCM and DSD64–DSD128.
Advance Paris A8 Apex
The A8 Apex elevates the Classic series to a compact, powerful format. At its core is a hybrid design featuring a preamplifier with two ECC81/12AT7 tubes, delivering a warm, musical sound, while the 2 x 76 Watts Class AB amplifier combines power with listening refinement. The High-Bias function doubles the Class A bias, allowing the listener to enjoy Class A performance at higher power. Bluetooth connectivity and HDMI are the same as the larger A12 and A10 models. For inputs, the A8 Apex features seven analog RCA inputs, a turntable input for MM cartridges, and four digital inputs (1 x optical, 2 x coaxial, 1 x USB), all capable of high-resolution playback with USB support for 24-bit/192kHz PCM and DSD64–DSD128.
Advance Paris Apex: prices and delivery information
Members of the Apex product line will be rolled out worldwide through the Advance Paris dealer network starting in November 2025 with the A8 and A10 models. The A12Apex will follow in December 2025, and the ACD Apex CD player will be available in January 2026.
Advance Paris A8 Apex: 1,999 euros
Advance Paris A10 Apex: 2,490 euros
Advance Paris A12 Apex: 3,490 euros
Advance Paris ACD Apex: 890 euros
