Canton Smart Amp 5.1 S2

Canton Smart Amp 5.1 S2, compact, connected home theater amplifier

A home theater amplifier usually takes up a large black box beneath the television, heavy with its transformer and bristling with connectors. Canton takes the opposite approach: the Smart Amp 5.1 S2 fits in one hand, weighs barely more than two and a half kilograms, and drives both conventional wired speakers and wireless speakers from the Smart series. All while decoding Dolby Atmos, the cinema’s three-dimensional sound format.

An amplifier that fits in one hand

The figures say it all: 24.5 cm wide, 12 cm high, 15.4 cm deep, weighing 2.64 kg. A traditional home theater amplifier weighs ten times more and requires a dedicated shelf. The Smart Amp 5.1 S2 slips in beside the television or into a cabinet without imposing its presence, with careful build quality in line with the brand’s standards.

Setup is handled through a menu displayed directly on the television screen, easier to read than a small front-panel display. The Smart Remote is included; its infrared learning function can take over volume and standby controls from the television remote, so you only need to keep one device in hand. Each input can be renamed, the Smart Amp turns on and enters standby depending on the detected source, and a sleep timer switches everything off after a set period.

Six wired channels and eight wireless speakers

The core of the Smart Amp 5.1 S2 is its dual nature. Six internal amplification stages, delivering a total of 600 watts, power passive speakers, those with no built-in electronics that depend entirely on the amplifier. Canton counts these six channels as two pairs of speakers, one center channel and one subwoofer. At the same time, the Smart Amp communicates wirelessly with active speakers from the Canton Smart series, which feature their own amplification: up to eight of them, namely three pairs, one center channel and one subwoofer.

There is no need to choose one camp. You can wire the front speakers, which are the most demanding in terms of current, and place wireless speakers for surrounds or ceiling channels, without running cables to the back of the room. By combining both worlds, the Smart Amp can build up to a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 system.

Audio formats and spatial virtualization

For soundtracks, the Smart Amp 5.1 S2 decodes Dolby formats (Digital, TrueHD and Atmos) as well as DTS and DTS-HD. DTS:X, Dolby’s competitor’s object-based audio variant, is not included: a DTS:X track is played back in its base DTS-HD layer, without the spatial sound placement specific to that format. For audio, it handles PCM up to 24-bit and 192 kHz, the resolution used by high-definition files.

An in-house virtualizer recreates enveloping sound even with only two speakers, without surrounds or ceiling speakers. The principle is simple: digital processing simulates sounds coming from the sides and above the listener, using only the speakers that are present. Dolby Surround and Virtual Atmos modes similarly expand a soundtrack toward missing channels. The result does not equal a full set of physical speakers, but it makes the most of a compact installation.

Video, network and source connections

Three HDMI 2.0b inputs accommodate video sources (4K player, console, set-top box) in 4K with HDR10, the HDCP 2.2 standard for protected content, and CEC control. The HDMI output supports eARC, the enhanced audio return channel: connected to the corresponding television socket, it retrieves sound from the TV’s internal apps, including Dolby Atmos and high-definition tracks, with no additional cable. This eARC support is the main contribution of the second generation, along with AirPlay 2 playback.

For everything else, the Smart Amp accepts one optical and one coaxial digital input, one stereo RCA analog input, an Ethernet port and dual-band Wi-Fi for networking, plus Bluetooth 4.1 for quick playback from a phone. Video passes through in up to 4K HDR10, with support for Deep Colour, xvYCC and 3D.

Built-in streaming and multi-room playback

Network playback is integrated, with no external box to add. Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect are included: from a phone or computer, music from a compatible service can be sent directly to the Smart Amp. UPnP compatibility adds playback of files stored on a home server or network drive.

The Smart Amp 5.1 S2 is also part of the Canton Smart multi-room ecosystem: several devices in the series can be controlled together from the Canton Smart app, with the same music in every room or a different source in each zone. Integration with Google Home or the Apple environment enables voice control to start playback or adjust the volume.

Fine adjustments and room correction

Once the speakers are in place, the Smart Amp 5.1 S2 offers everything needed to tailor the sound to the room. Bass management distributes low frequencies between the speakers and subwoofer according to the capabilities of each. An equalizer with acoustic correction reduces room flaws, those frequencies that walls and furniture make resonate or hollow out. Bass, midrange and treble can be adjusted separately.

Each speaker has its own volume and distance setting, so sounds reach the listening position at the same time. LipSync compensates for any delay between picture and sound. Dedicated processing improves dialogue clarity when voices get lost in the action, and custom sound presets can be recalled with a single gesture. Wireless speaker pairing is performed without complicated handling.

Technical specifications

Audio performance

• Total system power: 600 W
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 101 dB
• Channel separation (1 kHz): 72 dB
• Maximum output level: 2.3 Vrms / 600 Ω
• Supported channels: 6 passive channels and up to 8 wireless speakers

Supported formats

• Digital audio formats: Dolby Atmos®, Dolby Digital®, Dolby TrueHD, DTS®, DTS-HD®
• PCM audio formats: up to 24-bit / 192 kHz
• Streaming audio formats: MP3, AAC, HE-AAC, OGG, WAV, FLAC
• Video formats: up to 4K HDR10
  • Compatible with Deep Colour, xvYCC and 3D

Connectivity

• HDMI inputs: 3 × HDMI 2.0b compatible with 4K, HDR10, HDCP 2.2 and CEC
• HDMI output: 1 × eARC compatible with 4K HDR and high-resolution audio
• Optical digital input: S/PDIF (TOSLINK)
• Coaxial digital input: S/PDIF
• Analog input: stereo RCA
• Wired network: RJ45 Ethernet port
• Wireless network: dual-band Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
• Bluetooth: version 4.1, A2DP and AVRCP profiles
• USB port: service port

Streaming and multiroom

• Chromecast built-in
• Apple AirPlay 2
• Spotify Connect
• UPnP compatible
• Multiroom integration with the Canton Smart ecosystem
• Simultaneous connection of up to 8 wireless speakers

Audio settings and processing

• Surround virtualization: Dolby® Surround and Virtual Atmos
• Advanced bass management with integrated Bass Management
• Equalizer with acoustic correction
• Adjustment of bass, midrange and treble
• Individual volume and distance setting per speaker
• Dynamic control and lip-sync
• Enhanced dialogue clarity
• Customizable sound presets

Interface and operation

• Setup via on-screen display (OSD)
• Smart Remote included
• IR Learning for control via TV remote
• Direct input selection with renaming option
• Automatic power on / standby (Auto On / Off)
• Sleep timer
• Easy pairing of wireless speakers

Construction and power supply

• Compact chassis with premium manufacturing to Canton standards
• Universal power supply: 100 – 240 V ~ 50 / 60 Hz
• Maximum power consumption: 400 W

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 24.5 × 12 × 15.4 cm
• Weight: 2.64 kg

General information

• Multichannel home cinema amplifier compatible with Dolby Atmos®, DTS-HD® and Dolby TrueHD
• Compatible with wired and wireless speakers for a flexible setup
• Full HDMI eARC connectivity for 4K HDR TVs and sources
• Multiroom streaming with Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect
• Advanced audio calibration and comprehensive acoustic settings