Preamplifier
above typical
Among the 29 preamplifiers 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.
Compared to PRE 2: 3 RCA + 2 XLR inputs (vs 4+4), still has both XLR and RCA outputs, retains headphone amp. Switch-mode PSU.
Assessed against 7 rivals across the sixty systems: 1 head-to-head won, 35 lost.
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
10 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 keeps the slot clearly.
With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Whest Audio 60Se Pro, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA PRE 3 is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.
8 lost· 1 won · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Anchored brief, the Audiolab 9000Q keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA PRE 3 is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
exceptional transparency, speed, and dynamicsHi-Fi+, Sircom, 2025
8 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference
Against the Anchored brief, the NVA P50SA MKII keeps the slot clearly.
With the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA PRE 3 is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.
exceptional transparency, speed, and dynamicsHi-Fi+, Sircom, 2025
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Neutron keeps the slot decisively.
With the Leema Hydra II, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA PRE 3 is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Leema Hydra II gives up vocal presence under the Cavity-Native weighting.
exceptional transparency, speed, and dynamicsHi-Fi+, Sircom, 2025
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) keeps the slot decisively.
With the EAR Yoshino 890, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA PRE 3 is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.
868L line preamp, Tim de Paravicini valve designEAR Yoshino 868L + multi-decade Stereophile heritage
2 lost · Artisan, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier keeps the slot clearly.
With the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA PRE 3 is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) gives up vocal presence under the Artisan weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
exceptional transparency, speed, and dynamicsHi-Fi+, Sircom, 2025
1 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the Audio Note M2 Phono keeps the slot clearly.
With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Chord ULTIMA PRE 3 is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audio Note P1 SE gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
Audio Note pre with onboard phono, classic SET-friendly voicingAudio Note M2 Phono + Stereophile heritage
Chord Ultima high-frequency preamp design Chord ULTIMA Pre 3 + Hi-Fi+ reviews· Spatial resolution
one of the most neutral preamplifiers I have ever heard SoundStage! Ultra, Gorse, 2023· Tonal consistency
everything stayed cleaner and more separated SoundStage! Ultra, Gorse, 2023· Spatial resolution
exceptional transparency, speed, and dynamics Hi-Fi+, Sircom, 2025· Presence & articulation
| is balanced internal | True |
|---|---|
| has built in phono | False |
| rca inputs | 3 |
| xlr inputs | 2 |
| line input impedance kohm | 100.0 |
| line input sensitivity mv | 1000.0 |
| rca outputs | 1 |
| xlr outputs | 1 |
| din outputs | 0 |
| output impedance ohm | 75 |
| output max v | 17.0 |
| headphone out | True |
| internal bass management | none |
| gain db | 12.0 |
| notes |