Issued by Audio Accessory Japan
A burgeoning net-audio brand has arrived from Hong Kong. Its name is "UNio." Operating as the house brand of MIC Audio—a company engaged in the distribution of high-end audio—UNio has landed in Japan with its "Poki" network switch and SFP fiber-optic cables. Audio expert Hisaaki Hijikata takes a closer look at these highly anticipated items that could well become the eye of the storm in the network audio market.
Unparalleled Build Quality, Superbly Refined Enclosure
When you dive into network audio, a dream-like audio lifestyle awaits, offering unlimited access to as many as 100 million songs. After a while, however, a desire inevitably emerges: "I want to listen with even better sound." I was one of those people. To improve the sound of a network environment, it is crucial to elevate the LAN environment to a certain level of quality and stably transmit data from the source router to the player. One method to achieve this is changing the network switch (switching hub). In recent years, various models have emerged from all over the world, and I have personally tested almost all of them.
Amidst this landscape, a model that piqued my interest, the UNio "Poki," is making its debut in Japan. UNio is the proprietary brand of MIC Audio, which has been importing high-end audio gear into Hong Kong and China for over 20 years. Poki is a network switch that the company reportedly spent over a year developing. The main unit features four 2.5G-compatible RJ45 wired LAN ports, along with one SFP+ port supporting 10Gbps SFP connections and one clock input.
The enclosure is nothing short of spectacular. The chassis is machined from a single block of high-grade aluminum alloy and feels reassuringly heavy in the hand. It employs a sharp, sophisticated design that the company calls the "Rose Cut Style," with the "UNio" logo engraved on the front panel. Personally, I felt its build quality is unparalleled among models released in recent years. It features an RJ45 isolation port with an independent shielded area—a design the company calls "ZEN ZONE"—which reduces electromagnetic interference through a proprietary Japanese carbon-fiber shield.
To coincide with the release of the main unit, dedicated SFP fiber-optic cables, the "OF1" and "OF10," have also been introduced. The former supports 1.25G connections, while the latter supports SFP+ 10G connections. The company's staff reportedly verified the SFP peripheral specifications while evaluating various fiber-optic combinations through rigorous listening tests.
Vividly Depicting a Distortion-Free Stage and Distinct Layering
The audition was conducted in my second-floor network environment, where the equipment was specifically curated for critical listening. Placed on the rack, the Poki exuded a magnificent presence and aura. I connected the router to the Poki using an RJ45 wired LAN cable, and then connected the Poki via the OF1 SFP fiber-optic cable to the SONORE Signature Rendu SE Deluxe, a network transport equipped with an SFP terminal.
Booting up my iPad, I played Daniel Hope's "Escape To Paradise - The Hollywood Album" via Qobuz. The moment the sound came through, I gasped at a performance that exceeded my expectations: "What a network switch with an incredibly high sense of sonic serenity!" The interplay between Daniel Hope's violin and the orchestra was truly magnificent. While seamlessly tracing the movement of the violin from left to right, it meticulously expressed the realism of the pizzicato technique, the dynamics of the performance, and the very texture of the acoustic instruments. Regarding the soundstage, it firmly depicted a distortion-free stage and a clear sense of layering (depth), ensuring that low-level sounds were never buried. The particles of the lingering decay seemed to float into the air, allowing me to catch even the faintest reverb components.
How would it fare with modern tracks? I auditioned "Abracadabra" from Lady Gaga's album "MAYHEM". First, the synthesizer in the intro expanded three-dimensionally from left to right, offering vivid spatial expression. Lady Gaga’s vocals possessed a taut texture, and the movement of her mouth was distinct. The delineation of the backing vocals that entered periodically was also excellent. In the electric bass and kick drum, the switch achieved a high-level balance between weightiness and resolution; furthermore, by sounding both three-dimensional and perfectly timed, it firmly captured the uptempo rhythmic drive unique to this track.
I was left wondering if network switches capable of such high sound quality still existed in the world—such was the level of completion it demonstrated. As an aside, the trading company importing this product (Note: Bright-Tone Co. Ltd.) also serves as the distributor for SOtM switching hubs, which are staple items for hardcore network audio fans. Before the audition, I wondered if the products they handle might compete with one another. However, once you hear this sound, it is easy to understand why they wanted to import it. Combined with its exceptional physical texture as a component, this is a product that warrants great attention.
