STEREO GUIDE verdict
The Tribit StormBox 2 delivered a powerful performance in the review with comparatively rich bass and clear, natural voice reproduction. The app with equalizer and sound presets such as “XBass” also performs well. The operation is exemplary. A great little Bluetooth speaker for the comparatively low price.
Advantages
- Clear, well-balanced voice reproduction
- Rich, clean bass for the price and size
- Tribit app with usable equalizer
- Hands-free microphone for phone calls and analog AUX input
Disadvantages
- No color selection as with JBL
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Tonal balance / transparency7.3
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Bass / Dynamics6.8
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Ease-of-use / Connectivity9.2
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Price/Performance9.3
We have already reviewed several of the StormBox series from Tribit and found them to be good – from the mini Bluetooth box StormBox Micro 2 to the 5.5 kilogram “ghetto blaster” StormBox Blast. Compared to these two, the new Tribit StormBox 2 looks very conventional, even if the perfectly labeled control buttons immediately indicate a certain functionality.
According to Tribit, the Bluetooth speaker, which can be used standing or lying down, is supposed to offer an immersive 360-degree surround sound experience. Well, as an experienced hi-fi critics who has also reviewed surround systems for VIDEO magazine for many years, this is a promise that cannot be kept without listening. Not from the Tribit StormBox 2, nor from any other speaker designed in this way. Immersive actually means that you feel like you are in the middle of the action, with the music and the audience grouped around you like in an arena at a live concert. As a well-known children’s book author would say: surrounded by reality. This cannot be achieved with a single loudspeaker – not to mention the small format.
No cheap seats thanks to 360-degree sound
What can succeed, and what competitors have already achieved, is a 360-degree dispersion that makes the speaker sound at least largely identical from every direction. Whether the StormBox 2 succeeds in doing this is something we will look at, or rather listen to, in detail later in the listening test. The prerequisites for this are certainly in place, as the two full-range speakers are arranged on opposite sides of the not quite round housing.
With a peak output of 34 watts as stated in the technical data, the small Bluetooth speaker has plenty of power for its class. Each of its two 4.8 centimeter full-range speakers is driven by a 17 watt power amplifier. For better bass, the two full-range speakers are supported in the lower frequency range by two passive radiators arranged on the side. The so-called XBass technology is designed to boost bass reproduction at the touch of a button by boosting the lower frequency range.
The arrangement of the two full-range speakers makes it possible to distribute the sound evenly in all directions. This ensures that every listener, regardless of their position, has an equal listening experience.
Runs and runs and runs…
Thanks to the so-called RunStretch technology, the Tribit StormBox 2 offers an impressive playback time of up to 24 hours. In practice, this should easily be enough to listen to music all day long, even at high volumes. This is made possible by efficient energy management, which optimizes power consumption and significantly extends battery life.
The integrated battery consists of two rechargeable 2600 mAh batteries that can be fully charged in around 4 hours. This is particularly practical for outdoor activities, travel or events where there is no charging option.
The speaker uses the latest Bluetooth version 5.3, which offers several advantages. With a transmission distance of up to 45 meters, users can move their devices freely without losing the connection. In my apartment, it was stable no matter where I moved with the iPhone during music playback. Improved signal stability reduces interruptions and latency, Bluetooth 5.3 is more energy efficient, which contributes to longer battery life.
The StormBox 2 supports the Bluetooth protocols A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP and the codecs AAC and SBC. This means that Apple users can stream their music to the StormBox 2 in the standard format of the brand with the apple logo without sound-reducing conversion, while Android and Windows users have to make do with the standard SBC codec instead of being able to enjoy the higher-quality aptX. However, this is not really an issue in this class, as the speaker itself sets sound limits. For analog sound sources, there is even a 3.5 mm jack socket next to the USB-C charging port.
Want stereo?
For an even more intense sound experience, the speaker features a TWS mode (True Wireless Stereo). This allows you to two StormBox 2s together to create a true stereo sound experience.
The Tribit is protected according to IPX7 waterproof certification. It can be submerged in water up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes. This makes the StormBox 2 ideal for use at the pool, beach, on hikes or other outdoor activities. Its carrying strap also comes in handy.
Three large, perfectly color-coded buttons for volume and playback control (start / stop / skip) on the front of the small Bluetooth speaker ensure easy operation. There are illuminated buttons on the back for less frequently used functions such as Bluetooth pairing, on/off switching or the XBass boost. The LED indicators integrated into the buttons provide information on battery status, connection status and sound mode. The Tribit has a hands-free function. A built-in microphone allows calls to be answered directly via the speaker. Not even the much more expensive JBL Flip 6 offers this feature.
The Tribit StormBox 2 is supported by the Tribit app, which downloads an update from the cloud after the quick. After quick and easy pairing, the app first downloads an update from the cloud. This update takes between five and ten minutes. Then features such as the 7-band equalizer with Tribit’s typical sound presets, which, as with the StormBox Micro 2, are optimally matched to the technical requirements of the Bluetooth speaker, are available. This brings us to the listening test.
The affordable speaker can be heard
After connecting the StormBox 2 to my smartphone and pairing it with the Tribit app, I was literally amazed by the bass. The speaker placed on the desk sounded much more voluminous and grown-up than you would expect from a small Bluetooth speaker in this price range. Tribit also achieved a good tonal balance in the mid-high range. You can hear voices with a decent degree of naturalness. Thanks to the 360-degree dispersion, the treble sounds as clear from the rear of the Bluetooth speaker as it does from the front. At most, there is a slight loss of transparency and resolution from the side. Even without the switchable bass boost, the beats come out of the small speaker with a rich and contoured sound.
With “XBass” switched on, the StormBox 2 pushes very hard at the lower end of the frequency range – especially if the volume is only turned up to around 70 percent. After that, dance tracks can seem a little strained. From around 80 percent, the electronics fade out the bass slightly to counteract the overloading of the small drivers. This can give high female voices in particular a slightly cool aftertaste, but this is not an isolated case, but rather the rule. I say this to be on the safe side, because even fellow reviewers complain about this from time to time with comparatively inexpensive Bluetooth speakers. No hi-fi critics would think of turning the volume control on the amplifier of a stereo system all the way up, even if it costs tens of thousands of euros.
Tribit StormBox 2: Conclusion and alternatives
In comparison with the Marshall Emberton 2, which costs a good twice as much in the shops, the affordable Tribit performs very bravely in the listening comparison, even if it lacks a little finesse in the treble and a little depth in the bass. Only above 70 percent of the maximum volume does the StormBox 2 sound less balanced with increasing level, but more strained than the particularly elegantly designed competitor. Considering the price, this is a solid performance for the very practically designed Tribit.
Compared to its predecessor, the Tribit StormBox 2 has a whole range of useful improvements to offer: The battery runtime increased from 20 to 24 hours with the same battery capacity, while at the same time the power of the two amplifiers increased from 24 to 34 watts. In addition, the outdated Bluetooth standard 4.2 had to be used, which had disadvantages in terms of range, power consumption and the short time delay between image and sound, which is important for videos. There was also no TWS mode to pair two Tribit StormBox 2s to form a stereo pair. Furthermore, there was no app for the predecessor. Tribit has thus given its second-generation StormBox a really comprehensive upgrade at the same recommended retail price.
Technical data Tribit StormBox 2
- Manufacturer’s recommended retail price: around 70 euros
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 6.9 x 18 x 6.9 cm
- Weight: 700 g
- Battery life up to 24 hours
- Features: IPX7 waterproof, rigid carrying handle, LED light organ.
- More at: www.tribit.com
