Unison Research Unico Nuovo Integrated Amplifier

The Unison Research Unico Nuovo is a hybrid integrated amplifier that pairs a Pure Class A valve input stage, built around two ECC83 twin-triode tubes, with an eight-device MOSFET output stage rated at 95 watts per channel into 8 ohms. It is the step up from the Unico Primo in the Unico line, hand-built in Treviso, Italy, and the version we sell ships with the moving-magnet/moving-coil phono board factory-installed.

Now including a factory-installed phono card (MM/MC), a $120 value. The Unico Nuovo ships ready for vinyl out of the box.

Key Features of the Unison Research Unico Nuovo

• Hybrid valve and solid-state design: a Pure Class A valve input stage using two ECC83 twin-triodes feeds an eight-device MOSFET Class A/AB output stage.
• 95 watts per channel into 8 ohms: more power and headroom than the Primo, with the current to drive harder speakers and larger rooms.
• Factory-installed MM/MC phono stage: switchable between moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges, ready for a turntable out of the box (a paid option on the bare unit).
• Subwoofer output with volume control: a dedicated, level-adjustable sub output makes a clean 2.1 or 2.2 system straightforward.
• Dual speaker binding posts: two pairs of terminals per channel for bi-wiring.
• Solid-state power, valve character: the MOSFET output delivers transistor-like grip while the tube stage keeps the tone fluid and natural.

A Second-Generation Unico

The Nuovo is the second-generation evolution of the amplifier that started the Unico line, the original Unico 80 hybrid from 2001. The core idea is unchanged, a valve preamp stage feeding a MOSFET power stage, but the details have moved on. The input tube changed from the ECC82/12AU7 to the higher-gain ECC83/12AX7 twin-triode, carefully matched to the power-stage gain to accentuate the valve character. The MOSFET output complement was doubled, and a revised constant power supply design gives the amplifier an easier, more relaxed quality at higher levels along with more dynamic headroom.

Design and Build Quality

The Nuovo is unusually well made under the lid. The heatsink is shaped to nestle around a large toroidal transformer, and the volume control uses a long rod so the level is adjusted right at the input rather than routing the audio signal from the back of the chassis to the front and back again. Well-considered mechanical earthing eliminates microphony. The fascia is a thick aluminum extrusion with a non-reflective sandcast finish that matches the two knobs, and the power switch sits on the right side panel. There are only two controls, a source selector and volume, each with a discreet status LED.

Sound Performance

The Nuovo has a natural flow and sounds fast and assured, ebbing and swelling with the music. Stereo imaging has real depth, and in the lateral plane the sound stretches without a break between the speakers. The warmth feels like it comes from inside the music rather than being laid on from outside, which is the trap most hybrid amplifiers fall into. What you get is solid-state power delivery leavened by the grace and polish of a good valve design, an authentic taste of the high end at a sensible price. It is not the most powerful amplifier in its class, but it holds its own with most 100-watt designs and mid-efficiency speakers, always with power in hand and no hint of strain.

Connectivity and Versatility

The rear panel carries five RCA inputs plus a tape loop, and on our units one of those inputs is fitted as the moving-magnet/moving-coil phono stage, switchable with internal jumpers. That covers a CD player, streamer, tuner, and a turntable. The subwoofer output is level-adjustable, so you can dial a powered sub into a 2.1 or 2.2 system without a separate bass manager. Two pairs of speaker binding posts per channel support bi-wiring. A rear voltage selector means the amplifier is set for the market it ships to.

About Unison Research

Unison Research has built high-fidelity amplifiers and loudspeakers in Treviso, Italy since 1987. The company is known for tube and hybrid amplifiers that combine traditional craftsmanship, hand-finished wood and turned metal, with circuits built and assembled in-house. The Unico line is its hybrid integrated range, and the Nuovo sits a step above the entry-level Primo while keeping the same Italian voicing and build.

Explore the Unison Research Unico Line

The Nuovo sits in the middle of Unison Research's Unico hybrid integrated range. Below it, the Unico Primo is the entry point at lower power. Above it, the Unico Due adds an onboard DAC and more output, the Unico 90 is a purist line-level design near the top, and the Unico 150 delivers 150 watts per channel for demanding speakers and larger rooms.

The Listening Room Difference

We're a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on exceptional service and relentless passion for hifi. Whether you're visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection. Our passion is helping you get the most out of your gear, with support that lasts well beyond the sale.

Unison Research Unico Nuovo Specifications