review – A year and a half ago, I reviewed Tribit StormBox Micro, calling it the Audio Deal of the Year. I use that little speaker every day, whether I’m showering in the bathroom or washing dishes in the kitchen. It has become part of my daily life. Since that review, Tribit has released a better-sounding speaker at a higher price point, StormBox Pro. As good as that speaker is, I don’t use it every day. It’s bigger and heavier, but not as convenient as the Micro.
No other speaker I’ve used has proven itself quite like the StormBox Micro. I go on to claim that it’s still the audio deal of the year – until now. Tribit has just released the StormBox Micro 2, the successor to the StormBox Micro. Will Micro’s second generation be the new champion?
What is it?
The StormBox Micro 2 is Tribit’s replacement for the original StormBox Micro.new bluetooth speaker Dimensions and weight are the same as before, with some slight but welcome cosmetic changes. Internally, it’s a different story. Almost everything has been upgraded and some features have been added.
you can read the original StormBox Micro Reviews Learn about the features and sound of this speaker.
glasses
- Weight: 0.7 lbs.
- Dimensions: 4″ x 4″ x 1.7″
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Wireless range: 120 feet.
- IP67 waterproof
- 12 hours battery life
- 10 watts of power
- mounting tape
Design and Features
As I said, the StormBox Micro 2 looks the same as the first-generation Micro—except the Tribit enlarged the control buttons and turned them white.Now they are a lot of Easier to see in low light conditions. Again, the functions of buttons are represented by their shapes. Volume down (—), pause (O), and volume up (+). It doesn’t get any easier.
The build quality is as good as the original. There’s the same tough cloth covering the hard rubber base, as well as straps attached to the base for attaching the speaker to the bike’s handlebars, branches, poles, or whatever you can find. In the year I’ve owned the original Micro, I’ve realized how useful a strap can be. Plus, it’s very strong and holds on tight.
The base has been slightly redesigned, the feet are more grippy, and the angled bass port design replaces the holes on the original. It’s subtle but looks cool.
Both the original Micro and the new Micro 2 are IP67 water and dust resistant. That means they can stay under 3 feet of water for 30 minutes and are dust-tight. Plus, they float.
The on/off and bluetooth buttons are in the same place and do the same thing. StormBox speakers can be powered on and off with a quick button press, rather than the long press that many other speakers require. Bluetooth has been upgraded from 5.0 to the latest 5.3. 5.0 Bluetooth is still more than enough, but Tribit is committed to making the StormBox speaker as new as possible.
The StormBox Micro 2 has nearly doubled its battery capacity – from 2600mAh to 4700mAh – increasing its playback time from 8 hours to 12 hours (depending on volume). The addition of a battery allows the Micro 2 to externally charge a smartphone or other USB-enabled device — something the original StormBox Micro couldn’t do.
The StormBox Micro 2 can act as a smartphone hands-free speaker, but I don’t recommend it. Most bluetooth speakers I’ve used double up as external speakers for my smartphone, and they don’t work well, and the StormBox Micro 2 is no exception.
Like the original, the StormBox Micro 2 can be paired with a second StormBox Micro 2 for true left-right wireless stereo or so-called party mode — two speakers play music together, but in mono mode. Setting up the stereo mode is simple. The speakers are paired with each other and assign themselves as left or right speaker without issue.
One downside to stereo or party mode is that the StormBox Micro 2 will no Pairs with the original StormBox Micro. This requires two new StormBox Micro 2 speakers. But hey, for their price, getting two speakers to play true stereo isn’t much of a problem.Plus, two paired speakers sound so Much better than a single mono speaker.
Tribit StormBox Micro 2 now comes with a Tribit app. Apart from a few tips and firmware updates, the app is pretty useless. This is not required.
Just as good as the original 9-watt StormBox Micro, the new 10-watt StormBox Micro 2 sounds better and louder. It’s amazing how much a watt can make a difference. When placed side by side, the StormBox Micro 2’s sound is noticeably richer and fuller. The bass sounds tighter without getting muddy. I’ve always liked the sound of the original music, but honestly, I use the speakers more for audiobooks and youtube audio on my iPhone than listening to music seriously.However, due to its audio improvements, I Might give the StormBox Micro 2 a go at music, not just for background listening.
what do I like
- Same as the original, only better
- Battery capacity almost doubled
- It can now charge smartphones
what would i change
- It will not pair with the original StormBox Micro in stereo mode
- app is unnecessary
final thoughts
How did three bits do it? Not only did they launch the StormBox Micro at twice the price of other speakers, but they also improved in notable ways—and When it’s new, they keep the price the same as the original. The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 speakers are amazing!
Price: $59.99
where to buy: Amazon
resource: Samples of this product are provided by three bits.
