Today, we’re diving deep into the sonic depths of the Tribit StormBox Blast 2, a Bluetooth speaker that promises to deliver an explosive audio experience. We’ll dissect the Tribit StormBox Blast 2’s design, features, and audio performance, leaving no stone unturned in our quest for sonic truth. We’ll explore its technical specifications, delve into the intricacies of its companion app, and, of course, crank up the volume to assess its sound quality across various genres.
Tribit StormBox Blast 2
Design and Features: A Robust Build with a Modern Aesthetic
The Tribit StormBox Blast 2 is a hefty beast, weighing in at a substantial 15.7 pounds. Its dimensions, measuring 18.7 by 10.2 by 7.6 inches, further emphasize its robust build. This is not a speaker designed for dainty hands or delicate sensibilities. Instead, it exudes a sense of power and durability, hinting at the sonic force it’s capable of unleashing.
The speaker’s design is a harmonious blend of ruggedness and modern aesthetics. Its hard black plastic shell, complemented by a textured handle, provides a secure grip, making it surprisingly manageable despite its weight. The perforated grille, revealing glimpses of the powerful drivers within, adds a touch of visual intrigue.
One design element that caught my attention is the absence of a shoulder strap. Given the speaker’s considerable weight, a shoulder strap would have been a welcome addition, especially for those who plan to transport it frequently. However, the sturdy handle and grippy texture provide a reasonable level of portability.
Unveiling the Sonic Arsenal: Drivers and Power
Behind the StormBox Blast 2’s robust exterior lies a formidable array of audio drivers. A chonky 80-watt subwoofer forms the heart of the speaker, delivering the deep, rumbling bass that I crave. This subwoofer is flanked by two 45-watt midrange drivers, responsible for reproducing the rich textures and nuances of vocals and instruments. Finally, two 15-watt tweeters add the sparkle and clarity to high-frequency sounds, ensuring a balanced and detailed audio presentation.
Together, these drivers deliver a combined output of 180 watts when operating on battery power, which is more than enough to fill a room with sound. When plugged into an AC adapter, the power output increases to a staggering 200 watts, further amplifying its sonic capabilities.
Connectivity and Controls: A Versatile Array of Options
The Tribit StormBox Blast 2 offers a versatile range of connectivity options, catering to various audio sources and scenarios. Bluetooth 5.4 ensures a stable and reliable wireless connection with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. For those who prefer a wired connection, the speaker also includes two 6.3mm inputs, a 3.5mm AUX input, a USB-C port, and a USB-A port.
The physical controls are conveniently located on the top of the speaker, featuring eight tactile buttons. The volume controls, consisting of volume down, pause, and volume up buttons, are raised, making them easy to locate by touch. The central “O” button serves multiple functions, allowing you to pause the music, skip to the next track, or return to the previous track.
Adjacent to the volume controls are the Bluetooth pairing button, power button, and battery indicator. On the opposite side, you’ll find the buttons for controlling the lights, XBass, and TWS (True Wireless Stereo) functionality, which allows you to connect multiple speakers for an even more immersive audio experience.
Illuminating the Night: LED Lights and Customization
The Tribit StormBox Blast 2 isn’t just about sound; it also boasts a vibrant LED light show that can add a touch of visual flair to your listening experience. The speaker features three sets of lights: two light bars, a central light, and two side lights. These lights can be customized through the Tribit app, offering a range of colors, patterns, and brightness levels.
The app’s “Light” section provides access to three preset lighting modes, each of which can be further customized. You can tweak the behavior of the light bars, central light, and side lights, adjusting their color, brightness, and responsiveness to the music’s rhythm. The color options include a cycling mode, a rainbow effect, and a color wheel that allows you to select your preferred shade.
Tribit App: Enhancing Your Audio Experience
The Tribit app serves as a central hub for controlling and customizing the StormBox Blast 2’s features. It’s divided into four main sections: Speaker, Light, Equalizer, and Settings.
The “Speaker” section provides essential information about the speaker’s status, including the current battery percentage. It also allows you to adjust the volume, play or pause the music, and skip between tracks.
The “Light” section, as mentioned earlier, is dedicated to customizing the LED light show.
The “Equalizer” section empowers you to fine-tune the speaker’s sound output. It offers eight preset equalizer modes, each tailored to different music genres or listening preferences. Additionally, you can create custom equalizer settings using a 5-band equalizer, allowing you to precisely adjust the frequencies to your liking. These custom settings can be saved and named, providing quick access to your preferred sound profiles.
The “Settings” menu provides access to various options, including firmware updates, auto-shutdown settings, and a factory reset function. You can also enable a visual volume indicator on the light bars, adding another dimension to the speaker’s visual feedback.
Sound and Performance: Unleashing the Sonic Fury
To assess the Tribit StormBox Blast 2’s sound quality, I embarked on a sonic journey across various genres, ranging from blues and rock to classical and electronic music. I streamed music from Spotify, ensuring a high-quality audio source.
At lower volumes, the speaker delivered a surprisingly balanced and detailed sound. The bass was present but not overpowering, allowing the nuances of vocals and instruments to shine through. The soundstage was wide and immersive, creating a sense of spaciousness that belied the speaker’s compact size.
As I cranked up the volume, the StormBox Blast 2 truly came alive. The bass deepened, adding a visceral impact to rock and electronic tracks. The midrange remained clear and articulate, ensuring that vocals and instruments retained their presence even amidst the sonic onslaught. The treble was crisp and detailed, adding sparkle and clarity to high-frequency sounds.
The XBass feature, when engaged, further amplified the bass response, adding a chest-thumping intensity to bass-heavy tracks. However, I found that the XBass effect could be overwhelming at higher volumes, especially in smaller rooms. In such scenarios, I preferred to either disable the XBass or simply reduce the overall volume.
Battery Life: A Marathon of Sound
The Tribit StormBox Blast 2 boasts an impressive battery life of up to 30 hours on a single charge. In my testing, I found that the battery life fell slightly short of this claim, especially when I was listening at high volumes and utilizing the LED lights. However, I still managed to achieve around 20 hours of playtime before needing to recharge, which is more than enough for most scenarios.
Recharging the speaker was a breeze, thanks to its USB-C port. I was even able to recharge it using a portable power bank, ensuring that I could keep the music going even when I was away from a wall outlet.
The Tribit StormBox Blast 2 is a powerful and versatile Bluetooth speaker that delivers an explosive audio experience. Its robust design, impressive battery life, and customizable LED lights make it an excellent choice for outdoor gatherings, parties, and even karaoke sessions. While its bass-heavy sound signature may not appeal to all listeners, those who crave deep, rumbling bass will find it to be a sonic delight.
