The Chord Alto ranks #16 out of 19 total Headphone Amplifiers for sound quality. See all Headphone Amps and DACs rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Chord
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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#16 Chord Alto: $4,320.00 Headphones.com eBay
Pros: Chord rates it at 2,100 mW into 32 ohms and 281 mW into 300 ohms, enough for most planar magnetic headphones and high impedance models alike. It has 6.35 mm, 4.4 mm balanced and 4-pin XLR balanced headphone outputs, plus RCA, XLR and 4.4 mm inputs and RCA and XLR outputs for use as a preamp.
Cons: Audio Science Review measured a SINAD of only 85 dB, a real audible weakness, especially with sensitive headphones. It costs far more than the Sennheiser HDV 820, which rates higher and measured much cleaner, and its inputs are all analog, so you need a separate DAC for digital sources.
| Released | 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Balanced Output | Yes (4.4 mm, 4-pin XLR, XLR line out) |
| Device Type | Headphone amp |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 1.8” x 8.5” (200 x 44.5 x 215 mm) |
| Headphone Outputs | 6.35 mm, 4.4 mm balanced, 4-pin XLR balanced |
| Inputs | RCA, XLR, 4.4 mm balanced |
| Output Power (300 ohms) | 281 mW (manufacturer rated) |
| Output Power (32 ohms) | 2,100 mW (manufacturer rated) |
| Outputs | RCA, XLR |
| SINAD | 85 dB (measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Volume Control | Hardware knob |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) |
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