Chord Electronics Alto Review | A headphone and speaker amp that can do it all

Chord Electronics is highly regarded for everything from the base model portable DAC/Amps, like the Mojo 2, all the way up to their higher end DACs and amplifiers like the Hugo 2. Then there’s their top of the line offerings like the Dave, a true champion in the high end DAC game. The through line for all these devices is a rich and textured but highly neutral and detailed sound. With that in mind, the company now looks to reach out to professional users and audiophiles alike with the Alto professional headphone and speaker amplifier, working with any sort of passive speaker. Coming in at $4,320, the Alto is a comprehensive device with tons of versatility and awesome sound. But at this price, does the Alto live up to the competition? Let’s talk about it in this review. 

Unboxing the Chord Alto:

• Chord Electronics Alto
• Remote control
• Power cord

Professional sound, professional build:

Products from Chord are distinct in their build quality and appearance, and that’s the case too with the Alto headphone and speaker amp. It uses various lighted buttons and knobs to communicate inputs, outputs, and other information about the device’s functions. From left to right on the front side of the Alto, you get a shaped volume knob, an lit input selector that changes color based on your choice of input, a lit selector knob which indicates power on or off, a lit output selector which changes color depending on your output, and finally four headphone outputs (one 4.4mm balanced, one 3.5mm single ended, and two 6.35mm single ended options). On the back (from left to right) you get your power inputs and outputs, XLR speaker outputs, two sets of banana plug outputs, a set of RCA inputs, and finally a set of XLR inputs. All of these inputs and outputs ensure that you can have your bases covered for any sort of listening situation, whether it be headphone listening or near-field monitoring. 

I’ll also add that the Alto professional headphone and speaker amplifier is designed with professional rack use in mind too. It is 1U tall for rack integration and able to fit into 19-inch racking systems. If you plan to use this in a studio environment, you can rest assured it will work with your rack system. That said, it’s also modestly sized so it should be able to fit in any desktop setup as well. 

Versatile Design:

With its build and functionality, the Chord Alto professional amp offers excellent flexibility for multiple use cases. This is all thanks to the powerful design behind the headphone and speaker amplifier. Most impressive to me is its ability to simultaneously power up to four headphones. That takes a lot of juice and the Alto has it. In my testing, I was able to drive even very demanding headphones like the Hifiman Susvara Unveiled. No matter what I threw at it, it was able to come up with adequate power. In terms of specs, it delivers 2250 mW into 100 ohms, which is massive and provides all the power needed for any type of headphone listening or monitoring you might need to do. It also sends 50 watts per channel into passive speakers for dedicated nearfield monitoring. This should be more than enough for most near-field monitors or even speakers for a small room. So if you’re looking for a device that can power your passive speakers and headphones with great quality, the Alto headphone and speaker amp may just have the flexibility you crave.

Listening Impressions – How does the Alto sound?

Now that we have all of the amplifier build and design specs out of the way, let’s talk about the Chord Alto’s sound quality. Overall, I was very impressed with what the Alto professional headphone and speaker amplifier could do. I tried it with several different headphones, but the most enlightening pairings were the Meze Empyrean II and the Hifiman Susvara Unveiled.

Low End:

Beginning with the bass response, the Alto gets off to a hot start. The Alto is all about detail, and it handles the bass with precision and scale. Subbass information comes across as highly intelligible with ample space towards the floor, which allows for a deep and impactful sound. Dynamics are great here with kick drums and bass notes hitting with full weight and depth. I was most impressed with the headphone amplifier’s speed and tact. It handles its dynamics with grace and delicacy, but never misses a single detail, making for a rewarding listening experience for both professionals and audiophiles alike. 

Midrange:

The Alto’s mids are, like the bass, smooth and clean. Vocals and instruments have excellent separation so you can hear even the most minute details. When paired with the Empyrean II, I could hear the headphone’s warmth mixed with the amplifier’s dedication to accuracy. It doesn’t change the characteristics of the headphone, but instead works in tandem with it to create a precise but musical midrange. There’s a certain scalability that allows it to work with several types of headphones, adding to the device’s all-around versatility. 

There’s plenty of space in the midrange too, allowing sounds to fully articulate themselves. Never did I hear a sense of congestion or crowdedness. In all of my listening, I was impressed with its ability to find synergy with all types of headphones, from Meze’s unique character to Hifiman’s pristine sound presentation. 

Top End:

The top end is also quite good. When listening with the Susvara Unveiled, it toed the line between brightness and smoothness quite well. Cymbals and sibilant sounds are clear and tactile, but never harsh or disturbing. I’ll use the word “grace” again to describe how it presents treble information. It’s extremely accurate, but graceful with its presentation, so as to present you with a sophisticated sound signature rather than one that is too forward or analytical.

Soundstage:

It was with the Susvara Unveiled too that I could really grasp the width of the Alto’s soundstage. Given that expansiveness is one of the fully open-back headphone’s calling cards, I was excited to see what the Alto headphone and speaker amp is capable of. To be sure, the soundstage isn’t necessarily the widest I’ve heard, but its imaging is incredibly accurate and its spacing is natural and roomy. Sounds never felt constrained or limited, instead offering a realistic presentation of what the music might sound like in a well-treated room. Given the amp is suited for professional use as well as audiophile listening, this is a hard balance to achieve. Producers need accuracy over sheer width, and that’s what the Alto offers. Audiophiles have plenty to like too as this presentation gives a studio like experience that gets you as close to what the artists were hearing in producing the track. 

Chord Alto Professional Headphone and Speaker Amp – The Final Verdict:

Chord Electronics has created another winner with its Alto professional headphone and speaker amplifier. It has Chord’s signature balance of precision and tact that makes their devices so highly sought after. If you’re looking for an amplifier that can give you studio-quality sound and versatility, then the Alto is definitely worth checking out. 

The Chord Alto is available at Audio46.