Unico Pre v2

Overview

Unico PRE v2 is the new flagship preamplifier in the Unico series, featuring a completely renewed design that is both elegant and modern. The project reflects the new stylistic language of the Unico product family, officially introduced with the Unico PRE v2 and Unico DM v2.

Design

The front panel, machined from a solid 15-mm-thick aluminium block, conveys solidity and outstanding build precision. The Midnight Black and Velvet Gold finishes enhance every design detail, while the carefully refined surface is pleasing both to the touch and to the eye.
The 2-mm-thick aluminium top cover wraps around the entire amplifier, contributing to a sense of robustness and visual continuity.
Wooden inserts recall the historic Unico logo, underlining the brand’s heritage. The Unison Research® logo takes center stage by becoming the On/Off power button: a distinctive detail that seamlessly combines functionality and identity.

Volume control in the Unico PRE v2 is handled by a high-quality integrated circuit using precision resistors. This solution ensures perfect channel balance and extremely accurate volume adjustment, preserving signal integrity under all operating conditions.

Circuit Design

Unison Research® has completely redesigned the amplifier architecture, remaining faithful to the philosophy of zero global feedback and to a dual-mono topology, long regarded as synonymous with naturalness and musicality.
The new three-stage structure has been developed to deliver a more balanced, dynamic and engaging sound.
The first stage, based on a pair of ECC83 / 12AX7 Gold Lion valves, defines the amplifier’s sonic character, providing outstanding signal purity, extremely low distortion and exceptionally quiet operation.
The subsequent solid-state stages operate in perfect synergy with the valve section, ensuring a fluid, precise and consistently musical reproduction, even under demanding listening conditions.

Connectivity

Unico PRE v2 has been designed to offer maximum versatility. It features RCA, XLR, digital and a phono inputs, allowing easy integration into any audio system, from traditional to advanced configurations.
In addition to the XLR output, there are two RCA outputs dedicated to bi-amping, an unfiltered subwoofer output, and Line In / Line Out connections, ideal for integrating external audio processors or recording systems. The unit also includes a 3.5-mm trigger output for synchronized power-on of power amplifiers and other connected devices, simplifying daily system operation.

DAC Section

The integrated DAC, based on the Sabre ES9018K2M converter, is the result of a long and meticulous development process. The balanced output architecture has been designed to integrate perfectly with the valve circuitry of the preamplifier, ensuring high-quality digital conversion and tonal coherence.
The digital section offers extensive connectivity, including one USB input, two S/PDIF inputs, and two optical Toslink inputs, making it easy to connect all major digital sources.

Phono Stage

The integrated phono stage features passive RIAA equalization and high-precision components, preserving the quality and naturalness of the analog signal.
Selectable load and gain settings allow the use of both MM and MC cartridges, enabling optimal matching with different cartridge types and ensuring the best possible sonic performance. All adjustments are easily accessible from the rear panel, providing maximum configuration flexibility.

Tech spechs

• Type: Fully balanced hybrid preamplifier
• Valves: 2 × ECC83 / 12AX7 Gold Lion
• Operating mode: Class A
• Output stage: Solid state
• Volume control: Infrared
• Analogue inputs:
• 3 × Line RCA
• 3 × Line XLR
• 1 × Phono MM / MC
• 1 × Line In
• Digital inputs:
• 1 × USB
• 2 × Toslink
• 2 × S/PDIF
• Maximum input voltage: 2.58 Vrms (RCA) – 5 Vrms (XLR)
• Input impedance: 20 kΩ (RCA) – 57 kΩ (XLR)
• Gain: 20 dB (RCA) – 15 dB (XLR)

• Outputs:
• 2 × RCA
• 1 × XLR
• Dual subwoofer output
• Line Out
• 1 × 12 V Remote Power On
• Maximum output voltage (@1% THD+N, 1kHz): 8 V (RCA) – 16 V (XLR)
• Distortion: 1% THD @ 1 kHz
• Output impedance: 770 Ω (RCA) – 1500 Ω (XLR)
• Global feedback: 0 dB
• Power consumption: 50 VA
• Dimensions: 45 × 43 × 14 cm (17.5 × 17 × 5.5 inches)
• Net weight: 11 kg
• DAC: Sabre ES9018K2M
• USB: USB-B input, PCM up to 384 kHz, native DSD up to 256×, DoP up to 128×
• Toslink: 2 × inputs up to 192 kHz
• S/PDIF: 2 × inputs up to 192 kHz

Unico DM v2

Overview

The Unico DM v2 is the new flagship power amplifier in the Unico series, featuring a completely renewed design that is both elegant and modern. The project reflects the new stylistic language of the Unico product family, officially introduced with Unico PRE v2 and Unico DM v2.

