- Based on Chord ULTIMA Technology, the Chord ALTO Professional Headphone and Speaker Amplifier is designed to be a particularly flexible solution.
Chord Electronics Ltd. has now decided to take an unusual but ultimately logical step. The Chord ALTO Professional Headphone and Speaker Amplifier, which originates from the Chord Pro Audio range and is therefore primarily reserved for the studio segment, is now also being offered in the consumer segment, although it is of course aimed primarily at particularly discerning HiFi enthusiasts.
The Chord ALTO Professional Headphone and Speaker Amplifier should prove to be a very flexible solution based on Chord ULTIMA Technology and an outstanding sounding desktop audio system.
Studio-level playback for your own four walls
At first glance, the Chord ALTO Professional Headphone and Speaker Amplifier offers an unusual combination of functions, because as its name suggests, it is a stereo integrated amplifier in a compact form, which also has an integrated headphone amplifier.
Of course, this alone would be absolutely nothing special; stereo integrated amplifiers in every price and performance class have had such a feature for years. In the case of this solution, however, the manufacturer states that it was particularly important for the headphone amplifier to fulfil the highest quality standards.
With dimensions of just 215 mm in length, 200 mm in width and 57 mm in height, the new Chord ALTO Professional Headphone and Speaker Amplifier weighs an impressive 1,946 kg, despite its usual solid workmanship and aluminium housing.
With such compact dimensions, it is, as already mentioned, virtually predestined for a desktop audio system that can be placed on a workstation, for example, where it can drive compact bookshelf loudspeaker systems or so-called near-field monitors and also function as a drive unit for high-quality headphones.
Chord ULTIMA Amplifier Topology
The centrepiece of the Chord ALTO Professional Headphone and Speaker Amplifier is its so-called Chord ULTIMA Technology or Chord ULTIMA Amplifier Topology, as it is also called by the manufacturer.
This is based on a so-called dual-feed-forward error correction technology, in which signals are monitored before the output stage and corrected if necessary in order to guarantee a reproduction free of distortion and thus the highest possible clarity, but also the highest dynamics and thus overall optimum imaging.
To drive nearfield monitors, the Chord ALTO delivers two outputs of 25 watts into 8 ohms or even two outputs of 50 watts into speaker systems with an impedance of just 4 ohms.
Richly equipped connection panel at the rear, flexible connection options for headphones
A glance at the rear shows that there is no shortage of connections here. A pair of RCA sockets are available as inputs as well as a pair of XLR connections. The outputs also include a pair of RCA sockets and a pair of XLR connections, as well as connections for bananas on the speaker cables and a 12 V trigger output and connection for the external 12 V DC power supply.
The front features a rotary encoder for controlling the volume, buttons for input and output selection and, of course, four connections for headphones. There is a 3,5 mm stereo mini jack, two 6,3 mm stereo jack connections plus a 4,4 mm Pentaconn.
Prices and availability
The new Chord ALTO is now available from specialist retailers in black. The recommended retail price is GBP 3.000,-.
Getting to the point
Ultimately, the boundary between pro audio and consumer electronics is fluid in many areas, and this also applies to the solution that Chord Electronics Ltd. has so far assigned solely to the Chord Pro Range, namely the Chord ALTO. This combines a stereo integrated amplifier in a compact form with a flexible headphone amplifier, making it a desktop audio solution that is appreciated by professional users and discerning HiFi enthusiasts alike.
| PRODUCT | Chord ALTO Professional Headphone and Speaker Amplifier |
|---|---|
| Price | GBP 3.000,- |
| Brand | CHORD ELECTRONICS |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Chord Electronics Ltd. |
| Distribution | Drei H Vertriebs GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |
