If you’re struggling, consider therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Click betterhelp.com/cheapaudioman for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy with a licensed professional specific to your needs Become a Patron patreon.com/cheapaudioman Advance Paris X A160 Evo bit.ly/3Vu5a9n Advance Paris A10 Classic bit.ly/3VwowdY
I am a US expat living in the Netherlands and purchased a new A10 classic about 6 months ago for $1250 US on sale. There are many dealers in Europe. I have owned a few Mcintosh integrated amps and a few Luxman amps over the last 20 years. The build quality on those amps is much higher. No comparison . But I must say the A10 Classic is the best sounding amp I have ever owned.
My dream since getting into stereo equipment as a teen was to get separates. I finally did it a couple of years ago when I moved from years of surround sound TV systems to 2 channel music and started streaming and buying CDs again. I got a Rotel preamp and amp that were the best value for my budget putting out 200 WPC at 8 ohms. Separate CD player, streamer and tower speakers with 2 subs. Best system I’ve ever had. I’m very happy. Would like to get a Mc someday but bought a new boat instead. Rock on!
I have the A10 Classic. I’m very happy with it so far. Great looks, great sound, great build quality. Running it in class A. The only unknown is reliability. So far, so good. Running it with Geshelli Labs Plexi Dayzee, WIIM Pro Plus, Audio Technica LP7 and Wharfedale Linton’s.
I'm running nearly the same system. I've got the cambridge cxn as a streamer though and my speakers are constantly rotating in and out. I've got the Michell tecnodec as a turntable though.
@@cheapaudiomando you find the cambridge a better streamer than the wiim? I have a geshelli and ive been using my laptop but i wanna go to a seperate streamer. Thoughts please?
@@alexlopez-u3i I’ve never really compared them directly to one another. If there is a difference I can’t imagine it’s a huge one. Although the Cambridge probably has a bit of a better power supply
@@alexlopez-u3iif you can get a 30 or 60 day home trial try a Primare Prisma NP5. I've tried probably 12 different streamers under $1300. If you don't need USB or a streamer with a dac the Primare is good. Later on, improving the power supply will bring an improvement...even a budget ifi power X. I've tried a couple other PS but that one is noticeably better than the PS that comes with it.
Had the opportunity to listen to this amp and meet these lovely folks at Fl Audio Expo. Sounds good and had fun conversation. Their products are definitely worth a look. Some serious power and solid sound.
I currently own the Advanced Paris A12 classic and have a McIntosh MA 5300 and My Paris has more grunt honestly it has more impact on my Source point 10’s
I have the A160 evo for 3 years now. The sound is amazing, lots of power and punch, it can drive anything, currently connected to ProAc DT8 which is a 4Ω speaker dropping to 2 in some frequencies. After upgrading all the internal caps to Nichicon and getting rid of all the cheap Chinese caps, the sound has went to a whole new level. For me it's all the hi-fi anyone could need, I don't believe I would want to upgrade ever.
@@Moonplant432 no it was great before the mods too. And the re-cap was not that expensive. Still value for money, and now I know that it will last 20 years.
Ya, I dropped my big preamp and now just use a Bluesound streamer into a Geshelli J2 socketed DAC, plugged straight into a Bryston 4B SST amp, but the Bryston has a 20-year warranty not 2.
I'm the proud owner of the Advance Paris A10 for about a month now and I really love it. Can you tell me the difference between the A10 and the XA160 EVO. And not that the A10 is a integrated and the AX160 Evo is a power amp.😂
If you are on the budget, just go second hand. It takes a time and a bit of effort but it's an experience. I met a lot of amazing people over the years of my sonic journey. I'm rocking Musical Fidelity A5 amp with Monitor Audio Gold GS20 speakers, Kenwood KD7010 turntable, all in pristine condition and for under 2K. Streamer i build by myself from Raspberry Pi and some trash i found in a office skip container. This hobby does not have to be crazy expensive
With one caveat... you have to be mentally prepared to have a tech run through any vintage piece which can impact the price. Sometimes vintage is the same or more. But still cool! 😀
I am so very very lucky to now have separates. The dynamic range of my Emotiva T-Zero towers now sound like I think they should. A power amp doing it's job as the muscle, while the source does its job. It must be so much fun for Randy to be able to review so much gear. Go Randy Go. Thanks for all you do!
Addvance Paris Power Amplifier X-A160 EVO - Stereo - 1,999.00 - 160 Watts per channel Addvance Paris Power Amplifier A12 Classic - Stereo - 2,499.00 - 190 Watts per channel Addvance Paris Power Amplifier X-A1200 - Mono Block - $5,999.00 - 450 Watts RMS at 8 Ohms and more than 700 W RMS at 4Ω. Not exactly cheap audio
Well, if he didn’t compare the two amps directly, then it’s not factual, it’s just an opinion. Him saying the amp is a McIntosh killer without a direct comparison holds no weight. We’re all entitled to our opinion, and McIntosh amps are expensive, but even if he did a direct comparison it would still be HIS opinion. Someone else could listen to the amps and say McIntosh is better. That’s just MY opinion and everyone’s got one about something😁.
I paid $1100 for an Outlaw 750 amplifier in 1999. It puts out 165 watts RMS x 5 (all channels driven simultaneously into 8 ohms. It has been the best investment in sound ever. 25 years later, I had a tech go through it replace some worn components (caps I think) for the princely sum of $80 and it's back to its old self. This 65 pound behemoth blows away anything in its price category. It did back then and it does now. This amp seems like the Outlaw 750 (albeit for stereo) of 2024.
