Unison Research Unico P vs Rega Mira 3
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9357 Registered: Feb-05 | I have a chance to trade my 2 1/2 yr old Mira 3 for the Unico P. The Unison is used as well. They had tried changing out speakers with the amp on and blew a cap and it had to be repaired. It has a clean bill of health and is on its way down to me for an audition. Would you be concerned about it's ongoing health? If it sounds better than the Mira 3 would you dismiss the fact that it's been repaired and just enjoy? How do ya'll feel about it? Has anyone here had any experience with the brand and how did you find it? |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 12024 Registered: Dec-04 | I use Unico canned tomatoes and Olives... No opinion other than a dead cap in a new unit. |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 13487 Registered: May-04 | Everything breaks, that's why there are repair departments. Any competent technician should have repaired the unit properly and made certain it performed to spec or better before returning the amplifier. I would no more be concerned about a repaired amplifier with an otherwise clean bill of health than I would a car with a new set of tires. . |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 12025 Registered: Dec-04 | So long as the tire dealer is nearby and quick to respond. Firestone 721 radials... |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9360 Registered: Feb-05 | He is 2 1/2 hr drive away and I belive would be quick to respond if there was a problem. I'm looking forward to giving it a run. |
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Silver Member Username: Jazzman71Phoenix, AZ USA Post Number: 625 Registered: Dec-07 | "They had tried changing out speakers with the amp on and blew a cap and it had to be repaired." I don't think blowing a cap under those conditions is a fatal flaw, particularly if the amp is not designed for that kind of abuse. Art, you will want to know about the design limitations, even though you may not plan to push up against them, but I agree with Jan that an amp repaired by a competent tech is nothing to shy away from. Nuck's 721s are another matter... Look forward to your impressions when you get it. |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 12026 Registered: Dec-04 | I didn't find a great deal of information on it. Have you heard the line before, Art? Maybe with Devore bookshelves? |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9362 Registered: Feb-05 | Never heard any Unison before. It was mentioned once here on the Forum by Jan (in a group of products recommended) I think. Also another forum where I'm a member it is highly regarded. It reviewed pretty well. |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 13488 Registered: May-04 | . It's Italian. What's not to love? It plays music instead of distortion graphs. Open a chilled bottle of Prosseco and enjoy the music. . |
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Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10Post Number: 2417 Registered: Jun-07 | Art- I have a magazine I will dig out that did a article on a Unison integrated. It was very highly regarded. From the look of the thing they are hand built by a man, for a man.lol Enjoy. |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9364 Registered: Feb-05 | It arrives this evening...think I'll follow Jan's recommendation... |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 12028 Registered: Dec-04 | Prego! |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 13491 Registered: May-04 | . "Please"? |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 12032 Registered: Dec-04 | Skol? ciao? |
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Silver Member Username: SoundgameRichmond Hill Toronto, Ontario Canada Post Number: 735 Registered: Jun-08 | Salute! |
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Silver Member Username: SoundgameRichmond Hill Toronto, Ontario Canada Post Number: 736 Registered: Jun-08 | No really Art, it does look interesting. I like the tube/solid-state hybrid. I'd be interested to hear your take once you get it all hooked up. Let us know. |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 13493 Registered: May-04 | . Godere/enjoy. You know, like, "He godere and hecame back with a smile and a disease". . |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9365 Registered: Feb-05 | LOL! So far so good guys. Very nice sounding amp. A little less control over the bass drivers and just a hair less depth in imaging...but if you believe, as I do, that the music lives first and foremost in the midrange this amp is very good. It's really just warming up. It's not in the condition I had hoped for it has a small, only noticeable in the right light ding on the top of the front panel and just a little little mark on top as though someone sat a dring on it or something. Both aren't noticeable unless you have a light directly on it which I did while hooking it up. In other words it's 7 or 8 on Agon which makes it a 9 for Kurt...to be expected. I rolled the volume knob all the way around and it's dead silent...quieter than the Mira 3, that surprised me. It also runs very cool. They forgot to send the owners manual so I'm not sure how to determine whether the phono is set for MM without risk. Also since I listen to this system on the weekend is it ok to leave it on for the weekend then turn it off for the work week...hmm. Obviously much, much more listening has to be done to determine a winner and make valid comparisons to the Mira 3...much fun to had! |
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Silver Member Username: SoundgameRichmond Hill Toronto, Ontario Canada Post Number: 738 Registered: Jun-08 | This will be interesting, especially since you've got it hooked into an all Rega setup. |
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Silver Member Username: LamcamOrange County, CA USA Post Number: 161 Registered: Nov-07 | You'll love it Art. When I had the Pathos (also Italian), which is hybrid, I loved it. To my ears, better than all solid state amp I had before... I love tube... |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9371 Registered: Feb-05 | Question for anyone who might know the answer...I have a slight hum or buzz next to the unit when I get close and listen...not through the speakers but from the unit, is this ok or normal. I don't hear it when listening...at least not yet. A late night listening session may reveal it. I have to get within a couple of feet of it with the music off during the day to hear it. |
