Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Flow. Both are rated 3.5/5 for sound quality (#53 and #51 of 144 medium speakers), and the Tribit Stormbox Flow costs $79.99 against $299 for the Sonos Play, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
Why pick the Sonos Play: Genuinely wide, clean stereo dispersion off-axis thanks to the two angled tweeters, holding up from the side far better than most portables. The catch: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
Why pick the Tribit Stormbox Flow: Up to 30 hours of battery life - roughly double most rivals (~20-24 hrs with XBass on). The catch: Not stereo.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Flow. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $219.01 less than the Sonos Play.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Play | Tribit Stormbox Flow | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #51 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #53 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) | - |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) | 7.9” x 3.6” x 2.1” (200 x 91 x 53 mm) |
| Drivers | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters | 60W: 2x 30mm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) | 1.4 lbs (657 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 47Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 400ms aac, 200ms sbc |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 25W |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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
Sonos Play: $299.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Genuinely wide, clean stereo dispersion off-axis thanks to the two angled tweeters, holding up from the side far better than most portables. Loudness processing keeps it sounding full-bodied at low volume. 24-hour user-replaceable battery with an included wireless charging base, IP67 waterproof and dustproof, and full Sonos WiFi multi-room with AirPlay 2 on top of Bluetooth 5.3.
Cons: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app. Sounds boxy and short on clarity next to cheaper competitors.
Full Sonos Play review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Tribit Stormbox Flow: $79.99 Tribit eBay
Pros: Up to 30 hours of battery life - roughly double most rivals (~20-24 hrs with XBass on). IP67 rated with a loose handle for carrying/hanging. Pairs with a second Flow for stereo; USB-C port charges your phone too. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Midrange and bass are weirdly recessed about 4db below 700Hz. You need xbass mode for it to not sound like a clock radio with missing bass. You also can’t turn up the bass enough in the custom EQ modes to get it neutral, so it will sound bass light. Firmware 1.2.3 fixes the distortion issues with xbass mode on, but bass still sounds wobbly and uncontrolled.
Full Tribit Stormbox Flow review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 25W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 400ms aac, 200ms sbc |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.6” x 2.1” (200 x 91 x 53 mm) |
| Drivers | 60W: 2x 30mm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (657 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Flow has deeper bass than the Bose Flex but……….. More from alanrossreviews →
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- Oluv Patreon: Tribit Stormbox Flow - after firmware update More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Tribit Stormbox Flow - sound demo
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