Tribit StormBox Review: Pint-Sized Powerful Sound

Tribit’s StormBox speaker is the latest device to be released by the company. Packing some impressive sound into its diminutive chassis, Tribit has produced a speaker that remains portable while delivering on those all-important sonics.

With the Maxsound+ and the XSound Go Bluetooth speakers already under its belt, I put Tribit’s StormBox through its paces to see what it was capable of. I wasn’t disappointed.

A Slimline Soundbox

The first thing you’ll notice when you remove the StormBox from the packaging is its small, slim silhouette. It is a slender little device and at only 7.08 x 2.68 x 2.68 inches its footprint is minimal wherever you decide to place it.

The main body of the speaker is covered in a familiar black speaker mesh, with the Tribit brand on the front, nestled neatly below the large control buttons. There is a “volume +” and a “volume -” button, represented by their respective mathematical symbols in white rubber. There is also a multi-function button between the two. Each button makes a satisfying click so you know you’ve activated it.

The multifunction button has a number of operations depending on the gesture you use. Play and pause is controlled by a single click of the button. To skip to the next track it is a double click, while a triple-click will play the previous track.

You can also answer calls with the multi-function button. A single click answers and ends a call. Rejecting the call is simply a matter of two presses. Depressing the button will activate your smartphone’s voice assistant.

A quick spin round to the back of the StormBox and you’ve got the power button, which illuminates when the speaker is switched on. Moving down the unit there is a four-dot battery indicator, below which sits the Bluetooth connection button. Below that is the XBass button for ramping up the bottom end. Finally, there is the rubber-sealed recess that houses the aux jack and the micro-USB port for powering up the device.

The top and bottom of the speaker are capped with sturdy rubber bumpers, which will protect the speaker itself if you drop it, while also protecting the 45mm branded bass drivers that sit at each end of the device.

There is also a rubber carry strap that connects to the top of the speaker. This is great for carrying the device in your hands, hanging it from a hook, or for quick and easy removal from your backpack. Suffice to say, the overall look of the speaker is fairly standard as far as portable devices are concerned, but that is in no way detrimental to the overall aesthetics of the StormBox.

Take it With You, Anywhere

As I’ve mentioned, the StormBox is eminently portable. Weighing in at only 1.2lb (535 g) it is a fairly light speaker considering the volume it is capable of producing. This means you can pop it in a bag (it should even fit in a side pocket if your backpack has them). You could even use the carry strap to attach it to the outside of your bag for sound on the go!

Because it has an IPX7 waterproof rating, taking the StormBox to the beach, park, or just around the pool, won’t be a problem. The speaker can withstand temporary submergence in up to three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about a sudden downpour or if your speaker decides to take a dip with you. You can even use it in the shower.

Thanks to the Bluetooth technology, you’re free to wander up to 66 ft away from the device without breaking the connection between your smartphone and the speaker. This gives you even more freedom as you enjoy your music. I tested this range in an outdoor space and found it to be approximately correct.

Tribit suggests that the battery can squeeze out around 20 hours of playback. There’s a caveat to this, though. As with all portable Bluetooth speakers, this depends on the volume of playback and the audio content. So, if you’re playing music with a lot going on, at full volume, you won’t get this sort of battery performance.

I played various different DJ mixes, in several styles, from SoundCloud for five hours while I worked. At around 60% volume (which is still fairly loud), the battery indicator had dropped one light, so I’d say the battery lasts the 20 hours that Tribit claims, caveat considered.

There is also the ability to daisy-chain two speakers together via one smartphone. This means you can enjoy multi-room 360-degree sound or amplify the sound in one room using the two speakers set apart. Unfortunately, I was unable to test this function as I didn’t have a second StormBox to link up.

So, How Does it Sound?

When I initially unpacked the StormBox and noted its small frame, I didn’t expect the sound to be as great as it was when I started beaming music to it. Heading to my testing playlist, I force-fed the speaker some Danny Brown, The Hypnotist, Ghost BC, and Michael Aryapetyan. This gives the speaker a wide range of sonics to tackle and helps a great deal in evaluating the device.

Throughout the testing playlist, I didn’t notice the 360-degree sound from the StormBox falter once. Trebles sound nice and crisp, without the tinny sound that some portable speakers ruin your top-end with. The mids are clear and well-defined, too, which is ideal for music with lyrics as these operate within the mid-range.

The bass is where the StormBox really stands out, though. Now, I like my bass with plenty of depth and even on its default bass setting, it was capable of delivering a rich bottom-end. However, a quick click of the XBass button and the bass opens up in an almost cavernous manner.

Despite this bass boost, the lows remain clear and don’t overpower the mids or trebles. The two 45mm drivers wobble in a most tremendously pleasing way when music is playing at full volume and XBass is active.

Should You Buy One?

If you want a relatively no-frills portable Bluetooth speaker that genuinely delivers some impressive sound, then the Tribit StormBox should be flying into your shopping cart as we speak. Its waterproof rating and 66 ft range makes it a great portable party-starter for a price that won’t rip through your wallet.

The Tribit StormBox is a fantastic little speaker and comes highly recommended here. If you’d like to shop around a bit before making a decision, check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers for your bathroom.