Chord Electronics SPM 1200C Power Amplifier – Black

Here we have a high quality power Amplifier from specialist British company Chord Electronics, that comes in the black finish. It is in very good overall condition, with a couple of minor cosmetic blemishes – please see product photographs and is supplied in original factory packaging with manual, mains cable, and as ever, our regular three month warranty.
Chord Say….
The SPM 1200C has followed an evolutionary path that even Darwin would be proud of. With over 30% more power available than the SPM 1200B and much raised dynamic headroom, the SPM 1200C makes driving even the toughest loudspeakers, an effortless task. This amplifier achieves this by using the same improved high frequency power supply used by all of our “Enhanced” range of amplifiers. Improvements in capacitor technology have boosted secondary reservoir levels to 65,800µF storing over 266 Joules of energy. A “SuperAmp” in all but dimensions, this amplifier is for those whose goal is direct comparison between live and recorded music, a sentiment echoed by reviewer and customers alike.
Much of what Chord has achieved is the result of using innovative, leading edge technology. For example, we believe that we are unique in using the technique of ‘dynamic coupling’ of the power supply rails. Whatever transient demand is presented to the amplifier stages, the positive and negative rails remain in perfect equilibrium, with each compensating for the demands made on the other. This means that power delivery is always balanced and free from ground loop modulation distortion.
This, combined with enormous reserves of instantly delivered, precisely controlled power is what makes the SPM 1200 sound so effortless. The power supply rails operate nominally at ± 90 volts, well above that which most amplifiers can accommodate. This and other advanced techniques enables the ultra-high frequency low ESR power supply to store a great deal more energy far more efficiently. Clipping is virtually impossible. Another new technique is used to protect the amplifier against overload, internal and external short circuits. The output signal path is totally free of any fuses or sound-degrading resistive components often employed for overload sensing. The SPM 1200 is designed to surpass the highest European safety and electromagnetic interference standards.
The amplifier sections are also highly sophisticated designs that make the most of the best high voltage, lateral structure MOSFETs available, 16 x 150 watt devices per channel. Combining the subtlety and musicality of a good valve design with the punch and accuracy of ‘state of the art’ solid state products. The result is a sliding bias class A/B design with all drive circuitry operating in class A. At usual listening levels, most of the music will be reproduced in class A. Chord’s no-compromise design philosophy means there is no better built amplifier. Individually hand-crafted, it is constructed to aerospace standards from the circuit boards up.
Specifications:
Output Power: 315 W rms per channel @ 0.02% into 8 Ω; 470 W rms per channel into 4 Ω Thermal limitation only, 1 channel driven
Dynamic Headroom 440 W rms per channel into 8 Ω; 780 W rms per channel into 4 Ω
Frequency Response (8 Ω): – 1 dB, 0.2 Hz to 41 kHz; – 3 dB, 0.1 Hz to 89 kHz
Frequency Response (4 Ω): – 1 dB, 0.2 Hz to 41 kHz; – 3 dB, 0.1 Hz to 79 kHz
Signal to Noise Ratio: better than – 103 dB, ‘A’ weighted two thirds power
Channel Separation: better than 90 dB
Pre-Amplifier Input Connections: 2 x gold-plated fully balanced XLR sockets; 2 x gold-plated RCA phono sockets, unbalanced
Input Impedance: 56 k Unbalanced, 112 k Balanced
Input Capacitance: < 30 pf
Output Impedance: 0.03
Output Inductance: 2.6 μH
Output Connections: 8 x 4 mm gold WBT binding posts  (2 pairs A, 2 pairs B)
Slew Rate: 70 V per μS, 1 kHz; 20 V square wave
Gain 30 dB
Dimensions: 480 (W) x 355 (D) x 165 (H) mm
Weight: 20.0 kg