Tribit StormBox Blast

Hardware

A hefty 5.5 kilograms is pulled out of the cardboard box by the sturdy handle of the Tribit StormBox Blast, and you immediately notice: this speaker can take a beating. A rigid plastic frame, front and rear protected by fine metal grilles, a passive radiator on each side to enhance the bass, four chunky feet on the underside, and rubberised buttons on the top for controlling the speaker. At the back, hidden behind a cover, are the power connection, a USB-C port, and an auxiliary-in with a mini-jack socket.

Two mid-bass drivers deliver a combined 60 watts, and two tweeters provide 15 watts each. Two 16-LED light strips on the left and right and two individual LEDs placed indirectly in front of the large drivers create the light show in the dark. Measuring 40.5 x 16.3 x 22.7 centimetres, every centimetre of the Tribit StormBox Blast is IPX7 certified. The speaker can float, withstand rain and splashes, and is therefore well prepared for the “party life outside your comfort zone”.

Function and operation

The up-to-date Bluetooth 5.3 connects the speaker to a source device quickly and easily, maintaining the connection without complaint at over 40 metres in open space. To pair the device and other devices for multipoint use, simply press the Bluetooth button, even while playing music. Holding it down for more than two seconds with two Tribit StormBox Blasts allows you to activate TWS mode – stereo sound across two speakers.

The control panel also lets you manage playback, volume, light show, and XBass. For more fundamental settings such as a sleep timer, updates, EQ, and light customisation, there’s the Android and iOS app. The 9-band EQ makes it easy to tailor the speaker to your listening preferences, while the six existing presets provide a solid starting point.

Lighting can be customised with three modes, slight colour variations, and the option for the flicker to follow bass, treble, or both. It’s nowhere near as varied or playful as the LG XBOOM XL9T, but it works. My favourite is using the light strips to briefly display the volume level.

Sound of the Tribit StormBox Blast

When it comes to bass, there’s little to complain about. The low end is tight, extremely robust, and forms a solid foundation that can make the room vibrate without rumbling. A current track like “Rock’n Roll” by Leony & G-Eazy comes across with punch and clarity. “Echoes” by Tom Walker drives impressively into the chorus, delivering real dynamic fun.

To get the most out of its bass variations, it’s almost unavoidable to engage one of the many EQ presets or hit the XBass button on the device. Set flat, the speaker sounds rather dull. Interestingly, almost every preset noticeably boosts the bass. Mids and highs are also appealing, with a little EQ making the mids full and the highs transparent. The Tribit StormBox Blast focuses on bass, which, over time, can become a bit tiring.

Together with the EQ, however, the Tribit StormBox Blast is a pretty good-sounding portable speaker – just don’t push it to maximum volume. From about five-sixths of the top volume, the bass drops out. At that point, the speaker is already very loud – enough for a party basement (if those still exist) or a barbecue in the park. At quieter, more intimate volumes, the speaker delivers a pleasant and full sound.

Conclusion

The Tribit StormBox Blast does exactly what it’s meant to: deliver powerful, punchy, bass-oriented sound for entertainment indoors and outdoors, with the somewhat uninspired lighting effects adding their share. Thanks to its long battery life, it can go well into the night without mains power, and if one of your source devices runs out of juice, the USB-C port on the Tribit StormBox Blast can be used as a power bank.