Stereo Guide Rating
+ Homogeneous tuning with rich, contoured bass
+ Stable, vivid image with great focus
+ Very good fine resolution and cleanliness
+ HDMI-eARC plus Dolby and DTS decoder
- visual feedback for sound presets not quite intuitively understandable
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Sound: Tonal Balance / Transparency9
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Tone: Bass / Dynamics8.8
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Sound: spatial imaging8.5
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Ease-of-use/Connectivity9.3
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Price/Performance10
Active Nubert boxes have been around for a long time. With the nuPro-X-RC series, a few years ago even a technically and price very ambitious variant was added. With the nuPro SP series, the Swabian speaker specialist now offers two affordable alternatives with Bluetooth interface for floor and shelf placement in the form of the Nubert nuPro SP-500 and the Nubert nuPro SP-200. We have chosen the smaller shelf box for the review because it is particularly flexible in use.
But these two are not simply slimmed-down nuPro-X derivatives, but a completely different concept. Admittedly, the nuPro SP-200 we reviewed, which costs 845 euros, is also an integrated, active complete system with numerous inputs. However, the focus is on playback via HDMI, optical input or Bluetooth, not on wireless streaming and app control. The commissioning of the complete set should be as simple as possible, even when playing back surround data streams. This also makes the target group clear. Nubert’s new one is aimed at music listeners who want a real stereo system next to the TV and don’t want complicated wiring or additional electronic components.
Complete system with master and slave
Technically, it is a stereo pair of 2-way speakers with woofer-midrange and tweeter, both of which are controlled digitally-full-active. This means that each speaker chassis has its own power amplifier. The separation of the frequency ranges is still done on the digital level before amplification. Nevertheless, Nubert placed all the electronics in the right master box. The left slave speaker is powered by a proprietary 3 m cable with four wires. This enables the above-mentioned fully active operation regardless of the arrangement of the electronics module on the bottom. However, this concept can not provide wireless connection between the boxes or swap the wired inputs to the left box.
The Nubert nuPro SP-200’s four built-in switching power amplifiers each deliver 20 watts for the tweeters and 40 watts sine for the woofers. The tweeter, a fabric dome in an efficiency-optimizing sound guide, is already known from the nuPro-X series. The woofer with polypropylene composite cone with 15 centimeters in diameter and long excursion construction is also no stranger. It already proved itself in the narrower models of the considerably more expensive Active series. A digital equalization via DSP, in cooperation with the bass reflex tube on the rear, ensures that a lower cutoff frequency of 46 Hz is achieved. Nubert also linearizes the playback with it. But that’s not all: An 80Hz subwoofer crossover with optional sub-out and a tone control are also built in on the digital level.
The rounded housing is available in either black or white. With a dark gray fabric covering and the rounded, very well finished edges, it brings a touch of Scandinavian casualness to the living room. Other active Nubert speakers look much more technical. And even without a fabric trim, a certain lock remains. The front strings use magnetic force to adhere to the baffle. This eliminates the need for holes in the speaker enclosure, which could detract from the impression.
Many functions, simple operation
The only control and display element is a large knob on the right master box and a round bar graph. Both are used for level adjustment and display. This is practical if the box is to be used as a monitor for large desks. And also when you want to reduce the volume very quickly. Other functions such as input selection can also be performed via this. However, it is even easier with the included infrared remote control. If you use HDMI-ARC or eARC, you can also conveniently use the TV’s remote control.
Dolby and DTS on board
The Nubert nuPro SP-200 offers five different playback options: an optical and a coaxial digital input, an HDMI (ARC and eARC), an analog RCA input and Bluetooth version 5.0 with the codecs aptX HD and AAC. Low Latency is supposed to ensure lip-synchronous sound playback for YouTube videos, for example.
