Compact Bluetooth speakers have their place, but occasionally you need something with a bit of heft. The Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 certainly offers that.
Tribit’s self-proclaimed purpose is to make high-quality audio accessible to all, and in many ways, the Stormbox Blast 2 delivers. Not only is it powerful, with a 200W combined output that includes an 80W subwoofer, dual 45W mid-range drivers and two 15W tweeters, but it is probably the best party speaker tested here in a long time. Not only does it deliver on great audio, it adds in some party lights and a karaoke option just for laughs.
But it’s bit less portable than the name suggests. At just under 8.7kg, it’s a weight to carry around, and it isn’t easy to wrestle. The idea that you might carry this along when you head off for a hike, as Tribit’s website suggests, seems a bit far-fetched.
Hiking wasn’t on the agenda for this review, but toting it around the house was enough; it was too awkward to carry for any length of time.
Tribit StormBox Blast 2 review: Great audio, party lights and even a karaoke option
Leap Sit Stand desk review: Counteract your sedentary work lifestyle at the touch of a button
Homebot Ireland Glider review: A home cleaner that (mostly) takes care of itself
PS5 Pro review: Stunning graphics come with a premium price tag
The Tribit speaker lived up to every other promise, however. It was easy to get started with too. There is a Tribit app that you can use to set up the speaker, customising everything from the light effects to the sound.
But you don’t really need the app for the speaker’s general use. On the top of the device, you have a panel of controls for power, Bluetooth, volume, bass boost and lights. There is a multifunction button that can play, pause and skip through tracks, depending on how many times you tap it, and a TWS button that will link it with a compatible speaker to create a chain of wireless speakers, all playing the same audio source, either as stereo speakers or in party mode. You can use the speaker without ever opening the app.
Where the app does come into its own is for customising the speaker. Once you have that downloaded, you can use one of the preset equaliser options to get the best sound for whatever audio you need, or tweak the settings via the custom option to get a personalised sound.
A single charge will give you 30 hours of play time without having to top it up
All in all, the speaker produces some good sound. Its bass is punchy, without being too overwhelming, and Tribit has also included its X-3D technology that creates a more immersive sound.
It is not just for wireless connections, however. On the back of the device is a small covered panel that contains the AC power connection, the microphone inputs and controls, aux connection and USB ports for both type A and type C. That USB C port can be used for charging the device, too, although it is far slower than the AC option. If you need to power up in a hurry, you shouldn’t rely on the USB.
The mic inputs are for the karaoke sessions, with a reverb option if you want to step things up a notch. You can connect up to two mics via the wired inputs on the back – the device works with wireless Bluetooth mics too – and crank up the reverb to really belt out the tunes.
Because it is billed as an outdoor speaker, it is no surprise that it comes with some form of protection. It has an IP67 rating, so you can take it outside without worrying it will get water damaged. However, that is dependent on you remembering to close the rubber cover over the back panel tightly when you are around water or in a humid environment.
As for battery life, a single charge will give you 30 hours of play time without having to top it up – if you want to stick to 50 per cent volume and no lights. Even at higher volumes and with the lights on full blast, you will still get hours of listening out of it, enough to do an all-day party or an outdoor session, without having to hunt down a socket.
Good
Battery life is excellent, even if you like your audio on the higher side and prefer to have the light show switched on.
The control over the sound balance through the app is welcome. While the presets are good to have, especially if you aren’t sure what you want, the custom EQ will allow you to have the granular control to customise sound to your own preferences – not what the manufacturer has decreed.
The speaker also doubles as a karaoke machine, with dual inputs for two mics on the back of the device. Volume for each can be controlled separately too.
Bad
Out of the box, the sound is fine, but connecting it to the app will give you more control over the finer points of the sound. You can opt for one of the presets in the app – boosting or reducing bass, optimising it for audiobooks and so on – or you can tweak it yourself with the custom equaliser.
While it can charge via USB C, a full charge can take a bit longer than you’d like – several hours more, in fact.
Everything else
The lights are handy for a party, but irritating if you want to listen to an audiobook or podcast. Luckily, you can turn them off, either through the app or with the controls on the top of the speaker.
Verdict
The perfect party speaker.
