Storm in a speaker: Tribit StormBox Micro 2 review

Originally published on What’s the Best

The latest iteration of the popular Tribit StormBox Micro has landed, and boy has it made an impact. Already one of the best budget Bluetooth speakers out there, there's more than enough reason for the hype.

The StormBox Micro 2 is an ultraportable Bluetooth speaker that can pair with other types of the same speaker for stereo or party listening while maintaining sound quality. The original model was great, and they seem to be going from strength to strength with the second iteration.

The last time What’s the Best visited the StormBox Micro was over four years ago, and with the new edition, you can see, hear and feel the changes. As it did then and does now, the speaker risks falling into the relative obscurity that awaits many small Bluetooth speakers, eventually banished to the discount shelf in HMV.

After spending a month testing it every day, reviewer Olivia feels confident that this speaker won’t go quietly into the night and that if Tribit keeps upgrading and updating at the rate it is, it’ll soon be swimming with the big fish in the speaker pond.

First impressions

The first thing I thought when I got it out of the box was, “I was not expecting it to be this heavy”. From the outside, it looks very similar to other Bluetooth speakers like the JBL Go with the now common fabric cover and minimalist button interface, but that’s where the similarities end. The heaviness didn’t lend itself to feeling stodgy but rather sturdy.

Pairing was simple enough, as is with most Bluetooth speakers, and I was immediately surprised by the power this thing packs. It could easily fill a room with the volume it can reach for something the size of a coaster and about 1.5 inches thick. It went so loud that I put it in a different room and closed the door, and even then, it was still at a very comfortable volume. The buttons are simple to use, satisfying to press, and bold enough for anyone to operate them, no matter their tech proficiency.

But how does it really sound?

The biggest draw for the sound for many people is volume, something smaller speakers tend to need help with. Able to reach a whopping 90dB in volume from something so small, it seems almost impossible. Many small speakers struggle to fill a room, whereas this one can handle two with no problem when pushed. Even compared to my old Bose speaker, the Tribit was noticeably louder. The dynamics of this speaker are definitely one of the primary selling points, in my opinion, especially when you can chain it to other StormBox Micro 2 speakers in "party mode".

In saying that, I have a lot of thoughts about the soundscape. This refers to the speaker's frequency range and how well it handles things like bass and higher frequencies. One of the other selling points of the speaker is the bass it delivers. Again, the size defies reason, as the bass response is so deep. With new passive radiators in addition to Tribit's X-Bass technology, this offers a great listening experience for any song with good bass.

However, I do have some qualms with the top end, which is the way the speaker handles higher frequencies. The bass is so good you really notice the weakness in the top-end or something else, but I did notice it didn't shine as brightly as the bass. With certain songs, you could hear the very limits of the top-end being reached, resulting in a bit of crackling at a volume above half. To get around this and to feel like I was getting the most out of the speaker, I had to go into the Tribit app and adjust the EQ there directly. This helped, and while the app isn't forced onto the user, the less-than-stellar balancing is an issue for in-depth listening.

If you're a big fan of Gorillaz or Queens of the Stone Age, this speaker will play your songs perfectly. Even if it's to listen to the radio, it'll suit you well and give you a powerful listening experience.

Extra features

What are the additional features if the great sound isn't enough to sell you on this speaker? It comes packed with little things that make this speaker stand out against similar speakers.

The included strap is strong, and the notch near the end is perfect for quickly releasing it from whatever you have it attached to. The strap is thick enough to feel sturdy without being too difficult to attach to objects. I was even able to use it one-handed in some cases. It would be perfect for attaching to the back of bags or even the handlebars of a bike.

The added bonus of being able to use it as a power bank is convenient, especially if you're taking this speaker out and about with you. If you were to go on a camping trip, this could honestly replace a power bank you might've taken, too, cutting down on space without compromising performance.

In addition, the waterproof feature makes this durable in more ways than one. If you like to listen to music while hiking, need a poolside speaker, or even want something to listen to in the shower, this speaker can be submerged fully in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes, thanks to the IP67 rating. Something to remember is that in testing, it didn't float in water like other speakers, so keep that in mind when using it near deep water.

Any downsides?

Despite the great sound, there are some little things. The box doesn’t advertise the app at all, and until I searched for it, I thought there was no way to tune the EQ. Connecting to the app works well, though there are some issues when connecting multiple StormBox Micro 2s. In party or stereo mode, it can be hard to tell which channel is which and also how to disconnect when it is no longer in use. The button layout is great and simplistic, though it may be too simple.

Speaking of buttons, I was a big fan of the larger buttons on top, especially the centre, for allowing you to skip or rewind tracks and acting as a Siri/Bixby activation button. My only qualm is that there is a significant latency, a few seconds between pressing the button and it taking effect. Though saying that, they are well-placed, and the ability to pause and skip tracks from the speaker and not rely solely on the phone wins some points back from me.

Overall, though, there aren’t too many downsides, and it’s unfair to be too picky when the speaker costs so little. That neatly leads us to the price.

Price and comparison

Regularly retailing for £50-£60, this fits into the market nicely for those who want a bit of premium sound but who also appreciate value. In the box is the speaker as well as a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a premium option that works both for charging the speaker and your phone if you wish to use the power bank feature.

The most similar speakers that come to mind include the JBL Clip 5 and the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, offering a small form factor and promoting hefty bass. The Tribit, however, is the only one that includes a power bank feature, and it is the most portable, in my opinion.

The clip on the JBL is handy, but the strap on the Tribit functions the same way and is a lot less protruding. As for the Wonderboom, instead of being a flat, small speaker like the other two, it is cylindrical, making it harder to fit in a bag than the slimmer options.

In my opinion, the StormBox Micro 2 has found a safe niche where it combines the best things about most speakers in its range, whilst also beating them on price regularly. It definitely has an audience who appreciate it too, but what kind of person would benefit most from it?

Who is it for?

This absolutely feels like a speaker built for the outdoors. Advertisements on the Tribit website show it on bike handlebars, and on the back of hiking packs, and with the IP67 water and dustproof rating, it’s not hard to see why. The strap on the back is what cements it as a speaker that likes to wander, not to mention it’s had its fair share of (accidental) drops while being tested, and still works just as well as it did out the box. Even if you'd rather keep it at home, I found the waterproof feature makes it perfectly suited as a shower speaker.

The battery life is great, but the power bank is what sells it for me. For people who may be hiking or camping, space is precious. By combining a speaker and a power bank into this tiny package, it saves on space and on worry, as there’s nothing worse than being caught without a battery.

The ideal person for this speaker is someone who is going out on a camping trip and likes to have the creature comforts of listening to some music while on the trail. That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be at home in a home setting, as that was where 80 per cent of the testing took place, just that there’s a place where it can really excel over other speakers.

Would we recommend it?

Definitely. 100 per cent. Absolutely. This speaker has been on our radar for many months now, and getting hands-on with it just reaffirms those thoughts. It can fill a room as easily as any speaker, and should you need it, can also fill your battery. If you’re someone who is fussy about their listening like me, then definitely download the app though. You can even customise your own EQ presets and name them, making it the perfect speaker to play your way.

In short, if you’re looking for a new speaker, or even as a present for the active person in your life, this speaker is where you should be looking.

If you like the sound of the StormBox Micro 2 but want something that packs a bigger punch, we reviewed the bigger StormBox 2 and would heartily recommend that too.