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Silver Member Username: SoundgameRichmond Hill Toronto, Ontario Canada Post Number: 740 Registered: Jun-08 | Art, sounds like a mechanical hum. My Bryston 3B-ST does it. When I've got the ground lift open, there is not hum on the speakers but the amp itself hums. Bryston told me some hum can be normal but if you can hear it in a quiet room from 3 or more feet away then they will fix it. Mine you can hear at that distance or a little farther so one of these days I'm sending it in for warranty service. Art, it may be better after it warms up a bit - like 3 hrs, mine does. |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9373 Registered: Feb-05 | It's been on for about 24 hrs now. I confirmed with another owner of the same amp that it's normal and his does the same thing. I will write my impressions later but let it suffice to say that in spite of the fact that I hate hum I'm addicted to the sound of the amp and it ain't goin' anywhere. Couldn't go back to the Mira 3 after hearing this. Better in every way including the ways in which I didn't think it was better to start with such as controlling the bass drivers and imaging. |
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Gold Member Username: Stu_pittIrvington, New York USA Post Number: 3242 Registered: May-05 | I heard a Unico in passing a few years ago. It was out of my price range at the time, and I can't remember what was connected on either end of it. It sounded very good to my ears. STO has a new Unico P listed on Agon for $1049. Not sure if you're interested in going that direction instead. http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1243702251&/Unison-Research-Unic o-P-50w-hy |
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Gold Member Username: Stu_pittIrvington, New York USA Post Number: 3244 Registered: May-05 | If you're looking to go with a tube integrated again, I have two words - Manley Stingray. |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9378 Registered: Feb-05 | This is a straight trade for my Mira 3...can't be beat! The hum is never audible unless you are within a foot or so with no other sound in the room...not a problem. My Unico P is sounding incredible as I type. When and if I go tube integrated again I have 2 words (and some numbers)Stu...Mastersound Compact 845! |
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Silver Member Username: SoundgameRichmond Hill Toronto, Ontario Canada Post Number: 745 Registered: Jun-08 | Wow Art! That is a big move for you. Sounded like you were with Rega all the way. Clearly the Unico P made a real impression on you. All the best with it! Congrats! |
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Gold Member Username: My_rantzAustralia Post Number: 2136 Registered: Nov-05 | Congrats Art and I thought you'll hath no other God but Rega also :-) |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9389 Registered: Feb-05 | The Mira 3 is on the UPS truck headin' due north and the Unison is at home in my rack!    |
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Gold Member Username: My_rantzAustralia Post Number: 2140 Registered: Nov-05 | Tres cool Art! |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 12047 Registered: Dec-04 | Very nice Art! Prego! |
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Silver Member Username: Jazzman71Phoenix, AZ USA Post Number: 636 Registered: Dec-07 | Very nice Art. Have you run down a manual yet? Glad you're enjoying it. |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9393 Registered: Feb-05 | Have a manual on the way. |
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Gold Member Username: Stu_pittIrvington, New York USA Post Number: 3245 Registered: May-05 | I haven't heard a Mastersound. Maybe I'll run in to one one of these days. I really liked the Unico when I heard it. Its definitely one of the must audition amps for anyone looking in its range. Two questions if I may... Have you heard their CD players? Contemplating it? Any pics of the remote? They still use the wooden one, right? If its the same one, it was one of the coolest remotes I've ever seen. |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9394 Registered: Feb-05 | For the P it's a cheap plastic remote..sorry. I haven't heard their cd players but if I had the dough I'd be giving one a listen. I was going to save this for the write up but here it is... The Unico kicks the snot out of the Mira 3 in every way that I know. with special attention to....PRaT. Yep this amp is so much more rhythmic and pacey than the Mira that it's amazing. For my ears it has the entry level Naim amp beat all to heck in that department. There are many cd's that I enjoyed in the past that now make so much more sense musically that it has me bewildered. For example I always liked Luciana Souza and have seen her a number of times live...then my wife and I go home and break out her cd's and though I still enjoy her my wife totally loses interest because she sounds just kind of avearge and her voice loses alot of the life of the live performance. Friday night I played the Brazilian Duos cd and for the first time that cd made total sense...I could follow every line and Luciana sounded like the singer we love to see live...just alive and vital as it should be. |
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Gold Member Username: My_rantzAustralia Post Number: 2141 Registered: Nov-05 | Sounds like you've found a great amp Art. An amp that's past due to come out of the closet it seems. |
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Silver Member Username: SoundgameRichmond Hill Toronto, Ontario Canada Post Number: 746 Registered: Jun-08 | Hey Art, that Unico has very nice lines. Your shots do much more justice than the one's on their website..maybe it's the lighting. It must be something really find to move you off the Mira so fast. We'll just have to wait for your full review but what you've provided is sweet. |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 13497 Registered: May-04 | . IMO those who deny the existence of PRaT should listen to some "difficult" music through a system capable of separating multiple rhythmic lines and placing them in the context of the whole and then through a system that schmushes them all together into one unlistenable and ultimately irritating blob. If we all had Italian, French or high end Japanese components and speakers, those "national sounds" that respect the music above the on paper numbers, Mose Allison would be far more highly regarded. . |
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Gold Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 9399 Registered: Feb-05 | Totally agree. |
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