Canor Virtus A3

Canor Virtus A3 – hybrid Class A amplifier with Current Dumping and built-in DAC

The Virtus A3 is built around Current Dumping — John Westlake's reinterpretation of the topology he pioneered with the Quad 405. A small Class A stage drives the signal continuously and linearly; a discrete output stage handles current delivery only when the Class A stage cannot keep up. The result is 140 watts per channel into 4 ohms, THD below 0.002%, and a damping factor of 180 at 4 ohms. This is not a valve amplifier — it is a precision solid-state design with a valve voltage gain stage.

Canor Virtus A3 hybrid Class A amplifier — valve input stage and discrete signal path

Valves appear only in the voltage gain stage, where they shape the character of the signal before it reaches the transistor output stages. The rest of the signal path is fully discrete, with no IC operational amplifiers anywhere in the direct path. Input selection uses high-quality relays feeding JFET buffers in a fully balanced, symmetrical topology. The design is fully DC-coupled with DC servo technology, eliminating the need for AC coupling capacitors. Each channel runs from its own independent, multi-stage regulated power supply.

Built-in DAC, phono stage and headphone amplifier

The integrated DAC uses dual ESS9038 chips in dual mono configuration, handling PCM up to 768kHz and native DSD512 via USB-C, two coaxial, two optical and one AES/EBU input. The phono stage supports both MM and MC cartridges with user-adjustable loading from the front panel — no external phono preamp required. A fully discrete headphone amplifier provides both a balanced 4-pin XLR output and a 6.3mm jack. Four components in one chassis, none of them compromised.

Interface and construction

The touch display is integrated into the control knob itself — all functions and settings accessible with a single finger tap. The valve warm-up sequence runs automatically on power-up, with a graphical countdown on the display. Cooling is handled by heatpipe heatsinks with intelligent fan control. The dual mono layout means each channel has its own independent power supply regulation throughout.

Specifications

• Power output: 2× 140W at 4Ω / 2× 100W at 8Ω
• Topology: dual mono hybrid Class A, Current Dumping
• THD: <0.002% at 1W–40W / 1kHz / 8Ω
• Gain: 34.5dB
• Damping factor: 180 / 4Ω, 380 / 8Ω
• DAC: dual ESS9038, PCM up to 768kHz, Native DSD512
• Digital inputs: USB-C, 2× coaxial, 2× optical, AES/EBU
• Analogue inputs: 2× RCA, 2× XLR, phono MM/MC
• Preamp output: balanced XLR + RCA
• Headphone: balanced 4-pin XLR, 6.3mm jack
• Input sensitivity: 550mV
• Phono gain: MM 40/46dB, MC 60/66dB

Frequently asked questions about the Canor Virtus A3

How does the Current Dumping topology differ from conventional Class A/AB designs?

In a conventional Class A/AB design, the output stage transitions between operating modes as signal level increases — introducing crossover distortion at the changeover point. Current Dumping avoids this entirely: the Class A stage handles the signal continuously, with the output stage adding current in a mathematically precise relationship that cancels residual error. Westlake's implementation here follows the same principle he applied at Quad, updated with modern discrete components throughout.

What do the valves actually do in the Virtus A3?

They operate exclusively in the voltage gain stage — shaping the character of the signal before it reaches the solid-state output stage. The Virtus A3 is not a valve amplifier; it is a precision transistor design that uses valves where their linearity is most valuable.

Is the Canor Virtus A3 suitable for use with a turntable?

Yes — the built-in phono stage handles both MM and MC cartridges, with adjustable loading accessible directly from the front panel. No external phono preamp is needed.