Anyone heard of Advance Paris?

[VintageFlanker]

"Design and Developmenr in France" -- made... where?

China.

Why so much negativity?

Because the reliability of their amps is notoriously bad.

I know and talk with many retailers in EU and they all report very high rate of returns with that brand. The QC really is not great.

Now, the products themselves are kinda OK without that.

My main (personal) concern is the French luxurian vibe (Advance "Paris") they try to bring, when these things are neither parisian (engineering) nor made in France, even their higher end products.

The 'McIntosh killer' YouTube reviews I find a little bit comical.

Comical isn't strong enough in that case.

 

[Karmacoma]

I must confess I like UV meters, spectrum analysers and album cover displays. I even like the retro look of tubes, but the downsides are too overwhelming.

 

[mhardy6647]

I even like the retro look of tubes, but the downsides are too overwhelming.

Downsides?!?

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Are there still people seduced by a completely useless look?
Why not, and while we're at it, some Christmas lights?
Personally, I have a discreet, all-black Class D amplifier.
I don't look at my equipment; I just listen to the music.

I am only using Hypex and Eigentakt class-D amps in my house to listen to music but i am sure i can enjoy music on a Paris Advance amplifier also.
It would be a boring world if we all live in a world with "all black boxes" and have the same taste.

Looks even better in this color. I am not a big fan of how the new A-i190 looks, the A12 looks better for me and would like to hear one.

 

[whereisbrian]

Hello, I'm just giving my slightly mocking opinion and I'm not stopping anyone from buying what they want.
The aesthetic aspect of an amplifier is not very important to me.

 

[Karmacoma]

I am only using Hypex and Eigentakt class-D amps in my house to listen to music but i am sure i can enjoy music on a Paris Advance amplifier also.
It would be a boring world if we all live in a world with "all black boxes" and have the same taste.

Looks even better in this color. I am not a big fan of how the new A-i190 looks, the A12 looks better for me and would like to hear one.
View attachment 477286

Must admit on this picture it's really sexy.

 

[Whiskey the Cat]

At my dealer, the A10 is $3,400 and the A12 is $5,100 CAD. (Not including tax which is 13% in Ontario – our version of VAT). That translates into $3,842 and $5,763 respectively. There are many solid competitors in that price range; NAD, Moon by Simaudio, Anthem, Marantz, Yamaha, Rotel, Naim, etc. So Advance Paris would need to offer something solid in turn to make a dent. From the postings here it looks like the reliability is suspect and the "feel" of the controls is not good. The specs are so-so. All in all, not a contender.

 

[aceofgulls]

At my dealer, the A10 is $3,400 and the A12 is $5,100 CAD. (Not including tax which is 13% in Ontario – our version of VAT). That translates into $3,842 and $5,763 respectively. There are many solid competitors in that price range; NAD, Moon by Simaudio, Anthem, Marantz, Yamaha, Rotel, Naim, etc. So Advance Paris would need to offer something solid in turn to make a dent. From the postings here it looks like the reliability is suspect and the "feel" of the controls is not good. The specs are so-so. All in all, not a contender.

Yes, that's pretty much the going prices for those models in general. All the connections, the chassis, feet including the speaker binding posts are all very solid and decent. The main things that do not have heavy duty feel or movement and have a slight loose feel are the Power button and the dial knobs on the front, along with the Remote being of very average quality, though it has all the control options... I had bought the unit knowing this ahead of time from other reviews. The rest of everything is solid including the VU Meters and Front View Panel. The sound quality is excellent and noticeable. In any case, glad that I've been able to give you enough information to make a decision on the unit.

 

[Cbdb2]

@Whiskey the Cat,

I think there mere problem is that you treat Science as if it's a Fact. But Science is not a Fact, Science is a "Means" or a "Process".

Class D Amps are COMPLETELY different in so many respects that it would be hard to compare these units to those.

Science says if you drop your phone it will hit the ground. A fact. I think the problem is you make up your own definitions. From Websters

science​

noun​

1a : knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method b : such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena : natural science

 

[Cbdb2]

Your Species knows almost nothing about the reality you exist in,

Speaking for your self? Our species stuck on this rock in space knows quantum mechanics, relativity, Maxwells equations, the age and size of the univerese. We have discovered gravity waves, background radiation from the big bang, neutrinos, black holes etc etc. If science didnt work non of your technology would. Why dont you throw that smart phone away it cant possibly work, science has no facts. And when you get cancer dont go to a doctor his science has no "facts" and cant help you.

 

[4Real]

What does that even mean?
Please make sense, at least once, respect yourself.

it means that at first all you had was a leading question that you thought you already knew the answer to. Then when you got called out you typed out a long diatribe.

