UB+ E2 review: Spherical Hi-Fi TWS speakers best used in pairs

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8.8/10 rating

We get a lot of review pitches for Bluetooth speakers. Some of them are basic and mainstream and others are different. The UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers are certainly something different, which is why we decided to have a look at them for ourselves.

The UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers are currently being crowdfunded on Kickstarter and have reached their US$10,000 goal. The project has raised US$25,000 as of this review, and there seems to be a good amount of excitement about these speakers. So read on for our full review of the UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers.

Specifications

The UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers have the following features and specifications:

  • Driver: 5.25″ full-range 20W
  • Impedance: 2Ω
  • Bluetooth Version: 5.0
  • Supports: BLE, AVRCP, V1.6, aptX, aptX LL, SBC, AAC, 9DBM(Type)
  • Amplifier: 25W
  • Frequency Response: 45 ~ 18KHz
  • Battery Charging Voltage: 5V (USB Type-C)
  • Playback Time: Approximately 30-hours
  • Inputs: 3.5mm AUX, USB Type-C
  • Dimensions (WxDxH): 265mm/237mm/250mm
  • Weight: 0.98kg (speaker only)
  • Battery Charge Time: 3-6 hours
  • Colors: Matte Black, Matte Aqua, Glossy White, Glossy Lime

What’s In The Box

Early Bird Double Pack Edition

  • 2 UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers
  • 2 Stands
  • 2 Counter stands
  • 2 Leather carrying straps
  • 2 USB Type-C charging cables
  • Manuals and documentation
ub+ e2 TWS Hi-Fi speakers
They look great on the floor stands

Design

To say the UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers have a unique design is an understatement. While I’m certain these are not the first speakers to come in a spherical shape, they’re still very unique in that you don’t see this every day.

When I received the box containing the UB+ E2 speakers, I was a bit shocked at how lightweight the box was. At first, I didn’t think the speakers were included. But upon opening the box, I did find the speakers were inside, and they each weigh just over 2 lbs. That is super lightweight for a speaker.

When you remove the speakers from the box it feels like unboxing a bowling ball. They are about the size of a small to medium bowling ball, but their weight makes them feel cheap. The materials used are actually really nice and don’t feel cheap at all. It’s just the surprise of the weight that gives you that first impression of cheap.

Once you have them out of the box you’re greeted with the speaker grille and nicely done UB+ logo. On the sides of the speaker are strap holders which are used to secure the included leather strap. The strap is nicely made and works great to carry your speakers from one place to another.

There is nothing on the top and bottom of the UB+ E2 but they do include a counter stand. The stand is made of rubber and you can set the speakers on these to keep them from rolling about on a table or wherever. The company also includes a really nice pair of floor stands. These are made from 3 wooden legs and a magnetic base. The bottom of the UB+ E2 speakers have magnets that hold the speaker in place on its floor stand. I wish the magnets were just slightly stronger.

Around the back of the UB+ E2 are your AUX port, USB Type-C port for charging and the volume controls. The company includes USB Type-C cables but no charging brick. It would have been nice to see a charging brick, especially in the two-pack. Around back you’ll also find the subwoofer, which is ample.

The company says the unibody design of the UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers gives it an advantage in the sound department. Combine the unibody with the spherical design and it is supposed to make for good acoustics.

Overall, the design of the UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers is very cool and unique. They are surprisingly light but not cheaply made, they have a high-quality construction just short of premium. They look great in the living room on their floor stands, and they are a conversation starter for certain.

ub+ e2 TWS Hi-Fi speakers
Great for outdoor use in good weather, these are not weather proof!

Ease of Use

The UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers are pretty easy to use. If you know how to pair Bluetooth speakers, that’s all you need to know. Just power the speakers up and hold the power button for a few seconds. This will send the speakers into pairing mode and you can then choose them in your device’s Bluetooth settings.

If you get the two-pack deal, and I highly suggest you do, then you pair both speakers to your device separately. Once you have done that you can pair to one of the speakers and then hold the power button down for a second to activate TWS (True Wireless Sound). Once TWS is active, it will auto-pair the speakers together and you will have both speakers playing your content at the same time. The only other controls are the volume up and down which is self-explanatory.

Overall, these are dead simple to pair to Bluetooth and easier still to pair them together in TWS mode. Anyone should be able to operate these without any issue.

ub+ e2 TWS Hi-Fi speakers
The back with your ports, volume and power.

Sound

So the sound? This is really why you want to buy a pair of speakers. Yes, you might enjoy the look and design but you ultimately want the sound to be great. First, let’s take a look at a single UB+ E2 speaker.

I found the sound of a single speaker on its own was decent, it did a good job of providing balanced mids and highs with a subtle uplifting of the bass. I wouldn’t say it’s the best sound from a speaker that I’ve heard, but it is decent enough and based on the US$99 price, a good value.

Now, where the UB+ E2 Hi-Fi speakers shine is when you have two of them together in TWS mode. This is why I highly suggest you get the double pack and not just a single. Having two speakers paired really elevates the soundstage, and because they are so portable, you can move them around for better stereo emersion.

The highs and mids are still well balanced and the bass still does a good job of holding everything up. With both speakers working together they cover a lot more space and fill up much more of the room.

That all said, turning the volume up past 60% does start to break things down. The bass noticeably loses a lot of its punch and the highs and mids seem to break down a bit. I generally do not push my volumes past 50% so I was never disappointed. I’m really not sure why you would want to go past 60%, but there are those who like it loud.

Overall, the sound here is decent, it’s not the best in the world but for the price you’re paying I think it delivers enough value. The sound can get thin and break up at higher volumes above 60% so be aware of that.

Battery Life

The UB+ E2 Hi-FI TWS speakers have a 30-hour battery life per speaker. I did not do a full drain test on these as I have only had them a week. But I will say I have not had to plug them in since I charged them to full. So overall, I think the battery is going to be good on these.

Price/Value

The UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers are on Kickstarter right now starting at US$99 with the double pack we reviewed starting at US$189. Honestly, given the design, the sound and price, I think these are some good price points. These aren’t the absolute best speakers on the market but they sound really nice and they look really cool.

Wrap Up

The UB+ E2 Hi-Fi speakers are a really nicely designed pair of speakers with a decent sound that matches the price being asked for them. The floor stands really give them a unique look and can be a conversation starter. I prefer the double pack over the single, I think you’ll get more bang for your buck with two of them rather than just one.

We’ve recently heard about several campaigns that we’ve written about which have failed or are having issues. Our reporting on crowdfunding campaigns does not mean we support or are affiliated with them. Support at your own risk.

*We received a sample of the UB+ E2 Hi-Fi TWS speakers for the purposes of this review.

Last Updated on February 3, 2021.

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