Verdict
The Mitchell Acoustics uStream Cube is a compact wireless Bluetooth speaker pairing, prioritising simple connectivity and a clean design. The balanced sound and stripped-back feature set suit everyday usability over brute force volume or gimmicks. They won’t rattle windows, but for desks, kitchens and smaller rooms, it delivers easy-listening performance that feels thoughtfully tuned
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Clean, balanced sound for its size
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Attractive, understated design
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Simple setup and operation
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Compact footprint ideal for desks and shelves
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Limited bass extension
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No companion app or EQ
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Not designed for large rooms or parties
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RCA would have been ideal for monitors
Key Features
Introduction
Wireless bookshelf speakers are having a moment thanks to salivating launches from the likes of Cambridge Audio and KEF, but a small batch British brand that may have escaped your radar is Mitchell Acoustics.
Founded by namesake Paul Mitchell, an experienced audio designer and music producer, it offers Bluetooth speakers of various sizes and even the odd wireless turntable. I’m focusing on its baby uStream Cube setup.
Aiming to give the likes of Ruark, Kanto and Edifier a run for their money, the smallest model in the range is designed for near-field listening, smaller rooms and spaces where a full hi-fi system would be overkill.
With no app-based EQ or native smart assistant integration, the question is whether simplicity here feels helpful or merely basic, especially when wireless sound is via Bluetooth only.
If you value clarity, understated looks and a plug-and-play approach to wireless audio, the uStream Cube is about to set its stall out.
Design
- Compact and discreet
- Minimalist aesthetic
- Solid, unfussy construction
The uStream Cube is a small, boxy speaker setup with clean lines and a deliberately understated look. There’s nothing flashy here aside from some rather fetching orange gold speaker cones.
Piano black wooden veneer cabinets feel utilitarian rather than refined, but the build quality is reassuring and blends nicely into modern interiors. There are no fabric wraps, no RGB lighting, and no other finish options. One for the purists, then.
Controls are kept deliberately minimal, with a backplate of buttons on each speaker cabinet that includes all ports, and an aluminium remote featuring a mildly irritating screw opening. Alternatively, volume and content can be dabbled with from your chosen Bluetooth device.
Features
- Straightforward Bluetooth connectivity
- No apps, no accounts, no friction
- No cable between speakers
The uStream Cube sports proprietary 4-inch magnesium-alloy drivers with 20oz neodymium magnets. The idea is to bolster the low end, given there’s no room for a subwoofer.
Like a pair of earbuds, the uStream Cube uses True Wireless Stereo (TWS) to connect its left and right channels without a connecting wire. Each speaker requires a mains connection with a pretty bulky power adaptor.
Using an external adaptor makes it easier for the speakers to function with the various power standards in different regions, and also reduces the weight of the speakers themselves, but it does make tucking away cabling that bit trickier.
Speakers don’t get much simpler than this. To connect wirelessly, it’s Bluetooth or nothing. Pair the left and right speakers with each other, then your phone, tablet or laptop and start playing. Pairing confirmation comes via audible alerts in a rather splendid British accent, too.
Bluetooth 5.3 is as solid as it comes, and with no app or bloated functionality to concern yourself with, it’s unlikely a firmware update will ever be needed. Nonetheless, you’re reliant on a USB service port rather than over-the-air updates.
The TWS connection remained pleasingly stable throughout testing, and I suffered no Bluetooth dropouts during playback other than when wandering outside a reasonable range.
While the uStream Cube can be used alongside Alexa or Google Assistant via a connected phone, it doesn’t support native smart-speaker integration or true multi-room audio in the way Wi-Fi speakers do.
The inclusion of an HDMI ARC input makes the uStream Cube perfect for smaller TVs, gaming setups, and computers. Optical would have been nice, while DJs and producers would love RCA, but this can be bridged with the 3.5mm aux in.
Using HDMI ARC with a TV is equally simple by selecting the right mode from the speaker control panel or remote. There’s no HDMI lead bundled in the box, but hey, fair enough.
