Tribit Stormbox 2: Great Sound, Better Price

Tribit’s latest Stormbox Bluetooth speaker is so good for the money, you should probably just buy it. The sound is clear and peppy. The design is hearty and water-resistant, and the big buttons on its front face, heavily “influenced” by Ultimate Ears speakers, offer simple control. Even the battery life is impressive at up to 24 hours per charge.

You can get a sound upgrade and some extra durability by going with pricier 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 stretch your dollars, it’s among the best Bluetooth speakers you’ll find at this price, and even above.

Rugged Familiarity

I’m not pointing any fingers, but the Stormbox looks eerily like someone put an Ultimate Ears Boom and JBL Flip speaker together into one of Dr. Brundle’s telepods. To be fair, there are a lot of speakers sporting a similar look, but the Stormbox series sure looks familiar.

I’m not complaining, as Tribit’s apparent homage to these two popular portables cleverly blends their best design traits. The JBL-style passive radiators at the Stormbox’s endcaps help produce solid low-end punch, while the large control keys that recall Ultimate Ears speakers make playback commands a cinch. I’d even say Tribit improves on UE’s design, setting a multifunction control key at the center for easy access.

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

Under 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, its size slots in nearly identically to the Flip and a slew of rivals. It’s not quite as portable as the micro-size Sony SRS-XB100 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), but it’s still plenty easy to take along.

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 new speakers we test offer IP67 certification for “complete protection” against dust. That said, I’ve owned an IPX7 speaker for years with no ill effects—you’ll 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 feel a tad cheap, but that’s perfectly in line with the price. The speaker still feels tough and generally well-made, sitting a cut above no-name Amazon 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 wandering around your next outdoor get-together. There’s even a 3.5-mm input and onboard microphone for taking calls, options many pricier speakers have dropped.

Photograph: Ryan Waniata