Unison Research
Unison Unico CD One – CD Player
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Unison Unico CD Uno is the HiFi DAC with integrated CD player from the Italian brand. Like the rest of the Unico range, it features a hybrid circuitry with pure class A ECC82 valves and class A solid-state MOSFETs. CD Uno is equipped, in addition to the CD transport , with various digital inputs including optical, coaxial and USB, as well as a Bluetooth receiver and obviously analogue and digital outputs.
Unison Unico CD Uno can be counterintuitively defined as a top-of-the-line HiFi DAC with an integrated CD player that is highly flexible and customizable. It also allows you to take advantage of all the features offered by the most modern digital systems, via external sources such as streamers or computers, guaranteeing PCM and DSD digital audio playback in all formats and sampling frequencies available today.
The Unico CD Uno has a wide variety of inputs and outputs: in fact, on its rear panel we see at first glance, a USB audio input , an optical Toslink and a coaxial S/PDIF . What we cannot see, however, is the Bluetooth™ receiver that allows the transmission of music, from any compatible mobile device, obviously wirelessly.
The CD player mechanism is for audio use only, featuring an elegant “ slim ” drawer that allows it to read only audio CDs . The mechanism is enclosed and shielded by a thick metal cover.
Selection between the internal CD transport and an external source is via a small slide switch on the rear panel , but it gives the player the option of functioning as an upsampling DAC or even, via the digital output, a digital upsampler.
The heart of this electronics, like the entire Unico range of the Italian brand , features a hybrid circuit , in particular the output stage is valve-based: with two balanced and two unbalanced outputs. It uses a double 12AU7/ECC82 triode in pure class A which defines its sonic performance followed by a discrete solid-state buffer also operating in class A which allows for a very low output impedance and incredible audio performance.
For example, it interfaces with an external DAC or a digital recorder, through its coaxial S/PDIF digital audio output.
In recent years, Unison Research's Unico series of hybrid Hi-Fi electronics and amplifiers has gained strong recognition among enthusiasts around the world. Their combination of elegance , coupled with high-end sonic performance , has given rise to a prestigious range of amplifiers and audio sources, alongside the Italian company's famous tube line.
Unison Unico CD One: Connections
The CD Uno's USB input uses a state-of-the-art D/A converter to handle signals up to 384kHz PCM and 11.2896MHz DSD , effectively covering virtually all possible formats and sampling rates.
The small screen on the rear panel of the CD Uno incorporates a Bluetooth antenna that allows you to play music from compatible smartphones, tablets, and computers. Setup is really quick and easy—as easy as connecting any Bluetooth headset to your phone.
You can also connect Unison Unico CD Uno to other external digital sources via the Toslink connection, also located on the rear panel. This input accepts up to 24-bit/96 kHz.
The CD Uno can also be connected to another external DAC via the S/PDIF digital output .
Let's talk about the DAC
The Unison Unico CD Uno was designed to separate the digital and analog sections. The DAC section contains 8 regulated power supplies to ensure clean, distinct power delivery to each device on the board. Additional regulators are used in cascade to ensure optimal power supply sensitivity; the first regulator acts as a filter and the second eliminates any residual noise . All of this was done to ensure the DAC chip can operate under the best possible conditions and eliminate the jitter that CD-ROM drives are notoriously prone to.
The DAC is fed a 96kHz data stream , and its output goes to a pair of ECC82 valves (a proprietary design for the Unico line) plus some discrete transistors . The NE5532AD current-to-voltage converters are “very low distortion” and use high-quality components including Vishay Wima capacitors and resistors.
Using an FPGA also enables much faster response times in handling digital data, as well as specialized features and greater power than DSP processors. The ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC with jitter eliminator offers an exceptional signal-to-noise ratio of 125 dB and low distortion of 0.0003% . The distribution system is provided by a high-precision, low-phase-noise quartz oscillator .
Additionally, you can choose between three different types of digital filters, allowing the listener to select the right digital filter based on their setup, musical genre, and listening taste. This CD Uno even allows you to invert the absolute phase within its menu. Finally, it has an optional output buffer for the analog output, which affects the performance of the result by adjusting the output impedance by a few ohms. The result is a more "solid-state" sound, with measurably better performance but at the cost of the typical tube-like musical qualities. As is often the case, measurements and sound quality do not coincide, especially at high-end levels.
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The love of good music
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We chose this business out of passion, and we continue it with passion. Our experience in music reproduction and live music constantly guides us in the choices we make regarding the products we select for you.