UNISON RESEARCH UNICO CD UNO

Pre owned. In excellent condition. Free from any noticeable signs of wear. Supplied with remote control, manual, and original packaging.

The Unison Unico CD Uno presents itself as a sophisticated Hi-Fi DAC with an integrated CD player, designed by the Italian brand to deliver outstanding versatility and high-level audio performance. Its architecture is based on a hybrid circuit that combines ECC82 tubes operating in pure Class A with solid-state MOSFET components, also working in Class A, a solution that blends tube musicality with technical precision. More than just a CD player, it is conceived as a complete digital hub, capable of handling both disc playback and external sources such as streamers and computers, supporting a wide range of PCM and DSD formats at the highest available resolutions.

The CD transport is dedicated exclusively to audio CDs and is housed in an elegant slim drawer protected by a robust metal shield. Selection between the internal transport and external sources is managed via a convenient switch located on the rear panel. In this configuration, the unit can also operate as an oversampling DAC or as a digital processor via its S/PDIF output. The rear panel includes USB, optical Toslink, and coaxial inputs, complemented by an integrated Bluetooth receiver that enables wireless music playback from compatible devices.

At the core of the system is an advanced digital-to-analog converter based on ESS Sabre ES9018K2M technology with jitter elimination, capable of delivering a high signal-to-noise ratio and extremely low distortion. Digital processing is handled by an FPGA-based architecture, ensuring fast response times and high precision, while a high-accuracy quartz oscillator guarantees signal stability and purity. The DAC section is powered by a complex system with multiple stages of stabilized and filtered power supplies, designed to isolate circuits and optimize overall performance.

The converted signal is then processed by a tube output stage featuring a dual triode ECC82, followed by a discrete solid-state buffer. This combination ensures low output impedance and a rich, detailed, and natural sound. The system also incorporates very low distortion current-to-voltage converters and carefully selected high-quality components, confirming the brand’s attention to every design detail. Users can choose between different digital filters to tailor the sound to their preferences and system setup, as well as manage advanced parameters such as absolute phase inversion and output buffer behavior.

From a functional standpoint, the unit offers a wide range of connectivity and usage options, allowing integration with other DACs or digital recorders as well as use as a primary source in an advanced Hi-Fi system. The integrated Bluetooth receiver enables immediate connection with smartphones, tablets, and computers, while the USB input supports ultra-high-resolution files up to 384 kHz PCM and 11.2896 MHz DSD.

The aesthetics fully reflect Unison Research’s distinctive Italian style, with a thick machined aluminum front panel enhanced by the signature wooden logo and a high-visibility white OLED display. The interface is intuitive and complete, also supported by a remote control, and the display can be turned off for distraction-free listening.

The result is a product developed through extensive research and long listening sessions, capable of combining advanced digital technology with traditional tube sound. The listening experience stands out for its precision, balance, and ability to reproduce details naturally, maintaining impeccable timing and particularly effective performance in the mid-high frequencies. The soundstage is wide and well-defined, with a stable image that extends between and beyond the speakers when supported by high-quality recordings, allowing the listener to fully appreciate any musical genre with engagement and realism.

Technical Specifications:

• Tubes: 1 x ECC82
• Digital inputs: USB 2.0 (44.1 – 384 kHz; DSD128, DSD256 Ready; resolution 16–32 bit); Toslink™ (44.1 – 96 kHz; resolution 16–24 bit); Bluetooth™ 3.0 (44.1 / 48 kHz; resolution 16 bit)
• Digital outputs: 1 x S/PDIF; output voltage 0.5 Vpp on 75 Ohms
• Mechanism: CD Loader
• Display: White graphic OLED 128 x 64
• DAC: ESS Sabre ES9018K2M
• Audio performance: SNR 125 dB (0 dBFS, 1 kHz, 192 kHz, A-weighted); THD+N 0.0003% (0 dBFS, 1 kHz, 20 Hz–20 kHz)
• I/V Converter: NE5532AD ultra low noise
• Digital filters: 3 selectable via TLC (FLT1: steep roll-off, linear phase; FLT2: steep roll-off, minimum phase; FLT3: slow roll-off, linear phase)
• Additional features: switchable solid-state output; selectable absolute phase
• Dimensions: 45 x 38 x 13 cm
• Weight: 10 kg