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Chord ULTIMA 2 (pair)

Monoblocks

Relative price

well above typical

Among the 25 monoblockss in the catalogue, this one is well above typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

I/O: accepts both RCA and XLR.

Competition record

Assessed against 5 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 11 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • timing and drive ×4
  • bass control ×1
  • low-level clarity ×1
  • midrange truth ×1
  • vocal presence ×1

Who it comes up against

Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units)

6 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic

Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.

With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA 2 (pair) is the stronger pair of monoblocks — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Emmae Reginae (custom) gives up bass control under the Anchored weighting.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the pair of monoblocks position.

total control... stunning bass tightnessSoundStage! Australia 2019

EAR Yoshino V12

2 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First

No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.

EAR Yoshino 890

1 lost · Intimate

Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.

With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gains most on bass control.

On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA 2 (pair) is the stronger pair of monoblocks — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.

total control... stunning bass tightnessSoundStage! Australia 2019

Sugden ANV 50

1 lost · Twin Arms

No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.

Audio Note P1 SE

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot by a whisker.

With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA 2 (pair) is the stronger pair of monoblocks — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Emmae Reginae (custom) gives up low-level clarity under the Silent Path weighting.

intensely inherent quietness, black backgroundSoundStage! Australia (Kramer) 2019

What the reviewers said

Ultima 2 flagship monoblock pair Chord Ultima 2 flagship monoblock· Physical impact
intensely inherent quietness, black background SoundStage! Australia (Kramer) 2019· Electrical noise floor
total control... stunning bass tightness SoundStage! Australia 2019· Bass control
phenomenally punchy SoundStage! Australia 2019· Physical impact
refined pace and transient attack SoundStage! Australia 2019· Transient attack

How it scores

Clarity

  • Electrical noise floor 82 from listening evidence

Rhythm

  • Transient attack 76 from listening evidence

Bass

  • Bass control 82 from listening evidence
  • Physical impact 82 from listening evidence
  • Bass extension 75 from specification

LowerVolume

  • Low-level noise floor 72 from specification
  • Micro-dynamic resolution 72 from specification
  • Tonal consistency 72 from specification

Specifications

is monoblockTrue
is balanced internalTrue
power classAB
power 8ohm w750.0
power 4ohm w1500.0
damping factor220.0
accepts rcaTrue
accepts xlrTrue
accepts dinFalse
input impedance rca kohm100.0
input sensitivity rca mv1000.0
speaker terminal typebinding post
gain db26.0
dimensions mm420/150/750
sold as pairTrue
notes