Chord Electronics ULTIMA PRE 3
With an inky-black noise floor, the ULTIMA PRE 3 turns high-resolution systems into an exceptionally open, emotionally involving window on recordings. David Price admired its translucent midrange and rhythmic ease, while Lite MAGAZIN praised its spacious imaging, explosive dynamics and vanishingly low noise. Balanced connectivity and A/V bypass complete a focused, beautifully engineered analogue control centre.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
93/100
Features Connectivity
87/100
Value for Money
91/100
Pros
Exceptionally transparent, low-noise presentation uncovers fine detail without turning clinical.
Excellent timing and dynamic expression deliver crisp transients, musical momentum and convincing light-and-shade.
Broad, deep imaging and strong instrumental separation make complex mixes and orchestral recordings easy to follow.
Superb aircraft-grade aluminium construction, plus five line inputs and balanced A/V bypass, combine luxury build with useful system flexibility.
Cons
Output level may leave limited headroom with inefficient loudspeakers in large rooms at very high listening levels.
Colour-coded, push-to-cycle input selection is less intuitive than a dedicated source display or conventional selector.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviewers consistently describe an exceptionally transparent, low-noise and rhythmically assured preamplifier that gets out of the recording's way without becoming clinical. Its presentation combines precise, well-controlled bass and strong dynamic expression with a spacious, focused portrayal of performers.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
Lite MAGAZIN praises outstandingly low noise, superb resolution and immense transparency, reporting that only an ear placed at the tweeter reveals the faintest idle noise. SoundStage Solo calls it among the most neutral preamps heard, with impressive speed, detail and separation, while StereoNET says it dissolves into the recording and exposes a glass-clear midband.
Tonal Balance Musicality
93/100
Although notably neutral and open, reviewers found the Pre 3 emotionally involving rather than forensic. SoundStage Solo highlights convincing instrumental harmonics and timbre, while StereoNET and Jay Garrett describe an organic, even-handed character that preserves instrumental richness without artificial warmth or clinical edge.
Dynamics
95/100
Dynamics are repeatedly singled out as a major strength: Lite MAGAZIN hears stupendous dynamic precision, and StereoNET reports convincing light and shade, expressive crescendos and silence between events. SoundStage Solo also praises timing, unblurred leading edges and the preamp's ability to convey instrumental dynamics superbly.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
Lite MAGAZIN hears a broad, deep and airy stage with strong presence and three-dimensionality. SoundStage Solo similarly reports a large orchestral soundstage with accurately delineated detail, while the StereoNET audition notes impressive scale and convincing depth on complex orchestral recordings.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
93/100
The aluminum casework, machined contours, rails and controls receive enthusiastic praise across the reviews. Reviewers describe the chassis as reassuringly substantial, beautifully laid out and finished to a notably high standard; Lite MAGAZIN likewise commends both its materials and manufacturing quality.
Features Connectivity
87/100
The Pre 3 provides five line inputs—three RCA and two XLR—plus both RCA and XLR outputs and a dedicated balanced A/V-bypass input. The remote handles source selection, volume, balance and power, and the front-panel balance control can engage bypass, though this remains a focused line-level design without onboard digital, phono or headphone facilities.
Value for Money
91/100
At approximately $6,000-$10,275, the Pre 3 is a costly line-only preamplifier, and StereoNET explicitly acknowledges that premium. However, the same review calls it great value for money because of its performance, while Lite MAGAZIN rates its price-to-performance proposition as good.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- 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 included Integra legs
- 13 cm(H) x 48 cm(W) x 34 cm(D)
- Dimensions with optional side blocks (can not be stacked)
- 10 cm(H) x 42 cm(W) x 34 cm (D)
- Weight
- 12.7 kg
Manufacturer's Description — Chord Electronics
Built from the ground up, the UTLIMA PRE 3 takes advantage of the very latest developments in advanced low-distortion power supplies. These advanced devices offer exceptionally low noise and outstanding amplifier operation. Coupled with our latest design developments, the PRE 3 offers new levels of preamplifier performance.
The UTLIMA PRE 3 is equipped with five analogue inputs (two balanced and three unbalanced) all of which benefit from individual buffering and are selectively filtered against potential ingress from radio frequency interference.
Externally, the 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.
Other accessories & custom options
Argent silver Integra leg option
Jett black Integra leg option
Gloss black acrylic side block option (can not be stacked)
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
Key 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
Included Accessories
ULTIMA PRE 3 Quickstart guide
Safety instructions
10A Mains IEC cable
IR system remote control
2x AAA batteries
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Chord Electronics ULTIMA PRE 3
- 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 — online and in-store — Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal (website)
and 202 more verified dealers