Yes, actually I am a recent owner of the Advance Paris A12 Classic.
I ended up going with this unit after comparing a similar amplifier profile with the Anthem STR Integrated Amplifier priced at $5000, delivering 200W per channel.
The Advance Paris A12 gives 190 Watts per channel, but I liked the fact that it also had the Pre-Amp Tubes.
It's actually a pretty decent amplifier, with some exceptions to rule out with the design. It is packed with unbelievable features in it, however here are some things to keep in mind:
I would rate it 4 Stars overall. It's above Quality and Sound over Yamaha for sure. But it's really a middle-of-the-road unit overall.
However, as you probably read, the Build Quality of the Unit and the Remote Control leaves some "room" for desire. The Remote is very generic, however it does work great and everything is intuitive with the setup of the Buttons and Menus between the Remote and the Knobs on the Amplifier.
What I will tell you is really amazing is how much Power it has and with the Mono-Amp Separation, many of their Integrated Amp systems work essentially as 2 Mono-blocks inside the unit, and I am definitely able to notice a lot more stereo reception.
Sound Stage and Dynamics are very impressive with excellent depth and clarity, even at very high volumes. One thing that attracted me to it besides the VU meters and necessary power for some Speaker Sets I own, is that the Frequency Response is very wide and THD levels were exceptionally low as most vintage units used to always be.
Some Disadvantages:
If you like using the built-in Bass and Tone controls, they are not so great.
System uses an Older Style DAC.
The Dials on the Amplifier have a slightly "loose" feel to them, they are not Heavy Duty as with most High-End Units. I knew about this prior to purchasing along with the build quality of the Unit and Remote which was indicated on some reviews, but it doesn't bother me too much.
Advance Paris just announced earlier this year of their "Nova" Series coming out in Early 2025, and I would definitely think to keep an eye out for those units if you are concerned about the quality build or features, because the Newer ones have much improved DACs, Tubes, and utilize DSP and Subsonic Filtering features which the A12 unit does not have. The Nova Series is MUCH more expensive, however the improvements in it make me curious enough to chance also buying it.
I can't speak for the "Resell" value, however I wouldn't think them to be that high in comparison to a brand like Marantz, McIntosh or Luxman.
Final Notes:
Overall, I'm very pleased with the unit, it's a major upgrade for me in my Listening Room. It has a very elegant appearance. The VU Meters are very good and large and have adjustable dimming, but only can be seen when the unit is powered on. The New Nova series have VU meters that you can change White or Blue Lighting and will display even when the unit is powered off. The Sound Stage and Stereo Separation including the clarity with drums, cymbals and other instruments absolutely make it worthwhile.
I am thinking to purchase the Nova AI-190 which would basically be the "upgrade equivalent" to the A12 unit.
The brand is maturing and evolving, but they did have a notable past of "problems" when they were known as Advance Acoustics.
I think you will be happy with the unit from the Perspective of if you are looking for a unit with tons of features and connectivity options, the depth and clarity of the Sound Stage, and if you like the VU meters appearance.
If you have any specific questions on anything, feel free to let me know and I will try my best to answer.
are cheesy, though.