Awesome..well made old skool power amp that just needs a few new E lytics every 20 or so years. No bells n whistles or other nonsense to worry about. Stuff that can be easily repaired. You definitely got your money's worth and some out of that amp.
. Investment? No. It just depreciates slower. 25 years later & it's costing another $80 plus hassle. When's it gonna' return dollar bills? Embellishment is not persuasive. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
@@fredmanteghian5913 I think they are still at it, but my days of spending 4 figures on anything audio are over. OK, with the exception of the Technics SL-1200 when I finally settle. But other than THAT...
Well, there are few things in life that we should never sell, a vintage Ferrari, a vintage Alfa spider, a vintage handmade Marchesini bike and... a McIntosh product. I don't question this Advance Paris amp's quality, sound and so on but I am not psychologically ready to spend 2 grand on a French designed product but Made in China. I'll wait, save my money, my last college tuition for my "little guy" will be at the end of this year and then treat myself to a brand new... McIntosh and that means great sound, great looks, often imitated but never surpassed, tons of heritage and tradition, second to none service with parts still available years from now and proudly Made in Binghamton, New York, USA, what's not to like? Sorry Randy, but I'm not with you on this one.
I don't know about that. I do get a little of what you're saying. But... I do see tons of Mac gear on the secondary market. Parasound and Adcom too. But I sure don't see many Classe Audio or Krell products. And when I do it's usually something massive and the person is "downsizing". Rarely do I see any Emotiva (amps) for sale, and when I do it's normally their BasX line. But XPA or DR, maybe once.
@@HaamRadio54 unless I got him confused with someone else, I swear I watched the review of the a75 on this channel the other day. Mind, ive watched a load of reviews of all sorts of speakers and amps the past week. I thought he was raving about how incredible it was
Was wondering the same thing. I've seen the insides of both these amps. The Galion has around double the capacitors and two trioidal transformers. I'm not an electrical engineer so I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
I saw this at the AXPONA 2024. They looked amazing and sounded good as far as I can tell in the noisy audio show environment. Since I'm a tactile person and also give priority on touch and finish, I was surprised that the controls felt loose/cheap (the controls actually wiggled around on more than one of the units) which did not match the look of the units. Maybe if the user only uses the remote control, they wouldn't care about this. But I often go up to my turntable and then adjust the volume knob, it would bother me. I mentioned this to the company representatives, and they said that they will take the feedback to their company folks.
Hi Randy, I was curious how the power amp sounded compared to using the integrated amp to power the speakers directly? Was there a big difference?. Cheers
One difference between a Macintosh and the masses is in the resale. Another is the repairable for the life of the product and probably you. Most companies including Advanced Paris wish they could compete in those category.
I like the cell phone analogy when comparing to the price/value of the amplifier. I used that exact analogy with a friend. My complete system is about $7,000. Not super expensive, but a fair amount of money. My friend was on his 6th iPhone in 8 years. He's spent more on his cell phone than I have my entire audio system in the same time frame, and my system isn't obsolete by any means. I just bought a new android phone for $200. Had the last one for 6 years. It's a smartphone that does more than I need it to. It all depends on what you like and what you want to spend your money on. My neighbor has an $80k boat. I have a $60k sports car. I drive my car every week, year round. He takes his boat to the lake 6 times a year. Which one is the better investment? It depends on what makes you happy.
11:24 so why should I buy this if I am a „regular“ user and have my speakers connected to an AVR? (PIONEER VSX LX 505). I should reach the 20W you mention with my AVR right? Thanks.
Macintosh has been around for 75 years, it is thanks to them and also to Audio Research that hi-fi took off in the 60’s. They are the pioneers of hi-fi. Of course there are imitations and copies, indeed there are amps that are as good for half the price but as Coco Chanel said “for me copying is success, there is no success without copying and imitation”. Just like a Lamborghini is a Lamborghini or a Rolex is a Rolex no matter if there are others brands for half the price, it won’t change the fact that a McIntosh is a McIntosh.
Ran Man, great vid as always. Just one thought; and not that you asked, but; I would suggest focusing a bit on the magic of the pre-amplifier. Using built in volume pots, etc, suck in the face of a great pre-amp which can make a whop of a difference. IMO. The problem is that the automatic presumption is that a passive pre or something which inserts LESS into the signal would be automatically better, but in practical reality, it's not so; the pre-amp is often the heart of a system. I would love to see you review some, perhaps a bit higher end or more various in approaches.
They stand by the quality of their amps with a solid 2 year warranty? The Advanced Paris stuff reminds me of the Chinese clone stuff on AliExpress…..but at waaaaay higher prices.
Hi Randy, How does this compare to the Xi-75 soundwise? If you don't need the power, do you get better sound, or is it just adding very expensive vu-meters (whitch i do love btw)?
I have Advance MAA-405. One time after moving it, one speaker stopped working. Soldering is so-so, it lasted 20 years. I fixed it this time with not much effort.
@@koprcord5338 The Parasound has a perfect 1v input sensitivity that matches my system with a 29db gain, plus has a gain knob. This amp would have to be pretty special for me to pass on the parasound for it. Plus I hear the parasound has a deep warm sound which I love.
Another question about the a10: do the VU meters work when using the pre-out? I also have some active speakers i would also want to connect. (So streamer, difital out to the a10, using pre-out to some active speakers.)
This amplifier is manufactured in China, where McIntosh builds their amps in Binghamton New York. That's a deal killer for lots of buyers looking for their "ultimate amplifier". If the McIntosh name and all it implies is not important to you, then there are plenty of alternatives that fill the bill besides this amp. I'm perfectly willing to believe that this is a very nice product with good performance and sound quality. I just don't think that the presence of a couple of blue meters on a plexi glass front is going to pull in the guy with his heart set on a Mac system. I consider McIntosh as the Harley Davidson of the audio world. Once you buy into the look, the culture, and their product philosophy, there's really no alternative that I know of.
