Unison Research Unico DM v2

The Unico DM v2 is the most significant statement Unison Research has made in the Unico line since the series began. 220 watts per channel, dual-mono throughout, with a Class A tube input stage and a new output topology that the company developed specifically for this design. It is also, unmistakably, Italian — in the way that description carries real meaning in high-end audio.

The Design

The v2 marks a deliberate shift in Unison Research's aesthetic. The 15mm solid aluminum front panel — machined, not extruded, not folded — sets the tone from the first moment you see it. The 2mm aluminum top cover wraps continuously around the enclosure for structural rigidity and visual coherence. Wooden accents remain, used sparingly now as a reference to the historic Unico logo rather than a dominant visual element. The Unison Research logo functions as the power switch. Midnight Black or Velvet Gold.

The Architecture

True dual-mono. Each channel has its own 750VA encapsulated toroidal transformer, potted and shielded against electromagnetic interference. The two channels share a chassis and nothing else of consequence — power delivery, regulation, and signal paths are fully independent. Channel separation that a shared-supply design cannot achieve.

Three amplification stages. The first is a Class A tube stage using one ECC82/12AU7 Gold Lion valve per channel. This is the tonal foundation of the amplifier — speed, fine detail, the emotional texture of the music all originate here. The second stage is solid-state, operating transparently to adapt the signal to the output. The third stage is where the DM v2 introduces A.S.H.A.

A.S.H.A. Technology

A.S.H.A. stands for Analog Synchronized Hybrid Amplification.

Analog because the entire circuit is analog. No digital correction, no DSP, no error-canceling feedback loops. The signal path is purely analog from input to output.

Synchronized because the output stage depends on precise coordination between two power MOSFETs. This is the core of the idea.

In a standard Class AB amplifier, the two output transistors trade off: one drives the positive half of the waveform, the other drives the negative half. A.S.H.A. changes the relationship entirely. One transistor, called the "leader MOSFET," runs in pure Class A and controls the voltage (the shape of the signal) for the entire waveform, positive and negative. The second transistor, the "follower MOSFET," operates in Class AB and handles current delivery during the negative half-cycle.

 Unison Research's chief designer Agostino Zamai explains: "We have that the leader MOSFET is controlling the signal for all the period of the signal. While the current, the power delivered to the load, is split between the two transistors."

The critical difference: the leader never hands off control. There's no moment where one transistor stops driving and the other takes over. The leader MOSFET shapes the signal continuously, so there's no zero-crossing transition and no crossover distortion. The follower MOSFET only assists with current delivery when needed, and because it's not responsible for signal control, its Class AB switching doesn't introduce artifacts into the output.

Hybrid for two reasons. First, every Unico amplifier pairs a tube input stage with solid-state output devices. Stock Gold Lion tubes handle the voltage gain (they're good at this; tubes are inherently linear), and the MOSFET output stage delivers the current and power. Second, the A.S.H.A. circuit itself is a hybrid of Class A and Class AB operating principles. You get Class A purity of signal with Class AB thermal efficiency.

Amplification because, at the end of the day, that's the job. And A.S.H.A. does it with distortion levels that approach pure Class A while running cool enough to sit on a standard rack without dedicated ventilation.

Press Recognition

The Unico DM v2 has been reviewed by Hi-Fi+, Hifi News, and Positive Feedback. Hi-Fi+ called it among the finest hybrid amplifiers available at any price, with particular praise for the A.S.H.A. output topology's combination of power and musicality. Hifi News noted the build quality as exceptional even by Italian high-end standards.

Specifications

Output power (@ 1 kHz, 1% THD)

• 220 W continuous @ 8 Ω (stereo)
• 340 W continuous @ 4 Ω (stereo)
• 370 W continuous @ 2 Ω (stereo, limited by protections)
• 670 W peak @ 2 Ω (stereo)
• 650 W continuous @ 8 Ω (mono)
• 650 W continuous @ 4 Ω (mono)

Input stage

• Pure Class A
• Dual-triode stage (ECC82 / 12AU7) Gold Lion

Output stage

• A.S.H.A. Technology
• Class A-AB
• Three complementary MOSFET pairs

Inputs

• 1 × unbalanced RCA
• 1 × balanced XLR
• 1 × remote power-on input

Output connectors

• 4 + 4 binding posts for bi-wiring
• 1 × remote power-on output

Dimensions (W×D×H): 46 × 42 × 21 cm 18 × 17 × 8 inches

Net weight: 33 kg

Authorized Unison Research dealer. Questions about pairing the DM v2 with the PRE v2, or matching it to your speakers? Reach out.