Advance Paris MyConnect 250 Audio Center Review

Calling it an amplifier is a vast understatement. What we have in the MyConnect 250 is a tube pre-amplifier, a class A/B power amplifier with 190 watts per channel (@ 8 ohms – 280 watts per channel @ 4 ohms) of dual toroidal transformer strength and a wide range of features such as streaming, CD player built in, FM/DAB radio, phono input and bass management for one or two subwoofers. The crossover is switchable between 75 and 150 Hz. We are also treated to an ARC return for the HDMI input from one’s television and a host of other digital inputs. You may already be thinking the MyConnect 250 could be the answer to combining a high-end, two-channel system with a full-fledged video system for those who want simplicity combined with high end. The MyConnect 250’s concept does have a place in audio history. In the ’70s, Marantz had a similar concept with its C-5100 all-in-one unit that included a high-quality AM/FM tuner, a turntable, and a pre-amp/power amp built into one chassis. Let’s explore how well they did with this endeavor.

Our editor-in-chief, Carlo Lo Raso, introduced me to Advance Paris earlier this year. The company was looking to expand into the US market, and its offerings were quite compelling with a variety of products. One visit to their website showed a company making pre-amplifiers with tubes, power amps with both stereo and mono-block platforms, integrated amps, CD players, and streamers. They also have a category called ‘All-in-One,’ featuring ‘My Connect’ components. The MyConnect 250 stands at the top of this range.

This intriguing component, boasting a turnkey system into which one only needs to add speakers and a subwoofer or two really caught my eye. A few months later, Carlo asked me (with a bit of hesitation as it was such an unusual product) if I would be willing to review this Swiss Army Knife audio product in my system that typically has over $20,000 invested in CD player and amplification. The hesitation from Carlo was, would I seriously give this $4,299 product a proper review without any bias against it being an ‘All in one’ system. The answer was an enthusiastic YES!

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Starting at the rear panel of the MyConnect 250, one finds an incredible array of inputs and outputs. There are XLR and RCA pre-amp outputs, two sets of XLR inputs, ten digital inputs, three speaker outputs, dual subwoofer outputs (with crossovers of 75 and 150 Hz), and a host of other features. It is difficult to imagine a home audio system that would overwhelm the capabilities of the MyConnect 250 to act as a true audio hub.

The front panel continues the ‘form follows function’ talents of this Advance Paris system. Two VU meters, flanking the pre-amplifier’s tube stage window, dominate the top half of the front panel. The VU meters are an eye-catching blue that contrasts perfectly with the soft glow of the tubes shining through their window.

The middle of the front panel features (in letters large enough to be read from across the room) the volume control on the left side, and the input selected on the inside. The bottom adds a volume knob, a tuning knob, and a variety of input buttons. The remote control matches the front panel in its elegance and is of high quality despite its rather light weight. The remote is not backlit, which can sometimes cause frustration.

Spotify Connect is a terrific addition for more casual listening, the triple speaker pair connections can add a lot of flexibility in adding speakers to other rooms, including the option to have speakers A plus B, A plus C, B plus C, or even all three simultaneously (with the caveat that the three pairs of speakers must be at least 8 ohms in impedance). Each of the three speaker outputs is endowed with binding posts that are heavy-duty and accept bare wire, spade, or banana plugs.

The digital inputs feed a TI Burr-Brown PCM 1796 DAC with 24-bit/192 kHz resolution. The preamp section features two ECC81 tubes in a double triode configuration with medium gain. The dual-mono power amp section delivers 190 watts per channel into eight ohms and 280 watts into four ohms. Based on the guidance that one can connect three pairs of 8-ohm speakers safely, it’s safe to say that the MyConnect 250 will drive a single pair of 2.67-ohm loudspeakers.

The phono input supports MM high level and MC low level, and one can also set the capacitance for the ground terminal @ 100P/200P/320P.

Another unusual feature is the ‘high bias’ setting on the rear panel. This sets a bias high enough to allow the first few watts from the amplifier in Class ‘A’ mode. This will be especially useful with higher-efficiency speakers and for low-level listening, where detail is of utmost importance. The totality of its design, along with the feel of high quality at every level, builds confidence that Advance Paris is onto something with this unique audio product.