I can kind of agree with that for sure. But to not make the comparison would lead to dozens of comments about it being a McIntosh rip off. So I figured I’d tackle it head on. And also it makes for a great title. The people that resent McIntosh for being too expensive will have an option. The people that love McIntosh will watch it too. I’ve been lucky enough to have listened to a ton of equipment including owning some McIntosh stuff. And I have no issue recommending AP as loudly as I can. But if your heart is set on McIntosh then nothing will scratch that itch. Same way with Rolex. Anything less is settling.
No thanks Randy; Cheap amp made in China: I have a Vintage late 70s McIntosh MC-2125 amp that will blow this away and is not depreciating like this Amp will
So, I ordered the AP A10. The salesman (being the professional he is) now tried to talk me into replacing my Wiim Plus streamer with the Advance Paris WTX Streamtubes since he recons that they will play better with my Klipsch Forte IV's having the tube integration. Now my question is; will the Class A tube phase in the A10 not already give me all the tube benefits or will the WTX add anything significant enough to warrant replacing the Wiim?
I'd like CAM to purchase a Vincent or Rogue, an Orchard Audio or Outlaw for comparisons sometime also. I'm partial to vintage B&K Ltd and Parasound for SS gear myself, although I must say my class D Sony strda3000es receiver is probably best I've heard in that class!
just because it has blue meters doesn't make it a mcintosh killer, & this has only 100 - 160 watts when most mcintosh amps are 300, 600 , 1200 watts, so this isn't even close, this is more of a sales pitch.
@@privateuser7726 the Mac 152 that he showed as the example is 150 watts a side. This AP unit is 160 watts a side. The monsters you're referencing are 10K and up.
I sold my Macs, for me, they are very good, never great. I did like the 275 with my Maggies, however, a single ran out of gas for me, and two lost some of the mojo that makes the 275 excellent. If you like them, get them!
I own the McIntosh MC152 power amp and I gotta say it rocks like a mofo! It makes other amps I own and amps I've known sound broken! MC152 has output transformers and that's what you want! The best way to describe the sound signature of MC152 in one word is direct, there's this directness about it that fussy audio heads may not like but it grows on you and then you're like everything else sounds broken in comparisons. I also own the Musical Fidelity A1 Integrated and it sounds so satisfying I love it however in direct comparison to the MC152 it's broken! Needless to say the McIntosh MC152 is not cheap but it is worth saving up for it's all the amp I'll ever need
Question, could you not run the Cambridge CXN100 directly into the power amp? What advantage is there to running the CXN100 through the Geselli Labs DAC and then into the power amp?
Randy, any relation or association between Advanced Paris and Emotiva? Seen people online speculating that they use the same OEM or that they are similar in some ways. Looking at the internals of some of their products, there are definitely some similarities with Emotiva (not that its a bad thing).
I'm not sure. I did talk to them yesterday but I don't think they use the same OEM. as you said, it would be cool if they did. But there is design going on in both Emotiva and AP so who is contracted to make it doesn't really matter. Still very different products. I think there are only a handful of really capable asian companies making heavier duty amps so it's inevitable that some of the products are coming out of the same building
Yer talking good sense there, my man! I love this video about cool stuff! Great intro. I'm laughing...LMFAO at the VU meter discussion! And THIS now gives me a bridge to hook up the new sources to the real (analog) world. And sure enough! You come to the DAC part! Really, I'm also wondering if your ability to make this video signifies a (new) moment of clarity in the stereo world. Last time I felt this clarity, there were tubes and so much heat you had to be careful what you touched! Very nice!!!
Are McIntosh amps good? Sure. Pretty? Absolutely. But I had a MA 2100 and as beautiful it was, it couldn’t drive my Magnepan IIIa speakers worth a damn. A 10 year old Bryston 4a didn’t trick. There’s power, and then there’s power.
I get it. And this is a great review and take. And I've heard this amp and it's good. Looks nice. But no one is buying McIntosh new if they are smart. And that's because, as you say in the video, amps last for generations. So buy used McIntosh...better quality at half the price and better sound.....and, built like a tank. You know it will work forever.
What I'd like to know is how do these sound compared to Mcintosh with more expensive ( Higher quality) speakers? If these are true 20 watt class A amps then these should really hit way above the belt at this price point. If your sitting on the sidelines waiting for a Mac you can always buy this as a 5 year stop gap and sell for $1200 bucks a few years down the line and still get 5 years of enjoyment.
Great idea comparing audio purchases to cell phone purchases. We don't seem to care about spending $500/yr for rinse and repeat disposable technology, yet some people freak out when you say you spent over $2k for an audio component. I bought my Aragon Palladium 1k monoblocks in 2004 for $3k. Still using them today.
Good morning, Thank you for your comparison. You are comparing two devices with a considerable price difference. at the same time you did a test between a yamaha at 350 dollars and the advance acoustic a10 paris whose conclusion, if I remember correctly", was that the difference in sound quality was small "seven times cost “So if I take this example, does that mean that the price of the Mcintosh is theft? Yamaha problem, no bypass for integrated home cinema.
I have Emotiva TA2 that I love mainly because it has everything you want in 1 box pushing Klipsch Cornwalls but I’m falling for the hype on this AP A10 would you rate it over the Emotiva 🤫?
Take into account the resell value and McIntosh may not be all that expensive. A lot of these McIntosh killers are very hard resells with a lot of depreciation. From my experience.
