Xavian Grande Unica speakers
Since 1994, the Czech Republic has been home to Xavian Electronics, a loudspeaker company led by designer Roberto Barletta. Formerly based in Prague and now in Hostivice, Xavian manufactures its loudspeakers in-house using solid wood. The Natura series is inspired by the Czech countryside, and one of the models is the Grande Unica. Grande distinguishes the floorstanding model from the smaller Unica monitor.
Xavian Unica loudspeakers are manufactured by hand from solid oak and always made to order, so it will take some time before they are delivered. Mine took about four weeks. After the wait was over, Xavian recommends a run-in period of approximately 200 hours. In the past, I reviewed several models from the Xavian range with good results, so the Grande Unica looks promising. It is a speaker that will easily suit any living room, provided natural oak doesn’t disrupt the decor.
About Grande Unica
Barletta is Italian, living in the Czech Republic, but with strong connections to Italy. The custom drivers used in Xavian Unica models are manufactured in Italy under his own brand name, Audio Barletta. Xavian often uses Scanspeak instead of Audio Barletta, but for the Unica models he wants the best.
The two Grande Unica mid-bass drivers are 150mm units with polypropylene cones and a copper shorting ring on the pole piece. The 26mm Audio Barletta tweeters feature an impregnated soft dome. The three drivers are used in a two-way configuration, housed in a damped bass reflex enclosure made of 23mm thick solid oak.
The crossover uses precision Jantzen Audio components and operates at around 2.8 kHz. The use of two woofers in parallel influences the nominal impedance, which is about four ohms. The positive side of using two woofers, apart from deeper bass, is the efficiency of 93dB per watt. The recommended amplifier power is between 30 and 100 watts, although more is allowed as long as care is taken not to use the Grande Unica at party levels for too long. On the front, the Grand Unica has a flared reflex port; at the back, single-wire terminals accept spades, banana plugs, or stripped wire.
This Xavian has a plinth with only a few millimetres of adjustable feet, it is not suitable for spikes, which is a bonus. Without these base plates, the Grande Unica stands 87cm high (34 ¼ inches). The plinth adds a few centimetres to the height and extends the footprint for stability. The finish of each Grande Unica is unique. The solid oak captivates with its naturalness. A matte varnish, with a hint of natural wax, sensitively highlights the wood grain. Rounded edges and corners—even the organic bass reflex ports—are the result of careful handwork. The Grande Unica was created for normal spaces and normal listening, says Xavian. The best position should be 10 to 20 cm from the back wall.
Feeding power
Fresh from the box, I gave the Grande Unica almost 150 hours to run in, then moved the pair into my living room, where I placed them on Townshend platforms to decouple the cabinets from my wooden floor. An Electric Audio TAE 150 DV amplifier, German-designed and manufactured by a subsidiary of Gauder Akustik, was used to drive them. A Metrum Acoustics DAC and an Auralic network transport together formed the source for all music played during the review period. I admit this amplifier and source are a bit over the top for the relatively affordable Xavians but what are you going to do.
However, they also performed without flaws on a Naim Uniti Atom HE with a lower-cost power amplifier, using the Uniti as a combined source and preamp. They do not need a massive amount of power to fill your room with music, as proven in another session with a Leema Acoustics i85 amplifier. Power conditioning was handled by an Audes TT-3200DC with Crystal Cable power cords in my main system, while an ST-900DC with Ricable cords was used in my smaller system. All other cabling, from ethernet to interconnects to loudspeaker cables, consists of the Inakustik 2400 Air Helix series.
Bring on the music
No one can accuse the Xavian Grande Unica of being shouty or over-enthusiastic. It is a loudspeaker that settles comfortably into your living room, playing music in a relaxed way. Listening to the Violin Café recording by Italian Nicola Benedetti, the Xavians fill the room with ease. Music has a flow that our ears recognise as natural. It is lively but never too pushy. Music is recreated around these floorstanding speakers, wide enough to extend beyond their physical positions. It is free from the baffles, gaining both height and depth, yet never becoming in-your-face.
The Grande Unica performs the disappearing trick I always look for. I do not want to hear the drivers; I want my music recreated in the air in front of me. That said, the Grande Unica is not a loudspeaker that draws attention to itself. Its friendly character allows for hours of listening pleasure. At the same time, the Grande Unica does not easily excite, because it is so relaxing to listen to. Not boring—unless the music itself is. It is a very honest reproducer, although a bit laid-back. What makes me happy is that neither the bass, nor the midrange, nor the highest notes ever overwhelm. Across the frequency range, the Grande Unica seems very even, with no peaks or dips in my room.
If you are looking for party speakers, look elsewhere. These are made for prolonged listening, day after day. You could almost accuse them of being UK-designed, although they are an Italian/Czech creation. Neither are they soft. Nicola’s violin is fast, pure in tone, and lively enough to keep me fully engaged with her performance and that of her fellow musicians. A very nice recording on a very nice pair of transducers.
Having two woofers in parallel is an advantage for those who do not want a large, oversized speaker in the living room. Still, Hey Now by London Grammar, with its earthquake-like deep bass, almost moves the furniture in my room. It rumbles, yet remains controlled, powerful, and impressive. My neighbours probably got their share of the lower notes. Apart from this, the singer’s voice is clear, never overpowered, and steadily positioned in the centre. The band remains in control, completing the song beautifully.
