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Unison Research Unico Due
Unico Due is the latest amplifier from Unison Research. Unico Due benefits from Unison Research’s decades of experience in design and production technology. It maintains all the best qualities that made its predecessor a runaway success and introduces new and enhanced features.
The electronic circuitry of the Unico Due has been completely redesigned. While maintaining the qualities that made the Unico range such a legend in the audio industry, key improvements have been made that are nothing short of ground-breaking. Firstly, the power supply circuits have been enhanced thanks to a substantial increase in filter capacitance size and to a new high quality shielded and encapsulated power transformer. The new power distribution system of the audio power output stage combines space optimization and superior circuit solutions.
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Unison Research Unico Due
The Unico Due pairs a single ECC83 valve preamp with a robust MOSFET power stage to deliver a warm, musical presentation with genuine speaker-driving authority. As noted by Andrew Everard, this hybrid valve character brings valve warmth without the matching headaches of classic tube designs. The sound is built on rich low end, smooth treble and a nuanced midrange that preserves ambience and fine detail, producing a well-focused soundstage suited to chamber music and large orchestral works. Performance highlights include generous dynamics and headroom, plus a comprehensive feature set—built-in ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC, USB input and MM/MC phono. Premium touches such as gold-plated connectors and Mundorf capacitors, stepped volume control and subwoofer output make the Unico Due ideal for listeners who want tube soul with modern connectivity and power.
Pros
- Rich, warm and nuanced sonic character that preserves detail and presents a well-focused soundstage.
- Ample output and headroom (100Wpc MOSFET output stage) for easy pairing with a wide range of speakers and confident dynamics.
- Feature-rich integration: ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC, USB input, selectable MM/MC phono, stepped resistor volume and subwoofer/tape outputs.
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Cons
- User interface is somewhat idiosyncratic—AV bypass, monitor and some remote operations can be awkward until you learn the controls.
- Slightly restrained attack on very punchy rock material; not the most incisive choice for listeners who prioritise extreme transient bite.
Sound Quality
89/100
Dynamics
89/100
With 100Wpc into 8Ω from a Dynamic Class A / BJT output stage the amp delivers a 'big, gutsy sound' and ample headroom for most speakers; reviewers call it 'entirely effortless' in delivery. A minor caveat is a relative lack of the very fastest attack on some rock tracks ('lacks the kind of attack' on certain material), so while powerful and controlled it is not class-leading for hyper-attack transients.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
HiFi News notes preserved ambience and a strong sense of body for larger-scale performances while also delivering nimbleness and clear delineation in chamber music — performers are 'finely delineated.' The Unico Due projects a well-defined, stable soundstage with good depth and imaging focus consistent with its tonal richness.
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Build Quality
92/100
Construction details cited include gold-plated input/speaker sockets, valve holders and selected premium components (Mundorf capacitors) and a substantial 80,000µF filter capacitor spec, all indicative of high-quality parts and finish. The combination of quality components and thoughtful layout (valve holders, plated connectors) supports a premium build impression.
Features Connectivity
94/100
Very well featured: MM/MC phono with selectable loading and gain (MM and MC supported), a built-in ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC supporting up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD256, USB digital input, tape and subwoofer outputs, and a stepped resistor volume with wide 120dB range. These items (high-quality DAC +5, MM+MC phono +4, USB +2, remote +1, sub/tape outs +1/+1) justify a top-tier features score within the 80-95 bounds.
Value for Money
86/100
The unit is priced at approximately 3,999 (listed price). The review praises the sound and usability but does not provide explicit price-to-peer comparisons or label the product a bargain or overpriced; per scoring rules, a neutral baseline score is applied reflecting solid performance and premium positioning without explicit comparative value claims.
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