03. March 2026

Canor TP101 A30: “One of the best tube amplifiers – this is how tubes should sound

The specialist magazine for analog hi-fi & vinyl culture LP reviews the anniversary tube integrated amplifier Canor TP101 A30 in its 2/2026 issue. In his conclusion, editor-in-chief Holger Barske writes: “The Canor is among the best tube amplifiers I have ever encountered”:

“I operated the Canor with both a large vintage JBL (L300) and a small vintage JBL (4301B). With both speakers, it cuts a sensationally good figure. Sonically, the device is far removed from any kind of banality I had actually feared. The Canor plays with great body, yet remains extremely nimble and light-footed.

A beautiful old Smashing Pumpkins classic provided proof: I consider the 1998 album ‘Adore’ to be among the best releases Billy Corgan and his band have ever put out. The opening track ‘To Sheila’ immediately shows where the journey is headed: Corgan’s voice stands completely free in the room; large, present, and well forward, with an almost frightening level of presence. The sparse instrumentation is wonderfully arranged around the frontman’s voice – this is how it should sound. That the Canor handles the 15-inch woofers of the L300 superbly is emphatically demonstrated by the following track, ‘Ava Adore’: the electronically generated drum parts are nailed firmly in place and strikingly dry in the room. Quite astonishing for a pair of EL34s per channel. Rickie Lee Jones also impressively demonstrates on ‘It’s Like This’ that a vocal can detach perfectly from the rest of the universe and function as the center of an atmospherically dense and expansive reproduction – magnificent.”

Measurement Commentary
From a measurement standpoint as well, the TP101 A30 ranks among the best tube amplifiers we have ever had in our hands. Its ruler-flat and perfectly channel-matched frequency response extends to around 70 kilohertz; the output transformers roll off at the top end of the transmission range in an impeccably gentle manner – this is how it should be done. The unit measures virtually identically at eight and four ohms; the signal-to-noise ratio at one watt is an impressive 90 decibels (A), channel separation 86.3 decibels (A), and distortion 0.09 percent. An output power of almost exactly 40 watts is available, with distortion only increasing noticeably shortly before the clipping limit. The unit consumes around 121 watts of power at idle.

Conclusion
Quite simply: the TP101 A30 is among the best tube amplifiers I have ever encountered. It plays with outstanding lightness, atmosphere, and breathtaking beauty. This is how tubes should sound.”

Find a dealer Download the test as a PDF file in German