I am happy to accept Chord make some excellent digital kit but I struggle to feel positive about their product set when their designs are to my eye "pig ugly"
The latest from Mr Frank's labs are the Ultima 5 & 6 amps. They are stunning in their uglyness and I understand in an overcrowded market it helps to have a distinctive brand styling but surely there are better design formats than Tonka toys on steroids ?
https://www.stereonet.co.uk/news/chord- ... power-amps
Beauty in the eye of the beholder
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Beauty in the eye of the beholder
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TTs, Kenwood KD 8030 with AT OC9XSH, Opera Consonance Wax Engine mk2 with modified Apheta 2 MC cart, PT TOO awaiting restoration.
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TTs, Kenwood KD 8030 with AT OC9XSH, Opera Consonance Wax Engine mk2 with modified Apheta 2 MC cart, PT TOO awaiting restoration.
LDA MCJ3 phono,Schiit Freya plus pre amp, NAD M23, Audiolab 9000 CD transport, Denafrips Pontus 2 DAC, Mano Ultra2 streamer, Cisco switch, Audio Technica ATH 70 cans, Serhan Swift Mu2 mk2 speakers & NSNO W48.5 speaker cables
- karatestu
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Re: Beauty in the eye of the beholder
I agree, in my eyes they are fairly ugly. But some will like them i guess. With those looks and at those prices i would not be rushing to a dealer for a listen. I don't care what is under the hood.
Give me an amp with some wood on show any day
Give me an amp with some wood on show any day
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Re: Beauty in the eye of the beholder
Those products in the picture do look hideous, but this does not apply to all (cheacper) Chord products. I think the Qutest, Mscaler and Mojo I have all look attractive as well as sounding great. Another big plus point for me is their small size.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
- savvypaul
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Re: Beauty in the eye of the beholder
I would rate the Chord design as pretty good, overall. Not because I personally like or dislike the look of the design, but based on what the design is meant to achieve.
1. They are highly recognisable. If you take the badge off and view them from front, back or side you probably still recognise them, straight away, as made by Chord.
2. The design conveys the brand values - modern, scientific (a few deliberate splashes of steampunk here and there) bespoke technology, bespoke thinking.
3. The design pulls off the clever trick of being quirky / specialist but without being difficult. Customers can consider themselves different, and clever, but without sacrificing convenience or perceived luxury.
Sadly, the ugly pricing achieved is also a strong indicator of design success...
1. They are highly recognisable. If you take the badge off and view them from front, back or side you probably still recognise them, straight away, as made by Chord.
2. The design conveys the brand values - modern, scientific (a few deliberate splashes of steampunk here and there) bespoke technology, bespoke thinking.
3. The design pulls off the clever trick of being quirky / specialist but without being difficult. Customers can consider themselves different, and clever, but without sacrificing convenience or perceived luxury.
Sadly, the ugly pricing achieved is also a strong indicator of design success...
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Re: Beauty in the eye of the beholder
The coloured lights provide useful functions (sample rate etc), better than a lot of knobs IMHO and it is a good thing that you can dim them.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
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Re: Beauty in the eye of the beholder
Some good and valid points in defence of Chord, maybe they are easier on the eye in black or nickel ? The marketing bollox that's goes with the launch meant I never got to finish the write up. Maybe there's some magic in their new stuff after all.
Modified Airlink BPS 3110S with LDA DC filter
TTs, Kenwood KD 8030 with AT OC9XSH, Opera Consonance Wax Engine mk2 with modified Apheta 2 MC cart, PT TOO awaiting restoration.
LDA MCJ3 phono,Schiit Freya plus pre amp, NAD M23, Audiolab 9000 CD transport, Denafrips Pontus 2 DAC, Mano Ultra2 streamer, Cisco switch, Audio Technica ATH 70 cans, Serhan Swift Mu2 mk2 speakers & NSNO W48.5 speaker cables
TTs, Kenwood KD 8030 with AT OC9XSH, Opera Consonance Wax Engine mk2 with modified Apheta 2 MC cart, PT TOO awaiting restoration.
LDA MCJ3 phono,Schiit Freya plus pre amp, NAD M23, Audiolab 9000 CD transport, Denafrips Pontus 2 DAC, Mano Ultra2 streamer, Cisco switch, Audio Technica ATH 70 cans, Serhan Swift Mu2 mk2 speakers & NSNO W48.5 speaker cables
- Fretless
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Re: Beauty in the eye of the beholder
Not so sure about 'Ugly', I would go more for 'idiosyncratic' and 'distinctive'.
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Re: Beauty in the eye of the beholder
Totally fugly. They look like they've escaped from the bridge of the Liberator in Blakes 7.
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X