Born in 1995 from the dreams and passions of music lovers, Advance Paris has always pushed the limits of high-fidelity audio. From the beginning, their goal has been to provide uncompromising sound quality at accessible prices, and their journey has been marked by innovation and dedication to the art of music reproduction. Their amplifiers, CD players, preamplifiers, speakers and more are not just products; they are chapters in a sonic odyssey. With a touch of elegance, they deliver music that stirs the soul, along with innovations that continue to redefine the listening experience.

Don’t Miss The Zeitgeist

There seems to be a surfeit of anniversary celebration products around at the moment, and not wishing to miss out on the zeitgeist, here comes the all-new Advance Paris A8 APEX 30th Edition. Here in Cheltenham, we have first dibs… how does it perform!?

Critical Listening

I left the A8 APEX on for a couple of days and nights to help run it in before any critical listening took place, and chose to partner this good-looking amp with the totally amazing Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary loudspeakers and the Rega Planar 6 turntable.

The AE1s and the Planar 6 are products that I know well and would make it obvious as to the abilities of the A8 APEX. From the very outset, with the very first album I put on the platter of the P6, it was instantly apparent that here we have an amp that (no doubt due to the valves in the preamp stage) sounded smooth and warm.

The Power of Valves

Now, sometimes smooth and warm can equate to dull and boring, but not here! The combination of the warmth of valves in the preamp stage allied with the grunt of transistors in the power amp stage offers outstanding musicality, exceptional dynamics, and faithful, vibrant sound reproduction. Truly immersive!

Greatness And Perfection

Trying (and quite probably failing) to avoid all those usual thorny old hi-fi clichés, the A8 APEX really does not get in the way of the music signal. Detail and definition are present in abundance, as are subtlety and nuance. Soundstaging is vast and thrilling (according to my notes made while listening). A particularly neat party trick of the A8 APEX is its ability to render front-to-back depth in truly cavernous style, although this is quite possibly also partly due to the greatness and perfection of the Acoustic Energy AE1s!

This is one of those rare amplifiers that will have you playing music you think you know inside out, only to reveal tiny nuances you’ve truly never heard before. A touch of the high end, but without having to fork out high-end money. How good is that? Oh, and I am a sucker for a nice pair of VU meters too.

Inputs and Outputs

There are plenty of both analogue and digital inputs and, thanks to the inclusion of the HDMI eARC input, the A8 APEX connects directly to your TV for easy operation. The CEC function ensures synchronisation, so when you switch on your TV, the amplifier also switches on, and the volume can be controlled directly from the TV remote… genius!

There is also an optional A-BTC plug-in Bluetooth receiver, so you can establish a high-quality audio link between the A8 APEX and your phone, tablet, or computer.

A nicely laid-out remote control completes the package and ensures that the A8 APEX is both a joy to use and a pleasure to listen to.

Specifications

Output power 8Ω 2 x 76 W RMS
Output power 4Ω 2 x 110 W RMS
Frequency response 20Hz - 80 Hz
Distortion 0.03% (52W)
Signal-to-noise ratio 100 db
DAC ESS9018
Mains voltage 115/230 V 50/60Hz
Width 430 mm
Height 132 mm
Depth 363 mm
Net weight 9.4 kg
Gross weight 12.5 kg
Tubes ECC81 / 12AT7

The Stuff At The End

So, after spending time with the Advance Paris A8 APEX 30th Edition, what’s the verdict? Simply put, it’s one of those special amplifiers that makes you want to listen to music for the sake of listening itself. It combines warmth, power, and precision in a way that feels effortless, letting the recordings breathe while revealing every subtle detail you might never have noticed before. Whether you’re dipping into familiar albums or discovering something new, it has a way of making everything feel immediate, alive, and utterly engaging. Add in the thoughtful connectivity, the ease of use, and yes, those satisfyingly glowing VU meters, and you’ve got an amplifier that’s as much a pleasure to live with as it is to listen to.

In short, the A8 APEX doesn’t just play music—it invites you to rediscover it, to hear it afresh, and to fall in love with it all over again. If you’re in Cheltenham (or one of our other Audio T stores), it’s absolutely worth taking the time to experience it for yourself. Trust me, it’s the kind of amp that makes you want to hit play, sit back, and stay there for a while.

Many thanks for reading Andy, Jon and Farid -

Audio T Cheltenham Store.

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Advance Paris can be found at the following Audio T stores