Chord Electronics ULTIMA PRE Flagship reference quality Preamplifier
Pickup also available at Doug Brady HiFi
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Chord Electronics ULTIMA PRE Flagship reference quality Preamplifier
Argent Silver
Doug Brady HiFi
Kingsway Studios
Kingsway North
Warrington WA1 3NU
United Kingdom
Chord Electronics a British HiFi manufacture, develop award-winning proprietary processes without compromise; technology at the apogee of its game. They are unapologetically unique: they don’t follow convention, they provide extraordinary sound and a mechanical design to suit your lifestyle.
As with all Chord Electronics products, their avionics heritage inspires only the highest quality: all of their products start life as a single billet of aircraft-grade aluminium. This is just one of the hundreds of processes that help shape their multi-award-winning devices; the same standards, care and attention run through the production of all of Chord electronics units.
When you place an order for a device in the Table Top range and above, your purchase is assigned to an engineer who will begin the process of curating each individual component before carefully crafting the unit to the highest standards. Only once it has passed numerous measured and listening tests, will it qualify for a Chord Electronics name badge. Naturally, this is a bespoke process that takes time, however, during your products’ build, you are more than welcome to ask your retailer any questions that you may have.
Designed to be entirely uncompromising, the Chord electronics ULTIMA preamp is a world-class amplifier with advanced proprietary Chord Electronics technology. A product of three decades of research, design and engineering here in the UK, 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 valuable low-noise circuitry, the noise floor performance is exceptional, at beyond -117dB.
Featuring impressive double-height dimensions, the ULTIMA preamp has been created to perfectly complement the flagship ULTIMA mono power amplifier, also the most advanced in the company’s 30-year history. With wide-ranging inputs and outputs, including balanced connectivity, ULTIMA offers complete flexibility for high-performance partnering equipment, enhanced further by the fascia-mounted separate frequency EQ adjust controls for the left and right channels. Headphone outputs offer further flexibility for late-night and personal listening in style.
Each ULTIMA preamp is hand-made in the Kent factory, with the various stages of build and production carefully overseen by one highly skilled technician. Sensitive internal circuit features are protected by solid milled aluminium shielding to prevent RF interference and Chord Electronics’ legendary UK-produced aircraft-grade aluminium provides a solid and resonance-eliminating enclosure for the electronics within, complemented by the famous Integra Leg System.
ULTIMA is the ultimate expression of the finest high-performance, ultra-fast, ultra-high-power amplifier technology available today.
FEATURES
Inputs & Outputs:
8 Stereo Inputs and 3 Stereo Outputs
- 4x Stereo Balanced XLR Inputs – Line In 1, Line In 2, Line In 3, and Line In 4
- 4x Stereo Unbalanced RCA Inputs – Line In 5, Line In 6, Tape 1, and Tape 2
- 3x Stereo Outputs – Selectable – Either via Balanced XLR or Unbalanced RCA
- 1x Stereo Balanced XLR AV Bypass Input
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Range:
2.5Hz – 200kHz +/- 3dB
Total Harmonic Distortion:
0.002% 20Hz – 20kHz
Intermodulation Distortion:
-125dB on all inputs
Signal to Noise Ratio:
-117dB on all inputs
Channel Separation:
20Hz @ 110dB, 1kHz @ 105dB, 10kHz @ 100dB, 20kHz @ 95dB
Channel Balance:
0.01dB
Input Max Voltage:
17v RMS Balanced – 8.5v RMS Unbalanced
Output Max Voltage:
17v RMS Balanced – 8.5v RMS Unbalanced
Output Offset:
0mV (Both Channels)
Potentiometer Performance:
0dB 0.5dB, -20dB 0.2dB, -60dB 0.24dB (13seconds Full Travel)
Nominal Gain:
All inputs subject to six levels of switchable gain (x0.5, x1, x1.5, x2, x2.5, x3)
Input Impedance:
100 kΩ Balanced – 50 kΩ Unbalanced
Output Impedance:
100Ω (Short Circuit Protected)
Operating Voltage:
85v – 270v AC (50Hz – 60Hz) Auto Switching
Power Consumption:
60w
Dimensions Without Integra Legs:
420mm (w) x 355mm (d) x 310mm (h)
Dimensions With Included Integra Legs:
480mm (w) x 355mm (d) x 350mm (h)
Weight:
30kG
Free next working day delivery
When you spend over £75. We will send you a tracking number where DPD will give a one hour delivery window. Services available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) to most mainland UK addresses for in stock items ordered before our cut-off time at 3:30pm. Terms apply.
Free Saturday delivery
When you spend over £299. We will send you a tracking number where DPD will give a one hour delivery window. Services available to most mainland UK addresses for in stock items ordered before our cut-off time on Friday 3pm. Terms apply.
Free Sunday delivery
When you spend over £299. We will send you a tracking number where DPD will give a one hour delivery window. Services available to most mainland UK addresses for in stock items ordered before our cut-off time on Saturday 2pm. (sunday delivery location) Terms apply.
CLICK & COLLECT
Some of our manufactures request for there items not to be sold on line for these items our delivery service may not be available in curtain locations so please call to order 01925 828009
Remote locations
Standard next day delivery is free for all orders to most UK mainland addresses. All other delivery prices are determined by the destination, the service chosen and the value and weight of your order. Addresses in the Scottish Highlands, offshore, Northern Ireland & Ireland may incur additional delivery costs, depending on the items ordered..
Items bought over the phone or online
If you wish to return goods (other than faulty goods) you should notify us of your intention to do so within 14 days of the date of receipt by you. You then have an additional 14 days to return the goods from this notification date (goods should be returned within 30 days). Returns costs are however at your expense.
For our full returns policy, click here.
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Testimonials
Bought some Rega Kyte speakers, stands and chords from DB online and they were incredibly helpful. They updated my delivery address very quickly and recommended a longer cut of cables which they did complimentary. They also noticed I didn’t order with banana plugs so called me back to double check, which I did mean to order. When i had some issues connecting my cables and speakers, I called for some advice which they happily gave. Excellent service and next day delivery to London. Thoroughly recommend.
James F.
Probably one of the best companies in the world. They had to special order in the speakers which took a fair bit of time, which is totally understandable, but they kept in touch with me throughout the entire time with updates (even on a Sunday!!!) and once the speakers were with them, they were dispatched and arrived next day.
The entire sound system that I purchased is insanely good, but still not as good as Doug Brady HiFi!
Guy H.
I have recently purchased a HiFi package with Doug Brady and I could not be more thrilled with my experience with them.
When I walked into the store, I was made to feel welcome and was introduced to some of the products. I produces a list of specific items I was interested in and John was really helpful in showing me these items. He set the system up so I could experience it, he made some suggestions which made the package even better. Nothing seemed too much trouble for him, he was very knowledgeable about the products and gave great advice. I didn't feel pressured to buy anything, or didn't feel that he was upselling at any point. I left with an amazing package and I'd like to thank John and the team for the fantastic experience.
Kaylay L.
Doug Brady HiFi