UB+ dB1 Doublebass

The hardware

Along with the dB1 Doublebass, UB+ includes a USB-C cable, a leather carrying strap, and a small, height-adjustable metal tripod stand. Thanks to a strong magnet, the dB1 can be placed securely on the stand. The spherical enclosure is made from very sturdy polycarbonate and features a high-gloss, smooth surface. The front is defined by the opening for the 1.5-inch tweeter, protected behind a floral-style grille, delivering 20 watts of power.

On the sides are two passive radiator elements measuring 5.2 inches, which support the internal 4.5-inch woofer with its 40 watts of power, giving the dB1 its “Doublebass” name.

On top sits a click wheel, with strap attachment points on either side, so the 2.4 kg speaker can be carried around easily – outdoors even in rain thanks to its IPX5 rating, and for up to 20 hours thanks to its 2,500 mAh battery. On the back, behind a protective cap, you’ll find the USB-C port and a mini-jack input.

Accessories

The height-adjustable stand is well-made. Assembling the rods reminded me of camping gear, but the maximum height of 62 cm feels a bit short, as you can only position yourself in the sweet spot when sitting down. The magnet on the top plate is strong enough to lift and carry the speaker together with the stand. A nice bonus, though you can of course just place the speaker on a sideboard or shelf.

Features of the dB1 Doublebass

Holding down the click wheel powers on the dB1 Doublebass with a gentle melody. It immediately searches for a Bluetooth connection, and when a device responds, pairing is confirmed by an artificial female voice. A second multipoint source can be added by pressing the click wheel for another two seconds, then pairing. SBC and AAC codecs are supported. The click wheel itself controls only volume and play/pause.

To get more out of the dB1 Doublebass, you should install the UB+ SEEK app for Android and iOS. This simple app allows you to switch Bluetooth sources easily, control playback and volume, and adjust the sound using a three-band EQ with six presets. While functional, a more detailed EQ with more bands would be welcome. The app also allows you to put the speaker into standby and wake it again remotely.

The speaker also works in wired mode – simply plug a stereo mini-jack cable into the input, and it switches with a pleasant doorbell sound. For Hi-Res encoded music, you can load a playlist onto a USB-C stick in MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, APE, or AAC format.

I also connected the dB1 via USB-C to my MacBook Air and iPhone – it worked, even though this isn’t mentioned in the documentation. So yes, the UB+ dB1 Doublebass can receive audio via USB-C from other sources.

Matrix and TWS

Since we had two UB+ dB1 Doublebass units available, I was able to try the Matrix and True Wireless Stereo features. Activating them isn’t entirely intuitive, so it’s worth reading the manual, pairing both speakers, and experimenting in the app.

TWS stereo pairing worked fairly smoothly. Activating Matrix mode – which clones one master unit to up to seven others – required firmware updates for both units and some fiddling, but it eventually worked. The reward: real stereo (TWS) or significantly more output (Matrix).

Sound of the UB+ dB1 Doublebass

In single mode, the compact sphere delivers room-filling, powerful, bass-rich sound without being boomy. Mids and highs stand out nicely from the low-end foundation and can shine with some EQ adjustment – necessary at times, depending on mix, genre, or intensity, as certain frequency areas can dominate. Mids in particular can sometimes push too far forward, dulling the highs.

Once you’ve dialed in the right settings, the dB1 Doublebass delivers an impressive performance. As with most speakers of this size and class, you shouldn’t push it to maximum volume, as the balance starts to fall apart – bass weakens, mids and highs lose their cohesion. Stay within moderate-to-loud levels, and the sound remains fresh, natural, and pleasant, even at lower volumes.

When placed in the center of a room, the listening impression remains surprisingly consistent when walking around it, even though the tweeter faces in one direction. The TWS mode with two units is a highlight, offering an open, transparent soundstage with strong bass, well-placed highs, and wide mids. Here too, some EQ tweaking helps achieve the desired result. In Matrix mode, you don’t get this stereo stage, but you do get more sheer output depending on the number of linked speakers. Overall, the UB+ dB1 Doublebass delivers an elevated listening experience with only minor drawbacks.

Conclusion

Good sound, good looks, good overall package – the UB+ dB1 Doublebass impresses with build quality, design, and performance. In stereo with a second unit, it truly comes alive. With app control and EQ adjustments, this small speaker holds its own sonically, and as long as you avoid extreme volume levels, it’s a joy to use. Some documentation and usability quirks could still be improved.