Tribit’s latest Stormbox The Bluetooth speaker is so good for the money, you should probably just buy it. The sound is clear and lively. The design is sleek and waterproof, and the large buttons on its front face, heavily “influenced” by Ultimate Ears speakers, offer simple control. Even battery life is impressive at up to 24 hours per charge.
You can get a sound upgrade and some extra durability by going to more expensive rivals from brands like UE or JBL, but the Stormbox 2 is a killer portable sound machine in its own right. If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, this is among the best Bluetooth speakers you’ll find at this price, and even above.
Rude Familiar
I’m not pointing any fingers, but the Stormbox looks an awful lot like someone put an Ultimate Ears Boom and JBL Flip speaker together in one of Dr. Brundle. To be fair, there are many speakers with a similar look, but the Stormbox series looks familiar.
I’m not complaining, as Tribit’s apparent homage to these two popular portables cleverly combines their best design qualities. JBL-style passive radiators in the Stormbox’s endcaps help produce solid low-end punch, while large control keys reminiscent of Ultimate Ears speakers make playback commands a breeze. I would even say that Tribit improves on the UE design, setting the multifunction control key in the middle for easy access.
Photo: Ryan Waniata
Beneath the Stormbox 2’s dimpled acoustic grille are dual 48-mm drivers powered by a claimed 17 watts each, providing an extra 10 watts of total power over its predecessor. At 7 inches tall and just over 1.5 pounds, it’s about the same size as the Flip and many rivals. It’s not quite as portable as the micro-size Sony SRS-XB100 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), but it’s still very portable.
The Stormbox 2’s IPX7 certification means it’s waterproof enough for a dunk in the pool but doesn’t offer any dust resistance. That’s a minor disappointment since most of the new speakers we’ve tested offer IP67 certification for “complete protection” against dust. That said, I’ve owned an IPX7 speaker for years with no ill effects—you just want to be careful on sandy beaches.
As for aesthetics, the backside control keys and awkward rubber cover for the USB-C charging port are a little cheap, but that’s completely in line with the price. The speaker still feels solid and is generally well-built, sitting a notch above Amazon’s no-name options.
Solid Extras
Tribit’s latest is well-armed on the feature front, including modern conveniences like the ability to pair with a second Stormbox 2 and extended wireless range of up to 150 feet via Bluetooth 5.3, doubling the previous model. The latter claim held up well in my line-of-sight testing, providing plenty of range for getting around your next outdoor gathering. There’s even a 3.5-mm input and onboard microphone for taking calls, options that many pricier speakers drop.
Photo: Ryan Waniata