 

[4Real]

Are there still people seduced by a completely useless look?
Why not, and while we're at it, some Christmas lights?
Personally, I have a discreet, all-black Class D amplifier.
I don't look at my equipment; I just listen to the music.

some people do both

 

[Karmacoma]

it means that at first all you had was a leading question that you thought you already knew the answer to. Then when you got called out you typed out a long diatribe.

I have a different explanation. He tried to vanish in style using an inappropriate idiom in a conceited attempt to make forget the vacuity of his discourse. All of that to avoid answering a question you apparently think I thought knowing his answer to. Which is, by the way?

 

[mrehorst]

Looks even better in this color. I am not a big fan of how the new A-i190 looks, the A12 looks better for me and would like to hear one.
View attachment 477286

That image is NOT what the A12 looks like. I think it's an early marketing mock-up. The actual A12 looks like this:

I've had it for about a year. It has been perfectly reliable, so far. To my ears it sounds great, but I'm 67 YO, so my high frequency roll-off probably starts pretty low. I did the best I could to compare the internal PCM1796 DAC to the DAC in the VRDS-20 and the SMSL SU-1 and could hear no differences at all. The amp is driving B&W 703 S3s and Quad ESL-63s without any complaints (except maybe from the neighbors!).

I was most attracted to it by the output power level and the quantity and variety of inputs. I have never been able to get the HDMI input to work with my LG TV, but I suspect that's an LG problem- the on-line forums have a lot of complaints about LG's HDMI.

If anyone has any questions about the amp, free free to ask. I won't participate in philosophical arguments.

What do the tubes do? I don't know, but if I had to guess, I'd say they probably make the S/N and distortion numbers worse, but it sounds fine, so does it matter? Who knows, if anyone ever finds a schematic posted on-line we might find out that the tubes merely decorate the front panel...

 

[Mike_Trueman]

That image is NOT what the A12 looks like. I think it's an early marketing mock-up. The actual A12 looks like this:

View attachment 478300

I've had it for about a year. It has been perfectly reliable, so far. To my ears it sounds great, but I'm 67 YO, so my high frequency roll-off probably starts pretty low. I did the best I could to compare the internal PCM1796 DAC to the DAC in the VRDS-20 and the SMSL SU-1 and could hear no differences at all. The amp is driving B&W 703 S3s and Quad ESL-63s without any complaints (except maybe from the neighbors!).

I was most attracted to it by the output power level and the quantity and variety of inputs. I have never been able to get the HDMI input to work with my LG TV, but I suspect that's an LG problem- the on-line forums have a lot of complaints about LG's HDMI.

If anyone has any questions about the amp, free free to ask. I won't participate in philosophical arguments.

What do the tubes do? I don't know, but if I had to guess, I'd say they probably make the S/N and distortion numbers worse, but it sounds fine, so does it matter? Who knows, if anyone ever finds a schematic posted on-line we might find out that the tubes merely decorate the front panel...

Yeah looks like a render.
I saw it on this website: https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/advance-paris-a12-classic

 

[aceofgulls]

Yeah looks like a render.
I saw it on this website: https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/advance-paris-a12-classic

View attachment 478305

Yes, this is 100% a render for a Prototype. The A12 Classic has never been made like this and only had been released with the Black Glossy Panel. However, the design here is "somewhat" more similar to how the upcoming Nova AI190 will look, in the Silver and Black Brushed Metal Panels and two knobs, with the VU Meters indicating Left and Right Channels, along with the Headphone Jack near the Power button.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Yes, this is 100% a render for a Prototype. The A12 Classic has never been made like this and only had been released with the Black Glossy Panel. However, the design here is "somewhat" more similar to how the upcoming Nova AI190 will look, in the Silver and Black Brushed Metal Panels and two knobs, with the VU Meters indicating Left and Right Channels, along with the Headphone Jack near the Power button.

Yeah looks more like the i190.

 

[RoA]

Yeah looks like a render.
I saw it on this website: https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/advance-paris-a12-classic

View attachment 478305

That looks 'smart'. The real thing doesn't. My bro had an AA pre/power for many years and was happy with it. Now uses a CA EVO 150.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

That looks 'smart'. The real thing doesn't. My bro had an AA pre/power for many years and was happy with it. Now uses a CA EVO 150.

For me Technics has some sexy looking amps.

 

[mhardy6647]

For me Technics has some sexy looking amps.

View attachment 478320View attachment 478321

Considerably more elegant looking* -- but that comes at a price, doesn't it?

_______________
* probably better designed and built under the hood, too -- I reckon.