unison research unico cd primo

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Unison Research Unico CD Primo

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Interesting review. I’ve had a few Unico components (CD player, pre-amp, power amps) and they seem to me to have a quite distinctive and consistent sonic flavouring across the Unico range – warmly musical, a little rose-tinted in the mids, but pleasantly so, smooth unsplashy treble, dynamically bouncy and fun to listen to. Invariably, when I turn a Unico component on for the first time in my system, I think “yeah, that’s how it should go!”. Good stuff, not the ultimate in neutrality, but when your happily bopping along with your fave tunes that seems quite irrelevant!

I think that’s pretty accurate, Jerry! I like your comment “when you’re happily bopping along with your fave tunes that seems quite irrelevant!” and it echoes my thoughts on hifi.

I think it would be great if you could expand your review just a bit and share with us your impressions of music when streamed via Unico’s DAC as compared to some stand-alone DAC(s). None of the few reviews of this particular cd player have commented this. Thanks

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• Unico Series
• Loudspeakers
• Distribution

A perfect example of Italian style and design, the innovations contained in the Unico integrated amplifier designs are universally appreciated and recognized.

The Primo is a stereo integrated amplifier that offers elegant lines and details, thanks to carefully considered surface finishes and proportions. Solid construction, careful selection of components and precise assembly are part of an almost artisan approach to amplifier design, reflecting our origins in Treviso. Unison Reasearch has concentrated all of our experience, knowledge and ambition into a small amplifier—one that includes all the technology and passion that one usually finds in the finest flagship products.

Tech spechs

• Output power: >80W
• Output stage: Dynamic A Class POWER MOSFET
• Polarization: Classe A Dinamic
• Input stage: Triodi A-Class A
• Valve: 1 x ECC83
• Sensibilty: 260mV
• Input impedance: 50 kΩ
  / 47 pF
• Frequency response: -0.1dB@10Hz / -0.5dB@100kHz
• THD: <0.003%
• Negative feedback: 10dB
• Damping Factor: >50
• Inputs: 5 line RCA ( 1 phono optional ), 1 tape RCA
• Output: 1 tape RCA, 1 subwoofer RCA
• Power consumption: 380W max
• Dimensions : 43.5 cm x 43 cm x H 9.5 cm
• Net weight: 14 kg / 31 lb
• PHONO STAGE (opzionale)
• Input Impedance: 47 kohm / 220 pF (MM) – 100 ohm / 440 pF (MC)
• Gain: MM 40 dB, MC 50 dB
• Selezione del guadagno: +0 dB / +10 dB
• THD: 0.001%
• Massima tensione di ingresso: 120 mV @ 1kHz (MM)
• Equalizzazione RIAA: attiva alle basse frequenze, passiva alle alte frequenze
• UnicoPrimo_manual

Copyright © 2024 A.R.I.A. Advanced Research in Audio VAT Number: 02741420240. Privacy and Cookie policy .

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Unison Research Unico Primo review

For an impressive performance, look no further than the unico primo integrated amp.

TechRadar Verdict

This is an amp that lives up to its billing and works brilliantly with the Unico CDE. Build quality, externally and internally – including the smooth-running controls (all two of them) and the twin sets of loudspeaker terminals – is excellent

An exceptionally well-sorted amplifier that gets the basic sound parameters just right, without straying off into valve-like excess

It has no obvious weaknesses, though you do have to pay a little extra for the phono input. The remote control isn't great, however, and there's no balance adjustment

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The Unico Primo is Unison's entry-level hybrid valve/transistor integrated amplifier and comes in a slimline housing with a finish closely matching that of the Unico CDE CD player.

In fact, the two can be stacked vertically with minimal heat build-up, since both are relatively cool-running.

The amplifier runs cooler than many solid-state models when idling and increased heat build-up when powered up is modest. The chassis is made from polished aluminium and acts as an effective heatsink, with louvres in the top panel adding increased thermal dissipation.

Design improvements

The Primo has a power rating of 85 watts per channel RMS into an eight-ohm load under all conditions, though Unison states that output is higher for non-correlated signals – that is, for anything but steadystate tones.

The model shares with its sister amplifier, the Unico P, a design based on a single double triode, in this case an ecc83/AX7 instead of the ecc82/AU7 combination used previously by Unison. This type of triode input stage is said to have quite different characteristics to the ecc82.

Apparently the choice arose from technical and listening-based investigations initiated by Unison technical staff, based initially on existing models in the company's range which were modified to suit.

Some improvements to the driver and power output stages have been made to suit the new input, with power-supply revisions including a larger, more powerful mains transformer and filter capacitor stage, with the intention of improving dynamics and bass-response drive capacity.

Amp connections

As standard, the Primo is a line-level amplifier, with a total of four line inputs and one tape circuit. But there are a couple of additional features that may be of interest.

One is the ability to convert a line input to an MM/MC phono stage, which will set you back a relatively modest £150 for an internal RIAA board – the phono input is already identified on the rear panel and is marked on the source selector.

If you don't choose this option, the input is a standard line input, one of the four already specified.

