Unico Pre V2

The Most Complete Preamplifier in the Unico Line

The Unico PRE v2 was designed as the natural partner to the Unico DM v2 power amplifier — sharing the same 15mm solid aluminum chassis, the same Midnight Black and Velvet Gold finishes, and the same design philosophy that introduced a new aesthetic language to the entire Unico series. As a standalone preamplifier, it is also the most fully equipped component Unison Research has ever offered at this level: tube input stage, built-in DAC, integrated phono stage, balanced and unbalanced outputs, subwoofer output, and 12V trigger, all in a single chassis that doesn't require a single outboard box to do its job.

The brief was ambitious. The result is a preamplifier that a serious system can be built around without compromise.

The Design

The PRE v2 shares its aesthetic identity entirely with the DM v2. The front panel is machined from a solid 15mm aluminum block — not a folded sheet, not an extruded section, a machined block — and the fit and finish reflect that. The 2mm aluminum top cover wraps continuously around the enclosure. Wooden inserts reference the historic Unico logo without dominating the visual. The Unison Research logo functions as the power switch.

Midnight Black and Velvet Gold are the two finish options. Both are worth seeing in person before deciding — the Velvet Gold in particular photographs differently than it looks under light.

The Circuit

The architecture is three-stage, fully dual-mono, with zero global negative feedback throughout — the same structural commitments that define the DM v2's power amplifier circuit.

The first stage uses two ECC83/12AX7 Gold Lion valves operating in pure Class A. The ECC83 is a different tube from the ECC82 used in the DM v2 — higher gain, lower noise, and the standard choice for a preamplifier input stage where the signal is at its most delicate and the amplification requirement is highest. Gold Lion's current production ECC83 is one of the better-regarded modern versions of this tube, and Unison Research's choice of it as stock reflects a voicing decision rather than a cost one.

The subsequent solid-state stages handle the signal without adding character — their function is transparency and drive capability, not amplification in the tonal sense. The result is the gain structure and output impedance of a solid-state preamplifier, with the harmonic quality and spatial presentation of a tube input stage. Neither technology is asked to do what it does poorly. Both are asked to do what they do best.

Volume control is handled by a high-quality integrated circuit using precision resistors with infrared remote control — ensuring perfect channel balance and accurate level adjustment without the tracking errors or channel imbalance that mechanical potentiometers introduce at lower volume settings.

The DAC Section

The integrated DAC is built around the ESS Sabre ES9018K2M converter — a well-regarded chip that has appeared in dedicated DACs at considerably higher prices. The balanced output architecture of the Sabre has been integrated to work directly with the preamplifier's tube circuit, maintaining tonal coherence between digital and analog sources rather than treating the DAC as a separate module that happens to share a chassis.

Digital inputs cover all the major connection types: one USB-B input handling PCM up to 384 kHz and native DSD up to 256x (DoP up to 128x), two S/PDIF coaxial inputs up to 192 kHz, and two Toslink optical inputs up to 192 kHz. For a system built around a streaming source, a CD transport, and a computer, the PRE v2 handles all three without requiring a separate DAC or additional switching.

The Phono Stage

The integrated phono stage uses passive RIAA equalization with high-precision components — the correct approach for a design prioritizing signal integrity and tonal accuracy over simplified circuit topology. Both MM and MC cartridges are supported, with selectable load and gain settings accessible from the rear panel. It is a complete phono stage, not a courtesy input.

Connectivity

Analog inputs: 3 RCA line inputs, 3 XLR balanced line inputs, 1 MM/MC phono input, 1 Line In for external processors or recording systems.

Digital inputs: 1 USB-B, 2 S/PDIF coaxial, 2 Toslink optical.

Outputs: 2 RCA main outputs, 1 XLR balanced main output, 2 RCA bi-amping outputs, dual subwoofer output (unfiltered), Line Out, 1 × 12V trigger output.

The dual subwoofer output is unfiltered — the crossover management is left to the subwoofer or processor downstream, which is the correct approach for a preamplifier in a high-quality system. The bi-amping RCA outputs allow a second power amplifier to be added without a separate active crossover. The 12V trigger synchronizes power-on with the DM v2 or any other trigger-equipped amplifier.

Paired with the Unico DM v2

The PRE v2 and DM v2 were designed together as a system — same chassis dimensions, same finish options, same design language, complementary tube complements (ECC83 in the PRE, ECC82 in the DM), and a shared circuit philosophy of zero feedback, dual-mono topology, and Class A tube input stages. They are not just aesthetically matched. The gain structure, output impedance, and input sensitivity are optimised for each other.

That said, the PRE v2 is an exceptionally versatile preamplifier that pairs with equal authority alongside other amplifiers. The XLR balanced output at 16 Vrms maximum is sufficient to drive virtually any power amplifier to full output. The 770-ohm RCA output impedance is low enough to work cleanly into any load.

Press Recognition

The Absolute Sound covered the launch of the Unico PRE v2 and DM v2 together, describing the system as a reference-grade amplification pairing that embodies Unison Research's philosophy of technological innovation in service of musical truth. The PRE v2 was introduced in February 2026. Long-form listening reviews are forthcoming.

Specifications

• Type — Fully balanced hybrid preamplifier
• Input stage — 2× ECC83 / 12AX7 Gold Lion, Class A
• Output stage — Solid state
• Global feedback — Zero
• Volume control — Precision resistor IC, infrared remote
• Analog inputs — 3× RCA line; 3× XLR balanced; 1× MM/MC phono; 1× Line In
• Digital inputs — 1× USB-B (PCM to 384kHz, DSD256 native, DSD128 DoP); 2× S/PDIF coaxial (to 192kHz); 2× Toslink optical (to 192kHz)
• DAC — ESS Sabre ES9018K2M, balanced output architecture
• Phono — MM and MC; passive RIAA; selectable load and gain; rear-panel adjustment
• Outputs — 2× RCA; 1× XLR balanced; 2× RCA bi-amping; dual subwoofer (unfiltered); Line Out; 1× 12V trigger
• Maximum input voltage — 2.58 Vrms (RCA); 5 Vrms (XLR)
• Input impedance — 20kΩ (RCA); 57kΩ (XLR)
• Gain — 20dB (RCA); 15dB (XLR)
• Maximum output voltage — 8 Vrms (RCA); 16 Vrms (XLR) at 1% THD+N, 1kHz
• Output impedance — 770Ω (RCA); 1500Ω (XLR)
• Power consumption — 50 VA
• Dimensions — 45 × 43 × 14 cm (W × D × H)
• Weight — 11 kg
• Finish — Midnight Black or Velvet Gold
• Origin — Handcrafted in Italy

Questions about pairing the PRE v2 with the DM v2, or how it integrates into your existing system? We're happy to help you think it through.