Усилители мощности стерео — Chord ULTIMA 5

The ULTIMA 5 is a stereo power amplifier from Chord Electronics, launched in May 2021 at GBP 9,250 as the successor to the SPM 1200 MkII. Chord describes it as the model that balances performance and price within its latest Ultima generation. Finishes are silver and black, and the warranty runs 5 years.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 300 W RMS per channel into 8 ohm and 500 W RMS per channel into 4 ohm, with THD of 0.005%. Bandwidth runs from 0.5 Hz to 100 kHz at the -1 dB points, gain is 30 dB, and the drive stage reaches a slew rate of 300 V per microsecond. Published test data adds a noise floor of -100 dB and a damping factor between 5,000 and 12,000. Mains draw is 2,000 W at full output and 10 W in standby. Inputs are one stereo pair of gold-plated balanced XLR and one of gold-plated RCA, next to a 12 V trigger input and a C19-type IEC mains inlet, and the outputs are a single pair of high-current, gold-plated speaker terminals. Standing on its Integra legs the chassis is 18 cm high, 48 cm wide and 36 cm deep, while the optional side blocks reduce this to 15 x 42 x 36 cm. It weighs 22.4 kg.

Engineering and use context

Chord built the circuit as class AB with sliding bias and dual feed-forward error correction, in which output stage errors are monitored and corrected continuously. The output stage uses Chord's own lateral-structure, dual-die MOSFET power devices. Power comes from ultra-high-frequency power supplies that Chord designs in-house, aimed at very high peak output current. The input circuitry is fully balanced, with temperature compensation and DC-tracking servos. The casework is CNC-machined from aircraft-grade aluminium with a 28 mm thick front panel, and a recessed spherical polycarbonate power button has lighting that can be dimmed. The trigger input lets a Chord preamplifier switch the ULTIMA 5 on and off automatically.

Pairing

The large rise in output into lower impedances means low-impedance and low-efficiency floorstanding speakers are within its range, and the very high damping factor keeps control over large woofers. The XLR inputs suit a preamplifier with a balanced output stage, and a source unit with a trigger output can manage power-up.

Alternatives

The Chord ULTIMA 6 is a lower-powered two-channel model from the current Ultima family, delivering 180 W RMS per channel from 16 MOSFET power devices.