Unison Research Unico DM V2 Amplifier. Italian HiFi Review.
By Steve Huff
Hello my fellow audio friends. Today I want to tell you all about a big and powerful stereo amplifier from Italy called the DM V2. This comes from Unison Research and is part of their Unico line. This power amp brings serious power in Class A and Class A/B where the first few watts will be delivered in a shimmering beautiful class A sound. Yea, the good Class A brings a little shimmer up top that can get addictive and the DMV2 has that along with some serious power and grunt.
The bottom line on specs is that the Unison Research Unico DM v2 is a high-end, handcrafted hybrid dual-mono power amplifier made in Treviso, Italy. It combines a pure Class A tube input stage with proprietary Class A-AB MOSFET output technology, delivering 220 Watts per channel into 8 ohms, 340 watts into 4 ohms and up to 650 Watts in bridged mono mode.
The input stage is pure class A utilizing one dual-triode ECC82 / 12AU7 Gold Lion tube per channel. The DMV2 brings a true dual-mono design featuring two independent 750 VA encapsulated toroidal transformers. This is a serious amp my friends. There are RCA and XLR inputs and the amp weighs in at 72lbs.
I also have the Unico Pre V2 here but for now this review will be focused on the amp itself as the pre is having a crackle issue and is awaiting a fix. I used a couple of preamps and a couple of streaming DACs direct to the DMV2 amp and each brought its own experience. Unison Research has been known to make some romantic sounding amps in the past. In fact, many of the brands tube amps use a lot of wood in the design. In the Unison amps I have seen over the years most were not shy about showing off the tubes. Their designs always screamed “made in Italy” to me yet the new DM V2 and Pre V2 look quite different.
Unison Research still use some wood here but you may struggle to see it at first. There by the main power buttons on the front of each piece is a circle of wood along with a stripe of wood. Very minimal compared to some other designs they have. These still have a nice design with Italian curves, somewhat. These pieces come in a black and a silver or champaign type of finish.
DUAL MONO
The DM V2 is a true dual mono amplifier, hence the name “DM” and this is the second version of the amp. I never did hear the first version but I was happy to get a hold of this one as I always wanted to hear what a Unison power amp sounded like. I was sent two crates which came via freight shipping. Both pieces the Pre V2 and DM V2 arrived in a wooden crate, one each. Shipping was great and the products were and are very well protected.
When I took the power amp out and lifted it to the cabinet I was reminded of why I have been enjoying lighter weight amps lately. This one at 76 lbs is not a 100+ pound beast but it’s heavy. The good thing is it is easy to lift as there are some areas on the bottom that make it easy to place your hands on and into. This allows for a great grip so all in all it was pretty easy to lift up. Once set on the cabinet it looked pretty large and sits about as large as a Pass Labs INT 250.
First up I plugged in the Imersiv D1 DAC straight into the DM V2 via the XLR inputs. The Imersiv D1 is one of the most dynamic and contrasty DACs I have ever heard. It has a fantastic built in preamp and it just sounds so..well..immersive. This is a $12k piece though so fits well with the Unicon amp which comes in at around $11k. The pairing will set one back $23,000 but would deliver an out of this world performance with music streaming. Just add streamer and speakers. Anyone who says vinyl sounds better than digital, you will change your tune with the D1 hooked up to any great power amp and the DMV2 is no exception.
The Imersiv D1
Now it is true that every amp I have hooked the Imersiv D1 up to has sounded incredible. This DAC weaves an audiophile magical spell that mixes a little analytical imaging and detail with a rich body and flow making for one of the most impressive soundstage and imaging experiences I have had. With the DM V2 this trend continued but I was now hearing something more than the other amps I have on hand. On hand with the DM V2 I had the Burson Voyager mono amps, the Laiv Chorus mono amps and the ModWright KWH 225i. I also had just gotten an AGD Allegro integrated amp that also serves as a DAC and preamp.
With the DMV2 hooked up to the Immersiv D1 the sound was alive, huge in scale and brought texture along with a huge holographic soundstage. The sound was a little meaty and yet while it also was open it wasn’t bright or lean. There was amazing treble detail coming from my SV Gro speakers that were hooked up, probably more sweeter than I have ever heard the treble from the Gro. The D1 DAC was showing its stuff and the sound I was hearing sounded like the D1. Impressive.
Listening to Sade “Soldier of Love” brought the deep bass impact that is meant to be here driving the song forward like a march. The vocals were smooth and rich with a velveteen quality. Maybe this is the romance? There was also a quickness, a matter of factness about the sound with lots of texture. Very nice indeed.
Allegro
I then switched things up and used the AGD Allegro as the preamp, streamer and DAC for the DMV2 and now the sound changed quite a bit. That live wire electric big sound was replaced by a smoother, warmer and richer type. The treble smoothed down a bit and the midrange gained some beauty and weight. The bass was now a hair looser which was nice actually. The sound was more human, organic yet very special. There was more dimensionality with the DMV2 vs using the built in Class D amp of the Allegro as well as a little more shine up top. As great as the Allegro is on its own, and it is well worth the $15k asking price IMO, adding the DMV2 did sound a little deeper and more authoritative to me. This added a little more depth to the soundstage and allowed for instruments to be more cleanly separated.
