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
The Advance Paris NOVA range is available now. Official pricing for the US, Europe and the UK:
- A-i130 integrated amplifier: €4,490 / £4,250 / $6,499
- A-i190 integrated amplifier: €5,490 / £5,250 / $7,999
- A-NTC streaming cartridge: €399 / £399 / $599
- A-BTC bi-directional Bluetooth dongle: €149 / £149 / $249
- A-RTR rotary remote: €399 / £399 / $599
In mainland France, Advance Paris also sells direct with free shipping, a 30-day return window and up to a 5-year parts-and-labour warranty. Elsewhere, contact your local Advance Paris dealer or visit Advance Paris’ official website.
