Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Micro. It ranks #5 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $40; the Bose Soundlink Micro ranks #19 and costs $89.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Tribit Stormbox Micro gets right: Quite neutral. Slight hollowness in the mids. Built in strap is super useful for attaching it to things. The tradeoff: Gets murky and slightly sharp near max volume; boosted bass distorts when pushed loud.
The case for the Bose Soundlink Micro: Rugged rubberized coating, IP67 rated (1m submersion for 30 minutes). Very compact and pocketable at 0.68 lb. Set against that: Lack of clarity. Overly boosted bass.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Micro. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose Soundlink Micro and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Stormbox Micro | Bose Soundlink Micro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $40 | $89.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #19 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | 66Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 180ms | 50ms |
| Max Volume | 93dB | 90dB |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 295 g | 0.6 lbs / 289 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Output Power | 13W | 5W |
| Drivers | 48mm NdFeB | 40mm with dual passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.4" (99.1 x 99.1 x 35.6 mm) | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.4" (98 x 98 x 35 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| Charging Time | - | 3 hours |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Tribit Stormbox Micro: $40 Amazon
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.
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.
Full Tribit Stormbox Micro review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 180ms |
| 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) |
| Drivers | 48mm NdFeB |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 13W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 295 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Reddit Search for Tribit Stormbox Micro Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Minirig Mini
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Minirig Mini 2
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- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
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Bose Soundlink Micro: $89.99 Amazon
Pros: Rugged rubberized coating, IP67 rated (1m submersion for 30 minutes). Very compact and pocketable at 0.68 lb.
Cons: Lack of clarity. Overly boosted bass
Full Bose Soundlink Micro review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz |
| Battery Life | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 50ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.4" (98 x 98 x 35 mm) |
| Drivers | 40mm with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 90dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 289 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Micro vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
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- Bose Soundlink Micro vs JBL Go 5
- See all 26 comparisons