The words “Astell & Kern” carry a lot of weight in the audiophile world. Audio equipment from this reputed Korean brand is renowned for delivering premium performance and more often than not, with a premium price tag as well. So when the brand released its UW100 MKII TWS in 2023, not too many were surprised at its USD 280 (around Rs 23,000 price tag, which was actually higher than Apple’s AirPods Pro (review) and Sony’s WF-1000 XM5 (review). Of course, everyone praised their audio quality - many in fact considered them to be the best TWS for audiophiles but that quality came with a very stiff price tag, making them a rather elite proposition. Now imagine getting them for as little as Rs 4,999 (about USD 60) - literally less than a fourth of their launch price? Well, unbelievable though that may sound, it is true. The Astell & Kern UW100 MKII have made their appearance in India and are available at Headphonezone (www.headphonezone.in) at Rs 4,999. And at that price, they are a budget audiophile’s truly wireless dream come true. Perhaps the best audio on a TWS We will say it upfront - the UW100 MKII serve up a level of audio quality that is unmatched not just at Rs 5,000, but even at Rs 20,000. They actually sound as good as and at times even better than the likes of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 and Bose’s new Quiet Comfort TWS series. Those who love bass might find them sounding a little plain, but audiophiles and sound enthusiasts will love the clarity of sound and the level of detail that these slightly oddly shaped TWS deliver. The UW100 MKII come with a Knowles balanced armature driver and a high-performance 32-bit DAC from AKM, the AK4332ECB, which combine to deliver some fantastic audio. You actually get reasonably wide soundstages (something that is often rare in TWS because of the very nature of their fit), and sound with an amazing level of depth and detail that make these perfect for everything from listening to music and podcasts to watching TV series and films. Instrument separation is among the best we have heard on a TWS and we often found ourselves noticing tiny details in our favourite numbers that we had altogether missed! And if you find the default setting of the TWS to be too ‘dry’ or even ‘flat,’ (hey, these are designed mainly for audiophiles, who want 'pure' sound), you can tweak the treble, meddle with the mids and pump up the bass, or even use a setting especially designed for movies in the simple yet powerful AK Control app. The buds also come with support for SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive codecs. If you want audio rich in detail and with a very good balance of frequencies, the UW100 MKII are as good as it gets. A slightly odd design, and no ANC, but still with plenty of flagship flex! That does not mean they are perfect, though. They are a little on the larger side by TWS standards, and have a peculiar, pointy design, although they are not heavy and are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They can also fall out of your ears if you do not choose the right eartip size or push them in deeply enough. And while they come with an excellent ambient mode, they have no active noise cancellation (ANC), which many consider to be a staple feature of flagship TWS. Call quality is also not quite in the class of the AirPods, although that is a complaint that we have with many TWS. None of these can, however, be considered dealbreakers if you consider what the Astell & Kern UW100 MKII bring to the TWS table. They not only serve up some of the best audio we have heard on a TWS across ALL price points, but also come with a simple and surprisingly effective touch interface, and very good battery life of 9-10 hours on a single charge, with the slightly odd-shaped but portable case adding two further recharges. The absence of ANC might annoy some but if worn properly, these buds come with excellent noise isolation, and four levels of transparency that can let in different levels of ambient sounds, depending on your needs. Let's put it this way - they will not kill the sound of traffic around you, but can considerably lessen it and are very good for offices, studios, and even relatively quiet cafes. There is a silver lining to the absence of ANC too - it results in very good battery life (most premium TWS will ANC will give you about 6-7 hours on a single charge at the most). Also on board are support for wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance (making them gym-friendly) and the option to connect two devices at the same time and switch between them. We are going to keep it simple: these are hands down the best TWS you can get in terms of sound, and are an audiophile's dream at their heavily reduced price at Headphonezone (we do not know about their availability on other portals as of now). Just remember to place them properly in your ears and you can sit back and enjoy hours of high-class audio. And that too at a price that is a fraction of its launch price.
