Relative price
above typical
Among the 25
monoblockss in the catalogue,
this one is 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
TOPOLOGY (refreshed 2026-05-12 per primary-source verification): Implements the flagship ULTIMA amplifier topology, trickled down from the range-topping ULTIMA power amp as part of Chord's 30th-anniversary celebration (October 2018 launch). 32 proprietary MOSFET power devices per chassis. 28mm thick aircraft-grade aluminium fascia. Hand-built at the riverside Kent factory ("The Pumphouse") over several days per amplifier, each build overseen by a dedicated engineer.
POWER OUTPUT: 480W RMS into 8Ω per chassis; up to ~1000W into 4Ω (per Lenc.com.au spec — note slightly more conservative than the 960W I previously inferred from class-AB doubling convention). Excellent dynamic headroom for difficult speaker loads.
I/O: 1× balanced XLR inverted + 1× balanced XLR non-inverted + 1× gold-plated RCA inverted + 1× gold-plated RCA non-inverted; 12V trigger input (Chord Auto Start); 2 pairs high-current gold-plated speaker terminals (bi-wireable). C19-type IEC mains. Lighting brightness dimmable.
FINISH: Jett Black or Argent Silver. Optional Integra Leg system (stackable feet) in Jett Black, Argent Silver, or Nickel. Or highly polished black acrylic side block option.
Who it comes up against
13 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 3 (pair) is the weaker pair of monoblocks for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the pair of monoblocks position.
powerful sense of dynamic rangeHi-Fi+ (Sircom) 2025 (combo)
4 lost · BBC Sound, Twin Arms
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
3 lost · Intimate, 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 3 (pair) is the weaker pair of monoblocks for that brief.
rivals sound... noisy by comparisonHi-Fi+ (Sircom) 2025 (combo)
3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
3 lost · Artisan, PRaT, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot clearly.
With the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA 3 (pair) is the weaker pair of monoblocks for that brief.
had B&W 800D3 under controlStereo Magazine 2021
2 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 3 (pair) is the weaker pair of monoblocks for that brief.
2 lost · Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
2 lost · Characterful, Romantic
Against the Characterful brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot clearly.
With the Leema Neutron, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA 3 (pair) is the weaker pair of monoblocks for that brief.
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA 3 (pair) is the weaker pair of monoblocks for that brief.