Chord Electronics has made its Alto headphone/speaker amplifier, which was previously reserved for the pro audio industry, accessible to the public for the first time (£3000).
First introduced at the NAMM Show in California this January as part of the Chord Electronics Pro range, the Alto was designed specifically for recording and mastering studio engineers to meet the exacting demands of critical monitoring. The compact analog amplifier delivers the company’s signature high-transparency, low-distortion ULTIMA amplification to both loudspeakers and headphones. With its compact dimensions and portability, the Alto allows engineers to easily move it between studios and production facilities.
Since its debut, the demand from customers, dealers, and the audiophile community for a public release has been overwhelming; Chord Electronics has now fulfilled that demand.
The Alto is a meticulously designed headphone and nearfield monitor amplifier, capable of driving up to four pairs of headphones and smaller loudspeakers. Notably, it marks the first Chord Electronics product to include a 4.4 mm Pentaconn TRRRS output (pseudo balanced), catering to the increasing popularity of balanced transmission in high-end headphones.
The Alto features four fascia-mounted headphone outputs that are powered by founder/owner John Franks’ ULTIMA technology. It features one 3.5mm output; two 6.35mm (1/4-inch); plus a single 4.4 mm Pentaconn. The array of outputs not only facilitates A/B comparisons, but also allows multiple users to listen simultaneously.
For loudspeakers, the Alto delivers 25 watts into 8 ohms (50 watts into 4 ohms), with the transparency, speed, and low distortion for which the ULTIMA amplifier topology is renowned. Stereo banana plug outputs are provided on the rear panel, accommodating all but the largest loudspeaker plugs.
The Alto’s ULTIMA topology introduces the company’s dual-feed-forward error-correction technology, which monitors then immediately corrects signals before the output stage.
The twin-input design benefits from both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs, as well as balanced XLR outputs for bypass/throughput to other devices. The balanced XLR output can also be used in conjunction with headphones or loudspeakers in joint output mode.
The fascia panel includes volume control, power on/off, and input selection controls, with Chord Electronics’ signature color-changing LEDs indicating power status and input/output choice. A remote control is also supplied for added convenience.
The Alto is available now from participating Chord Electronics dealers priced at £3000 and is supplied with a three-year warranty.
For more information, visit chordelectronics.co.uk.
