Advance Paris Playstream A7 Streaming Integrated Amplifier and Network Player

Everything Except the Speakers, in One Box

The PlayStream A7 is an integrated amplifier with a network player already inside it. Wi-Fi or Ethernet gets it onto your network; the Advance PlayStream app or AirPlay gets music to it. Two backlit VU meters, calibrated in watts and decibels, show what each channel is doing.

Behind that sit 115 watts per channel into 8 ohms from a Class AB output stage, six analog inputs, four digital inputs, an HDMI ARC socket for a television, and FM and DAB tuners. The phono input handles moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges.

Two headphone jacks sit on the front, one 6.35mm and one 3.5mm, so a full-size pair and a portable pair can both stay plugged in. A small display between the meters reports source, volume and track information.

A Phono Stage That Handles Moving Coil

Most amplifiers at this level fit a moving-magnet stage and stop there. The A7 lets you choose between MM, MC Low and MC High in the setup menu, which means a low-output moving-coil cartridge works without a separate head amp or step-up transformer.

A ground post sits beside the phono RCAs for your turntable's earth lead. That one menu setting is the difference between buying an outboard phono stage and not needing one at all.

What the Streamer and DAC Will Accept

Conversion runs through an AKM AK4490 DAC with an AK4118 transceiver. The three optical inputs take 24-bit 96kHz and the coaxial input 24-bit 192kHz. Spotify arrives through Spotify Connect; Qobuz, Deezer, Tidal, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, vTuner and Napster run in the app.

Files stored on a NAS or shared from a computer appear under My Music, and a USB-A socket plays MP3, WAV, FLAC, ALAC and AAC from a stick formatted FAT32 up to 128GB. Larger libraries belong on a network drive.

On the bench the A7 measures 20Hz to 80kHz within 3dB, with distortion below 0.004% at 1kHz into 24 watts and a 98dB signal-to-noise ratio. Output impedance is 10 kilohms and maximum draw is 400 watts.

High Bias, and What It Costs You

A rear-panel switch marked High Bias holds the output stage in Class A for its first watt. That is where quiet listening lives. The amplifier runs warmer for it, so leave some clear air around the case.

Speaker terminals A and B each take a pair, selectable as A, B or both. One pair alone can be 4 ohms or higher. Run both together and each needs 8 ohms or more. Two subwoofer outputs feed a stereo pair of active subs.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Mark Gusew scored the A7 8.5 out of 10 for StereoNET in January 2024, with an Applause Award. He heard "an open, transparent, and musically articulate sound that's impressive for the price," noting it "shows good timing and articulates the music's rhythms well."

Writing for Stereoindex in July 2025, Marcus Carlsen described "a neutral, dynamic sound with deep and good elaboration of the low-frequency range," and credited the AKM converter's "rich, lively, dynamic sound" with a plasticity the chipmaker calls Velvet Sound.

Gusew's one real complaint is the app. Its functionality is "rather ordinary, and seems out of step with the numerous connectivity options of the A7" — stable, but plain. He also noted that AM radio is missing.

Who Is This Integrated Amplifier Best For?

• You want one box and one remote — amplifier, streamer, DAC, phono stage, tuner and TV input are all already here.
• You play a moving-coil cartridge — MM, MC Low and MC High are selectable in the menu, which is rare at this price.
• Your television is part of the system — HDMI ARC takes the TV's sound straight into the amplifier.
• You already own a preamp or power amp — Pre Out and Amp In let the A7 work as either half on its own.
• If your music lives on a computer, plan around it — there is no USB input for a direct computer connection. Stream to it over the network or AirPlay instead, or feed a DAC into one of the line inputs.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Speakers go to the A terminals, a second pair to B. Put the A7 on your network with an Ethernet cable or the supplied Wi-Fi antenna, then run the network wizard from the front-panel knob. Screw on the FM and DAB antenna and it scans for stations by itself.

A turntable goes to phono, with its ground lead on the post alongside. A television connects over HDMI ARC, disc players and set-top boxes over optical or coaxial, and everything else line-level fills the remaining RCA inputs.

Headphones use either front jack. Subwoofers take the two dedicated outputs. There is no crossover or level control on board, so set those on the subwoofer itself, the way you would with any unfiltered line feed.

Pairs Well With

Building around the PlayStream A7? Here are some good companions:

• Speakers: 115 watts suits a standmount pair or a modest floorstander — see our Bookshelf Speakers.
• Turntable: The phono stage already covers both cartridge types — see our Turntables.
• Subwoofer: Two outputs mean you can run a stereo pair — see our Subwoofers.
• Headphones: Both a 6.35mm and a 3.5mm jack are on the front — see our Headphones.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does the PlayStream A7 deliver?

115 watts per channel into 8 ohms from a Class AB output stage. Advance Paris does not publish a 4-ohm figure for this model.

Do I need a separate streamer?

The network player is built in. Connect by Wi-Fi or Ethernet and control it with the Advance PlayStream app, Spotify Connect, or AirPlay from a Mac or iPhone. It is DLNA compatible, so third-party apps work too.

Can I connect a moving-coil turntable?

Yes. The phono input is switchable between moving magnet, MC Low and MC High, so low- and high-output moving-coil cartridges are both covered without extra boxes.

Can I plug in my computer?

Send music over the network or AirPlay instead. The USB-A socket is for memory sticks, and a second USB port is reserved for service updates.

Is the DAB tuner useful in the United States?

DAB and DAB+ are not broadcast here, so that tuner will find nothing. FM works normally, and internet radio through the app covers the rest.

Does it have Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a listed source, supplied by an Advance Paris receiver module that plugs into a dedicated port on the back — the X-FTB01 for aptX or the X-FTB02 for aptX HD. Call us to confirm what ships in the box.

See It in Action

Hans Beekhuyzen takes the PlayStream A7 apart feature by feature:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about streaming amplifiers, network players, or setting up a phono stage? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.