Chord Ultima

Ultima's technology is based on a technical paper by Dr Malcolm J Hawksford (emeritus professor at Essex University) which was taken up and refined by Bob Cordell of Bell Labs. Chord Electronics' owner and Chief Designer, John Franks, then took the theory and developed it to a much higher level - a progression of Cordell's advanced dual-feed-forward error-correction topology incorporating Franks' own advanced concepts in ultra-high-frequency power supplies, which have been a cornerstone of the company's proprietary-technology amplifiers since its inception in 1989.

Each 86kg mono amplifier is painstakingly hand-built at the riverside Kent factory, The Pumphouse, over a period of several days, with each build overseen by a dedicated engineer. Chord Electronics' renowned aircraft-grade solid aluminium casework offers a reassuringly high-end and entirely non-resonant enclosure for the electronics. The casework is neatly complemented by the unique Integra Leg system which offers both striking visuals and the ability to stack with various other full-size Chord Electronics products as well as the Choral units, such as the Dave DAC/preamp and Blu MKII CD/digital transport, when using the dedicated Choral Ensemble stand.

Designed to be entirely uncompromising, the Ultima preamp is a world-class solution with cutting-edge proprietary technology. It benefits from true dual-mono construction with separate ultra-high-frequency power supplies for each channel, giving the best possible separation. With the addition of Chord Electronics' low-noise circuitry, noise floor performance is exceptional, at beyond -135dB. The Ultima preamp includes three pairs of fully balanced outputs and three unbalanced outputs, inputs include four unbalanced and four balanced with six-step gain adjustment, selection is made via remote control or from the front panel, which uniquely features separate frequency EQ adjust controls for the left and right channels.

Internally, each of the power supplies and the sensitive volume, balance and EQ controls, are surrounded by solid milled aluminium shielding to prevent RF interference. Fully balanced A/V bypass circuitry allows direct connection to A/V processors. Further features include defeatable front panel VU meters with BBC ballistics, two low-distortion, low-noise front-panel headphone output jacks and 12V remote triggering outputs.

Chord Electronics' proprietary amplifier technology has seen numerous refinements and updates over the past 30 years, however, Ultima receives John Franks' all-new circuit topology, the first completely new design since the company supplied its first customer, The BBC, in 1989. Chord Electronics looked at Bob Cordell's aforementioned work from the 1980s before developing an initial design that incorporated both his topology as well as John Franks' award-winning, time-proven amplifier tech - the nested feed-forward and global feedback allowed for Chord Electronics' custom-designed dual silicon die MOS-FET output transistors to perform uniquely well.

The new dual-feed-forward error-correction amplifier technology was first implemented on a medium scale in the Etude power amp (from the Choral range, unveiled at High End, Munich in 2018). Realising its significant benefits, Chord Electronics started work on a replacement circuit for its range of uncompromising full-size mono amplifiers, Ultima being the largest, most advanced and most powerful in the portfolio. The Ultima mono amplifier unit has an incredible 64 proprietary MOS-FET power devices that demand the most advanced and refined drive circuitry, suitably devoid of sound-degrading components. The drive circuitry features an ultra-low-distortion, high-voltage amplifier operating at very high speed - 300 volts per microsecond technologies with advanced feed-forward and feedback compensation techniques. It also benefits from Chord Electronics' TO3-style dual die lateral matched MOS-FETs, which are continuously monitored with output stage error-correction circuitry and feature fully balanced input circuitry with DC-tracking servos and full temperature compensation.

Ultima is incredibly powerful and offers 780 watts into 8 ohms, 1,400 watts into 4 ohms and 2,500 watts into 2 ohms. Ultima's peak output current exceeds 500 amps, an extremely high current differentiated by the speed at which the dynamic peaks can be delivered, bringing astonishing dynamics, fidelity and unrivalled musicality. Ultima is truly an unprecedented amplifier design with exceptional performance and is one of the most advanced hi-fi amplifiers in the world. Ultima pre costs £30,000 and Ultima mono power amps are £30,000 each. Info and photos by Chord Electronics.