Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox. It ranks #93 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $68; the Sony SRS-XB30 ranks #104 and costs $199, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Sony SRS-XB30: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. The catch: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20.
On the Tribit Stormbox side: IPX7 water resistant, dual pairing for stereo setup, excellent battery life (20 hours), instant on/off buttons, 97dB max volume. Watch for: Muffled sounding, treble dips from 5khz-12khz.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB30 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony SRS-XB30. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB30 | Tribit Stormbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $68 |
| Ranked | #104 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #93 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | 52Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g | 1.2 lbs / 535 g |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.7" (180 x 68 x 68 mm) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | No |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Output Power | 20W | 20W |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 45mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Max Volume | 95dB | 97dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 0ms |
| EQ | - | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 166ms |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Sony SRS-XB30: $199
Pros: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume).
Cons: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20
Full Sony SRS-XB30 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Tribit Stormbox: $68 Amazon
Pros: IPX7 water resistant, dual pairing for stereo setup, excellent battery life (20 hours), instant on/off buttons, 97dB max volume
Cons: Muffled sounding, treble dips from 5khz-12khz. Listening from the front is the worst frequency response, lay it down facing up with xbass off for the smoothest response. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Tribit Stormbox review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 166ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.7" (180 x 68 x 68 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 97dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 535 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: All Tribit Speakers Compared - Maxsound Plus, Stormbox, Xsound Go, Maxboom More from alanrossreviews →
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- Reddit Search for Tribit Stormbox Review
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