Advance Paris look so much nicer than Mcintosh too. It disproves the BS that you can't have beautiful styling AND an affordable yet powerful piece of hi-fi gear. In fact it only proves how cheap the other companies are being. A MyConnect 250 or A12 Classic pre-out into a pair of X-A220 EVO's would probably be an endgame system for most.
How does the Advance Paris WTX-StreamTubes Streamer compare to the Cambridge CXN100 as a DAV streamer? Is the Cambridge worth the extra $500? Interesting video.
I remember back in the late 60s that Mcintosh was the best in amps. I never could afford one but knew friends that had them I believe they were all tubes.
Yes. Just like you would vs any decent class ab or a. It's not even close and since I've tried that road + hyper/purifi I can tell you fosi isn't close to those either. Stay in your lane 😉. Fosi deliver good fun for little money though
@@wegardfjeld3789 "It's not even close" Proper dB match and blind test and I doubt you'd hear any difference whatsoever. Your loudspeakers are A LOT worse than these amps, most room are poor too, too empty
@@Hirnlego999 Don't make assumptions please. My room, speakers, room EQ and all handles your concerns fine. Regarding blind testing this equipment I have done so and own mentioned. Fosi V3 does not deliver as the hype have been and the fact that blind tests have been done and is easily proven so. By all means spend your money on op amps swapping and believe you get the same as proper equipment for the same price. You do you. It isn't how it works tho
Thanks for video Randy ! A good two channel amp will always be useful even if your future audio takes you into multi-channel or home theater. Front end technology may change but amps evolve slowly over the years. (And yes the meters are fun 😁)
I agree with the uv meter and how it is a complement to the whole experience of listening to music. I have a Pioneer 1080 and love the uv meters and the beautiful esthetic of the electronics adds to the listening experience for sure.
McIntosh killer!? Perhaps an alternative more affordable choice, but neither option is in my price range, unfortunately. Perhaps I need some therapy to overcome my audio equipment limitations. 😂 Thank you so much for your content, perspectives, and sharing this with us all. Stay well, my friend.
2 grand is not a lot for a NEW high quality amp like this, considering if you add up all the budget amazon stuff some buy or all the things budget audiophiles hoard or find from marketplace/garagesales/goodwill and DONT even hook it up. Just bought it because "it was too good to pass up" add all that up and you could prob have this.
Try black ice audio Fusion F360 V.1 Tube Preamplifier with this amp, or any amp for that matter, I ditched my parasound & denafrips preamps with it, it sounds that good.
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Advance Paris X A160 Evo bit.ly/3Vu5a9n
Advance Paris A10 Classic bit.ly/3VwowdY
Quality Power Supply & Power🔋
Transistors make great amps😊
You, my friend, are my therapist.
I am a US expat living in the Netherlands and purchased a new A10 classic about 6 months ago for $1250 US on sale. There are many dealers in Europe. I have owned a few Mcintosh integrated amps and a few Luxman amps over the last 20 years. The build quality on those amps is much higher. No comparison . But I must say the A10 Classic is the best sounding amp I have ever owned.
My dream since getting into stereo equipment as a teen was to get separates. I finally did it a couple of years ago when I moved from years of surround sound TV systems to 2 channel music and started streaming and buying CDs again. I got a Rotel preamp and amp that were the best value for my budget putting out 200 WPC at 8 ohms. Separate CD player, streamer and tower speakers with 2 subs. Best system I’ve ever had. I’m very happy. Would like to get a Mc someday but bought a new boat instead. Rock on!
I have the A10 Classic. I’m very happy with it so far. Great looks, great sound, great build quality. Running it in class A. The only unknown is reliability. So far, so good. Running it with Geshelli Labs Plexi Dayzee, WIIM Pro Plus, Audio Technica LP7 and Wharfedale Linton’s.
I'm running nearly the same system. I've got the cambridge cxn as a streamer though and my speakers are constantly rotating in and out. I've got the Michell tecnodec as a turntable though.
@@cheapaudioman Sherri at Geshelli laughed at me when I ordered the Plexi Dayzee. She said I was the second person, after you, to get one.
@@cheapaudiomando you find the cambridge a better streamer than the wiim? I have a geshelli and ive been using my laptop but i wanna go to a seperate streamer. Thoughts please?
@@alexlopez-u3i I’ve never really compared them directly to one another. If there is a difference I can’t imagine it’s a huge one. Although the Cambridge probably has a bit of a better power supply
@@alexlopez-u3iif you can get a 30 or 60 day home trial try a Primare Prisma NP5. I've tried probably 12 different streamers under $1300. If you don't need USB or a streamer with a dac the Primare is good. Later on, improving the power supply will bring an improvement...even a budget ifi power X. I've tried a couple other PS but that one is noticeably better than the PS that comes with it.
Looks like the wife won't make it to Puerto Vallarta this year. That AP is beautiful. Thanks, Randy!
Had the opportunity to listen to this amp and meet these lovely folks at Fl Audio Expo. Sounds good and had fun conversation. Their products are definitely worth a look. Some serious power and solid sound.
& thanks Randy for the recommendation on visiting their room.
I currently own the Advanced Paris A12 classic and have a McIntosh MA 5300 and My Paris has more grunt honestly it has more impact on my Source point 10’s
I have the A160 evo for 3 years now. The sound is amazing, lots of power and punch, it can drive anything, currently connected to ProAc DT8 which is a 4Ω speaker dropping to 2 in some frequencies. After upgrading all the internal caps to Nichicon and getting rid of all the cheap Chinese caps, the sound has went to a whole new level. For me it's all the hi-fi anyone could need, I don't believe I would want to upgrade ever.
