Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 2 has been measured and ranked among medium speakers; the Tribit Stormbox Max has not been independently measured yet, so until it is, this comes down to features and price.
The case for the Tribit Stormbox Max: A 30W woofer and four 7.5W silk dome tweeters spread around the cabinet for 360° sound, 60W in total against the Stormbox Pro’s 40W.
On the JBL Charge Essential 2 side: A tough, compact 930g speaker with IPX7 water resistance, USB-C charging, a USB-A power-bank output and a claimed 20-hour battery life.
On paper: The Tribit Stormbox Max is rated down to 53Hz against 60Hz, though makers quote these at different tolerances. The Tribit Stormbox Max has more amplifier power, 60W against 40W.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 2 if you want a speaker whose sound quality has been measured and ranked.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Max if you want deeper rated bass and more power, and you can wait for measurements to confirm how it sounds.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Stormbox Max | JBL Charge Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $130 |
| Ranked | - | #37 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 60W (30W woofer, 4x 7.5W tweeters) | 40W |
| App | Tribit | No |
| Battery Capacity | 10000mAh (2x 5000mAh) | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Charging Time | 4 hours | - |
| Dimensions | 203H x 109W x 109D mm | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | Woofer, 4x silk dome tweeters | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (9 band) | No |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast, 100+ speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1184 g | 2.1 lbs (930 g) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~55Hz |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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
Tribit Stormbox Max: $129.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Tribit Stormbox Pro (rated 3.7/5).
Pros: A 30W woofer and four 7.5W silk dome tweeters spread around the cabinet for 360° sound, 60W in total against the Stormbox Pro’s 40W. Tribit rates the response down to 53Hz, and an XBass 2.0 knob adjusts the bass in 1.25dB steps. IP68 dust and water protection, a 20 hour rated battery, and a USB-C port that can charge a phone. Bluetooth 6.0 with AAC, a 9 band app EQ with 6 presets, a built-in mic for calls, stereo pairing with a second unit and Auracast linking for 100+ speakers.
Cons: No independent measurements or tested reviews have been published yet, so its tonal balance, bass extension and loudness can’t be compared with ranked speakers. A single unit plays mono, and stereo needs a second Stormbox Max, since it won’t pair with other Tribit models. Rated battery life drops to 20 hours from the Stormbox Pro’s 24, it weighs 1.18kg against 980g, and the aptX support of the Stormbox Pro is gone. Charging takes about 4 hours on a 5V/3A charger, and the USB-C output is limited to 5V/1A.
Full Tribit Stormbox Max review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W (30W woofer, 4x 7.5W tweeters) |
|---|---|
| App | Tribit |
| Battery Capacity | 10000mAh (2x 5000mAh) |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4 hours |
| Dimensions | 203H x 109W x 109D mm |
| Drivers | Woofer, 4x silk dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (9 band) |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast, 100+ speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1184 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Charge Essential 2: $130 eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, ranked lower, rated 3.7/5.
Pros: A tough, compact 930g speaker with IPX7 water resistance, USB-C charging, a USB-A power-bank output and a claimed 20-hour battery life. It delivers much of the Charge 5’s familiar punch and volume in a simpler package, with bass that reaches roughly 55Hz for this size. Measured bass extension of ~55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: It is a pared-back Charge: no app EQ, no PartyBoost/party mode and no stereo-pair option. It plays mono, has a little less bass authority than the Charge 5, and its IPX7 rating does not promise dust protection. Choose it for a good sale price, not for extra features.
Full JBL Charge Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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