Chord Electronics has unveiled its second ULTIMA preamp following the introduction of the flagship model in 2018. It directly replaces its predecessor, the CPA 5000.
ULTIMA PRE 2 is made to accompany the ULTIMA 2 and ULTIMA 3 mono power amplifiers, which were announced last year, benefitting from the company’s advanced dual-feed-forward error-correction circuitry.
Designed to complement the ULTIMA mono power amplifiers, the ULTIMA PRE 2 uses the company’s striking new aesthetic, which benefits from a redesigned bolt-less fascia, featuring a 28mm-thick aircraft-grade aluminium front panel.
Forming part of its flagship Reference range, it features a substantially larger chassis than its standard preamps. It also has the latest proprietary ultra-high-frequency power supply and ultra-low-noise circuitry, delivering a noise performance of below -130dB.
As a flexible solution for high-end audio systems, the ULTIMA PRE 2 features four pairs of fully balanced inputs, four pairs of unbalanced inputs, as well as two completely independent record loops.
Each input has six levels of gain which can be individually selected to prevent large changes in volume when switching between inputs. All settings are stored in the microprocessor, even when the power is removed.
The preamp also features fully balanced AV bypass circuitry for direct connections to AV processors, plus 12V remote triggering outputs at the back of the unit, to activate compatible power amplifiers or AV processors on power-up.
Available in Jett Black or Argent Silver finishes, Chord Electronics’ renowned aircraft-grade aluminium casework offers a high-end and entirely non-resonant enclosure for the electronics.
ULTIMA PRE 2 is priced at £12,500 and is available to order now. Visitors can see the ULTIMA PRE 2 at The Bristol Hi-Fi Show this week for its world debut.