On the opposite end of the musical spectrum is Nikki Parrott with her album The Look of Love, featuring easy-on-the-ear evergreen tunes. The Grande Unica invites you to turn up the volume to realistic levels. On the title track, instruments are positioned behind or beside Nikki, allowing her the space she deserves. Her voice is at the correct height, standing naturally in front of the microphone rather than being reduced in scale, making her more believable. Instruments are as clear as can be. This time, I find myself moving head and shoulders along with the music. Who said the Grande Unica is not exciting? Just choose the right music and enjoy.
Big sound
I mentioned it before, but the Grande Unica deserves extra praise for the way it virtually disappears from the room. Close your eyes and experience the space it creates, the atmosphere it brings, and the sense of being close to the performers.
I know my Electric Audio amplifier contributes significantly to this, but it is the Grande Unica that carries the atmosphere and soundstage into my living room. Listen, for instance, to Song of Ruth by the Bobo Stenson Trio on the album Cantado and experience how effortlessly the Xavians perform. A clear piano is accompanied by percussion and bass. Scandinavian jazz never harmed anyone, and Bobo is one of my favourites in this genre. As I increase the volume, the percussion becomes very lifelike, while the bass is strong and melodic—very controlled and therefore detailed. Percussion has great punch, cymbals are clear and crisp, and the piano is open and dynamic. All in all, an excellent performance reproduced beautifully.
The track Wooden Church follows. The bass player and percussionist together create a striking and somewhat eerie soundstage. I almost jumped out of my chair when they appeared to imitate the sound of a wooden church door. Yes, the Grande Unica is realistic enough to produce that effect.
Violinist Emmanuelle Dauvin from France has released her second album of Ovni Baroque music, this time together with soprano Heather Newhouse. Dauvin plays the violin while simultaneously operating the pedals of a church organ. Recorded in a small church in northern France, these two musicians bring that environment into your home.
On J.S. Bach: Cantata a 2, the organ is positioned at the back of the church, the violin closer to you, and Heather’s voice slightly to the right. The Grande Unica may not match a panel loudspeaker in absolute scale, but it still conveys air movement, the liveliness of the violin, and, most importantly, the reverberation of the church around Heather’s voice. The decay of the soprano transports you directly to France. Her voice is enchanting—pure magic. Fortunately, this recording is also available on Qobuz.
From baroque to pop: Madonna’s Vogue is outstanding in spatial presentation on my ATC monitors, with the Xavian coming a close second. Effects appear almost beside me, both left and right. The bass is deep and satisfying, exactly as many fans would want.
More interesting to me musically is Infected Mushroom, their electronic trance track Avratz demonstrates how well the Xavian handles this genre. The bass is strong, electronic percussion is clear, and the soundstage is wide—extending well beyond the speakers. Positioning remains stable and precise when required. Another genre? Alison Krauss & Union Station with their album Arcadia. The Grande Unica presents acoustic instruments beautifully, placing you right in Alison’s studio. You feel part of the performance, singing along with the harmonies.
Verdict
I had no reason to move the Xavian Grande Unica out of my listening room, other than to return it to the manufacturer. After an extended run-in period, it came fully to life and demonstrated its capabilities. This speaker delivers music with a natural flow, pleasing to the ear, without imperfections that might detract from the experience. Over a long period, it performed entirely to my satisfaction, making me look more than once at its price tag in surprise.
They look good, are well built, and perform well in both small rooms (12 m²) and larger spaces (33 m²). The reflex port is tuned to support the bass rather than exaggerate it. Perhaps they are not the most analytical speakers at this price point, but they prioritise music over technical showmanship—and that is a valid choice. You cannot have everything at this price.
If you can live with the natural oak finish, do not require grilles, can accept a delivery time of about a month, and have a suitable amplifier for a four ohm load, then it is well worth contacting Xavian or your local dealer. The Grande Unica might be exactly the loudspeaker you have been looking for—recommended for all kinds of music and long, enjoyable listening sessions.
Pros
Natural, relaxed sound signature: smooth, non-fatiguing presentation ideal for long listening sessions
Excellent tonal balance: no obvious peaks or dips; consistent across the frequency range
Impressive soundstage and imaging: wide, deep, and immersive; speakers “disappear” well
Strong, controlled bass: deep and powerful when required, without becoming boomy
High efficiency (93dB): easy to drive; works well with moderate-powered amplifiers
Versatile across genres: handles classical, jazz, pop, and electronic music convincingly
Superb build quality: handcrafted solid oak cabinets with attractive finish
Good room compatibility: works well in both small and medium-to-large spaces
Engaging when required: capable of dynamic, lively performance with the right material
Good value for money: performance exceeds expectations at the price point
No need for spikes: stable plinth design simplifies setup
Cons
Slightly laid-back character: may lack excitement for those seeking a more forward or analytical sound
Not ideal for party-level listening: not designed for sustained high-volume use
Limited finish option: natural oak may not suit all interiors
No grille option: may be a drawback for some users
4 ohm load: requires an amplifier comfortable with lower impedances
Long lead time: made-to-order with 4 week delivery wait
Requires extensive run-in: around 150–200 hours before reaching full performance