UNISON RESEARCH UNICO CD DUE

Pre owned. In excellent conditions. No visible signs of wear. Supplied with remote control; original packaging not included.

The Unison Unico CD Due is a high-end hybrid digital source, entirely designed and manufactured in Italy, combining refined aesthetics with exceptional sonic performance. Resulting from years of research, development, and critical listening sessions, it represents the pinnacle of Unison Research’s digital offerings and fully embodies the philosophy of the Unico series—an ideal balance of tonal sophistication and cutting-edge technology. It features a dedicated CD mechanism for Audio CD playback and a next-generation DAC capable of handling PCM signals up to 384 kHz and DSD up to 11.2 MHz, with full support for all currently available digital audio formats. Housed in an elegant and robust chassis, the unit boasts a triple-section brushed aluminum front panel, high-contrast OLED display, and an intuitive control interface, all aimed at delivering a seamless and rewarding user experience.

At the heart of its circuitry lies an innovative hybrid output stage, using four ECC83 vacuum tubes in a balanced totem-pole configuration, engineered to minimize distortion and maximize noise immunity while blending the warmth of tubes with the control and power of solid-state components. Premium parts, including Wima and Mundorf capacitors, are meticulously selected to ensure pure, high-fidelity audio reproduction. The CD transport, shielded under a robust metal cover, is housed in a slim, elegant drawer that seamlessly integrates into the design.

More than just a CD player, the Unico CD Due also functions as a fully capable stand-alone DAC. It features a wide range of digital inputs including USB Audio, AES/EBU, coaxial S/PDIF, optical Toslink, and Bluetooth™, enabling high-quality wireless streaming from compatible mobile devices. These connections make it easy to integrate the CD Due with streamers, computers, or other digital sources, positioning it as the centerpiece of any modern hi-fi system. On the output side, it offers both digital outputs (S/PDIF, AES/EBU, Toslink) and analog outputs in both balanced and unbalanced formats, ensuring compatibility with any amplifier or setup.

The user interface is both clear and functional, thanks to a white OLED display that shows primary information in large characters, easily readable from across the room. The display can be turned off via the remote control for distraction-free listening in low-light conditions. From the menu, users can select between three digital filters and invert the absolute signal phase, tailoring the sound to their personal preferences and musical material. An optional output buffer also allows for a slight impedance adjustment, offering the possibility to shift the tonal character closer to that of a solid-state design, favoring measured performance over tube-driven musicality—highlighting the ongoing trade-off between measurement precision and emotional impact in high-end audio.

Sonically, the CD Due reflects Unison Research's signature sound—warm, engaging, and richly detailed. It handles dynamic transitions with ease and authority, all while maintaining fluidity and balance. Its soundstage extends well beyond the physical speakers, painting a clear and immersive three-dimensional space, especially notable with high-quality recordings and complex musical arrangements like classical music. This player brings out the most from any music collection, appealing equally to technically-minded listeners and discerning audiophiles. With understated yet refined design, top-quality components, and expert craftsmanship, this Made-in-Italy masterpiece is as much a joy to see as it is to hear—an enduring expression of audio excellence.

Technical Specifications:

• Tubes: 1 x ECC82 (DAC stage); 4 x ECC83 (output stage)
• Digital inputs:
  – 1 x USB 2.0: 44.1 – 384 kHz; DSD128, DSD256 ready; resolution: 16 – 32 bits
  – 1 x S/PDIF: 0.5Vpp on 75 Ohms; 44.1 – 192 kHz; DSD64 (DoP); resolution: 16 – 24 bits
  – 1 x AES/EBU: 2Vpp on 110 Ohms; 44.1 – 192 kHz; DSD64 (DoP); resolution: 16 – 24 bits
  – 1 x Toslink™: 44.1 – 96 kHz; resolution: 16 – 24 bits
  – 1 x Bluetooth™ 3.0: 44.1, 48 kHz; resolution: 16 bits
• Digital outputs: 1 x S/PDIF 0.5Vpp on 75 Ohms; 1 x AES/EBU 2Vpp on 110 Ohms; 1 x Toslink™
• Transport: CD mechanism for Audio CD
• Display: 128 x 64 white OLED graphical display
• DAC: ESS Sabre ES9018K2M
• SNR: 128 dB (0 dBFS, 1 kHz, 192 kHz, “A” weighted)
• THD+N: 0.0003% (0 dBFS, 1 kHz, 20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• I/V Converter: AD8597/AD8599 ultra-low distortion and noise
• Output stage: tube-based dual triode, pure Class A, differential totem-pole; 2 channels
• Output connectors: 2 x RCA unbalanced; 2 x XLR balanced
• Selectable digital filters:
  – FLT 1: steep slope, linear phase
  – FLT 2: steep slope, minimum phase
  – FLT 3: gentle slope, linear phase
• Additional features: switchable solid-state output; selectable absolute phase
• Dimensions: 45 cm x 38 cm x H 13 cm
• Net weight: 10 kg