News

Chord Electronics has launched its first ever small desktop integrated amplifier, Anni. Designed for headphones and compact loudspeakers, Anni benefits from the company’s proprietary Ultima circuit topology and forms part of the Qutest range created to complement the resolving abilities of the Qutest standalone DAC (HFC 436) and Huei phono stage (HFC 459). Chord explains: “As a system, the Qutest components provide an unrivalled desktop audio solution, offering class-leading digital and analogue technologies for the modern music lover”.

The whole system can be housed on the company’s compact QSS (Qutest Stand System) modular equipment rack while Anni offers Chord Electronics’ recently announced dual-feed-forward error-correction circuit topology whether using headphones or compact loudspeakers. The company claims: “Anni’s advanced technology allows it to drive any headphone load, error-monitored and compensated amplification at all times”.

It benefits from both 3.5mm and 6.35mm headphone outputs, so two can listen simultaneously, plus 4mm banana-type loudspeaker outputs and it claims to deliver 10W of Ultima amplification, controlled by a fascia-mounted volume control that also doubles as an input selector switch for Anni’s two line-level inputs. A two-stage gain control for loudspeakers provides additional flexibility with a wide range of desktop monitors.

Anni comes in the CNC-machined high-grade aluminium casework that’s common to all Chord products with the company’s trademark polychromatic control spheres governing the power and gain controls and complementing the fascia-mounted volume control/input selector.

Anni is powered by a 15V external power supply and benefits from a 12V DC output, capable of powering the Qutest DAC and Huei phono stage when used with the new Qutest range power adapter (supplied).

Available to buy now for £1,200, and on test in the January 2022 issue of HFC, you can find out more about Anni here.