Choosing an Advance Paris Preamplifier
The preamplifier is the control center of a separates system. It selects your sources, sets the volume, and shapes the character that your power amplifier then delivers to your speakers. Advance Paris builds preamplifiers with a musical, hands on approach, and the two models we carry at AEA share a family look and philosophy while serving slightly different goals. This guide walks through what they have in common, how each one differs, and which one is likely the better fit for your room, your sources, and your listening priorities.
Specifications compared
| Specification | X-P700 Classic | X-P1200 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dual-mono stereo preamplifier with Direct Path signal routing; selectable Class A output stage (bipolar double-cascade) or Discrete mode (JFET differential + current mirror, Class AB) | Reference stereo preamplifier composed of two mono preamplifiers assembled in a single compartmentalized housing |
| Frequency Response | (+/-3dB) 20Hz-45 kHz | 10Hz-150kHz |
| Nominal Impedance | 10KΩ | — |
| DAC | PCM 1796DB (Burr Brown PCM 1796, 24 bit/192 kHz) | ANALOG DEVICES AD1955 (SIGMA DELTA) |
| Digital Inputs | Two optical inputs, one coaxial input, one USB-B (Xmos), one USB-A | 1 x USB B (XMOS), 2 coaxial digital inputs, 2 optical digital inputs |
| Analog Inputs | Nine analog inputs, one of which is balanced (XLR), plus one MM/MC phono | 9 analog inputs, including 2 balanced XLR |
| Inputs | — | Multiple line level inputs, 2 balanced XLR and RCA |
| Analog outputs | RCA output doubled with balanced XLR, plus one high-pass output and two subwoofer outputs | Balanced XLR outputs or unbalanced RCA outputs |
| Outputs | RCA and balanced XLR preamplifier outputs, high-pass output, and two subwoofer outputs | Balanced XLR and RCA preamp outputs |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | > 103dB / 123dB DAC | ≥ 110 dB |
| Total Harmonic Distortion | < 0.007% | < 0.01% |
| Channel separation | > 80dB / 130dB DAC | ≥ 100 dB |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 430 x 120 x 280 mm / 43 x 12 x 28 cm (16.93 x 4.72 x 11.02 in) | 440 x 155 x 430 mm (17.32 x 6.10 x 16.93 in) |
| Weight | 6,7 kg (14.8 lb) | 14.2 kg (31.3 lb) |
| AC input | 115 or 230V | 110-230V |
| Analog VU Meters | — | Yes, illuminated |
| Digital audio receiver | — | CS8416 |
| EAN | 3760179292206 | 3760179292077 |
| Front panel | 10 mm black methacrylate (Classic Line) | — |
| Gross weight | 8,55 kg (18.8 lb) | 15.6 kg (34.4 lb) |
| Headphone Output | Yes, front panel | Yes, front panel |
| Headphone outputs | Two front-panel jacks (6.35 mm and 3.5 mm), plus a separate independent output, with gain settings of +6, 0 or -4 dB and output impedance of 0 or 100 ohms | — |
| Input impedance | — | 23KΩ (unbalanced); 35KΩ (balanced) |
| Input level | — | < 500mV (CD/AUX) |
| Input level phono MM | 2,5mV | — |
| Max. power consumption | — | ≤ 30W |
| Maximum output level | — | 10.5 +/-0.5dB (unbalanced / balanced) |
| Output level | 2V (unbalanced); 4V (balanced) | — |
| Phono Input | MM and MC (moving magnet / moving coil) | MM and MC (moving magnet / moving coil) |
| Phono MM/MC input level | — | 48dB/64dB |
| Power consumption max | 30W | — |
| Power supply filtering | — | 4 capacitors 12000uF / 150V |
| Remote Control | — | Yes |
| Tone Controls | Bass and treble with defeat/bypass | Bass and treble with defeat |
| Transformer | — | 2 (high current-capacity toroidal, s) |
| Transformers | Two high-capacity toroidal transformers feeding a double-mono power supply | — |
| Trigger | — | TRIGGER socket switches other products on with the X-P1200 |
| VU Meters | Yes, illuminated dual VU meters | — |
The Shared Advance Paris Design Language
Both preamplifiers in this comparison belong to the Advance Paris Classic line. The Classic range is defined by a warm, engaging presentation, generous connectivity, and the signature illuminated analog VU meters that give these components their unmistakable front panel personality. Where some brands strip a preamplifier down to a single volume knob, Advance Paris keeps useful tools at your fingertips, including bass and treble tone controls with a defeat or bypass option so you can run a pure signal path when you prefer it. Both models also include a front panel headphone output for private listening, and both offer balanced XLR alongside RCA connectivity so they can anchor a wide variety of systems.
