United Brands GmbH

What United Brands GmbH does

United Brands GmbH is a German professional audio equipment distributor headquartered in Offenbach an der Queich, Rhineland-Palatinate. Founded in 2013 by Wolfgang Garçon as a successor to atlantic audio GmbH (1999), the company has been part of the DV2 Gruppe since 2018 and is led by Managing Director Jens 'Bubbes' Steffan (appointed October 2021). It holds exclusive German distribution rights for 12 premium pro-audio brands, including DiGiCo (mixing consoles), Adamson Systems (loudspeakers), KLANG (immersive in-ear monitoring), Fourier Audio (VST3 plugin hosting), Sound Devices (recorders and wireless), SOWA (wireless speakers), DAD (audio conversion), OPTOCORE, Waves, DiGiGrid, Point Source Audio, and Audiofocus.

The business operates a consultative, sales-led go-to-market model: a 15-person team organized into regional account managers covering North/West, South, South/West, and Central/East Germany, plus a Head of Sales, a dedicated technical support function, and logistics and service partners (Show Sisters Veranstaltungstechnik, audio solutions, SiS.Tronic). Pricing is quote-based with no public list pricing. Revenue is generated through hardware distribution and value-added technical support, with the company positioning itself as a professional interface between manufacturers and end users in segments including live events, broadcast, theater, installation, studio, cruise ships, concert halls, and churches. Reference deployments include Rammstein, The Who, Sarah Connor, Herbert Grönemeyer, Grammy Awards, MTV Music Awards, Super Bowl Halftime, AIDA Cruises, TUI Cruises, Hillsong Church, and multiple state theaters and opera houses.

Name

United Brands GmbH

Legal name

United Brands GmbH

Website

https://united-b.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Brands GmbH is a German exclusive distributor of 12 premium pro-audio brands, including DiGiCo, Adamson, KLANG, and Sound Devices, serving professional end users in live, broadcast, theater, studio, installation, and cruise segments across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Audio Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Electronics and Appliance Retailers (4492)

SIC

Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores (5731)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrument & Pro Audio Retail (Online/Brick-and-Mortar) (MPAIAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pro Audio & Recording Equipment Retail (MI-adjacent) (CRALAEAC), Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX) (MPAIAIAB)

Keywords

• Professional audio distribution
• Pro audio equipment
• Live sound systems
• Mixing console distribution
• Loudspeaker distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Offenbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Audio Equipment Distribution: Revenue generated through distribution of premium professional audio equipment from multiple manufacturer brands to professional end users in Germany. The company acts as exclusive or authorized distributor for major pro-audio brands, generating revenue through product sales with margins determined by distribution agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Brands GmbH is a German professional audio equipment distributor representing 12 premium brands including DiGiCo, Adamson, Waves, KLANG, OPTOCORE, Fourier Audio, Sound Devices, SOWA, DAD, Point Source Audio, DiGiGrid, and Audiofocus. The company acts as a professional interface between manufacturers and end users, providing consultative product selection, regional sales coverage across Germany, and in-house technical support for live events, theater, broadcast, studio, cruise ship, concert hall, and church audio applications.