Nubert designed the SP-200 set decidedly as a stereo system. However, it also understands DTS and Dolby Digital data streams if the picture source in home theater use only delivers such signals. The Swabian active speaker solution can also decode stereo PCM up to 96/24, which means that even demanding music listeners who connect a streamer bridge to the digital input can be more than satisfied.
Besides a bass and treble control, there is also an adaptive loudness correction. Depending on the level, it moderately emphasizes the ends of the audible frequency band, especially at very low volumes. This provides good service during nighttime operation, for example. Furthermore, the manufacturer promises a stereo base widening that can be switched on via the remote control. This makes perfect sense if the speakers are placed too close to each other.
This is how convincing the Nubert nuPro SP-200 sounds
If you don’t know Nubert, you might be literally amazed by the gripping, extremely adult-looking performance of the compact speakers, which are only 33 centimeters high. The low-frequency foundation of the two powerhouses alone deserves full recognition. As usual, the experienced developers from Schwäbisch Gmünd used the immense possibilities of active technology to expand the bass very far down via a perfectly tuned equalization. Without overdoing it in the case of the SP-200 with the artificially pulled down low end.
Although the juicy, punchy upper bass had to somewhat hide a principle-related lack of real low bass. But the illusion succeeded just perfectly. What the nuPro SP-200 offered in terms of substance and authority in the lower octaves steals the show from many a passive floorstander. The same goes for the precision and kick. With that, the SP-200 shined with acoustic percussion on tracks like “Watching The Detectives” by Elvis Costello. She also impressed at the same time with massive electro beats in the style of Moloko’s “Sing It Back.” By the way, we used the live version of Elvis. That’s why we were still able to experience the high transparency, the richness of detail, which is unusual for this price range, and also immense fine dynamics.
Stable staging with great focus
The imaging also succeeded very well. Lead vocalists’ voices were always sharply delineated and vivid in space. At the same time, the midrange and treble reproduction of the SP-200 seemed fresh, but by no means cool or obtrusive. In our experience, their volume reserves should easily suffice for medium-sized living rooms with the most diverse programs. Fortunately, these virtues could not only be savored via the digital inputs. Even with Bluetooth from the iPhone, things really took off.
In addition to the bass and treble control, which is disdained by purists, Nubert also provides the sound presets “Voice+” for better speech intelligibility, “Hörizonterweiterung” (note the pun) for a wide stereo effect via the remote control. Depending on the recording, the latter can definitely convey more of a sense of space at live concerts. The visual feedback via the LED display is just a bit confusing. As a “nuComer”, you no longer know which mode you are listening to.
A word about the volume control
Nubert has deliberately decoupled the volume control of its wireless speaker from that of the Bluetooth source. First-time smartphone listeners might be surprised about the quiet start level at first, but that also has advantages in a speaker of this quality. If you control the playback level with your smart device, you reduce the available resolution of the audio signal and thus degrade the sound quality. Android devices also have further restrictions in the control options; Bluetooth transmitters, such as those built into turntables, have no control at all. In order to use full operating comfort and full bit width for maximum playback quality, you should set the volume on your phone to maximum. You can then adjust the level exclusively via the remote control or directly on the Bluetooth speaker.
Conclusion and alternatives to the Nubert nuPro SP-200
As a complete stereo system, the HDMI (ARC) input is likely to be a killer argument for many buyers of the nuPro SP-200. And indeed, such functionality is still rare in this class. We could not yet review the competitor Magnat Transpuls 800A equipped with it. Likewise the speakers of the Monitor Reference series and the Klipsch The Fives. Compared to Bluetooth stereo sets in its price range, such as the Triangle Aio Twin , the Nubert stands out with more and finer treble resolution and the HDMI input.
Nubert nuPro SP-200: Technical specifications
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: from 845 euros
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 18.5 x 33 x 22 cm
- Weight: 5.9 kg (Master)
- Features: HDMI-eARC, RCA, optical S/PDIF input, Bluetooth, Sub Out
- More at:: www.nubert.de
