Advance Paris A10 APEX

The best of both worlds: tube heat and Class AB power 

Vacuum tubes are known for their warm, musical character, but often lack the dynamics and higher power of Class AB amplification. Advance Paris therefore opts for a hybrid approach: the preamplifier section uses vacuum tubes for refined sound reproduction, while the power amplifier section utilizes powerful Class AB technology.

The A10 APEX's power amplifier delivers 2 x 130 watts into 8 ohms and 2 x 198 watts into 4 ohms, providing ample power to drive and control loudspeakers effectively.

Another hallmark of Advance Paris is its HIGH-BIAS circuitry. This ensures that the amplifier functions as a Class A amplifier at low power levels—up to approximately 10% of the total power. This produces a warm, detailed sound, ideal for normal use.

At higher power levels, the amplifier automatically and silently switches to Class AB, preserving dynamics and power. Audiophiles appreciate the subtle tone in Class A mode. HIGH BIAS can be switched on or off from the rear panel, allowing users to select their optimal listening setting. This clever circuit combines the best of two power amplifier principles and contributes to Advance Paris's acclaimed sound quality: musical, powerful, and refined.

Further developed DAC board for the A10 APEX

If the amplifier section is the heart of an amplifier, then the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is at least its lungs. But perhaps these days it's the other way around.
Although the same Sabre ESS9018 DAC chip is used in the latest version of the A10 Classic, the DAC board has been completely redesigned. The crucial voltage regulator chip has been replaced by the higher-quality ES9312, and the passive components have received a significant quality update.

In addition to the sound improvement, the result is also reflected in the greatly improved signal-to-noise ratio.
With its asynchronous USB–B audio input, equipped with the XMOS chip (xCore 200-XU208-256-TQ64), it offers the ability to play Hi-Res music files including DSD84, DSD128 and DSD256 in both direct DSD and DSD over PCM (DoP) modes.

No shortage of connectivity

In addition to its many analog and digital inputs, the A10 APEX goes one step further. It features an XLR analog input and two subwoofer outputs, which can be switched to mono or stereo as desired. For vinyl enthusiasts, there's a comprehensive phono input, suitable for MM cartridges with adjustable input capacitances of 100, 200, or 300 pF.

The HDMI-eARC input effortlessly takes your TV's sound to the next level. And thanks to Bluetooth support, wireless audio transmission is a breeze.

The HDMI-eARC input is perfect for taking your TV's sound to the next level, and the A-BTC digital "Direct Path" Bluetooth input can create the best wireless connections.
Finally, two pairs of speaker outputs, which you can choose to use individually or simultaneously (A, B or A+B), provide maximum versatility in your audio setup.

Enjoy superior TV sound through your hi-fi system

Want to truly enjoy your TV's sound? Then choose a hi-fi or home cinema system instead of a soundbar. While soundbars often manipulate the sound digitally, a hi-fi system delivers a much more natural and richer sound. This ensures better dialogue intelligibility and a more impressive soundstage. HDMI-eARC has a higher bandwidth and speed, resulting in better sound quality than HDMI-ARC.

Connect your TV to the HDMI-eARC input using an HDMI cable. The amplifier automatically turns on when you turn on the TV. After a short warm-up period, you'll immediately hear the TV sound through your hi-fi system.

High-quality bi-directional Bluetooth connection

The APEX amplifiers are equipped with an innovative digital input for the optional A-BTC Bluetooth dongle. This dongle is bidirectional, meaning it can not only receive audio but also transmit it to Bluetooth devices such as wireless headphones.

Unlike many standard Bluetooth receivers with a simple built-in DAC, the A-BTC dongle uses a Direct Path connection. This means the audio signal is sent directly to the amplifier's internal high-end DAC. The result? Unparalleled sound quality without compromise.

A clever feature is that the A12 APEX's volume control only affects the level of the connected speakers. You can adjust the volume of your headphones completely independently, directly on the headphones themselves. This makes listening not only comfortable but also exceptionally flexible for two users.

Simple, intuitive operation Advance Paris A10 APEX. 

The Advance Paris A10 APEX features Advance's familiar, user-friendly single-button multifunction control. Centrally located on the front panel, this intuitive control allows you to easily adjust the volume, select the input source, control the bass and treble tone (including a bypass option), adjust the loudness and balance, and access the setup menu.

For the APEX models, mechanical improvements have been made to this multifunction button, making it feel more stable and robust.

Standby mode

• To save energy, the amplifier automatically switches to standby mode if no incoming signal is detected for 30 minutes, in accordance with EU guidelines. This function can be disabled via the setup menu if desired.
  Additionally, the startup volume can be adjusted through the setup menu, which provides a useful safeguard — especially when using streaming apps where the volume may be set too high.

Read review Advance Paris A10 APEX?

Read the review of the A10 on Hifi Test via this link: https://advanceparis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Review-Advance-Paris-A10-Apex-A10-in-Hifi-Test.pdf