The DM V2 was showing me it did have some of that Italian romance inside after all, or a “flair” if you will. I think the tubes in the amp input stage really helped this amp in the 3D realm as music was sounding quite 3D with this amp in the system. I preferred this sound with the Allegro running the front end vs the Imersiv D1 with the DMV2. It was more “beautiful” vs more “wow”.
The LAIV Verse
I then hooked up the little LAIV Crescendo Verse which is an $849 pre amp and DAC, quite the difference in price vs the D1. With the little VERSE doing preamp and DAC duties I used the WiiM Ultra as a USB streamer. So now the price was down to $12,300 for the entire streaming setup with the DM V2 amp in play. As I sat and listened to my Tidal playlist I was in awe of what this combo was doing. No, it was not as alive or electric or “wow” as the D1. No it was not as human, organic and all out gorgeous as the Allegro setup. What happened was the sound became warmer, beefier and all out musical. I was no longer listening for details or what kind of imaging was happening, I was just swaying my feet back and forth. I then swapped the speakers to the Fleetwood Helios and there it was again. Richness, warmth and very musical. This was not the most immersive setup but it sounded so good due to the DM V2 and this told me that this amp can be very versatile and will work with you no matter how you choose to run it.
The Galion Navy
I then placed the Galion Navy tubed preamp in the setup and used the Imersiv D1 as a DAC only vs using it as a preamp. The Navy brought more tube sound to the setup but also a touch more speed and clarity in the midrange. The Navy sounds like a higher end preamp and is the flagship over at Galion. It brought more dynamics and more contrast, meaning a bit sharper in sound without going analytical. When I swapped the D1 DAC for the Verse the sound softened up a little as before, became warmer and more diffused but again, sounded musical as can be.
The Italian Way
While I never have heard any other products from Unison Research I do know that even decades ago I was interested in what they had to offer. Unison Research started in 1987, almost 40 years ago. Their designs have always been drool worthy IMO with the wooden accents and big tubes on full display.
The Unison Research Simply 45 is a $10k 845 tube integrated amp. I bet this sounds delicious.
With the DM V2 and Pre V2 the looks are not the typical for Unison but all of the beauty is now on the inside with hidden tubes and yet the sound is sublime, heavenly and I do hear the character of what is going on. This must be the “Italian Sound” and I am seriously enjoying it. It’s gentle yet powerful. It’s dynamic yet never sharp. It has big body and foundation yet doesn’t sound muffled or closed in. The treble strikes a balance of sweet/extended/open yet has some honey wrapped within it. It’s a sound I have not quite heard from other amps.
The DM V2 does pump out the first 10-20 watts into class A and this is good because the amp doesn’t get red hot yet brings those benefits. What are the benefits of that Class A sound? Sweet sparkle up top, more weight to the mids but with clarity and just a more palpable kind of sound.
For example the DM V2 is not far off from the sound of say Pass Labs but yet it is different. The Pass may be a bit more open in the treble and a touch more airy where the Unison is richer and more impactful in the mids with a slightly sweeter treble. Compared to the AGD sound, which uses Class D GaN, the Unison is more authoritative and sharper, a touch more 3D and has more sparkle in the treble. The AGD Allegro on its own has serous depth and a supremely analog grain free sound but loses some air up top in the treble vs the Italian beauty. The AGD is warmer and more fluid, the DM V2 has a bit more bite.
So yes amps sound vastly different from each other as do DACs when we are using higher end speakers that can tell the difference and this is what higher end amps were made for. I have heard this amp is with speakers like the SV Gro, the T+A Talis R330 and even the Fleetwood Helios.
The good new is the DMV2 has tons of power, current and drive which will make any speaker load seem effortless.
Remembering
As I sit back and remember some of my all time fave amps I try in my head to compare those experiences with the DM V2. Here is what I came back with after remembering and reading old reviews.
- The AGD Duets are mono amps I declared “Amplifers of the Gods” due to their small size, cool running operation, gorgeous art deco design and all out sound quality. These are gorgeous amps and at $12k they should be yet they sit near the same price as the Unison amp DM V2. The AGD are high end Class D GaN mono amps where the DM V2 is a dual mono stereo amp. If you ask me, a dual mono stereo amp when done right is just as good as any set of mono amps. As for sound the AGD and Unison sound different. The Duets are also powerful offering 300 watts of power yet they are gentler in vibe and flow, not as impactful or into the room as the DMV2. The DUET’s are balanced from top to bottom and will let your DAC performance shine through as these amps are also transparent. The DM V2 has more bass punch in the mids and down deep as well as more air in the treble. The DUET amps are smoother top to bottom and sound very analog like with digital streaming. The DM V2 brings more excitement while staying rich, refined and with some warmth. If choosing today I may still take the AGD for the size as they are so small but I will say the DM V2, to me, has a richer sound. With the tubes and the dual mono transformers it’s really a solid and quite beautiful sounding amp.
