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Digital Drive: REVIEW: Unison Research CDP CD Player/Recorder by AnalogJ

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REVIEW: Unison Research CDP CD Player/Recorder

64.12.116.200


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Model: CDP
Category: CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price: $1495
Description: Tube Hybrid CD Player
Manufacturer URL: Unison Research
Manufacturer URL: Unison Research

Review by AnalogJ ( A ) on October 16, 2005 at 15:45:04
IP Address: 64.12.116.200
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for the CDP


I took home a sample unit from a local dealer. I don't know how much play it has gotten before me, but I have been running it for about 48 hours.

All in all, this is a sweet, musical player. It will not be all things to all people. This will not be for those who want extreme detail and high-frequency resolution. This is a player that doesn't get phased, however, by most kinds of music. Perhaps the densest of large orchestral rhythmic works might ruffle the feathers of this player a bit. For vocal, jazz, small classical and folk, this player conveys a very human element. It is not the most extended in the bass, and the high end is rolled off. It feels as if there is a lid on top, so the sound lacks air.

But, vocals and instruments are full-bodied. Musical lines have a nice flow. Both micro and macro dynamics are conveyed quite well. Soundstage is deep. Playing a CD-R of Britten/Rostropovich playing Schubert's "Arpeggione," this player makes the music sing. Rostropovich's cello sounded slight pinched, but still lovely. Perhaps there is a oh-so-slight veil over everything, but this laid back presentation is completely unfatiguing to listen to without being boring. The lack of deepest bass keeps the piano in the recording from having as much weight as it does with better players, but chances are, most auditioning this player are doing so with speakers that have limited low-frequency extension themselves.

I found rock served well, too. Not "grab you by the throat" control, but again, rock isn't boring through this either. There is a wee bit of thickness in the mid-range. For example, with Tierney Sutton's latest CD, "I'm With the Band," her voice exhibits a fullness that isn't a part of her singing voice. And there is a slightly muffled, or cupped quality to her vocal. The pinched quality of the cello above also falls into this category. I think, though, this quality might be due to the tube supplied with the unit. I own a Unico amp (modified by Parts ConneXion) and upgrading the tubes tightened the bass, opened up the sound, improved resolution, and made the sound appear faster. So if I were to buy this, I would be tube rolling immediately.

For me, those who favor more "analog" type qualities, such as musical flow and tonality will like this player alot, especially at the price. One of the better players at this price range. In comparison, I have heard the Audio Refinement Complete and Rega Planet 2000, neither of which involved me as much in the music as much as the Unico CDP.

By the way, Unison Research as a higher end player, the Unico, just as they have both a Unico and Unico P integrated (and now a Unico SE, as well). Furthermore, they are coming out with a NEW version of the Unico CD Player (the higher level model). The CDP uses only 1 tube in the gain stage while the standard model use(d) 2 tubes. I don't know about what Unison Research is doing for the newest version of the standard Unico CD player, but I hope to get one to listen to when it comes in from the dealer. Even VMAX, the US distributor, doesn't know exactly what improvements are involved.


Product Weakness: Rolled off high end. Sound lacks air. Not the highest resolving player, but not bad either. Low end not all that extended, though it's reasonably tight. Some of these qualities might be improved with tube rolling.
Product Strengths: Sweet, smooth sound. Good micro and macro dynamics. Very good musical flow. Overall, quite involving. Excellent soundstage. Very good for the money, and I suspect a better tube would greatly improve things.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Unison Research Unico (level-2 mod by Parts ConneXion)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): See Above
Speakers: Castle Eden
Cables/Interconnects: Tara Labs
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Broadway, vocal, jazz, classical, rock.
Room Size (LxWxH): 12' x 12' x 10'
Room Comments/Treatments: Corner Tunes
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Shunyata Hydra and Python Alpha PC
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition




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Topic - REVIEW: Unison Research CDP CD Player/Recorder - AnalogJ 15:45:04 10/16/05 ( 3)