A canoe for all seasons? No, a Canor for all reasons. The new Virtus A3 from Slovakia [~€6'100] is a 100wpc DC-coupled integrated amplifier with tube inputs and fully differential hybrid class A output section mated to a class AB current-dumping stage reminiscent of Quad. There's a 0.5wpc/30Ω dedicated headphone amp with 6.3mm/XLR4 outputs. There's a discrete MM/MC phono stage with up to 66dB of gain. There's a Sabre-based dual-mono DAC with selectable filters. There's galvanically isolated reclocked USB. There's heat-pipe thermal management with slow-running silent fans. There's a touch screen on the central knob to access menu adjustments, even display a VU meter. There's remote control. There's silver or black finishing. There are even RCA and XLR line outputs to add a subwoofer. So yes, it is a canoe for all seasons with major design input from John Westlake.