- The Burson Voyager Mono Amps – These put our 40 watts of class a before heading into big power A/B mode. These are fantastic and silent and also small and sleek. The main weakness here is that they run hot as I have ever seen an amp run. These are also without big heavy transformers yet run in Class A. With the fusion core power supplies these are silent as a mouse. Sound wise the Burson amps are slightly more open up top with less bass impact down below. They do not have the texture of the DM V2 nor the all out grunt when the music gets loud and unruly yet they sound gorgeous. The Burson amps are $6k so half the cost and yet they still run in Class A for 40 watts. Overall I would rate the sound quality of the DMV2 ever so slightly above the Burson amps because the added texture. clarity and realism. When comparing them side by side both sound glorious but for an extra $5k the DM V2 brings that little bit more, especially in the bass performance.
- The ModWright KWA 99 Mono Amps – These are beautiful as well and bring the most alive sound of them all. Same here, first 15-20 watts are in class A and then goes to A/B but these amps are all out beautiful. They have a glow to the sound and the treble is alive with the most air and sparkle. The midrange is super clean and classy but brings all out realism to vocals and the bass is very nice though not as impactful as the DM V2. This may be a draw as I love the ModWright sound but at times, with some music the MW can get a touch bright up top. With 98% of music it sounds amazing and brings that wow factor, and also sounds glorious at lower volume. I love the design and looks of the MW best as well with the amber VU meters up front. This one would be a touch choice but they sit in the same pricer range. I can’t choose here so this one is a draw.
- Pass Labs X250.8 – This amp is a monster but brings more treble shine and air vs the DMV2. At the same time, while the X250.8 is known for its bass performance the DMV2 is better here when it comes to the deep bass down below. There is more of it yer it is gripped tight without any sort of slop. The Pass doesn’t have slop either but the DM V2 has more impact in the bass and brings a slightly more defined midrange. The Pass sounds ever so slightly hazy in comparison, in the midrange. The Pass is legendary and comes in at around the same cost as the DMV2 but looks cooler with the big blue meter on the front. The DM V2 looks plain next to the PASS but sound wise I would give the edge to the DM V2 for my tastes as its denser and a hair darker which keeps it from ever sounding bright or with too much treble illumination. This makes it great with even brighter speakers.
Conclusion
In some ways the Unison Research Unico DM V2 amp is one of the finest amplifiers I have had through my doors but it is large, heavy and also a hybrid using tubes and solid state. It’s a stereo amp but dual mono which means it’s really just as good as a mono block amp and believe me, it is. The sound it produces is always rich, refined and beautiful with just the right amount of romance and treble shine. It has some air but is not overdone. It has dynamics but they are balanced vs ear shattering. There is 3D and depth and the texture this amp brings is stunning. I mean I can hear details in everything yet they are rich and defined. Imaging is one part human and organic and one part analytical which is a perfect balance for immersion.
There are days I prefer really great Class D sound as I get from the AGD Allegro. In fact, AGD brings the best Class D sound I have heard, and I have heard a ton. It’s super refined and makes my digital sound more analog than analog. This is a good thing. While this is cool and sounds so good, that Class D sound still lacks in the treble compared to a truly great Class A amp. With the DM V2 I get more treble magic and even deeper bass impact. I may lose some of that magic in the midrange from the AGD, which is so nice, but I gain a little more excitement.
So what kind of sound do you prefer? Warm, balanced and refined as to where the music allows you to sit back, soak it in and destress while being immersed into a wide and deep stage? This sounds like Class D from AGD, or “Class AGD”. If you want more aliveness, more excitement yet still want warmth, body and groove yet with a more immersive stage and texture? This is what the DMV2 brought to the room for me. It also runs very quiet (though not deathly silent) so I was not getting any buzzing anywhere. Even with my ear to the amp, no hums or buzzes. The DM V2 also runs warm, not hot.
At the end of the day this is a serious music lovers kind of amplifier that brings high end sound but with a human nature and an Italian flair. It’s the tubes, it’s the dual mono, it’s the high end parts inside. Yep, it’s $11k but sounds like every cent of that $11k. It sits with the nicest power amps I have ever heard, and as usual just brings differences. I figured I would love this amp and for me personally, the only weakness here is the size. Most will not care about size as an amp of this caliber is large for a reason as it does offer a bit more in sound quality vs some smaller options and will drive harder to drive loads. The Unison Unico DM V2 is one incredible amplifier and did justice to all of my speakers when used in a variety of ways. Whether I was using a preamp or streaming DAC I heard the sound of the DM V2 shine through. Will be sad to see it go back but sadly it has to ; )
You can see more about this amplifier HERE at the Unison Research website.