@@Moonplant432 no it was great before the mods too. And the re-cap was not that expensive. Still value for money, and now I know that it will last 20 years.
Ya, I dropped my big preamp and now just use a Bluesound streamer into a Geshelli J2 socketed DAC, plugged straight into a Bryston 4B SST amp, but the Bryston has a 20-year warranty not 2.
I'm the proud owner of the Advance Paris A10 for about a month now and I really love it.
Can you tell me the difference between the A10 and the XA160 EVO.
And not that the A10 is a integrated and the AX160 Evo is a power amp.😂
If you are on the budget, just go second hand. It takes a time and a bit of effort but it's an experience. I met a lot of amazing people over the years of my sonic journey. I'm rocking Musical Fidelity A5 amp with Monitor Audio Gold GS20 speakers, Kenwood KD7010 turntable, all in pristine condition and for under 2K. Streamer i build by myself from Raspberry Pi and some trash i found in a office skip container. This hobby does not have to be crazy expensive
With one caveat... you have to be mentally prepared to have a tech run through any vintage piece which can impact the price. Sometimes vintage is the same or more. But still cool! 😀
I am so very very lucky to now have separates. The dynamic range of my Emotiva T-Zero towers now sound like I think they should. A power amp doing it's job as the muscle, while the source does its job.
It must be so much fun for Randy to be able to review so much gear. Go Randy Go. Thanks for all you do!
Addvance Paris Power Amplifier X-A160 EVO - Stereo - 1,999.00 - 160 Watts per channel
Addvance Paris Power Amplifier A12 Classic - Stereo - 2,499.00 - 190 Watts per channel
Addvance Paris Power Amplifier X-A1200 - Mono Block - $5,999.00 - 450 Watts RMS at 8 Ohms and more than 700 W RMS at 4Ω.
Not exactly cheap audio
How does it compare to Galion?
I'd like to see a Galion review
Run a web search for the sponsor and "privacy" to see how they've handled user data - it may help you decide on using them.
Let’s see how long it lasts before we make any judgements. 😂
see ya in 40 years
There is no way this sounds better than the Macintosh, or so I would think. Wish he compared this amp directly with the Macintosh.
Well, if he didn’t compare the two amps directly, then it’s not factual, it’s just an opinion. Him saying the amp is a McIntosh killer without a direct comparison holds no weight. We’re all entitled to our opinion, and McIntosh amps are expensive, but even if he did a direct comparison it would still be HIS opinion. Someone else could listen to the amps and say McIntosh is better. That’s just MY opinion and everyone’s got one about something😁.
I paid $1100 for an Outlaw 750 amplifier in 1999. It puts out 165 watts RMS x 5 (all channels driven simultaneously into 8 ohms. It has been the best investment in sound ever. 25 years later, I had a tech go through it replace some worn components (caps I think) for the princely sum of $80 and it's back to its old self. This 65 pound behemoth blows away anything in its price category. It did back then and it does now. This amp seems like the Outlaw 750 (albeit for stereo) of 2024.
Awesome..well made old skool power amp that just needs a few new E lytics every 20 or so years. No bells n whistles or other nonsense to worry about. Stuff that can be easily repaired.
You definitely got your money's worth and some out of that amp.
. Investment? No. It just depreciates slower. 25 years later & it's costing another $80 plus hassle. When's it gonna' return dollar bills? Embellishment is not persuasive.
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
Shout out to Peter Tribesman! Outlaw put out some fantastic gear in the day. Real value and real quality.
@@TriAmpMyFi Investment in SOUND. 25 years later I have reaped the benefits of excellent SOUND. It's a popular usage. Simmer down.
@@fredmanteghian5913 I think they are still at it, but my days of spending 4 figures on anything audio are over. OK, with the exception of the Technics SL-1200 when I finally settle. But other than THAT...
Hi Randy, Did you have the opportunity to compare this Advance Paris to the Galion Audio TS A75?
Well, there are few things in life that we should never sell, a vintage Ferrari, a vintage Alfa spider, a vintage handmade Marchesini bike and... a McIntosh product. I don't question this Advance Paris amp's quality, sound and so on but I am not psychologically ready to spend 2 grand on a French designed product but Made in China. I'll wait, save my money, my last college tuition for my "little guy" will be at the end of this year and then treat myself to a brand new... McIntosh and that means great sound, great looks, often imitated but never surpassed, tons of heritage and tradition, second to none service with parts still available years from now and proudly Made in Binghamton, New York, USA, what's not to like? Sorry Randy, but I'm not with you on this one.
I don't know about that. I do get a little of what you're saying. But... I do see tons of Mac gear on the secondary market. Parasound and Adcom too. But I sure don't see many Classe Audio or Krell products. And when I do it's usually something massive and the person is "downsizing". Rarely do I see any Emotiva (amps) for sale, and when I do it's normally their BasX line. But XPA or DR, maybe once.
@@paulhalucha526 - They have been making audio products since 1995, so almost 2 decades already.
If WiiM put analog VU* meters on the next, next amp, people would go bananas.
Supposedly wiim is putting vu meters on wiim ultra as an update.
Or 2 separate cylon or Knight Rider scanning leds to keep the form factor small and pump the power up at least 2x.
Bananas...love that word
So, do you prefer the 160 or the A10?
So how does this compare to the TS A75 you recently reviewed and loved? Which is the better amp?
He has a review of the a75??I keep looking and can't find it
@@HaamRadio54 unless I got him confused with someone else, I swear I watched the review of the a75 on this channel the other day. Mind, ive watched a load of reviews of all sorts of speakers and amps the past week. I thought he was raving about how incredible it was
So how do we compare this to the Galion TS-A75? Also Randy do a review of the Galion!
