Overview
Advance Paris surprises at the High End 2022 with two high-class innovations that nobody had in mind – reason enough to report about the devices now. The MyConnect 250 will be on the market this autumn and is the largest and most powerful all-in-one hi-fi product the French brand has yet created.
It is a hybrid device, so it has a tube preamp and a transistor power amp. 2 x 180 watts at 8 ohms are quite impressive values. The power comes from a classic analog Class A/B power amp. The optical design is typical of Advance Paris, the two illuminated VU meters also characterize the new large X-i180 stereo integrated amplifier.
The connection equipment is close to the optimum: HDMI input, HDMI output with ARC, 3 optical, 3 coaxial digital inputs, AES/EBU digital input, 2 XLR inputs, 1 XLR output, 5 RCA inputs, 2 RCA outputs. There is also a phono input that is not only suitable for MM but also for MC systems.
The MyConnect 250 is compatible with the Playstream app and is therefore also ideally equipped for streaming. Two headphone outputs and two pre-outs for connecting active subwoofers complete the rich equipment. The X-i180 is a stereo integrated amplifier with tubes in the preamp section and solid-state power amps. It impresses with its imposing design and operates in Class a/B operation on the power amp side – i.e. classic, analog power amps that release a whopping 180 watts per channel at 8 ohms. There are XLR and RCA inputs (2 XLR inputs, 5 RCA inputs), 1 XLR and 2 RCA outputs, and there are also, which is very advantageous, HDMI ARC and USB Type B. This results in enormously flexible application options.
Three optical and three coaxial digital inputs are also available. Vinyl lovers will be happy about a phono preamplifier that is suitable for MM and MC pick-up systems, so the additional purchase of a phono preamplifier is not necessary, also due to the complex structure. The scope of equipment also includes two headphone sockets and two subwoofer preamplifier outputs.
