Symphony in Blue

摘要

Chord Electronics has been making rather eye-catching hi-fi in recent years. It initially built its reputation by building high-power amplifiers for professional recording studios followed by cool-running audiophile amplification; but now the company is as well-known by its exotic sci-fi movie-looking electronics. Look inside most Chord products though and you'll find something that gives the brand a distinct advantage over traditional audio electronics; it was Chord Electronics that first truly tamed the potential of high-frequency power supplies in high-end audio amplifiers. Joining the Choral series of compact hi-fi components is the Symphonic phono stage...or should we say that the Choral series joins the phono stage? Because in fact the entire Choral series, based around precision-milled billets of aluminium about the size of a large house brick, could be said to be inspired by Chord Electronics' first phono stage [reviewed Nov '99 'Balancing ACT']. And it was this phono stage that was the first Chord product to take the now-familiar bijou boxwork.