Was wondering the same thing. I've seen the insides of both these amps. The Galion has around double the capacitors and two trioidal transformers. I'm not an electrical engineer so I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
@@stevenjames7106 Theoretically it is.
@stevenjames7106
Extra parts, not necessary 😮
I saw this at the AXPONA 2024. They looked amazing and sounded good as far as I can tell in the noisy audio show environment. Since I'm a tactile person and also give priority on touch and finish, I was surprised that the controls felt loose/cheap (the controls actually wiggled around on more than one of the units) which did not match the look of the units. Maybe if the user only uses the remote control, they wouldn't care about this. But I often go up to my turntable and then adjust the volume knob, it would bother me. I mentioned this to the company representatives, and they said that they will take the feedback to their company folks.
Hi Randy, I was curious how the power amp sounded compared to using the integrated amp to power the speakers directly? Was there a big difference?. Cheers
Randy...you are so brave. McIntosh owners are as loyal as Harley riders. Tread lightly my friend.
Lol yes they are but as a kid growing up with my dad that was a loyal harley owner i still remember all the dirty words he used to called it.
@@jeffro7p202 ...did your Dad ever say "I sure wish I had a Honda rather than this Harley Davidson?"
any slightly more serious hi-fi product is a mcintosh killer, a hyped mediocre company with unreasonably high prices
One difference between a Macintosh and the masses is in the resale. Another is the repairable for the life of the product and probably you. Most companies including Advanced Paris wish they could compete in those category.
I'd love to hear one of those. My amp that is my daily driver is an ADCOM GFA-565II that puts out 200wpc rms.
I never knew there were so many ways that one can be categorized as a "crazy person."
I like the cell phone analogy when comparing to the price/value of the amplifier. I used that exact analogy with a friend. My complete system is about $7,000. Not super expensive, but a fair amount of money. My friend was on his 6th iPhone in 8 years. He's spent more on his cell phone than I have my entire audio system in the same time frame, and my system isn't obsolete by any means. I just bought a new android phone for $200. Had the last one for 6 years. It's a smartphone that does more than I need it to. It all depends on what you like and what you want to spend your money on. My neighbor has an $80k boat. I have a $60k sports car. I drive my car every week, year round. He takes his boat to the lake 6 times a year. Which one is the better investment? It depends on what makes you happy.
11:24 so why should I buy this if I am a „regular“ user and have my speakers connected to an AVR? (PIONEER VSX LX 505). I should reach the 20W you mention with my AVR right? Thanks.
Macintosh has been around for 75 years, it is thanks to them and also to Audio Research that hi-fi took off in the 60’s. They are the pioneers of hi-fi. Of course there are imitations and copies, indeed there are amps that are as good for half the price but as Coco Chanel said “for me copying is success, there is no success without copying and imitation”. Just like a Lamborghini is a Lamborghini or a Rolex is a Rolex no matter if there are others brands for half the price, it won’t change the fact that a McIntosh is a McIntosh.
Yep, exactly why I bought my MA9500 and Explorer II.
Audio Research didn't exist in the 60s. It was founded in 1970.
@@johnstone7697Right I should have have said Harman Kardon still Audio Research is on the hall of fame.
Ran Man, great vid as always. Just one thought; and not that you asked, but; I would suggest focusing a bit on the magic of the pre-amplifier. Using built in volume pots, etc, suck in the face of a great pre-amp which can make a whop of a difference. IMO. The problem is that the automatic presumption is that a passive pre or something which inserts LESS into the signal would be automatically better, but in practical reality, it's not so; the pre-amp is often the heart of a system. I would love to see you review some, perhaps a bit higher end or more various in approaches.
They stand by the quality of their amps with a solid 2 year warranty? The Advanced Paris stuff reminds me of the Chinese clone stuff on AliExpress…..but at waaaaay higher prices.
Hi Randy, How does this compare to the Xi-75 soundwise? If you don't need the power, do you get better sound, or is it just adding very expensive vu-meters (whitch i do love btw)?
I have Advance MAA-405. One time after moving it, one speaker stopped working. Soldering is so-so, it lasted 20 years. I fixed it this time with not much effort.
Looking at your "pieces" in your rack system, you definitely moved "uptown". Nice video!
So the dac in the a10 is better thans the dac in the dmp-a6? Love the A10, with the VU and the tubes.
How would you compare this to the Parasound A23+?
I could not pass up my a23 for what I paid. Such a beast, definitely built like a tank and about 20 lbs heavier. Gotta have those beefy heat sinks.
@@koprcord5338 The Parasound has a perfect 1v input sensitivity that matches my system with a 29db gain, plus has a gain knob. This amp would have to be pretty special for me to pass on the parasound for it. Plus I hear the parasound has a deep warm sound which I love.
McIntosh never bothered with a neutral sound signature.
2 year warranty seems a little lacking.
I saw the Advanced Paris line of gear at the Toronto Audiofest last year..looking forward to the next one in October 😎
Another question about the a10: do the VU meters work when using the pre-out? I also have some active speakers i would also want to connect. (So streamer, difital out to the a10, using pre-out to some active speakers.)
Dude!!!! That system looks so baller! Absolutely gorgeous. Nice work "seriousaudioman"!!!
