French manufacturer Advance Paris has introduced the Advance Paris NOVA range, a line of hybrid integrated amplifiers built on a simple conviction: the warmth of tubes and the precision of digital processing are not opposites, but complements. Every NOVA model pairs an ECC81 tube preamplifier stage with a Class AB transistor output section, backed by a 4-channel DSP for room correction and an 8-channel ESS9017S DAC running in Quad mode. It’s the brand’s most ambitious release since it marked 30 years of sonic excellence — a milestone the NOVA range seems designed to build on rather than simply commemorate.
Advance Paris NOVA: Tube Warmth Meets Digital Precision
At the front of the signal chain sits a selected ECC81 tube, chosen because, in Advance Paris’ words, a transistor reproduces coldly while a tube adds even harmonics — imperceptible to measurement but audible, enriching vocals, strings and brass. That signal then passes through a transistor amplification stage built for “uncompromising power”, before the DSP and DAC stages take over downstream.
The 4-channel ADAU1452 DSP adjusts main speakers and subwoofers independently according to their position in the room, aiming for controlled bass and a stable soundstage regardless of a room’s dimensions, materials or geometry. The ESS9017S DAC, running in Quad mode, merges eight channels into four analogue paths, handling PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz, DSD and HDMI eARC without alteration. For purists, an Analog Bypass mode routes a source like vinyl entirely around the ADC and DSP, keeping the signal fully analogue end to end — a deliberate concession to listeners who want the DSP’s room correction available but not mandatory.
A-i190 NOVA: Two Mono Amplifiers, One Chassis
The range-topping A-i190 NOVA takes the hybrid philosophy to its extreme with dual independent 280VA toroidal transformers — effectively two mono amplifiers sharing a single chassis. Rated at 2 x 190W into 8Ω and 2 x 297W into 4Ω, Advance Paris says the result is a wider soundstage, clearer channel separation and dynamics that hold up under the most demanding speakers and rooms. Measured specifications include a frequency response of 20Hz to 80kHz, 0.042% distortion at 1kHz/135W/8Ω, and a 104.5dB signal-to-noise ratio. Connectivity runs to three optical and three coaxial digital inputs, balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA preamp outputs, an MM/MC phono stage, dedicated subwoofer outputs and HDMI eARC.
A-i130 NOVA and the Rest of the Range
The A-i130 NOVA brings the same hybrid architecture — ECC81 tube preamplification, DSP room correction and the ESS9017S DAC — into a single-transformer design delivering 130W RMS per channel, as the entry point into the Advance Paris NOVA range. The range is completed by the A-BTC and A-NTC modules: a Bluetooth dongle and a streaming cartridge respectively, each slotting into one of two dedicated expansion bays built into every NOVA amplifier. Advance Paris frames this as a deliberate answer to component obsolescence — insert a new module as formats evolve, and the amplifier itself never needs replacing.
Neo-Retro Design
Visually, the Advance Paris NOVA pairs an 8mm brushed aluminium front panel, available in black or grey anodising, with a pair of illuminated analogue-style VU meters flanking a glowing ECC81 tube window — a deliberately neo-retro touch that puts the tube on display rather than hiding it inside the chassis. A rotating metal remote control and an intuitive front-panel interface round out what Advance Paris pitches as technical complexity made invisible in everyday use.
Price and Availability
Advance Paris sells direct in mainland France with free shipping, a 30-day return window and up to a 5-year parts-and-labour warranty, though pricing for the NOVA range is not yet published — interested buyers should contact their local Advance Paris dealer or check Advance Paris’ official website for current pricing and availability.