First-rate amplifier

Valve amplifiers aren't to everyone's taste, even if they can be easier on the ear and more relaxed-sounding than solid-state models. And it's fair to say that some early amplifiers in the Unison Research range fall into the ambivalent category.

But no such qualifications are required in this case. This is, by any standards (entry level or otherwise), a first-rate amplifier. For starters, it has an impressive power output. Not only does it go loud; it does so with some grace, and in particular it stays consistent in sound as the volume is turned up to quite impressive levels – tested on this occasion using a pair of Mordaunt- Short Performance 6 Le speakers.

It's that tell-tale hardening of the sound as the volume output is increased that makes many amplifiers stand out for all the wrong reasons. That said, in most respects, there's nothing obviously valve-like in the sound of this amplifier. It could easily be mistaken for a solid-state design, if you didn't know better.

It is, of course, solid state, in that the output stage uses MOSFETs, though they have the reputation of being the most valve-like of solid-state devices. But MOSFETs frequently don't live up to the stereotypes and lack a certain grace and transparency, which isn't an issue here.

The first thing we noticed was that the Primo is unusually solid-sounding, and it has this quality at virtually any volume level, within the limits established by its output stage. This is an amplifier with real grip, which became apparent in one of the early tests using a new recording of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem (Helmuth Rilling, Aurelius Sängerknaben Calw on the Hänssler classic label in PCM and SACD).

This was a real test in many respects, thanks to the way in which large orchestral forces and multiple choirs in the Requiem Mass are juxtaposed with a small chamber orchestra to partner the tenor and baritone soloists. Somehow, the Primo managed the clash of scales surprisingly well, and the result had a compelling unity of purpose, again with the solidity and consistency already referred to.

Another quality the amplifier brings to the table is an unusually fine bass. It's rich but pure and unerringly tuneful, as well as being essentially free of the romantic haze that persists with some valve amps. You can hear this from the start of Mahler's 7th Symphony (played by the LSO under Valery Gergiev).

This, like the Britten, is an SACD recording, or more correctly a multichannel hybrid recording, but it's a distinguished one that blossoms in high-quality DSD and therefore offers a performance level that's perfectly suited for this amplifier.

Impressive precision

The main qualities of the Unico Primo, then, are its generous output, its consistency with level, its tuneful bass and its ability to keep its act together when things become difficult and potentially messy – which is the danger with the dense and complex Britten recording.

In addition, the Primo is an amplifier with a strong sense of detail and precision, the kind that sounds close even when the system is in an adjoining room. In short, it's a class act. It's not exactly swimming in toys and gadgets, but everything necessary for a purist amplifier is there (though admittedly there's no balance control, which some might miss).

Other highlights include the ability to add a phono stage at a moderate cost and the fact that it can also drive a subwoofer in a 2.1 or 2.2 set-up. This is a very handy addition and one which should extend the amplifier's useful life beyond the point where it might otherwise be considered due for upgrading.

Awkward remote

The Unico Primo is also exceptionally well built. Though slimline, it still weighs a substantial 15kg, partly thanks to a massive toroidal power transformer, extensive use of die-cast heatsink extrusions and a thick one-piece front panel.

We're less impressed by the remote control, however, which looks fine at first sight, but is marred by prominent fixing screws on the top plate and by the controls themselves, which are tiny and awkward to use.

In its favour, though, this is the same remote that's supplied with the Unico CDE CD player, so you only need the one handset to control the entire system – leaving you one spare to lose down the back of an armchair.

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UNISON RESEARCH UNICO PRIMO

INNOVATIVE ITALIAN DESIGN

A perfect example of Italian style and design, the innovations contained in the Unico integrated amplifier designs are universally appreciated and recognized.

The Primo is a stereo integrated amplifier that offers elegant lines and details, thanks to carefully considered surface finishes and proportions. Solid construction, careful selection of components and precise assembly are part of an almost artisan approach to amplifier design, reflecting our origins in Treviso. Unison Research has concentrated all of our experience, knowledge and ambition into a small amplifier—one that includes all the technology and passion that one usually finds in the finest flagship products. Available with MM/MC phono stage installed an additional $199.

"Tonally fun...Great spatial separation...the soundstage has depth and layering to it that's usually reserved for much more expensive components."

      Sean Fowler, Zero Fidelity

Click logo for full YouTube review:

• Output power: > 80W RMS on 8Ω
• Output stage: Dynamic A Class POWER MOSFET complementary pair
• Polarization: Classe A Dynamic
• Input stage: Triode Class A
• Valve: 1 x ECC83 (12AX7)
• Sensibilty: 260mV
• Input impedance: 50 kΩ / 47 pF
• Frequency response: -0.1dB@10Hz / -0.5dB@100kHz
• THD: 0.15% @ 10W, 1kHz
• Negative feedback: 10dB
• Damping Factor: > 50
• Inputs: 5 x line (RCA), 1 x tape (RCA)
• Output: 1 x tape (RCA), 1 x subwoofer (RCA)
• Output connectors: 4 + 4 per Bi-Wiring
• Remote control: Volume, IR
• Power consumption: 380W max

Dimensions: 17.1 w x 16.9 d x 3.7 h Weight: 31 lbs. Warranty: 2 yrs. limited electronics, tubes: 30 days

Ask about our trade-in program

SHIPPING:  The shipping weight of the Unico Primo is 35 lbs. Shipment by   FEDEX  Home Delivery /Insured is FREE if your delivery addresses is within the 48 continental states. If your delivery address is in Alaska, Hawaii, Canada or other location outside of the USA, please call (480) 607-2277) or email   [email protected]   to determine the shipping cost and to place your order.  Duties, taxes and fees on shipments to destinations outside of the USA are NOT included in the price.

