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REVIEW: UFi UCubes - compact, portable USB powered speakers that actually sound good - Page 2

post #16 of 26
9/4/11 at 11:05am

Actually the DTA-1 uses a less powerful TA2024 in which case a cheaper TA2020 would always be a better buy but yes by the time you can spend $40+ and if in USA i would look at receivers/avr in craiglist beerchug.gif If space is issue rather than throw $150 away just stick to cans and a USB DAC IMO

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post #17 of 26
9/4/11 at 11:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by trog View Post

Actually the DTA-1 uses a less powerful TA2024 in which case a cheaper TA2020 would always be a better buy but yes by the time you can spend $40+ and if in USA i would look at receivers/avr in craiglist beerchug.gif If space is issue rather than throw $150 away just stick to cans and a USB DAC IMO


It's not a better buy if it dies on you within a few months though. Not to mention the aesthetic issue, which I admit some people can happily overlook.

 

In any case, the UCubes fill a certain niche. They work very well within that niche, and they don't have a ton of competition there either. Am I saying they are the absolute best sound you can ever achieve for $150? No. But they do sound surprisingly good when used in the proper context (near-field), and they have a lot of other factors going for them as well. That's certainly enough to justify their existence on the market. 

 

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post #18 of 26
9/23/11 at 6:05pm

Well, I wound up purchasing the UCubes for the office.  I could not be more pleased.  Really small footprint and sweet sound.  Crazy-good for something that is USB powered. FWIW, the IC that connects the speakers to each other looks different than those in the review (not a transparent  look), but I do not think it is a big deal.  Now I wish I got a bigger SSD on my MBA.  What a terrific travel set-up.

 

I also got the Soundmatters Foxl 2.2. (non BT). Wow!  For its small size -- and it is even smaller than I imagined -- it sounds very, very good.  And it is "bigger" and deeper sounding than I expected.  Not cheap, but totally unique.  Runs off battery for 5 hours or AC.  This will definitely be a travel staple for me, too.

 

Now, if UCubes comes up with a powered speaker system, I will jump on that too.

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post #19 of 26
9/26/11 at 7:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Il Mostro View Post

Well, I wound up purchasing the UCubes for the office.  I could not be more pleased.  Really small footprint and sweet sound.  Crazy-good for something that is USB powered. FWIW, the IC that connects the speakers to each other looks different than those in the review (not a transparent  look), but I do not think it is a big deal.  Now I wish I got a bigger SSD on my MBA.  What a terrific travel set-up.

 

 

That pretty much sums it up. I think a lot of people will overlook these things as a toy, which is indeed kind of what they look like in the pictures. But they really do have a lot to offer. Not the last word in overall frequency response, but what product is at this size and price? Like you, I'm enjoying mine quite a bit. 

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post #20 of 26
1/24/12 at 9:24pm

 

Really liked the in-depth review of the Ucubes.

 

One correction, the BMR drivers are not 3 inch but much smaller drivers.

 

I listen to mostly the music you mention that sounds good on these speakers and they would really make for good travel speakers?

 

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post #21 of 26
1/24/12 at 11:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by project86 View Post



I haven't heard the A2 so I can't compare. But they clearly go for different markets so it's not like they are direct competitors anyway.

 

As for your PartsExpress system.... I'm not sure I'd mess with that amp. The speakers are probably decent but not for nearfield listening on a small desktop. That's just my opinion of course. 

 

 

Thank you for the review, very informative. Attractive looking speaker no doubt.

 

I'm wondering though about your comment about the AE/UFi products not sharing a similar end user. Both are small desktop speakers that were really aimed at Apple users whether it is the iPod (AE) initially or the Macs (UFi) now.

 

The UFi are USB powered though which makes them attractive as a transportable option but I wonder how they compare to the A2 sound wise.  If they can perform closely then AE might have something to worry about as both offerings will be sold at Apple stores and I think some people will choose the UFi based on aesthetics alone, especially with iMac users. 

 

Smart business move though to aim them towards the Apple crowd, make them attractive and price them $50 cheaper.

 

Competition is always good for the consumer in the end.

 

Interested to hear some more impressions on the uCubes.

 

 


 

 

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post #22 of 26
1/25/12 at 12:14am

Funny/cheesy marketing video though ... what's with the creeper at the swimming pool and the old guy at the jungle gym? Surely they could of found some better spots to shoot at.

 

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post #23 of 26
1/25/12 at 9:43am
Thread Starter 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by bsl100 View Post

 

Really liked the in-depth review of the Ucubes.

 

One correction, the BMR drivers are not 3 inch but much smaller drivers.

 

I listen to mostly the music you mention that sounds good on these speakers and they would really make for good travel speakers?

 



I do think they are three inch drivers. Tyll at InnerFidelity took his a part, and you can see the picture in the review I linked to. The view is from the rear, but it appears that the driver goes nearly from edge to edge. The entire thing is over three inches, so the driver should be roughly three. Of course, when you see speakers claiming 5 or 6 inch drivers, those aren't always exact either, but close enough.

 

Yes, thes are great for travel, as long as you can keep from scratching up the pretty finish. 



Quote:
Originally Posted by mtkversion View Post

 

Thank you for the review, very informative. Attractive looking speaker no doubt.

 

I'm wondering though about your comment about the AE/UFi products not sharing a similar end user. Both are small desktop speakers that were really aimed at Apple users whether it is the iPod (AE) initially or the Macs (UFi) now.

 

The UFi are USB powered though which makes them attractive as a transportable option but I wonder how they compare to the A2 sound wise.  If they can perform closely then AE might have something to worry about as both offerings will be sold at Apple stores and I think some people will choose the UFi based on aesthetics alone, especially with iMac users. 

 

Smart business move though to aim them towards the Apple crowd, make them attractive and price them $50 cheaper.

 

Competition is always good for the consumer in the end.

 

Interested to hear some more impressions on the uCubes.

 

 


 

 


Thanks! I guess I meant that the USB only aspect of the cubes mean that they don't compete for the exact same customer. Both being small inexpensive speakers, they are somewhat competing no matter what. 

 

 

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post #24 of 26
2/18/12 at 12:12am

Ipod Classic (lossless) + HRT iStreamer + Yamaha MSP5 Studio

 

You can't get a better sounding and more compact system that that for less that $1,000.

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post #25 of 26
2/21/12 at 10:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mauricio View Post

Ipod Classic (lossless) + HRT iStreamer + Yamaha MSP5 Studio

 

You can't get a better sounding and more compact system that that for less that $1,000.



That's arguable, but what does it have to do with these $150 compact USB powered speakers? 

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post #26 of 26
2/22/12 at 6:49pm

Nothing, I think.  Come to think of it, I must have written that comment in the wrong thread.  Sorry.

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