Does it accomplish that to make it worth its midrange cost? In short, yes: It can handle those tasks and more. The sound can be a little harsh or unrefined in some contexts, but the small speaker can get much louder than you would expect without sounding terrible. It’s a great portable speaker to keep in the car or in a backpack for whatever kinds of adventures come your way.
TL;DR
Pros:
Plenty of battery life for an entire day of useLoud volume for its small physical sizeThe strap is handy without getting in the way
Cons:
Sound can be rigid and forced at times
Buy at Tribit.
Tribit StormBox Micro 2 Features
What does the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 offer? The most notable features come in the form of a petite size and shape along with a silicone strap that the company says is tear-resistant. Both of these things are in service of this being an ultraportable, do anything speaker.
Its IP67 water-resistance rating means means the StormBox Micro 2 can be submerged in 3 feet of water for about 30 minutes. This is another notch for it being suitable for carrying along.
Its least relevant feature, in my opinion, is its ability to link multiple speakers together. This can provide a left and right stereo sound or a single “party mode” option. I think this type of feature is better suited for speakers meant for home use. Carrying and needing to charge multiple speakers doesn’t make much sense to me in the context of portability. Personally, I’d probably spend a little bit more on one bigger speaker that has an even louder or more robust sound rather than link up multiple units.
Charging happens via a USB-C port. The battery should last for about 12 hours of audio playback. I had no problem with getting a full day of listening out of the speaker. Tribit also really emphasizes that the speaker’s output power can provide surprisingly good levels of bass. I would agree.
Pros and Cons of the Tribit StormBox Micro 2
There are certainly better sounding speakers than the StormBox Micro 2. There are also plenty of small speakers—in various shapes. What I’ve come to really like is that the size, sound and price all work together to make this speaker a great value.
As far as sound is concerned, the StormBox Micro 2 gets plenty loud indoors, even around the 50 percent volume level. Outside, I felt self-conscious about disturbing my suburban neighbors with the volume approaching 75 percent. The small speaker can get plenty loud. I feel confident that you could use this speaker in the backyard next to a pool to provide a summer soundtrack for people splashing around.
Of course, the StormBox Micro wouldn’t provide the best-sounding music at a pool party. A JBL Charge 5 speaker will do better. And a Sony SRS-XG500 would be the best with rich and full bass—but those options start at least triple the price. The StormBox Micro 2, however, can provide a decent enough sound outdoors, and most of the time songs don’t feel disappointing. The bass and low-end frequencies aren’t engulfing by any stretch, but they are present.
The bass sounds the speaker does try to pound out can be a little harsh at certain times. Kick drums and electronic beats can lack the reverberance that high-end speakers may be able to offer, for example. But I think that is to be expected. It’s hard to fault this low-cost, small speaker, because it still performs well above its price point. While it could handle an afternoon pumping out tunes next to the pool, I think it will be the most useful in scenarios like biking, hiking, picnicking and other times away from your house.
In practice, I do really like the silicone strap the speaker incorporates into its design. It’s more versatile than a clip and generally useful. I didn’t try to test the strap’s strength, but I did manage to stretch it to fit a fence pole that was about 1 inch in diameter. It worked great for positioning it in places I couldn’t put other speakers.
The more time I’ve spent with the StormBox Micro 2, the more I’ve come to appreciate all the ways it can accommodate the situations you would need it for. It can even work as a speakerphone with a built-in microphone.
Should You Buy the Tribit StormBox Micro 2?
Context is everything for this Tribit StormBox Micro 2 Bluetooth speaker. Its size dictates that it can be packed away in a travel bag, and its features allow it to survive wherever you do end up traveling. Its sound quality is also much louder and fuller than you could ever get from a phone or tablet.
Even if it was closer to $75, this speaker would still be a decent purchase to travel with. As it stands though, its occasionally dipping lower than its $59.99 price means that it’s an excellent value for all kinds of people with all different circumstances.
The speaker is available for preorder and will be sold starting February 24, 2022.
Buy at Tribit for $59.99.
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