Short answer: the JBL Go 5, if you are buying new. The Tribit Stormbox Micro ranks higher than it (#5 vs #24 of 47 small speakers, 4.3/5 vs 3.2/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the JBL Go 5 is still sold new at $39.95.
The Go 5’s problems go beyond a small price premium. Its cons describe an audible growling artifact from mono downmixing (the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6), weak off-axis dispersion, an uneven upper-mid-heavy balance, and a max volume that just gets harsher rather than louder. Its own notes call it not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights, and say it still falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Stormbox Micro 2.
The Stormbox Micro measures close to neutral, with one real caveat. Its pros call it quite neutral with only slight hollowness in the mids, but its cons note it gets murky and slightly sharp near max volume as the boosted bass starts to distort, and its down-firing passive radiator needs a flat surface underneath or the bass gets muffled.
The Stormbox Micro’s own pros text recommends its own successor: it explicitly suggests spending the extra $10 for the Stormbox Micro 2, which goes louder and deeper. If you are shopping today rather than hunting for old stock, that is worth factoring in before chasing this specific model.
Buy the Go 5 only if you specifically want AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking, USB-C wired input, or Auracast, none of which the Stormbox Micro offers.
Buy the Stormbox Micro if you can find it, or better yet its successor the Stormbox Micro 2, for meaningfully more neutral sound at the same price point.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Tribit Stormbox Micro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $40 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) | 0.7 lbs (295 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.4" (99.1 x 99.1 x 35.6 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 48mm NdFeB |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | 13W |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 180ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Tribit Stormbox Micro compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Minirig Mini vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 5: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. USB-C wired audio input.
Cons: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. Still lacking bass and not very clear overall. Mono downmixing produces an audible growling artifact, the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6. Falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. Weak off-axis dispersion and an uneven, upper-mid-heavy tonal balance. Doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher.
Full JBL Go 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Tribit Stormbox Micro: $40 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Quite neutral. Slight hollowness in the mids. Built in strap is super useful for attaching it to things. Highly recommend spending the extra $10 for the Micro 2 which goes louder and deeper. To have it aimed directly at you unclip the strap and the speaker will sit upright with a slight lean back. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Gets murky and slightly sharp near max volume; boosted bass distorts when pushed loud. Down-firing passive radiator needs a flat surface underneath or the bass gets muffled. Discontinued and no longer sold new; superseded by the Stormbox Micro 2. Discontinued.
Full Tribit Stormbox Micro review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 13W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 180ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.4" (99.1 x 99.1 x 35.6 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 48mm NdFeB |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (295 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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