Description ⌄
Reference preamplifier — a more accessible entry to the Ultima range. The Chord Electronics ULTIMA PRE 3 is a ground-up-designed entry-level ULTIMA preamplifier with five analogue inputs, unity gain (×1) topology, and an SNR of –105dB. It includes a 5V USB Type-A charging port and a 12V trigger output alongside its balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA main outputs. The ULTIMA chassis aesthetic is shared with the wider ULTIMA range.
Technical background
Chord's ULTIMA amplifier topology, developed by company founder John Franks, applies dual feed-forward error-correction ahead of the output stage. Rather than relying solely on negative feedback to correct distortion after the fact, ULTIMA continuously monitors and corrects the signal before it reaches the power transistors. The result is vanishingly low measured distortion with none of the sonic side-effects associated with high global feedback. Custom-specified proprietary MOSFETs, high-frequency switch-mode power supplies, and aircraft-grade aluminium casework complete the engineering picture.
Design story
Chord Electronics was founded in Maidstone, Kent in 1989 by John Franks, whose background in aerospace electronics shaped every design decision. Products are hand-built in the UK using precision CNC-machined aircraft-grade aluminium, giving each unit the tactile solidity of a precision instrument rather than a consumer product. The illuminated polycarbonate sphere controls — a Chord signature — serve as intuitive interfaces that complement the industrial-minimal aesthetic. The philosophy is uncompromising: every component, topology, and material choice is driven by sonic performance, not cost reduction.
Best for
High-end pre-power builds on a slightly more accessible Ultima budget; pairing with Ultima 3, 5, or 6 power amplifiers High-end audiophile entering the Ultima ecosystem, Étude or BerTTi owner High-end hi-fi preamplifier, Ultima power amplifier partner
Awards & press
⭐ What Hi-Fi? 5 Stars; StereoNET Applause Award; Pursuit Perfect System Special Performer Award "Leads the class when it comes to clarity and insight." — What Hi-Fi? "Chord's Ultima Pre 3 brings reference preamplification within reach of the most serious audiophiles." — Hi-Fi+ "The Ultima Pre 3 is perhaps the most cost-effective entry point into Chord's extraordinary reference amplifier range." — Hi-Fi News
Features ⌄
- ULTIMA dual-feed-forward preamplifier — reference-class analogue signal path
- Balanced XLR throughout — full balanced architecture from input to output
- Precision-machined aluminium chassis — built to Chord's highest standards
- Partners with Ultima 5 or 6 — designed as a complete ULTIMA reference system
- Individual input buffering with RF filtering on all five analogue inputs
- 5V USB Type-A output for convenient charging of source devices