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Chord Electronics Symphonic
Nestling in the Choral range, the Symphonic is our flagship MC phono stage, offering a range of advanced features over the entry-level Dual. The high-performance Symphonic uses our latest high-frequency power supply technology to exploit vinyl’s full potential, along with many new key features, to bring the performance levels in line with the Choral range, home of the DAVE DAC/preamp.
The Symphonic offers an almost infinite number of input impedance and gain options as well as balanced and unbalanced input options to the cartridge, making it a highly flexible device for integrating high-quality turntables into Chord systems. The comprehensive settings options are all externally selectable, with selections signified internally with illuminating LEDs.
A rumble filter removes unwanted low-frequency rumble signals appearing on both channels. The Symphonic Phono stage conforms to the RIAA curve without the IEC roll-off when the Rumble filter is set to ‘off’ Preamps: CPA 2500, CPA 3000, CPA 5000, and CPA 8000. Preamps: CPA 2500, CPA 3000, CPA 5000, and CPA 8000.; this is commensurate with the high calibre of Chord amplification. The IEC curve response can be added by setting the Rumble filter to ‘on’. According to the wiring of the tone arm on the turntable used, the Symphonic can be operated in either an unbalanced or balanced mode.
Other accessories & custom options
Precision machined from a solid block of aircraft grade aluminium, a work of art on its own, the Ensemble Stand is irrefutably the most satisfying way to display your Choral system components or stack.
Selectable Impedance:
4.7Ω, 33Ω, 100Ω
Selectable Gain:
40dB – 80dB
Inputs:
1x Stereo Balanced XLR Pair
1x Stereo Unbalanced RCA Pair
Outputs:
1x Stereo Balanced XLR Pair
1x Stereo Unbalanced RCA Pair
Key Features
Moving Coil Cartridge Only
HF Switch Mode Power Supply
Selectable Gain
Selectable Impedance
Rausch Slope Rumble Filter
Balanced XLR Input
Fully Balanced Circuitry
Unbalanced RCA Input
Balanced XLR Output
Unbalanced RCA Output
Solid Aluminium Chassis
Included Accessories
Symphonic Quickstart guide
Safety instructions
10A Mains IEC cable
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Professional Reviews 91/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Cartridge Compatibility
89/100
Build Quality
90/100
Value for Money
89/100
Transparent and musically unforced, Chord Electronics’ Symphonic earns praise for a huge, believable soundstage and an exceptionally low-noise, black-background presentation. Tom Lyle and Audiophilepure both describe it as pure signal transfer, with high gain, balanced circuitry, and a refined, high-end grip that makes low-output MC cartridges sound vivid and alive.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Exceptional transparency and “nothing added, nothing subtracted” musical purity.
Expansive, highly convincing soundstage with strong depth and imaging.
Very quiet operation with no hum, buzz, or other audible distractions.
Flexible for low-output MC setups thanks to high gain and balanced/unbalanced connectivity.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers are highly enthusiastic about how naturally it passes music through, with repeated praise for transparency, openness, and a sense that it adds nothing and subtracts nothing. They also describe a large, convincing stage and strong emotional drive, but the language stops short of widespread best-in-class or universally superlative claims.
Transparency Noise Floor
95/100
Transparency is singled out as its greatest strength, with one reviewer saying it delivers music with 'nothing added, nothing subtracted.' The audition was also free of hum, buzz, or other unwanted noises, which supports a very quiet and clean presentation.
Tonal Balance Musicality
93/100
The reviews stress musical flow, beauty, and an absence of sonic exhibitionism, describing the sound as focused on the music rather than hype. Tom Lyle says it transfers the 'Gestalt of the music,' and both reviews frame it as engaging and natural rather than sterile.
Dynamics
92/100
The Symphonic is described as powerful, emotional, and capable of conveying the passion of the performance. The comments suggest lively macro-expression and convincing impact, though the reviews say less about fine-grained microdynamic nuance.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
Spatial performance is one of the clear strengths, with a soundstage described as expansive from left to right and front to back. The reviewer even compares it to a drawn-to-scale replica of the venue, indicating strong image size and depth without obvious congestion.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Cartridge Compatibility
89/100
The Symphonic is clearly well suited to low-output MC cartridges, with gain settings up to 85dB and practical use around 74dB for 0.25mV cartridges. It also offers balanced and unbalanced connections and a rumble filter, but the reviews do not give much detail about broader loading flexibility or MM use.
Build Quality
90/100
Reviewers report no misbehavior at all during the audition period, with no hums, buzzes, or other distractions, which suggests careful execution. They also comment positively on its appearance and balanced circuitry, though the reviews focus more on performance than on long-term construction detail.
Value for Money
89/100
At roughly $3,495 to $5,590, this is firmly a premium phono stage, but the reviews still frame it as worth the asking price. Tom Lyle says its musicality was unmatched by anything near its price in his system, and the second review recommends it strongly to MC cartridge users, which supports a justified premium rather than sticker shock.
Reviews
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Authorized dealers for Chord Electronics Symphonic
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 110Hz — online and in-store — Kielce, Województwo świętokrzyskie, Poland (website)
- Accent On Music — in-store — Mount Kisco, New York, United States (website)
- Acoustic Designs Inc. — in-store — Scottsdale, Arizona, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustic Streams — in-store — Lower Drift, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Ajasom — in-store — Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal (website)
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