Associated Equipment

● Power Conditioner: Clarus Concerto, Clarus Duet
● Power Cord: Clarus Aqua II
● Interconnects: Clarus Aqua II XLR Balanced
● Speaker Cables: Clarus Aqua II
● Source: Yamaha CD-S2100, Bluesound Node X (Qobuz), OPPO 105D
● Pre-Amplifiers: Marantz AV10, Michi P5, Cambridge Audio Edge NQ
● Power Amplifiers: Michi S5, McIntosh MC303, Marantz AMP10, Cambridge Audio Edge W
● Integrated Amplifiers: Audia Flight FLS9, NAD M33, Rogers High Fidelity KWM-88, Cambridge Audio EVO150
● Speakers: Legacy Audio Focus XD, Diptyque 140 Mark II, Sonus faber Maxima Amator, Vaughan Line Array Major, Ohm Walsh SSC-4900, DALI Oberon 9, Heretic AD612, Harbeth SHL5 Plus XD, Definitive Technology Dymension 5.0 system, Starke Sound IC-H2
● Subwoofers: MJ Acoustics Kensington (2), Sonus faber Gravis VI (2), Axiom Audio EP600 (2), Starke Sound Sub 35, SVS PB-4000, Legacy Metro, Definitive Technology DN15, ELAC Varro DS-1200

The MyConnect 250 had a tough act to follow in The Gryphon Diablo 333 integrated amp in all of its $25,000 and 333 watts per channel of audio glory. The ‘250’ was plugged into a Clarus Concerto power conditioner. The speakers were connected to the amplifier section with a pair of Clarus Aqua II speaker cables. As one would expect, this is quite a simple setup in terms of cables, and I would be remiss if I failed to mention that this concept of the MyConnect 250 will save one a lot in cable costs.

Speakers selected for this test were the excellent Diptyque 140 Mark II Isodynamic planar speakers ($17,000 per pair) running full range, a pair of Harbeth SHL5 Plus XD stand-mounted loudspeakers ($9,500 with stands) with a pair of MJ Acoustic’s Kensington subwoofers ($4,000 each) and a pair of $3,000 DALI Oberon 9 towers ($3,000 per pair). The Harbeth speakers with the MJ Acoustics subwoofer pair were engaged to explore the subwoofer feature as discussed earlier. The first two systems would total about $25,000 including the MyConnect 250, the Cardas power conditioner and speaker cables, and either the Diptyque towers or Harbeth/MJ combination. The DALI system (sans Cardas conditioner) could be had for about $7,000. One question is: after exploring the design and specs of the MyConnect 250, can it drive the Diptyque and Harbeth speakers to sufficient SPL levels with the quality shown by other amps we have paired with these speakers in the past? The other question is: just how good can a $7,000 stereo system be?

MyConnect 250 / Diptyque 140 Mark II

Other tracks worth mentioning were ‘Bennie and the Jets,’ which was so clear that even the actors from ’27 Dresses’ would get the lyrics correct. The title track shows off Elton’s vocals with aplomb, and the MyConnect 250 / Diptyque pairing was again up to the task of getting out of the way of the music. The best compliment I could give this audition is what normally would have been playing a few tracks turned into playing the entire dual CD set.

‘Thunderstruck’ is the opening track, and the Advance Paris MyConnect 250 shows it’s not just a polite French component by driving the Diptyque 140 to stout levels of in-your-face rock nirvana. Johnson’s vocals are rough yet filled with range and Angus will have anyone with a pulse playing air guitar.

The bass is deep and tight, and the power-hungry Diptyque towers demonstrate a real appreciation for just how good this amplifier section is. ‘Donington’ spans two hours, and as with ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,’ I managed to tune out the rest of the world and bask in incredibly clean rock history.

‘Dirty Deeds’ is a toe-tapping, bass drum-loving, rhythm guitar-smashing good time with Johnson’s vocals showing off just how much fun he is having. ‘Let There Be Rock’ shoots to thrill with 17 minutes of mayhem. When Angus does his solo, one can feel him walking around the stage. The real star, though, is at the end of ‘For Those About to Rock,’ when real cannons are fired towards the audience while the band is hitting every instrument with all the gusto each can muster. To call it a rousing encore would be an understatement, and the 250 managed to wring out at least 99 percent of the ability of these planar loudspeakers. Advance Paris is off to a good start, so let’s try another combination.

MyConnect 250 teams up with the Harbeth SHL5 Plus XD and dual MJ Acoustics Kensington subs

We then descend into ‘What a Shame About Me,’ and Advance Paris’s decision to add the subwoofer outputs was decidedly a wise move on their part. Deep, rich, tight bass rolled into the room, and it was quite clear that we were onto something special. ‘Janie Runaway’ and ‘Cousin Dupree’ continued this audio treat, and the experience led me to conclude that the MyConnect 250 is a music lover’s component.

The entirety of the experience of ‘2 Against Nature’ with this system was one of those rare instances where everything just plain worked to (almost) perfection. I say almost as perfect is not possible, but this was a lot closer than was expected, especially for a total system price of $25,000.