This amplifier is manufactured in China, where McIntosh builds their amps in Binghamton New York. That's a deal killer for lots of buyers looking for their "ultimate amplifier". If the McIntosh name and all it implies is not important to you, then there are plenty of alternatives that fill the bill besides this amp. I'm perfectly willing to believe that this is a very nice product with good performance and sound quality. I just don't think that the presence of a couple of blue meters on a plexi glass front is going to pull in the guy with his heart set on a Mac system. I consider McIntosh as the Harley Davidson of the audio world. Once you buy into the look, the culture, and their product philosophy, there's really no alternative that I know of.
I can kind of agree with that for sure. But to not make the comparison would lead to dozens of comments about it being a McIntosh rip off. So I figured I’d tackle it head on. And also it makes for a great title. The people that resent McIntosh for being too expensive will have an option. The people that love McIntosh will watch it too. I’ve been lucky enough to have listened to a ton of equipment including owning some McIntosh stuff. And I have no issue recommending AP as loudly as I can. But if your heart is set on McIntosh then nothing will scratch that itch. Same way with Rolex. Anything less is settling.
No thanks Randy; Cheap amp made in China: I have a Vintage late 70s McIntosh MC-2125 amp that will blow this away and is not depreciating like this Amp will
So, I ordered the AP A10. The salesman (being the professional he is) now tried to talk me into replacing my Wiim Plus streamer with the Advance Paris WTX Streamtubes since he recons that they will play better with my Klipsch Forte IV's having the tube integration. Now my question is; will the Class A tube phase in the A10 not already give me all the tube benefits or will the WTX add anything significant enough to warrant replacing the Wiim?
i don't recognize these SF speakers - Opera1?? is it something exclusive or coming up?
How does it compare to the A10 classic amp on its own?
What about FOSI? Is the difference so significant that it’s not worth mentioning? Anyway, I would love to hear how it compares. All the best to you!
I'd love for you to get hold of a Vincent amp for comparison.
that would be cool. I'd love that too
I'd like CAM to purchase a Vincent or Rogue, an Orchard Audio or Outlaw for comparisons sometime also.
I'm partial to vintage B&K Ltd and Parasound for SS gear myself, although I must say my class D Sony strda3000es receiver is probably best I've heard in that class!
Same here. Sp-332
At $2000, grab an older used a/b that's of great quality.
Yes, w a good power supply 😊
I doubt it’s a McIntosh killer but whatever you say! Save up the money and buy a McIntosh, they are worth it!
The MA-252 is under 5K. 100 watts of hybrid power. Too bad Randy isn't in Florida. He could demo mine and give his thoughts. 😊
just because it has blue meters doesn't make it a mcintosh killer, & this has only 100 - 160 watts when most mcintosh amps are 300, 600 , 1200 watts, so this isn't even close, this is more of a sales pitch.
@@privateuser7726 the Mac 152 that he showed as the example is 150 watts a side. This AP unit is 160 watts a side. The monsters you're referencing are 10K and up.
I sold my Macs, for me, they are very good, never great. I did like the 275 with my Maggies, however, a single ran out of gas for me, and two lost some of the mojo that makes the 275 excellent. If you like them, get them!
On my Accuphase the VU’s are turned Off all the time…
I own the McIntosh MC152 power amp and I gotta say it rocks like a mofo! It makes other amps I own and amps I've known sound broken! MC152 has output transformers and that's what you want! The best way to describe the sound signature of MC152 in one word is direct, there's this directness about it that fussy audio heads may not like but it grows on you and then you're like everything else sounds broken in comparisons. I also own the Musical Fidelity A1 Integrated and it sounds so satisfying I love it however in direct comparison to the MC152 it's broken! Needless to say the McIntosh MC152 is not cheap but it is worth saving up for it's all the amp I'll ever need
Hifi is going digital without a question and Hifi dies in less than 15 years 😢
The young people have no idea about quality music😢
Always the optimist
Wow! I wish I was there to hear all that. Great video.
Nice job! (Again). Btw, those are some pretty sweet Opera Primas lurking in the background. I have a pair of those in my bedroom system.
Now this is something I'd like to try out with my Conrad Johnson PV2 Preamp on my Lintons
Question, could you not run the Cambridge CXN100 directly into the power amp? What advantage is there to running the CXN100 through the Geselli Labs DAC and then into the power amp?
You have to give that amp some airspace to breathe. I know you know how hot class a gets.
Randy, any relation or association between Advanced Paris and Emotiva? Seen people online speculating that they use the same OEM or that they are similar in some ways. Looking at the internals of some of their products, there are definitely some similarities with Emotiva (not that its a bad thing).
I'm not sure. I did talk to them yesterday but I don't think they use the same OEM. as you said, it would be cool if they did. But there is design going on in both Emotiva and AP so who is contracted to make it doesn't really matter. Still very different products. I think there are only a handful of really capable asian companies making heavier duty amps so it's inevitable that some of the products are coming out of the same building
@@cheapaudioman similar to tonewinner also
How do you compare this unit with Schiit Ageir ?
I LOVE that they also have a Mono block amp like these as well.
Yer talking good sense there, my man! I love this video about cool stuff! Great intro. I'm laughing...LMFAO at the VU meter discussion! And THIS now gives me a bridge to hook up the new sources to the real (analog) world. And sure enough! You come to the DAC part! Really, I'm also wondering if your ability to make this video signifies a (new) moment of clarity in the stereo world. Last time I felt this clarity, there were tubes and so much heat you had to be careful what you touched! Very nice!!!
It is a nice power amplifier. Is it a good combination with an Eversolo DMP-A8 that I already have?
Are McIntosh amps good? Sure. Pretty? Absolutely. But I had a MA 2100 and as beautiful it was, it couldn’t drive my Magnepan IIIa speakers worth a damn. A 10 year old Bryston 4a didn’t trick. There’s power, and then there’s power.