Sound Quality
- Balanced, natural tuning
- Clear midrange presentation
- Bass is tidy rather than thunderous
The uStream Cube’s sound signature leans towards balance rather than blistering booms. Vocals sit clearly in the mix, acoustic instruments sound natural, and there’s a pleasing sense of cohesion across the frequency range. Bass is present, but understandably limited by the compact enclosure.
You get definition rather than depth, making it well-suited to gaming, podcasts, acoustic music, jazz and lighter electronic tracks, but less convincing with overly bass-heavy genres, so lay off the dubplates unless it’s for DJ cueing purposes only.
Treble is clean without becoming sharp, and there’s enough detail to keep long listening sessions engaging without fatigue. For a speaker of this size, the overall presentation feels considered and mature.
Volume levels are more than sufficient for personal listening or filling a small room, just don’t expect to blow away bigger groups, either in the home cinema or house party stakes. Used as intended, the Cube feels composed and controlled.
There are compromises. An app-based EQ would be useful, as although some Bluetooth devices, streaming services, and TVs do carry this functionality, a turntable does not.
Should you buy it?
Yes, life is complicated enough
If you’re after compact wireless speakers that prioritise clarity and ease of use over raw power and functionality for the sake of it, the uStream Cube fits the bill nicely
No, I need all the dopamine
If multi-room, smart assistant integration and fiddling around with features are your vibe, you’ll find the uStream Cube too basic to push your buttons.
Final Thoughts
The Mitchell Acoustics uStream Cube doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to wireless bookshelf speakers, and for many, that will be enough of a lure. Everything is in the right place, there’s just not that much of it.
Instead, the speakers focus on doing the basics properly: clean sound, attractive design and friction-free usability. It won’t impress at a house party, but on a desk or shelf, quietly soundtracking your day, it’s a likeable and capable little setup.
At £349, it’s a competitively priced system, but faces incredibly stiff competition from the Cambridge Audio L/R/S, Ruark MR1 Mk3, and Kanto Ren, all at £399 per pair.
How We Test
The Mitchell Acoustics uStream Cube was evaluated across four weeks in multiple configurations.
Testing was conducted primarily via Bluetooth and HDMI ARC, with an iPhone 16e, Mac Mini, MacBook Air, Philips OLED TV, and Xbox One S. Any EQ presets were handled via devices and streaming apps such as Apple Music.
Music selection spanned classical, jazz, hip-hop, electronic, and rock. Home cinema testing included dialogue-heavy dramas, action films, music content and 4K HDR streaming content. Spoken word via BBC Sounds.
- Tested over one month
- Bluetooth, TV, and traditional stereo configurations
- Tested with Apple Music, BBC Sounds, and HDMI
FAQs
Yes, provided the turntable has a built-in phono preamp or you use an external one. Connection is handled via Bluetooth or the 3.5mm auxiliary input. There is no dedicated phono stage built into the speakers.
No. The uStream Cube does not use a companion app and does not offer built-in EQ adjustment. Any tone shaping or EQ must be handled by your source device, streaming app, or connected TV.
The uStream Cube is ideal for near-field listening, desks, bedrooms, kitchens and smaller living spaces. While it can fill a small room comfortably, it’s not designed for large rooms or party-level volumes.
Full Specs
| Mitchell Acoustics uStream Cube Review | |
|---|---|
| UK RRP | £349 |
| Manufacturer | – |
| Size (Dimensions) | 150 x 180 x 200 MM |
| Weight | 3.6 KG |
| Release Date | 2023 |
| Driver (s) | 4-inch magnesium-alloy drivers with 20oz neodymium magnets |
| Ports | HDMI ARC, AUX in via 3.5mm mini-jack, USB-A (service only) |
| Audio (Power output) | 70 W |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Colours | Black |
| Frequency Range | 30 18000 – Hz |
| Speaker Type | Active Speaker |
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