Product overview

United Brands GmbH is a German professional audio equipment distributor representing 12 premium brands for professional users. The company operates as a platform of distinct product lines rather than a unified product: DiGiCo digital mixing consoles (Quantum, SD, and S Series for live, theater, broadcast and installation), Adamson Systems loudspeakers (IS, CS, S, E, Point & PC Series, and Vergence Group VGt/VGx systems for touring and installations), KLANG immersive in-ear monitoring systems (konductor, vokal, vier, fabrik, kontroller, dmi, quelle), Fourier Audio transform.engine/transform.go VST3 plugin hosting servers, Sound Devices audio recorders and wireless systems, SOWA wireless speakers, DAD audio conversion, OPTOCORE fiber networking, Waves plugins, DiGiGrid interfaces, and REMIC instrument microphones. The company positions itself as an expert intermediary between manufacturers and professional users, providing application-oriented consulting and technical support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DiGiCo Quantum Series Digital Mixing Consoles DiGiCo Quantum Series digital mixing consoles ranging from compact 25-fader models to flagship 52-fader systems with True Solo, Nodal Processing, Mustard and Spice Rack processing features, used for live events, theater, broadcast and post-production.
• DiGiCo SD Series Digital Mixing Consoles DiGiCo SD Series digital mixing consoles offering professional mixing capabilities with optional theater and broadcast software for various venue sizes and applications.
• DiGiCo S Series Compact Digital Mixing Consoles DiGiCo S Series compact digital mixing consoles featuring multitouch screens, Dante connectivity and optional Waves/Automix processing for studio and live applications.
• DiGiCo Installation Products (4REA4) DiGiCo installation products including the 4REA4 multi-zone mixing system and wall-mounted control panels with TCP/IP, GPIO, Midi and Crestron integration, designed for permanent venue installations.
• DiGiCo Racks & I/O Systems DiGiCo rack systems and I/O expanders including SD-Rack, SD-Mini Rack, SD-Nano Rack, DQ/MQ-Rack, Orange Box format converter and DMI cards for various audio protocols.
• Adamson IS Series Installation Speakers Adamson IS Series installation speakers featuring Kevlar Neodymium drivers, Advanced Cone Architecture, and Lake/XTA processing support for permanent installations in theaters, houses of worship and venues.
• Adamson CS Series Powered Installation Speakers Adamson CS Series powered installation speakers with integrated Class-D amplifiers, SlideLock rigging system and network distribution options for commercial and entertainment installations.
• Adamson S Series Touring Line Array Adamson S Series touring-grade line array elements with integrated rigging systems for touring and concert applications.
• Adamson E Series Touring Enclosures Adamson E Series high-output touring enclosures with AutoLock rigging and Kevlar drivers for large-scale concert and festival applications.
• Adamson Point & PC Series Point Source Speakers Adamson Point and PC Series point source speakers for stage monitoring, installation and distributed sound applications with coaxial driver configurations.
• Adamson Vergence Group (VGt, VGx, VGd, VGo) Adamson Vergence Group advanced line array systems featuring wave-shaping technology, transformer-based amplification and cardioid configurations for premium touring applications.
• Adamson Rack Systems (CS Gateway, CS Bridge, CS PDS, CS NDS) Adamson rack infrastructure including CS Gateway (16x16 AVB matrix), CS Bridge (AVB to AES/EBU converter), CS PDS (power distribution), CS NDS (network distribution) and Adamson Switch Ethernet switches.
• KLANG:konductor Immersive In-Ear Monitor Processor KLANG:konductor is an immersive in-ear monitoring processor with 128 input channels, 16 immersive mixes, 3 DMI card slots for Optocore/MADI/Dante connectivity, integrated studio-quality headphone amplifier and 7" touchscreen with KLANG:app control.
• KLANG:vokal Immersive In-Ear Mixing System KLANG:vokal is a 24-input immersive in-ear mixing system with 12 immersive mixes and 64x64 Dante interface supporting 48 and 96kHz with optional vokal+ upgrade for full 64-channel per mix.
• KLANG:vier Immersive In-Ear Monitor Mixer KLANG:vier is a 24-input immersive in-ear monitor mixer with 5 mixes, 4 high-quality analog headphone outputs, 24x40 Dante interface and ADAT compatibility.
• KLANG:fabrik High-Channel-Count In-Ear Monitor System KLANG:fabrik is a high-channel-count immersive in-ear monitor system with 16 analog outputs, optional 64x64 MADI interface, 64x64 Dante interface and redundant power supplies.
• KLANG:quelle Dante-Connected Stage Box KLANG:quelle is a Dante-connected stage box with Ethercon connectivity (Dante/PoE), 4x stereo TRS inputs and low-latency audio routing.
• Fourier Audio transform.engine VST3 Plugin Server Fourier Audio transform.engine is a 2U touring-grade Dante-connected server for hosting VST3 plugins in live sound environments, featuring patented sandbox technology for plugin isolation and automatic restart capabilities.
• Fourier Audio transform.go VST3 Plugin Hosting Solution Fourier Audio transform.go is a compact VST3 plugin hosting solution for mobile live sound applications with Dante connectivity and stable performance for touring.
• Sound Devices Professional Audio Recorders and Wireless Systems Sound Devices professional audio recorders and wireless systems for film, broadcast and field production, now exclusively distributed in Germany by United Brands.
• SOWA Wireless Speaker Systems SOWA high-end speaker systems in the premium segment featuring wireless battery-powered operation with optional FoH module and app-based control for flexible deployment.
• DAD (Digital Audio Denmark) Audio Conversion Systems DAD audio conversion and distribution systems providing highest-level audio conversion and routing for professional broadcast, post-production and live applications.
• OPTOCORE Fiber Optic Audio Networking OPTOCORE fiber optic audio networking infrastructure for redundant, high-bandwidth audio distribution in large-scale touring and installation applications.
• Waves Audio Plugins Waves audio plugins integrated as standard in DiGiCo Quantum consoles and available via Waves DMI cards, providing studio-quality processing for live sound applications.
• DiGiGrid Audio Interfaces DiGiGrid audio interfaces providing Waves-powered audio connectivity for studio and live recording workflows with DiGiCo integration.
• REMIC Instrument Microphones REMIC high-resolution condenser microphones specifically designed for classical instruments including violin, viola, cello, bass, woodwinds, brass and piano with instrument-specific mounting solutions.
• Point Source Audio Microphones Point Source Audio headset and lavalier microphones for professional live and theater applications, now distributed in Germany by United Brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years of successful operation in the pro-audio market

