Power amplifiers stereo — Chord ULTIMA 5

The ULTIMA 5 is a stereo power amplifier from Chord Electronics, part of the brand's flagship Ultima series, built with substantial output power and an extraordinarily wide bandwidth. The ULTIMA 5 brings Chord's most accomplished current engineering to a two-channel power amplification format.

Key specs that matter

Output power is a substantial 300W into 8 ohms, rising to 500W into 4 ohms. Gain is 30dBu. Frequency response spans an extraordinary 0.5Hz to 100,000Hz within plus-or-minus 3dB. Total harmonic distortion plus noise is 0.005% with full global feedback, and maximum power consumption at 2,000W. At a distinctive 180 x 480 x 36mm and 22.4kg, the ULTIMA 5's notably slim chassis height reflects Chord's characteristic distinctive industrial design language applied at flagship-tier power.

Sound and use context

Expect substantial power delivery reflecting the extraordinary 0.5Hz-100kHz bandwidth, packed into Chord's characteristic distinctive slim chassis design representing the brand's flagship-tier current engineering ambition.

Pairing

The substantial 300/500W output suits a wide range of loudspeaker impedances, and Chord's own Ultima Phonostage or ULTIMA INTEGRATED offer natural, brand-coherent pairings.

Alternatives

Chord's own ALTO offers a considerably more compact, more accessible alternative within a different, more space-efficient product line.