The Chord Electronics Ultima Pre 3 Preamplifier is an advanced preamp with a slimmer and more streamlined I/O than the Ultima 2 model. The Ultima 3 is equipped with 5 analog inputs - two balanced and three unbalanced, or single-ended, all of which benefit from individual buffering and are selectively filtered against potential ingress from radio frequency interference.

The Ultima 3 Pre 3 works seamlessly in your hi-fi system along with your DAC, power amplifiers, headphones or loudspeakers, streamers, and more. The build quality from Chord is second to none, and the ULTIMA Pre 3 is a true audiophile-grade preamplifier. Just like the Mojo, Qutest, Hugo 2, the ULTIMA Series represents the best that British sound has to offer, and the Ultima Pre 3 is the successor to the popular Ultima Pre 2. Works well with other ULTIMA Series power amps like the Ultima 5 and the Ultima 6 stereo power amplifiers.

The Ultima Pre 3 preamplifier from Chord is literally built from the ground up to take advantage of the very latest developments in advanced low-distortion power supplies. The Ultima Pre 3 offers exceptionally low noise and amplification efficiency. Coupled with Chord's latest design developments the Ultima Pre 3 offers the latest and greatest in amplifier performance.

Externally, the Ultima Pre 3 benefits from a completely redesigned aesthetic with a central circular power sphere flanked by a new volume control and balance/AV bypass selector, both of which benefit from a new ergonomic knob design. Additional features include an AV bypass, plus a 5 V charging USB Type-A port.

Available in Silver or Black.

Features:

• HF Switch Mode Power Supply
• Blue Velvet ALPS Potentiometer
• Advanced Shielding Technology
• Fully Balanced Circuitry
• Analogue Signal Path
• Convection Cooled
• Included Top Light Ring
• Solid Aluminium Chassis

Specifications:

• Inputs:  2x stereo balanced XLR inputs, 3x stereo unbalanced RCA
• Outputs:  1x stereo XLR, 1x stereo RCA and 1x 5 V charging USB Type-A port, 1x stereo balanced XLR AV bypass input, 1 x 12 V trigger output/input
• Frequency response:  10 Hz-200 kHz +/- 3 dB
• THD:  0.002 % 20Hz-20 kHz
• Signal to noise ratio:  -105 dB on all inputs
• Input impedance:  100 kΩ
• Output impedance:  560 Ω
• Input maximum voltage:  10 V RMS
• Output maximum voltage:  17 V RMS
• Gain:  x1
• Channel separation:  100 dB
• Operation voltage:  80-250 V AC auto-switching
• Power consumption:  40 W
• Dimensions with legs:  485 mm (w) x 355 mm (d) x 130 mm (h)
• Weight:  12.7 kg