This is an exceptional sound machine and I would like to suggest it in averyone who would like to spent up to 2000 euros. Wide soundstage, vinyl like sound, no listening fatigue, magnificent mid bad, tight bass and sweet highs.
It is possible to encounter some problems with CD reading (I had some regardless if the disk was a new one or a copy!). I communicated with the dealer but nobody knew the reason and nobody solved the problem. Recently I discovered the absolute solution: use a soft piece of cloth, wet it mildly with pure ethanol (alcohol) and clean down the disk like the old good time (vinyls)!
My other components
Unison research Unico SE amplifier
Audio Physic Spark IV, floorstander speakers
Nordost Red Dawn interconnects
Nordost Blue Heaven, speaker cables

++ beautifully built, great looks
++ warm, detailed sound, great with (micro)dynamics
+ reasonable price to quality ratio

-- looses pressure and coherence with speakers with low sensitivity'
- need careful matching.

This is a review of the Unison Research Unico P integrated amp.
When I was looking for a decent amp to drive my speakers I considered different options: Creek, Marantz, Primare and even an awesome Dutch brand (van Medevoort). My attention was also drawn to the hybrid Unison Research Unico.
So I went out to look and listen and oh boy, what a beautifully crafted Italian machine ... !

I listened to both the Research Unico and the Unico P and noticed some difference. The 'bigger brother' seemed to have no trouble at all handling my (not quite sensitive) floorstanders. The sound was very impressive indeed, coherent, with much detail and 3-d soundstage.

Diana Krall's 'Look of Love' (from 'Live in Paris') sounded warm and very sensual, with my eyes closed it was easy to develop a 'sense of athmosphere'. The amp revealed loads of details of Peter Gabriel's 'No Way Out' ('Up'). The voice of Peter sounded huskier than ever. It was stretched in all directions. I felt Tony's bass in my stomach ... compared with my 'old' amp (a Rotel integrated amp) the Unison was capable of letting my woofers set some pressure and by doing so give 'body' to the music. It handled macro and micro dynamics with ease.

Compared to the Unico the sound of the Unico P lost some of the coherence with my speakers. After changing the speakers for small Italian bookshelf speakers (I've forgotten the name!) the difference between the amps became harder to notice. The sound was still very engaging, very detailed (even at lower levels), lively, but seemed to have a little less 'body' (which probably can be attributed to lower output and lower overall stability of the amp).
Because of budgettary constraints I've chosen the Unico P and I do not regret: it's like having a new cd collection!

Similar Products Used:

Rotel Integrated Amp

holographic, wide, soundstage. Vivid midrange. Shimmering treble. Deep, cavernous, bass.

Bass could, perhaps, have more impact...

"...like listening to mint vinyl through a decent moving-coil cartridge via a tube phono stage..." Solid build. Sexy remote. Clear, light-sensitive, display. Used with: Unico Amp Dynaudio Contour 1.3mk2 JPS Labs Superconductor FX i/c's Chord Company Odyssey speaker cable Music: Keith Jarrett - Whisper Not Bugge Wesseltoft - Moving Yello - The Eye Anne-Sophie Mutter - Vivaldi Four Seasons Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley Jeff Buckley - Grace A very good all rounder. Better with jazz and classical than rock but not bad for electronic stuff either.

Similar Products Used:

Cyrus, Naim, Quad, Musical Fidelity, Marantz, Arcam