The Chord Ultima Pre 3 boasts an entirely fresh design both inside and out and benefits from the latest Chord Electronics preamplifier technologies.

Masterminded by company co-founder John Franks, Chord's Ultima Pre 3 benefits from “the very latest developments in advanced low-distortion power supplies”. We're told that these new devices offer exceptionally low noise and outstanding amplifier operation. Coupled with the company's latest circuit design, we're promised new levels of preamplifier performance.

The Ultima Pre 3 offers five analogue inputs, two balanced and three unbalanced, plus a separate AV bypass input. All five of the Ultima Pre 3's main inputs enjoy individual buffering and are selectively filtered against potential ingress from radio frequency interference. Selection switching is performed via sealed relays, controlled by microprocessors.

In addition to its five inputs, the Ultima Pre 3's rear panel features both balanced and unbalanced outputs, a 12 V trigger and IEC power inlet, plus a convenient 5 V/3 A USB Type-A output to power peripheral devices, including Chord Electronics' DACs such as the Qutest and Hugo 2.

The new fascia offers a perfectly symmetrical design, centred on a circular power on/off sphere, which uses the company's familiar polychromatic indicator lighting. The power sphere is flanked by a newly designed combined volume and input selector, plus a combined balance and AV bypass control.

As you would expect, all the casework is precision-machined from solid aircraft-grade aluminium, including the Integra legs. A black acrylic side-block alternative to the Integra legs is also available as a no-cost option.

The hand-built Ultima Pre 3 is available now in either Jett black or Argent silver, priced at £6,000. It will make its European show debut at High End Munich 2022, but can be experienced earlier at Reference Audio's open day this weekend!

Visit Chord Electronics for more information