Track 3, ‘Otche Nach’ (Skylark Vocal Ensemble) is a classic chorus arrangement from baritone to soprano. It is a short track that excels at determining a system’s ability to separate multiple voices into distinct notes. The ‘trio’ of components delivered a natural, high-end sound without any smearing of the vocals; well-delivered, Advance Paris.

Track 5, ‘When the Hurt is Over’ (Mighty Sam McClain) opens with the rhythm guitar well off-stage right, then Sam’s vocals come in the center left, and his powerful lyrics quite explode out of the speakers. His guitar work follows shortly after he starts his emotional wish for the end of the hurt, and then the piano, set between Sam and the rhythm guitar, enters the fray. It’s a wonderful track and the Advance Paris MyConnect 250 brought all the gut-wrenching from Sam and his musicians front and across the stage. Then the bass and drums kick in. Suddenly, we need a true, full-range system capable of keeping Sam’s vocals prominent while not losing any of the five instruments playing with him. The combination was revelatory, and the MyConnect 250 had the Harbeth/MJ 2.2 system putting one into the performance.

In total, the Advance Paris MyConnect 250/Harbeth/MJ Acoustics system got two weeks in our system. During that time, it was the subject of rock, jazz, classical, country and several movies. I found myself wondering why I would ever bother to swap this system out for anything else. Then the whole ‘you are supposed to review stuff, not fall in love’ thing came out. Reluctantly, it was time to move to the next set of speakers.

Advance Paris and DALI Oberon 9

We have in this system a $4,300 component that contains everything including the CD player driving a pair of $3,000 DALI Oberon 9 loudspeakers running full range. In our review of the Oberon 9s, we found they could reach below 30 Hz with authority, and the idea of a turnkey, $7,300 system was too tempting to pass up.

While this system does not deliver sonic glory as well as the Harbeth/MJ combo, for a $7,300 turnkey system, a lot was going on here. The harmonizing vocals were quite clearly delineated, the bass lines were distinct without a hint of boom, and the guitar renderings were all done with a quality well above the asking price.

Each track on this CD is so well recorded and spaced that calling out individual tracks is a challenge. Of note is track 7, ‘Then I Close My Eyes,’ with its detailed guitar work timing perfectly with textbook Pink Floyd-style kick drum work. The drums are rendered with authority while remaining taut and deep. This is a sign of a well-regulated and ample power supply. The Advance Paris MyConnect 250 managed to get the DALI speakers to about 75 percent of the performance of the Harbeth/MJ system for an affordable price. The DALI Oberon 9s lacked the infrasonic bass of the larger system, and the overall detail could be described as a bit softer in its presentation. That being said, it would be tough to find another $7,300 system that delivers everything the Advance Paris / DALI system can bring home.

Let’s try one more challenge before wrapping up this review.

We open with ‘Sunrise,’ and the drum lays down a powerful beat that leads into a classic 70s rock concert. Box deliberately pushes his guitar into distortion levels, and it takes a potent system to keep up with the organized mayhem. In ‘Sweet Loraine,’ Lee Kerslake’s drums have multiple rolls on the snare that require an agile touch, and the MyConnect 250’s amp had zero issues with pushing this through the DALI with ease.

The ultimate test on this disc is the 11-minute rock opus ‘July Morning,’ which showcases every aspect of the performance. Depending on one’s preference, rockers tend to either perform air guitar or air drum while Byron (in angry mode) shows why he was considered one of the best male vocals of his era. Personally, this reviewer does air guitar.

Close behind ‘July Morning’ are ‘Gypsy’ and ‘Circle of Hands,’ which add another 25 minutes of palpable rock bliss. Byron’s vocals (He may be the best rock screamer of all time. You need to experience the disc to understand why – he is in his element when screaming, as it is still so darn melodic) soar in all three songs, and the Advance Paris / DALI system had me rocking out in an embarrassing manner. Thankfully, no witnesses were present.

The Advance Paris MyConnect 250 is an affordable, high-end, two-channel amplifier endowed with a feature set that works with even the most complicated systems.

Advance Paris has delivered to the masses a component that will make a lot of music and movie lovers happy. Its amplifier is of high enough quality that it’s not out of place with most speakers from $3,000 per pair up to $20,000 per pair. It’s expandable with its pre-amp outputs (including XLR) for later upgrade to an even more upscale amp (including some of the company’s power amp options). And it has enough features to ensure no system will outgrow it.

The MyConnect 250 did an admirable job driving the planar Diptyque 140 Mark IIs and really showed its talents when driving more traditional loudspeakers. Those who want to combine a high-end, two- channel system with a first-rate movie-watching experience will find a lot to like in the MyConnect 250. It’s a component that will grow with one over years of use. It’s a unique product that will put a smile on many faces. Well conceived and executed, Advance Paris!