Chord Ultima integrated

[AdrianusG]

Is there anything in those measurements to write home about. At this price point?
I think not!

SoundStageNetwork.com | SoundStage.com - Chord Electronics Ultima Integrated Amplifier Measurements

www.soundstagenetwork.com

 

[Sokel]

You can write home that either the sample or the design as a whole is broken.
I have never seen a chart slopping like that,not even tube amps,etc.

 

[staticV3]

For $11k, this is a complete joke.

 

[Sokel]

Swiching PSU,op-amps,etc for this result.
They better have stayed at linear PSU and couple of big toroids.
This one does not tick anyones boxes,either objectivist or subjectivist.

(picture link)

 

[AdrianusG]

Swiching PSU,op-amps,etc for this result.
They better have stayed at linear PSU and couple of big toroids.
This one does not tick anyones boxes,either objectivist or subjectivist.



View attachment 400531

(picture link)

No doubt it'l get raving Reviews then i guess

 

[Sokel]

No doubt it'l get raving Reviews then i guess

By whom?I don't know anyone from either camp who would like that.
The class A camp,etc will detest it,no linear PSUs,no discrete outputs but op-amps,heatshinks looks like it's there for the looks,etc.

The objectivist camp while would appreciate an efficient switching PSU and opamps which is trivial to get a good measuring result would be disappointed too.
All it's left is Chord's fans (and they are justified by the objectively good performance of the DACs,yes,but this thing... )

 

[AdrianusG]

By whom?I don't know anyone from either camp who would like that.
The class A camp,etc will detest it,no linear PSUs,no discrete outputs but op-amps,heatshinks looks like it's there for the looks,etc.

The objectivist camp while would appreciate an efficient switching PSU and opamps which is trivial to get a good measuring result would be disappointed too.
All it's left is Chord's fans (and they are justified by the objectively good performance of the DACs,yes,but this thing... )

By the usually suspects, aka all so called "high quality" high end magazines.

 

[Sokel]

By the usually suspects, aka all so called "high quality" high end magazines.

There are all shorts.
But unless some tens of Kg of copper is added even the most absurd of those cannot justify it as entry-level hiend machine.
Let alone compare it with a nice measuring Mcintosh for example,or god-forbid with a Halcro.

 

[AdrianusG]

By the usually suspects, aka all so called "high quality" high end magazines.

There are all shorts.
But unless some tens of Kg of copper is added even the most absurd of those cannot justify it as entry-level hiend machine.
Let alone compare it with a nice measuring Mcintosh for example,or god-forbid with a Halcro.

Or the Benchmark!

I'm really at a loss here, how can this happen?, don't they measure their gear, are they so convinced of their own superiority?

 

[Sokel]

Or the Benchmark!

I'm really at a loss here, how can this happen?, don't they measure their gear, are they so convinced of their own superiority?

They probably made a bet on this "dynamic adjusted,unique design" output as a selling point.
Nope.
A entry level hiend amp has to cover some markers.Doubling power as halving the impedance is the first and foremost coupled with pictures of the transistor array around the toroid and a forest of big caps.Failing that all bets are off.

My previous Audio Analogue for example was nothing to write home about it's measurements,probably was at the good-very good area.
Noiseless though with the speakers I had and that what matters.
But it did 2.5kW at 1 Ohm doubling all the way to get there.Whoever wanted to rave it could write a bunch.

This one?Nope(²).

 

[pablolie]

Chord is a bizarre outlier (at least to me) in user interface, useability, design principles and never ever seems to measure anywhere close to their price tag. But they seem to have a great press department. I give it to their go-to-market strategy.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Curious results. Many of the flaws are probably inaudible. The dynamic load-balancing output is interesting.

 

[RoA]

Got one of their low/est end DAC's and love it. The colour balls are pure genius in a sea of chinese gold knobs ... .

All of the money seems to have gone into the machined casing. It still does not explain the cost, regardless of measurements.

 

[Axo1989]

Personally, I think it looks totally fun.

Hand-wringing about certain aspects of theoretical performance from a cohort that can't pick 38 dB SINAD amps from an uber-Topping when listening blind is even more fun.

Certainly some curious electrical design choices. But much more important, why do people say 'price point' when a price is already a point?