Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Micro. It ranks #5 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $40; the Klipsch Austin ranks #15 and costs $80, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Tribit Stormbox Micro gets right: Quite neutral. The catch: Gets murky and slightly sharp near max volume; boosted bass distorts when pushed loud.
On the Klipsch Austin side: Dual passive radiators give more low-end presence than most mini speakers. Set against that: Not as deep bass as higher ranked speakers.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Micro. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Klipsch Austin and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Stormbox Micro | Klipsch Austin | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $40 | $80 |
| Ranked | #5 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #15 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 180ms | - |
| Max Volume | 93dB | 89dB |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (10W reverse USB-C charging) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 295 g | 0.9 lbs / 397 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Output Power | 13W | 10W RMS |
| Drivers | 48mm NdFeB | 1.5" (38mm) full-range with dual passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.4" (99.1 x 99.1 x 35.6 mm) | 4.3" x 4.3" x 1.7" (109 x 109 x 43 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Charging Time | - | 2 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
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- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Soundcore Mini 3
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Klipsch Austin: $80 Amazon
Pros: Dual passive radiators give more low-end presence than most mini speakers. Clear mids and crisp trebles. Rugged rubberized build with a metal grille; IP67. Supports TWS pairing with a second Austin.
Cons: Not as deep bass as higher ranked speakers
Full Klipsch Austin review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.3" x 4.3" x 1.7" (109 x 109 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.5" (38mm) full-range with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 89dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 10W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (10W reverse USB-C charging) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 397 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Austin vs Marshall Willen
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- Klipsch Austin vs Anker Soundcore Mini
- Klipsch Austin vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- Klipsch Austin vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
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- Klipsch Austin vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- Klipsch Austin vs JBL Clip 5
- See all 19 comparisons