CANOR Audio is starting a new chapter with the CANOR Crius H5S, the first model in the Slovakian manufacturer’s new Essential Line. The compact desktop unit folds a high-end headphone amplifier, a dual-mono DAC and a fully balanced preamplifier into a single chassis, bringing CANOR’s familiar build quality and sonic focus to a smaller, more affordable product class aimed at music lovers stepping up into high-end audio.
A Fully Discrete, Dual-Mono DAC
The CANOR Crius H5S is built around a fully discrete circuit topology: no operational amplifiers and no coupling capacitors sit in the signal path, a design choice aimed at a clean, detailed and transparent sound with a high degree of flexibility. Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by two ESS ES9039Q2M chips, with each channel running its own dedicated converter for a genuine dual-mono layout. Balanced and unbalanced connections let the CANOR Crius H5S slot into a wide range of systems, and a balanced bypass mode is on board for use as a pure preamplifier stage.
Up to 4 Watts for Demanding Headphones
The integrated headphone amplifier is another technical highlight, with an adaptive bias circuit that blends the sonic traits of Class A and Class AB operation. With up to 4 watts on tap, the CANOR Crius H5S can drive demanding dynamic and planar-magnetic headphones alike. Four headphone outputs sit on the front panel, including a balanced 4-pin XLR and a 4.4mm connector, so a wide variety of headphones can be connected without extra adapters.
Three Devices in One Compact Chassis
In everyday use, the CANOR Crius H5S replaces three separate components often needed in a high-end desktop or compact hi-fi setup: a high-end headphone amplifier, a dual-mono DAC and a fully balanced preamplifier. Despite its smaller footprint, CANOR has kept the design language and construction standards the brand is known for, positioning the Crius H5S as the starting point of the Essential Line and a response to growing demand for powerful, space-saving high-end audio.
Pricing and availability
The CANOR Crius H5S is expected to ship from November 2026, with a suggested retail price of €1,899. It follows on from CANOR’s existing Virtus series, including the Canor Virtus A3 all-in-one hybrid amplifier, and will be shown for the first time in the Benelux at the Dutch Audio Event in Veldhoven on 10 and 11 October. Full specifications and updates are available on the official CANOR Crius H5S product page.
Key specifications
- Type: headphone amplifier, DAC and fully balanced preamplifier in one chassis
- DAC: dual-mono, 2x ESS ES9039Q2M
- Circuit topology: fully discrete, no op-amps, no coupling capacitors
- Headphone output: up to 4W, adaptive Class A / Class AB bias
- Headphone outputs: 4, including balanced 4-pin XLR and 4.4mm
- Preamp: fully balanced, with balanced bypass mode
- Digital inputs: USB, optical, coaxial
- Finishes: copper, black, silver
- Availability: from November 2026
- Price: €1,899
