Chord Electronics Expand Ultima Amplifier Line Up

A little over a year ago Chord Electronics announced its most accomplished amplifier technology yet, Ultima. It launched in a mono design but is, from today, available in a stereo configuration, with the introduction of the 300-watt Ultima 5 (£9250) and 180-watt Ultima 6 (£5995) stereo amps.

The Ultima 5 and 6 amps naturally take the place of their predecessors in Chord's amplifier line-up, the SPM 1200 MK II and SPM 1050 MK II, and they continue the roll out of Chord's latest flagship amplifier technology. This lies at the heart of the aforementioned Ultima mono power amp, as well as the more affordable Ultima 2 and Ultima 3 monoblock power amps that launched last summer.

The fourth and fifth members of the range take the Ultima technology into the stereo domain. For the uninitiated, Ultima is based on a technical paper by Dr Malcolm J Hawksford (emeritus professor at Essex University), which was later refined by Bob Cordell of Bell Labs, and has then been developed and advanced by Chord Electronics’ owner and chief designer John Franks.

It's essentially Franks' take on Cordell’s advanced dual-feed-forward error-correction topology, and is, says Chord, "one of the most advanced amplifier technologies in the world".

The amplifiers' custom-designed MOSFET transistors – 32 in the Ultima 6, 64 in the Ultima 5 – are continuously monitored with output stage error-correction circuitry and feature fully balanced input circuitry with DC-tracking servos and temperature compensation. And the drive circuitry itself features an ultra-low-distortion amplifier operating at 300 volts per microsecond.

The new power amps arrive with both balanced and unbalanced connections, speaker terminals, a 12 V trigger and a C-19-type IEC, and, like their siblings, they are housed in aircraft-grade solid aluminium casework complemented by a 28-mm thick front panel and the trademark illuminating spherical power button.

On top of this Chord Electronics have annoucned the new, the ULTIMA PRE 2, which is tailored to suit the range’s mono power amplifiers. Replacing its predecessor, the CPA 5000, the ULTIMA PRE 2 is described by the company as ‘the perfect accompaniment’ to the 2019 announced ULTIMA 2 and ULTIMA 3 power amplifiers, both of which benefit from the Chord’s advanced dual-feed-forward error-correction circuitry.

The ULTIMA PRE 2 uses Chord’s latest proprietary ultra-high-frequency power supply and ultra-low-noise circuitry, delivering a noise floor performance of below -130dB.

Providing flexibility for modern high-end audio systems are four pairs of fully balanced inputs, four pairs of unbalanced inputs, plus two completely independent record loops. In order to prevent large changes in volume when switching between sources, each input has six individually selectable levels of gain which can be stored even when the powered down.

The ULTIMA PRE 2 includes two low-distortion low-noise fascia-mounted 6.35mm (¼-inch) headphone outputs for late night or personal listening and these outputs are designed exploit the full potential of today’s high-quality headphones.

For direct connections to A/V processors, there is fully balanced A/V bypass circuitry included and compatible power amplifiers or processors can be activated on power-up via the 12V remote triggering outputs at the rear of the unit.

The ULTIMA PRE 2 uses a substantially larger chassis than the company’s standard preamps and sports a matching modern aesthetic which benefits from a redesigned bolt-less fascia and features a 28mm-thick aircraft-grade aluminium front panel to fit in seamlessly with the rest of the ULTIMA range of products.

This aluminium casing is an outward indicator of the flagship status of the ULTIMA products and forms an entirely non-resonant enclosure for the electronics and is available in Jett Black or Argent Silver finishes.

The unique Integra Leg system allows stacking of various other full-size Chord Electronics products and is also available in the choice of Black or Silver. Additionally, the optional Choral Stand System enables the Choral range of products to be included in the stack too. A black acrylic side-block option is also offered as a no-cost alternative to the Integra Legs.

The Chord Electronics ULTIMA PRE 2 will be making its world debut at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show from 21st - 23rd Feb 2020 and is available to order now at an RRP of £12,500.

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