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is the Unico enough?

Hello everyone,

I'm just curiuos to know if the Unison Research Unico (80 w/ch) integrated has enough juice to properly drive the NHT 2.5i's. The room is fairly small (11.5 X 14 x 8). The source is a Rotel RCD971 with MSB link DAC III w/ half Nelson upgrade. The speaker's specs are 86db/w/m , 6 ohm, although apparently they are a pretty stable load.

If the Unico isn't powerful enough, can anyone recommend a good match to this setup?

I find that the NHT's along with the given source can sound fairly sterile with the wrong pream and amplification. I am looking for something that will give me depth and overall dimensionality, control , body, musicality and sheer drivability. The cost of the Unico is as high as I can go (even that's pushing it).

thanks
loose
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,578 posts
 
The Unico is probably enough. Without knowing how loud you like to listen to your music ... I am using a NAD C 320 BEE (50 wpc; $400 list) to drive a pair of Acoustic Research 302 speakers (85 db sensitivity; Ken Kantor/NHT design) in a slightly larger sized room and at the 10 o'clock position it is pretty loud in there (btw, I live in an apartment and try to keep the peace and my music tastes are folk-rock; americana; jazz; blues). If you feel that you may require more watts and the Unico's price tag is a bit steep and you are buying new ... look at the NAD C 370 (120wpc; $700 list; $520 new, but damaged carton at www.yawaonline.com). The C370 has been reviewed favorably by both Stereophile and The Absolute Sound, so you can track down the reviews. I have not heard the Unico, but I have read only good things about it and it is/ may be a solid notch above the NAD. Regards, Rich
rbrowne
173 posts
 
I use the Unico with a pair of Spendor S3/5 (84 dB sens. 8 ohm) loudspeakers in a small room (10'6"W x 12'2"L x 8'2"H). I don't listen at extremely loud levels but the Unico is more than sufficient for me and not lacking in any area.
loose OP
239 posts
 
Anyone else???
kotta's avatar
kotta
638 posts
 
I'm not familiar w/the NHT's but may I suggest you consider
a seperate amp/pre-amp combination. A Rotel RB-990 (200w.) would probably be a great amp to use. Used around $450. What I've heard this is a great amp. Perhaps a Rotel RTC-940/950 pre-amp/tuner or a tube pre-amp to warm/mellow out the sound? I have the feeling (after reading your last
paragraph) you're going to need more power.
loose OP
239 posts
 
Thanks for your posting regarding the Rotel, however, I'm searching for components that have a little more sophistication than that product line. You are correct in that my speakers would do well with higher power, however in their case, they are more reliant on current reserves. I have already driven them with a Bryston 4bst which I was going to use along with a HQ preamp, but I decided to go with a higher quality integrated instead (I'm trying to get away from separates b/c there are sooo many excellent integrateds out there)

Never have been and never will be a fan of Rotel (even though I have owned some of their products and actually currently use a Rotel cd player as a transport).

thanks for the replies thus far.

Steve
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