HI-FI WORLD Chord User manual
REVIEW
HI-FI WORLD
HI-FI WORLD
Custom Device
HI-FI WORLD OCTOBER 2020 www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
Chord Electronics use their own custom output
devices in the new Ultima 6 power amplifier.
Noel Keywood listens.
REVIEW
HI-FI WORLD
HI-FI WORLD
’ve just been reading – well
re-reading – Chord Electronic’s
lengthy and intense explanation
about why their new Ultima 6
stereo power amplifier that I’m
reviewing here – price £5995
I
– is different to most else.
Known for their high technology
digital-to-analogue convertors
(DACs) designed in-house, Ultima
follows Chord Electronics tradition.
With its own custom output
transistors this power amplifier is,
by definition, different and unique.
See what I was reading in our box
out – but have a strong cup of coffee
first!
In outline Ultima 6 is simple.
There are no fripperies. Plug an
analogue cable into one end, press
the large illuminated power button,
make sure loudspeakers are attached
– and that’s just about it. At your
disposal is huge power, spec’d at
180W per channel (but we measured
300W) from a package weighing a
substantial 22.4kg and measuring
420mm wide, 360mm deep and
150mm high. It’s a difficult lift, even
though no big mains transformer
lurks inside; amusingly the company
say keep it away from toroidals
(anathema to Chord Electronics).
A classic 19in (482mm) wide
rack shelf accepts it. Limited height
and depth make Ultima 6 able to fit
the bottom shelf of most hi-fi racks,
or of course it can be placed on the
floor.
Lack of fripperies means there’s
nothing at rear that needs setting
or adjusting. Nor at front either.
No volume control for example, so
any source – such as a phono stage
– must have its own volume control.
There is a small hidden slide switch
to change internal light level: high or
low.
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2020 HI-FI WORLD
In Chord Electronics fashion,
pressing the large frontal power
button that glows dull red when off,
causes it to light up bright green.
Internally, and visible through the top
air vents, a blaze of “teal” coloured
LEDs light up to show electronic
activity. What you don’t get are
power output LEDs, a headphone
output or remote control. The latter
functions must lie in an accompanying
preamplifier, or DAC. Since most
DACs have volume control this
should not be an issue and I reviewed
the Ultima in as simple a set-up as
possible, without preamplifier.
The Ultima 6 is massively
built, having substantial aluminium
heatsinks to keep the output
transistors cool. This is an analogue
amplifier – not Class D – but it has
the company's own switch-mode
power supply. Much of the technical
data I read was devoted to why this
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