Customer Reviews

Bought this on an impulse after Zero Fidelity's glowing endorsement. I feed the Unico through my Denafrips Ares II DAC, and it's a match made in heaven. Before getting to the sound, let me just say the Italian design aesthetic is alive in this unit. It feels like a million bucks just turning the knob and touching the aluminum surface finish. The build is robust, and the unit is heavy, substantial. The sound really is 3 dimensional. Soundstage is deep, layered, and nuanced. Vocals are the star of this show, and singers just sound so smooth and real. The treble with the stock tube, while slightly boosted, are very refined and not at all fatiguing. It helps reveal detail without being too in your face. The noise floor is somewhat high as I can hear it when my ears are up to the speakers, but is otherwise a non issue. I did not get the phono stage. I got this unit at the same time as a Rotel 1572, and they are similar in price point and general performance. Rotel has stronger attack on drums, while vocals and strings are more refined on the Unico. Rotel has more inputs while the Unico is more of an analog purist's solution. I do use the Unico's subwoofer out, and it woks beautifully. Unico's design is incredible compared to the Rotel's somewhat utilitarian look. I recommend this whole-heartedly if you don't mind the pure analog approach. It is such a joy to have this unit in my life.

Both the beautiful Unico Primo and the personable customer service I got from Audio Legacy were a clear cut above the norm. I jumped back into hi-fi a few years ago after being pretty much out of it during the digital revolution (iTunes, streaming, etc). In 2019, I upgraded from an Onkyo receiver to Pro-Ject preamp and amp separates (solid state). It was a nice boost in clarity, but you had to hear the new vs the old to appreciate the difference. I spent this past summer researching an upgrade (youtubers, forums, reviews)—I wanted to FEEL a difference in soundstage, controlled power, etc, while at the same time simplifying my setup. Decided with some hesitation on the Unico over ballpark-priced integrateds Musical Fidelity m5si, Audio by Van Alstine Set 120, and Rogue Sphinx 3. I liked the idea of a tubey front end, class A power, and those elegant looks. Emailed Jim Donnelly about adding a phono stage and whether it was any good. His prompt and honest response was an instant connect: “There is only 1 factory-supplied internal phono option and we install that when a customer orders it. I have not personally done a side-by-side comparison of the performance of the Unison phono option with other brands of external phono preamps and can’t provide an opinion.” No BS. I added the phono stage to Jim’s last unit in stock, which was shipped the following day. The difference? After a full day of warmup and through my old bookshelf NHT Absolute Zeros, I had my wife and mother-in-law stand about 6 feet in front of the speakers as I turned up the Primo to 2.5(?) and hit play on AC/DC’s Highway to Hell. They both smiled and nodded and tapped their toe. They did not shout, “Turn it down!” Sounded as if we were standing in front of Angus’ amp: clean, clear rock and roll in all its dirtiness! I’m thrilled with the purchase and experience; highly recommended.

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Unison Research Unico Primo Integrated Amplifier

Unison Research Unico CD Primo CD Player

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• Description
• Reviews (0)

The Unico CD Primo from valve-experts; Unison Research is a high-grade CD player, specifically designed to complement the company's series of hybrid amplifiers and electronics.

The internal construction of this CD player has been arranged and built to allow the unit a flawless performance. There are two main boards within the CD Primo, one of which is dedicated to the power supply and digital signal circuits, while the secondary board is dedicated to the output stage circuit, these two boards allow the audio signal to retain a clean profile while being processed.

The audio stage has been designed around a single ECC82 (12AU7) valve in a double triode configuration, operating in pure Class A. This is the heart of the unit and allows the CD player to provide the warm, musically compelling response that one would expect from any product built by Unison Research. This valve is followed by a discrete solid state buffer that also operates in Class A, this allows for a low impedance output.

A 16-bit USB input is featured on the Unico CD Primo, meaning that playback from a computer or laptop is equally as superlative as that of a CD.

Specifications

Transport: TEAC CD5010A

Digital interface: Wolfson Micro WM8804

Sample Rate Converter: Burr Brown SRC4192

Convertiter D/A: Wolfson Micro WM8524

Sampling: 24bit / 96kHz

Digital Standard: AES3, IEC60958 (S/PDIF) e EIAJ CP-1201

Digital input (Ext): Isochronous-Out 16bit / 32-48kHz (USB-B)

Digital output: 44.1kHz

Output stage: solid state, Class A

Outputs: 1 RCA

Gain: Triode Class-A

Valve: 1 x ECC82 (12AU7)

Power conumption: 100W max

Dimensions (la x lu x alt): 43.5 x 43 x 9.5 cm

Net weight: 10 kg

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