Design

The front panel, machined from a solid 15-mm-thick aluminium block, conveys exceptional solidity and build precision. The Midnight Black and Velvet Gold finishes enhance every design detail, while the meticulously refined surface is pleasing both to the touch and to the eye.
The 2-mm-thick aluminium top cover wraps around the entire amplifier, reinforcing a sense of robustness and visual continuity.

Wooden inserts recall the historic Unico logo, underlining the brand’s heritage. The Unison Research® logo itself becomes the On/Off power button: a distinctive detail that seamlessly combines functionality and identity.

Hybrid Architecture

Unico DM v2 adopts a refined dual-mono architecture, in which each channel is powered by its own 750 VA encapsulated toroidal transformer, potted and shielded to minimize electromagnetic interference. This approach ensures complete channel separation and delivers a wide, stable and three-dimensional soundstage.
In bridged mono mode, the power supplies are connected in parallel to provide an even greater energy reserve.

The three-stage amplification circuit has been designed to combine musicality, control and dynamics.
The first stage, a Class A valve stage using two ECC82 / 12AU7 Gold Lion valves, is the tonal heart of the amplifier, delivering speed, fine detail and a natural sound that conveys the full emotional impact of music.
The second stage is solid-state and operates transparently to adapt the signal to the output stage.
The final power stage features an innovative complementary push-pull configuration, using three parallel pairs of MOSFETs. Designed to deliver all the current required by the load, it ensures authoritative control, wide dynamics and consistently smooth, stable performance.

A.S.H.A.

With Unico DM v2, Unison Research® introduces the A.S.H.A. technology for the first time, marking a significant technical evolution that forms the foundation of the new Unico series developed around this innovative solution. From this technology comes a new and exclusive power-stage configuration, named Class A-AB, which combines the unmistakable musicality of Class A with the efficiency and reliability typical of Class AB.

The new architecture of Unico DM v2 ensures distortion levels that are virtually inaudible to the human ear, remaining consistent up to maximum output power. The result is extremely natural reproduction, rich in micro-detail and capable of conveying the full musical complexity without artefacts.
Even at low listening levels, the amplifier retains body, control and depth in the low frequencies, delivering a full and engaging sound under all conditions.

At the same time, Unico DM v2 is a highly powerful amplifier: a generous and constantly available energy reserve allows it to drive even demanding loudspeakers with authority. In monophonic (bridged) operation, the two power supplies are electrically paralleled, effectively transforming the dual-mono architecture into a true monophonic amplifier with a single, powerful power supply. This configuration makes full use of the available energy capacity and has been engineered to deliver maximum output power with both 8-ohm and 4-ohm loudspeakers, offering immediate dynamics, great impact, and a sensation of absolute control—without ever sacrificing refinement and naturalness.

Tech spechs

• Output power (@ 1 kHz, 1% THD)
• 220 W continuous @ 8 Ω (stereo)
• 340 W continuous @ 4 Ω (stereo)
• 370 W continuous @ 2 Ω (stereo, limited by protections)
• 670 W peak @ 2 Ω (stereo)
• 650 W continuous @ 8 Ω (mono)
• 650 W continuous @ 4 Ω (mono)
• Input stage
• Pure Class A
• Dual-triode stage (ECC82 / 12AU7) Gold Lion

• Output stage
• A.S.H.A. Technology
• Class A-AB
• Three complementary MOSFET pairs
• Input connectors
• 1 × unbalanced RCA
• 1 × balanced XLR
• 1 × remote power-on input
• Output connectors
• 4 + 4 binding posts for bi-wiring
• 1 × remote power-on output