In recent years there has been a category of speakers that has been constantly growing, namely those for use in home or outdoor parties. A sort of modern boombox, with high volume and audio power with technological features capable of improving the quality based on the content played. The Tribit StormBox Blast is the largest portable speaker I have ever reviewed so far but above all the most powerful, smart and really tacky with the many RGB LEDs that go to the rhythm of the music. Portable is perhaps not the right word considering the weight, but I will tell you everything in detail in this review.
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On offer on Amazon
Package Contents
The packaging is impressive, immediately showing the image of the product but above all it eliminates any doubt about the dimensions, truly enormous. Inside we find the speaker itself, together with a power cable and a multilingual manual, including Italian. We find nothing else in terms of accessories but honestly I don't see which ones we could have associated with this majestic speaker, indeed yes, perhaps a shoulder strap would have been the icing on the cake, but no big deal.
Battery life
Tribit advertises a battery life of 30 hours, a value that I can assure is realistic. We are talking about a large 3,6 V 2200 mAh x 9 / 71,28 Wh battery, which also allows you to charge other devices, using the USB-C port integrated into the back. We can therefore have uninterrupted music playback, without fearing that our smartphone will run out of battery in the middle of a party. Using the charging cable, the battery reaches full energy in about 3,5 hours. In any case, we can also use the speaker while it is powered by the mains and therefore have practically infinite playback of multimedia content.
How does it sound?
I tested this huge Tribit speaker using it with various sources, such as smartphones, desktop PCs but also with AUX connection to an MP3 player and to the TV, simulating a sort of soundbar. It is immediately surprising that there is no background noise when there is no content playback, no hiss, no buzz and this is not something to be underestimated.
It is difficult to determine whether the 90 W figure indicated by the manufacturer is realistic, but the StormBox Blast certainly knows how to make itself heard. I tried this speaker at full volume and at a distance of over 70 meters I could still clearly hear the sound released. Furthermore, at maximum volume the sound is not distorted but I would point out that even at minimum volume you can clearly appreciate the musical contents, in a medium-sized room. The sound signature of the Tribit StormBox Blast is rather “mainstream”, with high bass and highs and relatively soft mids.
The bass is definitely powerful, deep enough to sound bold and strong, not to mention the peak they reach thanks to the XBASS audio profile. The voices are relatively balanced and in terms of detail, all the frequencies are well reproduced with excellent quality. Speaking of audio presets, through the companion app, available for both Android and iOS, you can use some preset audio profiles but also create customized ones based on your musical taste. We also find the AudioBook mode that enhances the voices, ideal if you want to relax by listening to Podcasts or audio books.
Specs and companion app
The Tribit StormBox Blast only offers compatibility with the SBC codec via its Bluetooth 5.3 connection. There are no higher quality codecs available, not even AAC which is usually found on most products, but despite this the audio reproduction is exemplary and excellent. What is appreciated is that the Bluetooth module allows you to connect two devices at the same time. Of course, considering the size of the product, we do not have a microphone supplied, therefore both voice commands and calls cannot be managed on this speaker.
The LEDs (32 of them) can cycle through four different modes, from off to effects that go to the beat of the music with different colors. The effect is beautiful and visible even in bright light conditions. The Tribit speaker is more than a speaker; it is also a sight to behold. The StormBox Blast is IPX7 certified, which makes it usable even by the pool, on the beach and in other environments where there is a lot of water around, although it is probably a good idea not to get it wet with sea water, as salt has a nasty habit of corroding everything.
English: Mind-boggling measurements for a speaker, namely 40 x 16 x 23 cm (approximately) and 5,45 kg, which do not allow for comfortable portability, but fortunately the company has equipped this speaker with a comfortable handle, which balances the weight and makes transport less tiring at least over short distances. From a purely design point of view, the Stormbox Blast has a rather aggressive look, with a central section covered by a grille and two LED strips on the sides. The upper part has the aforementioned handle, under which are the various buttons for interacting with the speaker (on, pairing mode, volume down, volume up, volume up, light effects and XBass switch). The sides house two bass radiators, while the back has a grille that makes it symmetrical to the front, plus a rubber cover that hides all the connectors: there is a USB-C port, an input for the power cable (of the two-pin, 8-digit type) and an aux input. It should be noted that the USB-C port only serves as an output: it allows you to charge other devices using the speaker's huge battery, but has no other functions.
Speaking of drivers and power, the 90W are released by: 2 30W Midwoofers, 2 15W Tweeters and 2 passive radiators. Available we find the companion app, which I have already anticipated a few lines above. In any case, through it we can update the firmware, enable an automatic shutdown, enable a sound prompt and much more.
Final houghts
The Tribit Stormbox Blast is an impressive portable speaker, but its weight and size are justified by its high build quality and above all by its sound output. Ideal for livening up parties but also for relaxing with audiobooks or background music. The current price on Amazon is €159,99 by redeeming a coupon from the purchase page and at this price you should not let it slip away. Versatile, robust, beautiful and damn powerful, so if your mother-in-law starts to bother you you can "silence" her with a concert at home.
On offer on Amazon
