As a teenager in the ‘80s, I remember the boom box era. Monstrous steel boxes with way-too-big speakers hoisted up on some dude’s shoulder, Run-D.M.C. blaring, and parachute pant-wearing teenagers doing their best to pull off a headstand on a cardboard mat. Yeah, small-town Missouri had a lot of wanna-bes. Nowadays, music has become more personal, with smartphones and earbuds replacing big sound systems. Even though they make earbuds, the audiophiles at Tribit know that there’s still a place for portable speakers in today’s world. A few months ago, they sent me over a couple of their portable speakers – their flagship StormBox Blast 2 and the smaller, more economical StormBox Lava – to see if they could find them a home Living In My GameSpace.
The StormBox Blast 2
The Tribit StormBox Blast 2 may not be a giant steel box, but it is still massive for today’s portable speakers. Weighing in at nearly 16 pounds, the Blast 2 isn’t the most portable creature out there. Once you get it to your destination, though, you’ll be glad you took the beast with you.
Sporting an 80W subwoofer, the Blast 2 also packs in two 45W mid-range drivers and two 15W tweeters, giving it a range of 40Hz – 20KHz. It’s so much firepower that you’ll need to plug into an AC outlet to push out the full 200 watts. When relying on the battery, you’ll be limited to a total output of 180W; still pretty strong, but worth noting.
Speaking of the battery, you can expect 36 hours of runtime at 50% volume with RGB lighting and X-Bass turned off. Still, even with the RGB lights going and the volume turned up, I was able to go for hours without ever going below 50% charge. Charging takes about 12 hours via USB-C and 5 hours via AC.
Located at the top of the Blast 2 is a basic control panel. Along with the on/off switch, there are a Bluetooth pairing button, volume controls, play/pause, an XBass on/off switch, and a light switch. Hidden behind a rubber panel on the back of the speaker, you’ll find the AC and USB-C charging ports, and a USB-A port for charging other devices. The back panel also contains two 6.35mm microphone ports, along with separate volume control and reverb for Karaoke functionality. Finally, there is a 3.5mm AUX input for wired input.
Tribit has packed a lot of features into this box. First up are the standards: Bluetooth 5.4 (A2DP and AVRCP protocols) with a 164-foot range, and waterproofing grade IP67 (can withstand 1 meter of water for 30 minutes).
Sound features include Tribit’s proprietary X-3D and X-Bass. X-3D uses a custom algorithm to dynamically expand the soundstage, making audio sound more spacious and immersive. X-Bass does precisely what it sounds like, enhancing the bass frequency in real time to provide a deeper, harder-thumping low end.
The Blast 2 takes the party to the next level with integrated RGB lighting. Two light bars flank the speakers, with additional lights on each individual speaker. Light colors include the typical 16M color range, rainbow, and cycle, with rhythm sync for bass, treble, or both.
All of these features are controlled through the Tribit App. Along with volume, play/pause, next/previous track, and lighting control, you can also choose a variety of EQ presets or create your own 5-band setting.
The StormBox Lava
The Tribit StormBox Lava is a more conservative approach to a portable speaker. The Lava is much more compact than its bigger sibling, taking on a more traditional cylindrical shape. Gone is the built-in handle; in its place are a detachable handle and a shoulder strap. The Lava can be controlled through the Tribit App, but it retains the same top-positioned control panel.
Slimmed down to just 5.07 lbs, the Lava is also less flashy. Gone are the RGB lights, microphone jacks, and other bells and whistles. What’s left is a much more utilitarian device that’s still capable of some serious sound. Even though the Lava’s 80 watts of power – 2 30W neodymium magnet woofers and 2 10W silk dome tweeters – are still loud enough for a day at the pool, its size makes it a perfect fit for smaller, more intimate settings where you don’t want to blow out everyone’s eardrums.
It may be smaller, but the StormBox Lava still packs in a lot of tech. The Lava covers nearly the same range as the Blast 2, at 43Hz – 20KHz with Tribit’s X-Bass enabled. The Lava also features many, but not all, of the Blast 2’s other features, including Tribit App control, Bluetooth v5.4 with a 120-foot range, IP67 waterproofing, and TWS and Party Mode functions. The battery life is a shorter 24 hours at 50% volume, and AC charging is off the table, leaving USB charging as your only option.
Sound Quality – Party Time, Not All The Time
After several months of using Tribit’s portable speakers, I have been impressed by both speakers’ utility. Over the summer, I took both the StormBox Blast 2 and Lava on several trips to the pool, and they both put out enough sound for everyone there to enjoy the music. The Blast 2 received particular attention for its sound quality and RGB effects.
The StormBox Blast 2 also did duty on our Cul-de-sac on the Fourth of July, playing music until the fireworks were done. It shone once again at Halloween, sitting on the porch, blasting our favorite spooky tunes as we handed out candy to the kiddos.
The Tribit StormBox Lava also saw a lot of work. While the Blast 2 quickly took over outside duties – it’s just a more powerful system that can blast music louder and further – the Lava has been our go-to speaker in the house. Our stereo system has the main floor under control, but the Lava lets us cover other floors of our house without making the living room a no-talk zone. And its smaller form factor is perfect for tucking into a corner during small gatherings where super-loud music isn’t needed.
However, both the Tribit StormBox 2 and the Lava have limitations in their use. We are talking about loud, portable speakers here, not audiophile-grade tech. Both are great for parties, at the playground, or taking on a camping trip, but don’t expect to trade in your home stereo system and use either speaker for serious listening. We’re talking more beer and BBQ get-together than listening to Mozart while sipping wine by the fireplace.
The extra oomph of the StormBox Blast 2 delivers a better overall sound than the Lava. You’ll enjoy some pounding bass and decent highs, but it gets a little lost in the mid-range. The Lava, on the other hand, holds its own at lower volume. But as the volume goes up, the bass gets muddy. The mid and high ranges hold up a little longer, but they can’t handle the dial turned all the way to the right either.
If you have to choose just one, my bet is on the Blast 2. It’s more than double the price, but it is worth it. I spend a lot of time outside during the summer, and the Lava just can’t keep up with the Blast 2 in that type of setting. If you’re looking for a more economical speaker and don’t have to crank it up to 11, the Tribit StormBox Lava may be the better choice, especially with snow falling as I write this. Of course, price may be less of an issue with holiday sales in the forecast. Both speakers saw decent discounts during Prime Day and Black Friday, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them on sale again before the end of the season. Maybe you can pick up both.
