UNICO DS

Digital Streamer Hybrid Source

The front panel, machined from a solid 15 mm aluminium block, combines exceptional solidity with refined design, enhanced by Midnight Black and Velvet Gold finishes. A 2 mm aluminium top cover surrounds the amplifier, creating visual continuity and reinforcing its robust character. Wooden inserts recall the historic Unico logo, celebrating Unison Research heritage, while the logo itself becomes the On/Off button. Beneath the OLED display, an integrated CD drawer and four dedicated buttons provide convenient and intuitive CD operation.

The Unico DS valve stage has been designed to preserve and further enhance the sonic performance of the DAC’s output, using a new, fully balanced topology developed to deliver an exceptionally pure, stable and musical analogue signal.

At the heart of this circuitry lies the new Unison Research F.D.F. technology – Frequency-Dependent Feedback. This innovative approach applies feedback in a frequency-conscious manner: providing greater control where energy and stability are most critical, particularly at low frequencies, while allowing greater freedom where openness, transparency and natural detail are essential.

At the heart of the digital section is the ESS SABRE ES9038Q2M DAC, combining advanced architecture with exceptionally low noise and distortion. Five independent low-noise voltage regulators provide dedicated power to the different DAC sections, minimizing interference between digital and analogue domains. High-performance AD8599 operational amplifiers ensure precise I/V conversion, while a dedicated FPGA manages digital signal routing and processing. Two low-jitter oscillators provide accurate timing references, minimizing jitter and ensuring a clean, stable signal path to the analogue stage.

• Type: Digital Streamer Hybrid Source
• Valves: 2x ECC83 / 12AX7 Gold Lion, 2x ECC82 / 12AU7 Gold Lion
• Technology: F.D.F Technology
• Analogue Stage: Fully Balanced Class A
• Max Output: 2.5 V RCA, 5 V XLR (0 dBFS)
• Output Impedance: 20 Ω (RCA), 40 Ω (XLR)
• Noise Floor: 5 µVrms (A-WEIGHTED, XLR)
• SN Ratio: 120 dB (A-WEIGHTED, XLR)
• Distortion: 0.001 % (A-WEIGHTED, XLR, 5Vrms OUTPUT)
• Analogue Out: RCA XLR
• DAC: SABRE ES9038Q2M
• Digital Filters: 7 selectable digital filters
• Digital Inputs: 1x AES/EBU – up to 192 kHz, 1x S/PDIF – up to 192 kHz, 2x TOSLINK – up to 96 kHz, 1x USB AUDIO – USB-B input (PCM up to 786 kHz, Native DSD up to 256X, DoP up to 128X), 2x USB for external storage, CD Transport, BT
• Digital Outputs: 1x AES/EBU – up to 192 kHz, 1x S/PDIF – up to 192 kHz, 1x TOSLINK – up to 96 kHz
• Remote Control: Infrared RC3 U.R.
• Remote Power On: Trig In, Trig Out