Интегральные усилители — Chord ANNI

Anni is the first desktop integrated amplifier from Chord Electronics, the Kent company founded by John Franks. It belongs to the Qutest family of compact components and shares its footprint and styling with the Qutest DAC and Huei phono stage, so the three can be stacked in Chord's QSS modular stand to form a small system for a desk, office or bedroom. Anni carries technology trickled down from Chord's ULTIMA amplifiers into a chassis 160 mm wide.

Key specs that matter

Output is 10 W into 8 ohms. THD is 0.02%, signal-to-noise is 92 dB and the noise floor sits at -110 dB. Frequency response runs from 5 Hz to 60 kHz (-3 dB). There are two stereo RCA line inputs, 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm headphone outputs that can be used at the same time, and 4 mm banana speaker outputs. The CNC-milled aluminium chassis measures 160 x 42.5 x 96.6 mm and weighs 625 g, and power comes from an external 15 V, 6 A switch-mode supply included in the box.

Engineering and use context

The amplifier uses Chord's dual-feed-forward error-correction topology from the ULTIMA series. It monitors the output continuously and compensates for errors introduced by the output stage, which is why Chord states that Anni can drive any headphone load under corrected conditions. The output stage runs in Class AB with sliding bias, which shifts the bias point with signal level to reduce crossover distortion without the heat of full Class A. A high-frequency switch-mode power supply keeps the unit small and cool. The front-mounted rotary control doubles as volume and input selector, and a two-stage gain control for the speaker outputs matches the amplifier to desktop monitors of different sensitivity. A 12 V DC output powers compatible Qutest-range partners, and the included adaptor can run Qutest and Huei from one source when used as a full system.

Pairing

With its modest output, Anni is best matched to compact passive monitors of 86 dB sensitivity or more, used at close range on a desk or in rooms up to about 12 m2. On the headphone side, the error-corrected output suits both low-impedance planar models and high-impedance dynamic headphones. The Qutest DAC covers digital sources, while the Huei phono stage handles MM and MC turntables. Both inputs are unbalanced RCA, so a source with only XLR outputs needs an adaptor. Anni has no built-in DAC or streaming, which keeps the amplifier purely analogue and leaves digital conversion to a separate unit of the owner's choice.

Alternatives

Chord's CPM 2800 MkII moves to a full-width chassis with digital inputs and considerably higher output.