Chord CPM2600 integrated amp - Review & Blog

[jandl100]

And you did not even pass by me.

Argh. Damn. I didn't even consider that I was in your neighbourhood, Stan.

Sorry. Next time!

[MartinT]

Jerry, your findings match mine exactly and is why I leave my Chord switched on permanently. I use all-silver cabling (balanced) and silver speaker cables and my system is incredibly transparent without being bright.

As I said in another thread, the Chord needs clean throughout the chain.

[jandl100]

Jerry, your findings match mine exactly and is why I leave my Chord switched on permanently. I use all-silver cabling (balanced) and silver speaker cables and my system is incredibly transparent without being bright.

As I said in another thread, the Chord needs clean throughout the chain.

Thanks Martin.

I think my Chord amp is still coming up to speed - every day I'm sure there are still incremental benefits. From what you say, I think mine still has some further smoothing to do - I still can't use my 5N purity silver cabling - the system is still a bit undernourished tonally when I try it - too clean! I'll try them again in a day or two and see if that has changed - but in the meantime my somewhat fruity sounding Cambridge Audio (!) Azur balanced cables are doing just fine. A balanced connection between my Theta DAC and the Chord amp is definitely the way to go, ime so far.

.... Listening to Bruckner's 4th symphony late last night (Muti/Berlin Phil/EMI) at pretty much realistic levels ... a huge orchestral presence and, oh, those horns! ...magnificent!

[MartinT]

Listening to Bruckner's 4th symphony late last night (Muti/Berlin Phil/EMI) at pretty much realistic levels ... a huge orchestral presence and, oh, those horns! ...magnificent!

Ooh, I have the Eugen Jochum boxed set - fabulous, as you say. Have you tried the ninth? A truly immersive experience.

[jandl100]

Ooh, I have the Eugen Jochum boxed set - fabulous, as you say. Have you tried the ninth? A truly immersive experience.

Which Jochum set? DG or EMI? I thought the EMI/Dresden set was OK but I preferred the earlier DG. The DG Jochum 9th is my 2nd fave recording of the work, after Lennie Bernstein (also on DG) (I have about 25 Bruckner 9th recordings, I think! I'm a Bruckner nutcase. ).

[MartinT]

Which Jochum set? DG or EMI?

It's the EMI boxed set but I have six other ninth recordings, including the DG Jochum, which is magnificent. I was lucky enough to see him live once at the Albert Hall many years ago. He was conducting the Vienna Phil, resting against a stool, and commanded them with an iron grip.

[dazzler9000]

£1395 plus a return car trip to Watford.

That's a pretty good price isn't it........ It looks in mint codition as well, congrats!

[MartinT]

It's a fantastic price. The retail price of my power amp now is eye watering and you rarely see them on the used market.

[DSJR]

I just cannot get on with gear that needs shedloads of time to come on song. I suspect that in pro circles, these things are powered 24/7 so the warm-up issue doesn't apply. The Bryston preamp I had was like this - flat, bright and veiled until at least 24 hours had passed, by which time it went through a transformation. My Croft is there (better?)within minutes

I used to have gear left on all the time and when I went to valves, the power bill dropped by at least £15 per quarter - and this was twenty years ago...

[jandl100]

I just cannot get on with gear that needs shedloads of time to come on song.

Yep, I know what you mean, Dave.
And the Chord isn't merely "OK" when cold - it is harsh and bright. Luvvly-jubbly now it's warmed up though.

Must admit that I have heard a Bryston pre at a dealer dem (he just plugged it in and used it cold). I wasn't impressed to say the least - but he made no mention of a need for warm-up so I just dismissed it! Perhaps as big a mistake as those who think that Chord is bright and harsh.

The Chord does give off a fair bit of heat (which is very welcome at the moment!) so it can't be cheap to run 24/7. But .... it does have a very transparent and lucid sound, and I can understand why the brand has a loyal band of followers. As I mentioned previously, the detail retrieval is the best I have heard, but not etched or hyped up. Definitely an enjoyable component and a "keeper" for me, within the bounds of my definition of the word!