Named customers19 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration22 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered logistics partner, service partner and parent/group company.

• Show Sisters Veranstaltungstechnik GbRlogistics partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2025Logistics partner located in Bitburg (Johannes-Kepler-Straße 9, D-54634 Bitburg). Provides event technology logistics services for United Brands, handling product distribution and logistics operations.
• audio solutionsservice partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService partner for audio equipment maintenance and support. Contact: Holger Schröder, located in Melle (Linker Berg 8, 49328 Melle). Specializes in mixing console service and repairs.
• SiS.Tronicservice partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService partner providing technical support and electronic services for audio equipment. Located at Johannes-Kepler-Str. 9, 54634 Bitburg.
• DV2 Gruppeparent/group companyOthersUnited Brands has been part of the DV2 Group since 2018. DV2 Group is the parent company providing strategic direction and organizational support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mega Audio: German pro-audio distributor covering many of the same verticals (live, broadcast, installation) and representing competing premium brands in the DACH region. Direct competitor for distribution mandates and integrator accounts.
• Thomann: Germany's largest music and pro-audio retailer/distributor; overlaps significantly with United Brands on studio, live and installation customers, though at substantially larger scale and with a broader catalog including competing console and loudspeaker brands.
• Audio Pro Heilbronn: German pro-audio retailer and distributor serving live, installation, and broadcast segments. Comparable business model as a multi-brand pro-audio specialist competing for German integrator and rental-company customers.

Broad incumbents

• Sennheiser: German audio manufacturer with broad pro-audio, broadcast, and studio presence. Operates its own German sales organization and competes with United Brands' distributed lines (microphones, wireless systems) while also potentially being a future distribution partner.
• Lawo: German manufacturer of broadcast and live-audio consoles and routing systems. Competes head-to-head with DiGiCo in broadcast and live segments and has its own direct-sales force in Germany, bypassing the distributor model.
• Yamaha Music Europe (Pro Audio): Japanese pro-audio manufacturer with German sales operations covering consoles, loudspeakers, and installed-sound. Competes with DiGiCo and Adamson in live, theater, and broadcast segments and sells partially through its own distribution.
• d&b audiotechnik: German professional loudspeaker manufacturer with a strong German sales/support organization. Competes directly with Adamson in the touring/installation market and represents a manufacturer-direct alternative to United Brands' distribution model.
• L-Acoustics: Premium French professional loudspeaker manufacturer with global direct-sales coverage including a German subsidiary. Competes with Adamson for high-end touring and installation projects in Germany.
• Shure Distribution Germany: US pro-audio manufacturer (microphones, wireless, conferencing) with direct German distribution. Competes with Sound Devices in broadcast/field recording and with Point Source Audio in headset/lavalier categories.

Others

• Adamson Systems Engineering: Canadian loudspeaker manufacturer for which United Brands is the exclusive German distributor. Listed as an ecosystem 'supplier' rather than a competitor — Adamson's commercial success in Germany is structurally tied to United Brands' distribution performance.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unitedbrandsdistribution

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Brands GmbH