After having tested some units of uandksound speaker cabinets within our team, we still needed to experience listening to a complete installed system, since most of their catalog consists of models specifically designed for that purpose: installation (in many cases requiring construction work, meaning built-in).

 

For that, we traveled to Manilva (south of Málaga), where the brand’s European delegation is located (originally English, with a Spanish agency and manufacturing in China).

Additionally, they are the national distributors and have the main warehouse with stock available to ensure immediate product availability for uandksound across Europe. This aspect (a warehouse with stock in Europe, specifically in Spain) is particularly important today following the logistical issues caused by the pandemic, a point that the brand naturally emphasized.

For the audition, we had access to the complete uandksound catalog, ranging from the affordable E and M3 Series to the new Reference Series, including the entire Home and Cinema Series range, as well as some of the mounting or installation models, arranged in enclosures similar to those intended for such purposes.

 

REFERENCE SERIES

As for the cabinets, all come from the dedicated factory in China, where not only the enclosures are assembled but also the speakers, filters, and other components are developed. The only exception is the new Reference Series, which was a first for me on this occasion. Its speakers come from the British/German manufacturer Kurt Müller and are assembled into the cabinet at the Chinese factory. They meet THX standards for top-level cinema rooms.

 

 

This new Reference Series consists of three models: two cabinets and a passive subwoofer. The subwoofer (model M1800SW) uses an 18-inch paper cone speaker that handles up to 1600 watts, and its size (1038 mm in height by 380 mm in depth) allows it to be combined with the larger cabinet, typically in a cinema front stage concealed behind the screen, with three front speakers (“LCR” for left, center, and right) accompanied by one or more subwoofers. This is the M1200LCR, identical in height and depth, a two-way speaker with a 12-inch woofer and horn-loaded tweeter, and the same sensitivity as the subwoofer (97 dB). The third model in the series is the M800SR, initially intended for effects (but can be used as a front speaker), featuring the same horn-loaded tweeter but with two 8-inch woofers and a more compact enclosure (508 by 526 mm).

The cabinets have two switches to adjust their response based on room size and acoustics: beyond any later equalization, I found the latter particularly important. The SG AV-Technology facility was not an over-dampened room (the usual ones with a lot of carpet, even on the walls), and while the Reference speakers initially sounded somewhat bright to me, adjusting that switch revealed a balanced, detailed, and airy high-frequency sound, but with smooth vocals and prominent mids, which surprised me by not sounding “horn-like” despite using them. On the low end, the cabinets sound full, and the 18-inch subwoofer can go very deep…

 

HOME AND CINEMA SERIES

At the SG AV-Technology facility, we not only enjoyed the uandksound Reference Series, but as mentioned earlier, they had installed ALL the speakers from their catalog. This allows customers to listen and decide for themselves which range they prefer for their future system. The thing is, although I had heard many of them separately, I took the opportunity to do a full review: there are two main families, Home and Cinema Series, and within them, a lineup that scales in price and, as I confirmed by listening, in sound quality. That was my first and major conclusion of the day: within the uandksound catalog, the budget progression aligns with what the speakers offer.

To highlight a few, I already mentioned that I really liked the new Reference Series. But not far behind are the S Series (S6), which use a “Ring Radiator” tweeter among the Cinema models. In my opinion, these are a step ahead of the also Cinema M6 and M8 models, which have a ribbon tweeter that is slightly less resolving than that of the S6. In the Home Series, the M5 stands out, inheriting a ribbon tweeter similar to that of the M6 or M8. These cabinets, available as independent speakers (not requiring installation like the others), can certainly compete with more established or popular brands in the mid-range home speaker market.

And a final note on the active monitors from the Studio Series (T6 and T4, which also include a matching subwoofer, the T10). These surprised me very positively, and I am eager to test them further: excellent in tone and realism, something not common in an active speaker (as they have built-in amplification).

HIGHLIGHTS ON OFF

+ Extensive catalog with a local warehouse (fast availability)

+ Outstanding sound quality of the new Reference Series

+ Well-structured product range in terms of price and sound quality

+ Many configuration or application options, from simple sound setups to advanced THX cinema rooms

+ Excellent Studio Series T6 and T4 active monitors

SPECIFICATIONS

TYPE: Passive speaker cabinets for audio and cinema installations (the “IW” models are “In Wall” for installation), more details at www.uandksound.com

Home Series: Includes the M3 models (M310 single-module, M320 two-module, and M330 three-module, plus the M800-II subwoofer) and the M5 models (M500SR two-way, M520LR and M530C three-driver, and M1000SW subwoofer), in addition to the active I5 and I6 models.

Cinema Series: Includes the S models (S6-I with three drivers, S6-II with five, and the S1200-I subwoofer), the M6 models (610 N and M610 IW three-way, M620 N five-driver, M600 IW two-way, and the M1200 N subwoofer), and the M8 models (M820 IW three-way, M850 N five-driver, plus the M1500 N subwoofer). Also, the new Reference Series (M1200LCR two-way, M800SR three-driver, and M1800SW passive subwoofer models).

Studio Series: Compact active monitor speakers T4, T6, and the T10 subwoofer.

Custom Series: For ceiling or wall installation, models E610IW, E620IW, E610C, and the E1200I subwoofer.

Retail Price Range VAT incl. (from €209 for the E Series to €3,605 for the Reference Series).