CHORD Alto Headphone/Power Amp Review

[kyuu]

I don't get why people aren't understanding the recommendation? It was stated clearly I thought. The recommendation is pretty much solely about having power to drive multiple low sensitivity or high impedance headphones without breaking a sweat.

 

[voodooless]

I don't get why people aren't understanding the recommendation? It was stated clearly I thought.

Stating the reasons doesn’t mean I understand them, in the sense that I don’t follow the reasoning.

It’s fine. It’s his personal opinion and he’s entitled to express it. All the data is there, so everyone can make up their own mind. That’s what is great about ASR

 

[solderdude]

Yep, one should not see this as a speaker amp even though one can connect speakers to it.
Amir clearly likes the build quality and almost limitless amounts of power (for headphones, not speakers).

That said distortion is 'technically' high and very 'unlike' the typical numbers Chord DACs achieve.
That distortion, however, is below audible limits so not really an issue.
People looking for similar output power in a cheaper package could simply buy any 25W/8ohm speaker amp and make or buy a simple speaker-to-headphone plug and can enjoy even higher performance for 1/20th of the price but won't see the 'Chord' label nor enjoy the looks/build quality.
The max output voltage is around 14V regardless of the load (simply because its a speaker amp).
It is very reasonable to assume no Chord DAVE owner is going to power their speakers with this device. Well... maybe some passive desktop speakers ...


Then again...

Do any headphones require this sort of power?
Just wondering what the use case is?

One should realize that a LOT of today's headphones are low impedance and have drivers in them rated at 30mW (0,03W).
Making one small mistake (while not wearing those headphones I hope) will let out the magic smoke within 1 second as it might receive many, many times higher output power than it can handle.
Those are usually the headphones with sensitivity between 115 and 120dBV. If (and practically it won't) such a 115dBV headphone would accidentally receive 14V it would (briefly) produce about 135dB SPL.

So ... this isn't suited for these headphones nor for most IEM's (as Amir mentioned) but people owning a HD650 and EQ'ing in Harman type bass (or worse) then 14V will make it reach very impressive levels where the 500mW rated driver would be receiving 0.9W and put out 123dB SPL peak (with Harman bass) and would survive such short punishment.

Also headphones like the HE6 and older Audeze headphones as well as most DCA headphones would perform quite well at loud levels without hitting amp distortion.

So for these headphones the Chord will work fine and sound distortion free (the headphones will show higher distortion than the amp).

Those that don't like/need this Chord can safely buy a less expensive powerfull (headphone) amp from the usual suspects for a lot less money.

 

[voodooless]

Yep, one should not see this as a speaker amp.

The max output voltage is around 14V regardless of the load (simply because its a speaker amp).

So which is it?

 

[daniboun]

4K for a product however average + 4K to repair your ears afterwards.... I say: hummm

 

[ZolaIII]

So instead pluging your headphones into the power amplifiers headphone output which is resistor regulated (and equally bad) you buy this. And you get nothing, except the burning hole in your wallet.

Start at 10:30 or watch the whole thing if you never did.

 

[threni]

Don't understand the recommendation at all. Amir - blink twice if you are in danger!

 

[solderdude]

So which is it?

it is a 'speaker' amp

 

[Sokel]

I would stick to looks and hard pass as usual by me but labeling it "pro" ties my hands, so... performance:

The first I look at an amp is gain and power and it seems this thing is top notch there, it can drive trains.
However going back to the "pro" label I think is not there as it does not even meet the -60dB THD+N pro mark (across the spectrum)

It also looks like that the high freq rising distortion is kind of a trademark for Chord unfortunately. It would be a gold opportunity for them to get a single straight line at Freq vs THD+N all the way to 40kHz being the class it is. IMD (which is a more meaningful measurement and multitone one are also bad, and I mean bad)

It doesn't matter if the above are audible or not (they probably aren't since noise is at check) or if some consider this kind of distortion structure as spice. It's plain bad.
Nope, that does not do it.

Thanks Amir!

 

[Tell]

Objectively ****** performance at an extreme cost that still gets a recommendation because of it's power output that no one will probably ever need? Ookay..

Edit: Eh, why do ASR censor "dirty" words? Are we not grown ups here?

 

[oleg87]

What a strange product. I have to assume Chord’s done their market research and found people looking for something like this, but it’s hard for me to imagine who are the professionals who need this and why.

 

[Sokel]

Objectively ****** performance at an extreme cost that still gets a recommendation because of it's power output that no one will probably ever need? Ookay..

You can find similar recommendations because of power.
Look at the $3k Crown for example.

Load dependent, copious amounts of distortion up high, but... power!


(I can always imagine a nice RME pro with comparable power on top of their amazing stuff with a little higher price than this, that would be a killer)

 

[JakeK]

I voted fine though I doubt I will ever have the type of headphones that need such an amplifier. If you do need that much power to drive your headphones this is probably an OK option.

 

[DanielT]

Thanks for the review Amir.

My three year old nephew could use this thing as a sort of “Whack-A-Mole” toy, what, with all the brightly hued, random jeweled lights that pop up on the front

I wrote this before I saw your post. I'll add my text anyway:
I'm mostly fascinated by the aesthetics. Why are they quite rich, which I assume this product is aimed at, so interested in a strange toy-like look?

It gets worse (based on my taste in appearance, looks) with their DACs which look like cheap toys:

Mojo 2

chordelectronics.co.uk

 

[Ler0ck]

I get used with high end equipment price, end up low end sound quality. Thanks for measurements

 

[renaudrenaud]

Comandante Amir, es la revolucion!

 

[TNT]

I am going to recommend the Chord Alto

LOL

//

 

[Talisman]

Looking at the review from a different perspective (thanks Amir for the review)
This is exactly why ASR plays in a different league compared to many other industry sites. Contrary to what the detractors say, we do not take from Amir's lips at all, we are familiar with objective measurements and data and if a recommendation from Amir does not convince us we say so en masse.
I am not convinced either, aesthetically I had mistaken it for an 80 euro Aiyima type amplifier, and the performance is overall mediocre for an insanely high price, tons of power but for what?
Headless Panther for me

 

[VientoB]

Do any headphones require this sort of power?
Just wondering what the use case is?

I don't think I so. It's a white elephant. Unless you really want to destroy your hearing.

 

[JayGilb]

Thanks Amir.