Chord Electronics to Show Two New ULTIMA Amplifiers in Vienna

British company Chord Electronics has announced the global preview of two new stereo power amplifiers built using its proprietary ULTIMA technology. The devices will be shown to the public for the first time at HIGH END Vienna 2026, while the full debut, including specifications, pricing and all technical details, is expected in the autumn.

In Vienna, the company will present two models: the Chord Electronics ULTIMA 7 and the Chord Electronics Blade. Both new products were designed by the brand’s founder and owner, John Franks, and will be manufactured in the UK. Their arrival is intended to expand the ULTIMA amplifier family and demonstrate the continued development of Chord Electronics’ analogue solutions across different market segments.

The Chord Electronics ULTIMA 7 is positioned as the most accessible full-size power amplifier in the current ULTIMA range. During its development, the manufacturer took into account compatibility with the ULTIMA PRE 3 preamplifier, including visual compatibility: the chassis height has been chosen so that the two components sit harmoniously together in a single audio system.

The ULTIMA 7 is rated at 135W per channel into an 8-ohm load. At the heart of the amplifier is the company’s proprietary Dual Feed Forward technology, designed to correct errors in the audio signal. According to Chord Electronics, this solution helps achieve low distortion, fast response and more accurate reproduction of musical dynamics.

The second premiere will be the Chord Electronics Blade, a compact two-channel power amplifier created primarily for the custom installation market. The model is housed in a slim 0.5U chassis and is designed for rack mounting, as well as for use in systems where compact dimensions, reliability and high output power are especially important.

The Blade uses an advanced version of the ULTIMA architecture and is also equipped with Dual Feed Forward technology, which John Franks adapted specifically for this model. Its design uses a Class G circuit with Gallium Nitride / GaN and vertical MOSFET transistors. Thanks to this approach, Chord Electronics has managed to create a powerful amplifier in an extremely low-profile chassis, suitable both for stereo systems and multi-channel architectural audio installations.

At HIGH END Vienna 2026, John Franks will personally present the new developments and talk about the technical solutions used in the ULTIMA 7 and Blade, including Class G, vertical MOSFET transistors and the further evolution of Dual Feed Forward technology. In addition to the amplifiers, the Chord Electronics stand will feature the Quartet upscaler, the flagship ULTIMA PHONOSTAGE and a demonstration system with the ULTIMA PRE preamplifier, ULTIMA 3 mono power amplifiers, the DAVE DAC, a Rega RP10 turntable, an Innuos music server and cabling from The Chord Company.