Recently we had the pleasure of welcoming Maurice Tryner from Chord Electronics to the store for a training session and a look back at the history of the company. Founded in 1989, Chord Electronics is one of the brands that grew alongside Doug Brady HiFi and has since become one of the UK’s most respected hi-fi manufacturers.
The company’s story began with the development of an amplifier for the BBC. This project quickly established Chord as a serious player within the UK hi-fi industry, and the brand has continued to grow from strength to strength ever since. Today, Chord Electronics specialises in a wide range of components including integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers and advanced digital electronics.
One of the company’s long-standing design philosophies is its use of switch-mode power supplies rather than traditional toroidal transformers. Chord believes this approach delivers a lower noise floor, helping to reveal more detail and allowing listeners to experience more of the music.
Thirty-seven years on, Chord Electronics remains a close-knit team of around 34 people, with every product designed and built in the UK. A truly British company. The company is also known for the longevity of its products, with models designed to remain relevant and supported for many years rather than being replaced every couple of seasons.
A good example of this ongoing development came in late 2025, when the award-winning Chord Mojo 2 DAC and headphone amplifier received an update, adding a 4.4mm balanced headphone output along with USB-C for both charging and data via a single connection.
During the visit we enjoyed a listening session featuring the Chord Ultima Integrated Amplifier paired with the Cyrus 40 ST and the Neat Momentum J6. The system delivered a wonderfully neutral yet revealing presentation, with tracks from artists such as Doja Cat demonstrating just how detailed and controlled the amplifier can be.
Part of Chord’s flagship amplifier range, the Chord Ultima series was first introduced in 2020. The integrated model incorporates the company’s Ultima tech and can be seen as a distilled combination of the Chord Ultima Pre 3 and the Chord Ultima 6.
Delivering 125 watts per channel, the Chord Ultima Integrated Amplifier offers impressive power and control while maintaining the transparency and precision that Chord Electronics is known for. Retailing at £8,500, it is a superbly engineered amplifier that can comfortably stand toe-to-toe with its contemporaries.