Chord CPM2600 integrated amp - Review & Blog

[Themis]

you could do this to your speakers to fix the errr "clean"

pic nicked from the classe forum.. genius !

It's a Belt improvement ? Nice !

[jandl100]

Just a quick update ....

After 3+ weeks of being permanently on, the Chord is I believe still improving .... seems stupid, I know, but I'm sure it's gaining further in purity and soundstage depth and image palpability.

I went back to my old Melody SP3 amp the other day just as a sanity check that I wasn't simply getting used to the Chord sound - perhaps it really is bright and screechy as a common view holds about Chord, and I had just adjusted? (or my ears had shut down in self defence!)

Nope - whilst the Melody is not a laid back pipe&slippers machine, it is of 'sensible' if somewhat forward tonality - and the Chord was very little different. So the Chord hasn't scoured my ears out and re-arranged my sensibilities.

It is, without doubt, a damn fine amp - and one that I would happily put up against valve as well as solid state competition. It is perhaps the purest sounding solid state I have ever heard. Which surprises me in no small way and definitely confounds my expectations! You just have to leave it turned on.

[MartinT]

It is perhaps the purest sounding solid state I have ever heard.

My findings exactly, and why I'm on my second Chord power amp.

[DSJR]

And leaving it on all the time is a reason I couldn't look at a Chord even if I wanted to - had all that nonsense twenty years ago and I'm not as comfortably off these days...

Surely Chord's designer(s) should be looking at what it is in the circuit that causes this (transistors or caps biased too low or summat similar taking too long to "form") and deal with it, but as I think I said before, in a pro environment, these things are left on 24/7 anyway, so it probably doesn't matter to Chord at the moment, as long as they're getting the orders..

[Spectral Morn]

I have found the same to be true of the Chapter Audio Preface and Couplet pre-power combination. These were designed by 2 guys who used to work for Chord, Duncan Shipton being the main man (nice guy as well, met him at a show once).

Its one of those issues I for one would love an explanation.


Regards D S D L

[Ali Tait]

I believe Chord uses SM power supplies? Maybe something to do with this.

[jandl100]

Just checking on the Chapter Audio website, and they do use Switch Mode power supplies as well ... hmmmm

[Ali Tait]

Dunno,but the one time I heard Chord stuff at a show,yes,it sounded harsh and screechy.

[jandl100]

As a guide for those familiar with it - I have just received a Croft Series 5 mk2S power amp - it's brighter sounding than the well-warmed Chord.

[Ali Tait]

Maybe that needs to warm up!