We've always been fans of the Chord Ultima series but today was our 1st chance to listen to their new integrated. We listened to it for around an hour in our main listening room. It sounded superb with a Naim streamer and a pair of PMC Twenty 5 .26i floorstanding speakers.
I'll admit to being an Ultima fan since first hearing the pre-power. It moved me in ways I can only think of two other amps doing and both of them were more expensive. And the Chord isn't cheap but the Ultima integrated at £8500 is almost getting there.
It has detail it has control, it had musicality and it has complete and utter grip in the speakers. Ours will be here in March and we can't wait.
The ULTIMA INTEGRATED is a class-leading 125-watt integrated amplifier benefitting from the latest dual-feed-forward error-correction topology, Chord Electronics’ legendary proprietary ultra-high-frequency power supplies, plus an unmistakable industrial aesthetic.
Designed by Chord Electronics’ founder, owner and chief engineer, John Franks, the advanced ULTIMA circuit monitors and immediately corrects audio signals before the output stage, for astonishing signal accuracy from a one-box integrated device.
The ULTIMA INTEGRATED also takes advantage of the very latest developments in advanced low-distortion power supplies – devices offering exceptionally low noise and outstanding amplifier operation – for even greater fidelity.
A four-input design, one fully balanced and three unbalanced, all enjoy individual buffering and are selectively filtered against potential ingress from radio frequency interference; selection switching is via microprocessor-controlled sealed relays.
The ULTIMA INTEGRATED is the first new Chord Electronics integrated amplifier for seven years and remains the sole full-width integrated model in the range.
All metalwork is precision-machined from solid aircraft-grade aluminium, including Chord Electronics’ iconic Integra Legs. The fascia sports a 28-mm-thick front panel with a perfectly symmetrical aesthetic, centered around a spherical power on/off control with polychromatic lighting, flanked by illuminated volume and balance controls.
Frequency response
10 Hz-200 kHz +/- 3 dB
THD
0.01 % 20 Hz-20 kHz
Signal-to-noise ratio
90 dB on all inputs
Input impedance
100 kΩ
Input maximum voltage
3 V RMS
Output maximum voltage
35 V RMS
Gain
21dB
Channel separation
100 dB
Operation voltage
80-250 V AC auto-switching
Power output
125 W into 8Ω
Power consumption
200 W
Dimensions with included Integra legs:
13 cm(H) x 48 cm(W) x 38 cm(D)
Dimensions with optional side blocks (can not be stacked):
11 cm(H) x 43 cm(W) x 38 cm (D)
Weight:
14.75 kg