STEREO GUIDE Verdict
The Tronsmart Trip wants to be the best cheap Bluetooth box with 10W and good design. However, it had one weakness in review: The voice reproduction was a little bit rough.
Pros
- Decent bass reproduction for this class
- Relatively long battery life
- Analog AUX input and hands-free microphone
- Chic and waterproof housing
Cons
- plenty of rough, tinny voice reproduction
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Tonal balance / transparency3.8
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Bass / Dynamics5.9
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Usability / Connectivity8.9
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Price/Performance8.5
At well under 30 Euros, the new Tronsmart Trip is not only the cheapest Bluetooth speaker we have reviewed so far. It also offers surprising technical specifications and a form factor that the market has never seen before: an elongated, flat Bluetooth bar with the dimensions of a modern smartphone, only many times thicker. It may be a bit too long for the handbag, but otherwise it is really excellent to accommodate.
Trip or Clip, the fabric-covered design says it with a wink: it’s aimed at those interested in the JBL Go 3 or JBL Clip 4 but would like more battery life and sound volume. To avoid confusion, “Tronsmart” is then also written in large rubber letters on the fabric covering.
The manufacturer promises a maximum battery runtime of 20 hours. And that really is a confident statement in the mini Bluetooth speaker sector. Competitors only manage 5, 8 or at best 10 hours. It is also IPX7 waterproof, making it especially recommended for the pool party or camping.
Low price, many options
Besides the latest Bluetooth 5.3, an analog input via 3.5 mm jack is also available as a playback option. Like the USB-C for charging, it sits behind a small cover. The card slot known from other Tronsmarts was left out in the Trip, but it is rarely used anyway. The operation has also been simplified. There is no longer a source selection, the AUX input has priority.
This has also significantly simplified the operating logic compared to the much too complicated Tronsmart T7 Mini. The basic functions can be mastered without further study of the user manual. Only when stereo pairing, skipping titles or little-used tricks like rejecting phone calls do you have to remember which button to press a bit longer.
The features are somewhat reduced compared to the other Tronsmart Minis, but still better than the competition: Besides stereo pairing, there is also voice assistant activation as well as hands-free calling.
Mono with four sound sources
The Tronsmart Trip is equipped with a pair of full-range speakers on the left and right front. They are driven by a 10 watt power amplifier and obviously get a mono signal. That makes perfect sense with these dimensions.
In addition, there are two passive radiators for bass support. One sits in front between full-range drivers, one on the back. This is also the reason why the trip should always be on the narrow, long side. If you lay it flat, the sound would suffer during louder low-frequency pulses and it could move on the base during strong pulses.
Even if Tronsmart repeat it in the data sheets over and over again: We still don’t believe the 20Hz bass response from a speaker that is only 4 centimeters thick.
The colors are lifestylish: Besides black and gray, there are bright red and blue, as well as orange and camouflage. We find the fact that both charging cable and analog audio cable are included in the scope of delivery really commendable in view of such a low price.
This is how the Tronsmart Trip sounds
The Trip was also able to impress in the sound test. For its price and size, it produced a powerful sound with a comparatively rich and differentiated bass. The draught can hardly be topped in this class, either. The same goes for the hearty maximum levels. In short: The Tronsmart Trip sounds particularly grown-up in the competitive field.
So far, so good. However, these spotlights on the trip also cast large shadows. The voice reproduction stands out from the sound picture: Especially in this important point, the Tronsmart is one of the worst in its class and even has to admit defeat against much smaller Bluetooth speakers like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. The unclean, really tinny aftertaste is all the more negative because the bass plays in a different league than the midrange and treble reproduction.
Conclusion and alternatives to the flat Tronsmart
The Tronsmart Trip is relatively unique on the market in terms of form factor: like a large smartphone, only thicker. With that, it just about runs in the “mini” class for us and competes with other flat-packers like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. It has the advantage of a very long battery life and a low price, especially for this environment. However – and that’s why the Trip couldn’t convince us in the end – its harsh, thin voice reproduction puts a huge spanner in the alleged high-flyer’s works in the decisive sound test.
Technical specs Tronsmart Trip
- Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: 26 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D ): 17 x 8.1 x 4 cm
- Weight: 328 g
- Battery life up to 20 hours
- Features: AUX input, IPX7 water protection, stereo pairing, hands-free speakerphone.
- More at: www.tronsmart.com
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