In its November-December 2025 issue, LP, the “Magazine for Analog Hi-Fi & Vinyl Culture”, tests the high-end stereo power amplifier Virtus S1S and concludes: “Everything about this amplifier is pure fireworks – at least in terms of sound. A masterpiece of amplification!”
“The Slovak manufacturer Canor has been delighting us for some time with powerful electronics, mostly tube-based. Recently, however, it became clear: they can do things differently, too.
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Measurement Commentary
The Canor impresses with outstanding linearity and wide bandwidth, with a transmission range extending nearly to 200 kilohertz. With an eight-ohm load, it excels with a signal-to-noise ratio of 102 decibels (A) and channel separation of an outstanding 99.6 decibels (A). It hardly distorts: 0.0047 percent THD, measured at one watt output at one kilohertz. At four ohms, the picture changes little; signal-to-noise ratio and channel separation drop by only three decibels, and distortion rises to 0.0058 percent. Things get interesting with the output power: it delivers 280 watts per channel at eight ohms and 480 watts at four ohms, both at a distortion limit of 0.7 percent.
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Listening Test
What kind of power-hungry giant loudspeaker do we currently have on hand to really put the Virtus S1S through its paces? Actually – none. Nothing with an extremely low efficiency or wildly fluctuating impedance, no historic behemoths with more diaphragm area than common sense. The pair of JBL L300s I recently acquired isn’t available yet for this experiment, and I’m still undecided whether I want to risk my spinal discs trying the Canor with the bass of my JBL 4355s.
But as it turns out, that doesn’t matter at all. The Virtus S1S doesn’t need any of that to unleash a true fireworks display. Its explosive color, passion, and grace are once again reminiscent of great American amplifier craftsmanship – I’m almost tempted to dig up comparisons to something like an Audio Research Reference 75 from the depths of my mind. And this, mind you, with small speakers featuring 17- to 20-centimeter woofers that certainly don’t need the Canor’s flood of power. Nevertheless, it’s an absolute blast letting this amplifier monster go to work on our Nada, which rewards the effort with stability, authority, and immense musical joy. Even the fantastic Eversolo AMP-F10 has to take a step back – though in nearly the same power class, it simply doesn’t offer the expressiveness and persuasiveness of the Canor. Considering that you could buy almost eight Eversolos for the price of one Canor, that’s perfectly acceptable.
Once again, it’s the magnificent 45th-anniversary edition of Wishbone Ash’s Argus that unmistakably showcases the setup’s qualities. Whether it’s the carefully articulated two-part vocals at the beginning of Time Was, the particularly inspired guitar work, or Martin Turner’s deep and driving basslines – it all just works.
Conclusion
Everything about this amplifier is pure fireworks – at least in terms of sound. A masterpiece of amplification!
