MartinLogan Unison
The ARC room correction and clean, spacious voicing make this compact preamp stand out, with Wes Marshall praising its clarity, stronger imaging, and bass that stays tight instead of booming. Add AirPlay, DTS Play-Fi, Wi‑Fi, and Ethernet, and the result is a remarkably capable streamer-preamp that sounds far bigger than its modest size suggests.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
90/100
Build Quality
75/100
Features Connectivity
91/100
Value for Money
96/100
Pros
ARC room correction dramatically tightens bass, improves imaging, and makes soundstage placement more realistic.
Clear, open sound with strong detail retrieval and impressive dynamics.
Generous connectivity for the price, including Wi‑Fi, AirPlay, DTS Play-Fi, TosLink, analog RCA, and Ethernet.
Exceptionally strong value, with the review describing it as a bargain for what it delivers.
Cons
Lightweight plastic construction and wall-wart power supply make it feel less premium than pricier hardware.
Setup can be less convenient for Apple users because the included ARC microphone requires Windows.
No balanced inputs, which can complicate integration in systems built around XLR connections.
Wi‑Fi syncing was occasionally slow, though Ethernet was suggested as the smoother option.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
Reviewers describe the Unison as very clear and open, with ARC helping it sound especially clean and free of room-induced haze. The overall impression is of a preamp that lets recordings come through with strong detail and a well-controlled, natural presentation.
Transparency Resolution
91/100
Wes Marshall calls the Unison's sound quality excellent and specifically praises its clarity, saying it had 'the clarity I'd come to expect from the best systems.' He also notes that ARC improved the sense of subtle detail and made the sound more coherent and less room-bound.
Tonal Balance Musicality
89/100
The review points to a clean, balanced presentation with improved frequency response and more realistic-sounding instruments and voices. Marshall says ARC 'noticeably flattened out' the response and made the music more enjoyable, suggesting a presentation that is controlled and musically convincing rather than etched or thin.
Dynamics
91/100
The Unison is credited with strong attack and impressive drive, with 'crispness of attack' called out in the review. On the orchestral track, Marshall hears 'almost limitless power' and 'utmost perfection of attack and ensemble unity,' which speaks to excellent dynamic freedom.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
Imaging and spatial focus are a clear strength, especially with ARC engaged. Marshall writes that the precision of placement of instruments and voices was no longer limited by the room, and that the soundstage 'solidified' with more realistic images and even some air around instruments.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
75/100
The Unison is described as lightweight dark-gray plastic and powered by a wall wart, so it does not project the feel of a premium metal component. At the same time, the review does not describe flexing, fit-and-finish problems, or reliability concerns, so the construction comes across as functional and modest rather than poorly made.
Features Connectivity
91/100
This is a well-equipped preamp for the money, with Wi-Fi, AirPlay, DTS Play-Fi, Ethernet, analog RCA input/output, TosLink digital input, and a 12V trigger. ARC room correction is a major bonus, and the only notable omissions are a more traditional control layout and the fact that the included ARC microphone requires Windows.
Value for Money
96/100
Marshall is explicit that $399.95 feels like a bargain for what the Unison does, calling it 'a no-brainer.' He even jokes that a MartinLogan product with ARC would normally be expected to cost several thousand dollars, which makes the asking price look especially attractive versus peers.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Amplifier
- Input: > 10K Output: 300 ohms
- Room Correction (Bass Section)
- ARC (Anthem Room Correction) with included calibrated microphone
- Audio Controls
- Front mounted controls
- Wireless Band
- 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz; 802.11 g/n
- Wireless Inputs
- Apple Air Play, DTS Play- Fi + "Works with Alexa" certification
- Wireless Receiver
- Source rebroadcast via DTS Play- Fi
- Inputs
- Wi- Fi, Left/ Right RCA Analog, Digital Optical (Toslink), Ethernet 10/100, Power (12 VDC/0.75A)
- Weight
- 1.5 lbs. (0.7 kg)
- Dimensions
- 3.35" x 7.95" x 7.95" (8.5cm x 20.2cm x 20.2cm)
Manufacturer's Description — MartinLogan
Wireless Pre-Amplifier
Featuring both digital optical and analog inputs and outputs, Unison is designed to add DTS® Play-Fi® + "Works with Alexa" certification and Apple AirPlay® wireless streaming to existing audio/video systems or serve as a dedicated pre-amplifier. Performance is further enhanced by exclusive Anthem Room Correction (ARC®) technology.
The Art of Wireless Performance
Miraculous performance from an unexpected source: a wireless audio streaming system. MartinLogan’s Wireless Ensemble delivers superior audio performance using the best streaming technologies available: DTS Play-Fi and Apple AirPlay. Access your digital music library or online streaming audio services and play it all through dynamic MartinLogan loudspeakers. Art and technology combine to delivers extraordinary sound anywhere you want it.
Wireless Pre-Amplifier
Featuring both digital optical and analog inputs and outputs and a 12-Volt trigger, Unison is a dedicated pre-amplifier designed to add DTS Play-Fi and Apple AirPlay wireless streaming to existing audio/video systems. Source rebroadcast functionality allows an incoming digital or analog source to be rebroadcast to any Play-Fi device in your network—perfect for the vinyl enthusiast. When you experience it, you will agree: high quality, network-adaptable DTS Play-Fi streaming technology is the perfect high performance match for high performance MartinLogan loudspeakers.
Stream Music with AirPlay
Think of a tune, then play it - instantly. Apple's AirPlay wirelessly streams high-quality lossless audio or MP3s from iPhone®, iPad® or iPod touch® straight to your soundbar. And from iTunes on a Mac or PC too. You control your music, wherever you are, via your device. It’s time to set your music free.
Whole-House Music Streaming
DTS Play-Fi technology give you the freedom and flexibility to stream high-resolution music (up to 24- bit/192kHz) wirelessly over an existing Wi-Fi network. Unlike many other wireless platforms, DTS Play-Fi is an open platform, allowing you to mix and match any DTS Play-Fi-enabled audio products from other top audio brands into your ecosystem. Take advantage of endless choices, from your own music library to online music streaming services*, and stream music from virtually any device – Android, iOS, Kindle Fire or PC.
* Some of the music services listed below may not be available in your region. All logos are property of their respective owner(s).
Works with Alexa
MartinLogan DTS Play-Fi products now have “Works with Alexa” certification, meaning they can be controlled using voice commands given to an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Fire TV Cube, or other Alexa voice command-enabled device. Alexa functionality is activated by using the Alexa app to enable the DTS Play-Fi skill. This links your Alexa account to "Works with Alexa" DTS Play-Fi compatible products like this one.
After installing the skill, Alexa will know your speaker by name and allow you to control volume and playback functions such as track skip, mute, pause, and stop or request a song to play in a specific room or group of rooms linked together. Once an Alexa voice command is used to start audio playback, the DTS Play-Fi app can be used to dynamically add more products to the streaming session. Additionally, Alexa's Routines feature can be used to create events that initiate audio playback on your DTS Play-Fi speaker, such as setting up your speaker to work as an alarm clock by starting your favorite song.
Perfect Sound in Any Room
Anthem Room Correction (ARC™) is the industry’s best user-controlled DSP room tuning innovation. ARC uses an exclusive Calibration Microphone and advanced DSP algorithms to quickly and easily optimize speaker performance in any space. In just a few easy steps the microphone measures sound output, compares it to scientifically optimal response curves, and instantly tunes your wireless speaker’s output for perfect sound. You’ll actually hear the difference Anthem Room Correction makes.
And now with ARC Mobile, it's even easier to tune your speakers using an iOS device.
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- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
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- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
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