Is the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 Worth Your Money?
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 emerges as a solid choice for anyone seeking a budget-friendly, durable Bluetooth speaker designed for outdoor use. While it's not built to deliver high-impact, booming sound for large gatherings, it excels as a reliable companion for background music during outdoor activities. Its dual functionality as a power bank adds a practical edge, making it especially useful for long outings where extra battery power might be needed. The speaker’s design with being robust and ready for the elements, along with easy Bluetooth connectivity and a handy strap for portability, underscore its suitability for outdoor adventures. Despite its limitations in sound quality indoors and with certain music genres, the Micro 2 stands out for its overall value and versatility, making it a worthwhile investment for casual listeners and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
The Good
- Robust Build: IP67
- Portable Design
- Power Bank
The Bad
- Sound Quality Indoors
- Power Button Design
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Durability and Design
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Sound Quality
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Functionality and Features
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Value for Money
Recently, I discovered Miekii, a Twitch streamer and bike messenger who navigates the bustling streets of New York City delivering DoorDash. It’s an entertaining experience to be able to see the busyness of Manhattan without being there.
One of his money makers is his unique streaming hook of letting viewers use Twitch Bits to request songs on Spotify, which softly play from a speaker mounted on his bike. This interactive feature enriches his stream with continuous live entertainment, delighting not only hundreds of online viewers but also the countless New Yorkers he passes by during his deliveries.
Ever since Apple decided they wanted to kill off the 3.5mm headphone jack, the use of Bluetooth speakers is a trend that is here to stay and investing in a good one can significantly enhance your daily experiences.
In my opinion, everyone should have a dual-speaker setup: one for home use and another designed for travel and outdoor adventures, be it hiking, lounging at the beach, or biking through the city.
Music has the power to transform these activities, making them infinitely more enjoyable. Personally, I find that listening to LoFi Girl’s stream on YouTube sets the perfect tone for my workday.
In this overview, we’ll explore the Tribit StormBox Micro 2, a robust and compact Bluetooth speaker that is perfect for outdoor adventures. With summer just around the corner, let’s dive into why this speaker might be the next great addition to your portable audio arsenal.
Welcome to my detailed look at the Tribit StormBox Micro 2.
Design
The design of the StormBox Micro 2 is crafted to handle the rigors of adventure with its robust, square design that easily fits in your hand.
This portable speaker is encased in a tough combination of rubber and nylon mesh, available in three sleek colors: matte black, blue, and red. My personal choice, the black model, offers a subdued, discreet appearance that draws less attention, ideal for blending into various settings.
Atop the Micro 2’s nylon mesh surface, you’ll find three large, tactile buttons that manage volume and phone connectivity, enhancing user interaction without complication.
Below these controls, the front side houses the power and Bluetooth connectivity buttons alongside a 5-LED battery indicator, providing clear, at-a-glance status updates.
Despite its rugged construction, one design choice by Tribit that puzzles me is the exposed USB-C charging port. While the port itself is resistant to water, dust, and small particles, the lack of a protective plug might seem like an oversight, though it doesn’t significantly detract from the speaker’s overall resilience.
The speaker has a noticeable heft at 0.6 pounds, which underscores its durable build. The lower portion is sheathed in the same rubber as the base, equipped with grippy rubber feet that secure the device on almost any surface, preventing slips and slides.
A standout feature of the StormBox Micro 2 is its integrated rubber strap. This durable, stretchable strap is designed to attach securely to bike handlebars, backpacks, carabiners, and other typical outdoor gear, though it struggles with thicker objects like water bottles.
From my experience with Tribit’s lineup, their commitment to quality is evident, and the StormBox Micro 2 is no exception.
It’s a well-sized, resilient speaker that’s equipped to withstand tough conditions. Whether you’re hitting the beach, cycling, or working outdoors, the Micro 2 is a reliable companion that promises performance and durability.
Functionality
When testing a new product, my first step is always to prepare it for a week’s worth of thorough evaluation. This was exactly my approach with the StormBox Micro 2.
Initially to my surprise, upon connecting it to my Anker power bank, the speaker began charging the power bank instead of the other way around! This revealed an exciting dual-functionality of the Micro 2 in that it can serve as a power bank itself, providing a convenient boost to smartphones and other USB-C devices on the go.
Turning on the StormBox Micro 2 is straightforward, you simply press the power button, not a long press. This design choice, however, can lead to accidental shutdowns if the button is pressed unintentionally, a potential hassle in active use scenarios.
Hooked up to my Samsung Galaxy S22+ via Bluetooth 5.3, the speaker plays auditable tones to indicate connectivity. With the music started the volume and play/pause controls on the speaker directly manage phone settings, an integration I prefer for seamless user experience.
Despite being a mono speaker, the Micro 2 impresses me with its loudness capabilities. Users can easily pair with another unit through Tribit’s app to create stereo sound, enhancing the audio experience significantly.
Boosting 10-watts of power, the mono speaker Micro 2 sounds fairly alright and is tuned with a downward-firing subwoofer for added bass, which helps compensate for its mono output.
My music test included a mix of classic rock and contemporary tracks via YouTube Music. Indoors, the speaker sounded a bit tinny, reducing the quality of the listening experience.
However, outdoors, such as while mulching around my house, the performance improved providing a pleasing backdrop with adequate volume and sound quality. When you’re not expecting the highest quality of an indoor speaker, the Micro 2 shines better with its mono approach.
The design features like its attached strap make the Micro 2 exceptionally versatile for outdoor activities, easily attaching to bikes, backpacks, or other gear. It’s clear that this speaker is optimized for outdoor use, as its indoor performance didn’t quite meet the same standard.
Furthermore, with an IP67 waterproof rating, the Micro 2 is resilient against rain, pool splashes, and dust giving that worry-free listening in various environments.
Its impressive 12-hour battery life and reverse charging capability ensure it can support a full day’s adventure without missing a beat.
Overall, the StormBox Micro 2 is a commendable outdoor-focused speaker. While its performance with classic rock was less than perfect, its robustness and functional design make it a reliable choice for outdoor enthusiasts looking to add a soundtrack to their exploits.
My Final Thoughts
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2, priced attractively at $60, strikes a fine balance between affordability and functionality. This speaker has quickly become a go-to for me, whether I’m heading out on vacation, packing for a day trip, or simply doing chores around the yard. It’s rugged enough to handle the rigors of travel and outdoor use, yet stylish enough to not look out of place at a casual gathering.
Its main limitation with its mono output means that while it won’t be the star of a party with booming, immersive audio, it will serve as a source of background music, adding a pleasant soundtrack to biking excursions or hikes without overwhelming. This makes it ideal for enhancing the ambiance rather than dominating it.
Like other products from Tribit that I’ve reviewed, the StormBox Micro 2 meets the robust standards I’ve come to expect from the brand. It offers a commendable blend of sound quality, durability, and additional features like its power bank capability and easy Bluetooth connectivity. Its IP67 rating for water and dust resistance ensures that it can withstand environmental elements, further enhancing its value for outdoor use.
Given its competitive price point, versatile functionality, and solid construction, the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is a wise choice for anyone in the market for a reliable outdoor speaker. It’s well-suited for anyone looking to enjoy decent sound quality in various settings, making it a practical addition to any outdoor gear collection.
© 2024 Justin Vendette