I get it. And this is a great review and take. And I've heard this amp and it's good. Looks nice. But no one is buying McIntosh new if they are smart. And that's because, as you say in the video, amps last for generations. So buy used McIntosh...better quality at half the price and better sound.....and, built like a tank. You know it will work forever.
What I'd like to know is how do these sound compared to Mcintosh with more expensive ( Higher quality) speakers? If these are true 20 watt class A amps then these should really hit way above the belt at this price point. If your sitting on the sidelines waiting for a Mac you can always buy this as a 5 year stop gap and sell for $1200 bucks a few years down the line and still get 5 years of enjoyment.
I have a Sony Amp from the 80’s still going strong!
Does Monolith amps from Monoprice compare favorably?
what is the smallest in size speaker that would be a killer combi wth this amp?
I’d really like to see some KLH speakers reviews . Back in the day they were excellent. Wonder how they are today ?
Great idea comparing audio purchases to cell phone purchases. We don't seem to care about spending $500/yr for rinse and repeat disposable technology, yet some people freak out when you say you spent over $2k for an audio component.
I bought my Aragon Palladium 1k monoblocks in 2004 for $3k. Still using them today.
I wonder how AP's compare to the hybrid amps by Vincent Audio....
Nice video, Randy. These amps look killer. I’m sure they sound great too.
Good morning,
Thank you for your comparison.
You are comparing two devices with a considerable price difference. at the same time you did a test between a yamaha at 350 dollars and the advance acoustic a10 paris whose conclusion, if I remember correctly", was that the difference in sound quality was small "seven times cost “So if I take this example, does that mean that the price of the Mcintosh is theft?
Yamaha problem, no bypass for integrated home cinema.
Another good review of Advanced Paris product! Can't wait for more!
I have this amplifier since two years now, and I agree fully with your presentation...
I have Emotiva TA2 that I love mainly because it has everything you want in 1 box pushing Klipsch Cornwalls but I’m falling for the hype on this AP A10 would you rate it over the Emotiva 🤫?
Take into account the resell value and McIntosh may not be all that expensive. A lot of these McIntosh killers are very hard resells with a lot of depreciation. From my experience.
Advance Paris look so much nicer than Mcintosh too. It disproves the BS that you can't have beautiful styling AND an affordable yet powerful piece of hi-fi gear. In fact it only proves how cheap the other companies are being. A MyConnect 250 or A12 Classic pre-out into a pair of X-A220 EVO's would probably be an endgame system for most.
How does the Advance Paris WTX-StreamTubes Streamer compare to the Cambridge CXN100 as a DAV streamer? Is the Cambridge worth the extra $500? Interesting video.
1500 Euro's so a better deal in Europe even
no kidding. that is awesome!
$1,608 plus shipping
I have ordered from Audiophonics and saved a few bucks
I remember back in the late 60s that Mcintosh was the best in amps. I never could afford one but knew friends that had them I believe they were all tubes.
The billie amp mk2 gets a lot of attention and praise. Tube preamp and class d power. Made in Canada. hopefully they send you one 😀
What speakers are those in the video?
Opera Prima
@@cheapaudioman hope you'll be doing a review on them soon.
I wonder if it would be possible to hear any difference between this and the 2x Fosi V3 mono..
Yes. Just like you would vs any decent class ab or a. It's not even close and since I've tried that road + hyper/purifi I can tell you fosi isn't close to those either. Stay in your lane 😉. Fosi deliver good fun for little money though
Don't believe the hype they are cheap amps with limitations ,good for the price
@@wegardfjeld3789 "It's not even close"
Proper dB match and blind test and I doubt you'd hear any difference whatsoever.
Your loudspeakers are A LOT worse than these amps, most room are poor too, too empty
@@misterzero8667 They are better than any loudspeaker
@@Hirnlego999 Don't make assumptions please. My room, speakers, room EQ and all handles your concerns fine. Regarding blind testing this equipment I have done so and own mentioned. Fosi V3 does not deliver as the hype have been and the fact that blind tests have been done and is easily proven so. By all means spend your money on op amps swapping and believe you get the same as proper equipment for the same price. You do you. It isn't how it works tho
Thanks for video Randy ! A good two channel amp will always be useful even if your future audio takes you into multi-channel or home theater. Front end technology may change but amps evolve slowly over the years. (And yes the meters are fun 😁)
Got the x a220 blocks .. beautiful to see but the sound is way better than the most that are double the price.
I agree with the uv meter and how it is a complement to the whole experience of listening to music. I have a Pioneer 1080 and love the uv meters and the beautiful esthetic of the electronics adds to the listening experience for sure.
Where is it made?
The Peoples Republic of China
Randy, is it worth the extra $500 over the Galion TSA75?
McIntosh killer!? Perhaps an alternative more affordable choice, but neither option is in my price range, unfortunately. Perhaps I need some therapy to overcome my audio equipment limitations. 😂 Thank you so much for your content, perspectives, and sharing this with us all. Stay well, my friend.
Unless you have 100k speakers, buy a crown PA amp and enjoy at very loud sound levels.
I believe it’s because it has a twin toroidal transformer set up
2 grand is not a lot for a NEW high quality amp like this, considering if you add up all the budget amazon stuff some buy or all the things budget audiophiles hoard or find from marketplace/garagesales/goodwill and DONT even hook it up. Just bought it because "it was too good to pass up" add all that up and you could prob have this.
Try black ice audio Fusion F360 V.1 Tube Preamplifier with this amp, or any amp for that matter, I ditched my parasound & denafrips preamps with it, it sounds that good.