You may see Advance Paris describe certain higher tier components as APEX rather than Classic. Both preamplifiers here are Classic models, so the choice between them is not about crossing that line. It is about the specific design goal of each unit.
Model by Model
Advance Paris X-P700 Classic
The Advance Paris X-P700 Classic is a stereo preamplifier built around a tube output stage. That tube output stage is its defining feature. It is designed to bring the sense of body, dimensionality, and easygoing warmth that many listeners associate with tubes, while still offering modern conveniences. You get illuminated dual VU meters, bass and treble tone controls with a defeat or bypass path, a front panel headphone output, multiple RCA line level inputs, and both RCA and balanced XLR preamplifier outputs.
This model suits the listener who wants a distinctive tonal character baked into the preamp stage itself. If you enjoy vocals and acoustic music with a rounded, inviting quality, and you like the idea of a tube stage adding its signature before the signal reaches your power amplifier, the X-P700 Classic is designed with you in mind. Its RCA line inputs make it a natural match for a line level system, and the balanced output gives you flexibility when pairing with a capable power amplifier over longer cable runs.
Advance Paris X-P1200 Classic
The Advance Paris X-P1200 Classic is a stereo line preamplifier that emphasizes flexible connectivity and control. It carries multiple line level inputs with both balanced XLR and RCA on the input side, and it provides balanced XLR and RCA preamp outputs as well. It keeps the illuminated analog VU meters, the bass and treble tone controls with defeat, and the front panel headphone output that define the Classic look and feel, and it adds remote control for everyday convenience from your listening seat.
This model suits the listener who values a fully balanced signal path from source to power amplifier and wants the ease of a remote. If your sources include balanced components, or you are building around balanced interconnects for their noise rejection benefits over distance, the balanced inputs on the X-P1200 Classic make integration straightforward. It is a strong choice for a clean, versatile control center in a system where connectivity and daily usability are priorities.
How to Choose by System, Room, and Priorities
By Character and Signal Path
If you are drawn to the tonal signature of a tube output stage and want that character present in your preamp, look to the X-P700 Classic. If you prefer a line stage focused on flexible balanced connectivity and everyday control, the X-P1200 Classic is designed with that goal in mind.
By Sources and Connectivity
If your sources are primarily RCA line level and you want a preamp with a tube personality, the X-P700 Classic covers you with multiple RCA inputs and both RCA and balanced outputs. If you have balanced sources or want balanced inputs available, the X-P1200 Classic offers balanced XLR and RCA on both the input and output sides for a fully balanced chain.
By Room and Convenience
In a larger room where you may sit farther from the rack, the remote control on the X-P1200 Classic makes source selection and volume adjustment effortless from the couch. Longer cable runs also favor balanced connections, another area where the X-P1200 Classic input flexibility is helpful. In a more intimate setup where you are close to the components, either model is comfortable to operate.
By Speaker and Power Amplifier Match
Both preamplifiers pair naturally with a quality stereo power amplifier and speakers appropriate to that amplifier. Because both offer balanced outputs, they integrate cleanly with capable amplifiers, and the tone controls with defeat let you tailor the balance to your room or run a pure path when your speakers and room are already dialed in. Choose speakers that suit the resolution and scale of your power amplifier, and let the preamplifier set the tone and control the system.
Which Should You Buy
Choose the Advance Paris X-P700 Classic if you want the warmth and dimensional quality of a tube output stage as part of your preamp, and your system is built primarily around RCA line level sources.
Choose the Advance Paris X-P1200 Classic if you want a versatile line preamplifier with balanced XLR and RCA inputs, a fully balanced path, and the added convenience of remote control for a larger or more flexible system.
Both keep the Classic hallmarks you may be looking for, including the illuminated VU meters, tone controls with defeat, and a front panel headphone output, so you can enjoy the Advance Paris experience whichever direction you take.
Come Listen at AEA
AEA is an authorized Advance Paris dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up on the floor, so the best way to hear the difference between these preamplifiers in person is to reach out first. Contact AEA to arrange a listen and we will help you plan a visit around the models you are most interested in.