Advance Paris PlayStream A7
The PlayStream A7 pairs tight, powerful bass with an open, transparent presentation, convincing depth and muscular loudspeaker control. StereoNET United Kingdom praised its articulate timing and smooth treble, while SoundStage Solo found its imaging palpably expansive. Streaming, HDMI ARC, MM/MC phono and extensive inputs make this a characterful, high-value system hub.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
88/100
Features Connectivity
94/100
Value for Money
95/100
Pros
Open, detailed and rhythmically engaging sound with smooth, extended treble and strong midrange articulation.
Powerful, controlled bass and confident grip with demanding full-range loudspeakers.
Wide, deep soundstage with convincing image specificity and a stable centre image.
Exceptionally comprehensive connectivity, including network streaming, HDMI ARC, MM/MC phono, FM/DAB+ and numerous analogue and digital inputs.
Cons
The PlayStream app is stable but comparatively ordinary in functionality; one reviewer also experienced occasional device-discovery and network wake-up issues.
Headphone performance disappointed one reviewer, who noted off tonality and apparent distortion.
Its leaner, slightly well-lit balance may not suit listeners seeking maximum tonal weight.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers hear an unusually accomplished, energetic presentation: open and detailed, with powerful low-frequency control, persuasive spatial scale, and strong rhythmic drive. Its balance is generally smooth and musical, though it can sound slightly lean or brightly lit with some material, and one reviewer found the phono input mildly smiley-faced.
Transparency Resolution
92/100
StereoNET describes an open, transparent and musically articulate sound, praising midrange purity, crisp definition and smooth, extended treble. SoundStage likewise heard a nuanced, super-detailed and uncoloured delivery, while Hans Beekhuyzen found high-frequency resolution fair to good rather than class-leading.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
The A7 is widely described as smooth, natural and engaging, with clean, solid bass and natural voices. Its presentation is slightly well lit and midband-focused rather than overtly weighty; StereoNET notes that some listeners may hear it as a little thin, while SoundStage heard a modest bass lift and upper-mid/treble emphasis through the phono stage.
Dynamics
94/100
This amplifier earns especially strong praise for grip, speed and apparent ease with demanding loudspeakers. SoundStage found it both nimble and powerful with Paradigm Studio 100s, while StereoNET heard taut timing, strong rhythmic articulation and plenty of poke; Old Guy Hifi also calls it robust and very dynamic.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
Reviewers consistently praise a spacious, precisely focused stereo picture. SoundStage heard palpable width and depth with particularly specific vocal images, StereoNET found the depth perspective highly convincing, and both Hans Beekhuyzen and Old Guy Hifi highlight a notably wide, deep image with a stable centre.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
The A7 is described as robust, well constructed and fitted with a substantial toroidal transformer, with Hans Beekhuyzen calling its build quality fine. There is one notable ergonomic blemish: SoundStage heard quiet but audible crackling when turning the front-panel volume control.
Features Connectivity
94/100
The PlayStream A7 is comprehensively equipped, combining network streaming over Wi-Fi or Ethernet, a DAC, Bluetooth, phono input, FM/DAB+, HDMI ARC, dual headphone outputs and A/B speaker connections. Reviewers find the streamer sonically capable, although StereoNET considers the PlayStream control app ordinary relative to the amplifier's extensive connectivity.
Value for Money
95/100
Value commentary is emphatically positive at its approximately $1,490-$2,499 asking range. Hans Beekhuyzen calls the feature and power package small money, Old Guy Hifi calls it an absolute value at $2,000, and StereoNET says its built-in streamer approaches the performance of a reference DAC costing twice as much as the amplifier.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Output power 8Ω
- 115 W
- Frequency response
- 20Hz - 80kHz
- Distortion
- < 0.004%
- Signal-to-noise ratio
- > 98 dB
- Mains voltage
- 115/230V 50/60Hz
- Height
- 135 mm
- Width
- 430 mm
- Depth
- 370 mm
- Net weight
- 9.3 kg
- Gross weight
- 11.15 kg
- VU-Meter
- Yes
- DAC
- PCM 1796
- Networks
- Ethernet, Wi-Fi
- Warranty
- 2-year warranty, 5-year warranty
Manufacturer's Description — Advance Paris
The PlayStream A7 is a connected integrated amplifier. Rated at 115W per channel (under 8 ohms) in class AB, the A7 has been designed with the ultimate goal of satisfying the most demanding audiophile, with uncompromising sound reproduction compatible with all new high-definition sources.
The nerve center of your system
The PlayStream A7 is a connected integrated amplifier. Rated at 115W per channel (under 8 ohms) in class AB, the A7 has been designed with the ultimate goal of satisfying the most demanding audiophile, with uncompromising sound reproduction compatible with all new high-definition sources.
The A7 integrates an ethernet and wifi network player including numerous services such as Spotify, Deezer, Qobuz, Tidal, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, vTuner, Napster, etc., enabling network playback of your music library stored on your smartphone, tablet, computer or NAS-type network drive. The PlayStream A7 is equipped with a DAB+ digital tuner, an FM tuner, 4 digital inputs (one coaxial and 3 optical), an HDMI ARC input, a USB input and 6 analog inputs (including a customizable phono input).
The PlayStream A7 is compatible with our Bluetooth-compatible X-FTB01 and X-FTB02 receivers featuring high-definition aptX HD. Equipped with High-Bias, the PlayStream A7 delivers class-A sound on the first Watt.
A must-see!
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Authorized dealers for Advance Paris PlayStream A7
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- à la carte productions — in-store — Palm Coast, Florida, United States (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Alen Audio — in-store — Extramurs, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
- Apollo HiFi — online and in-store — Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia (website)
and 106 more verified dealers