Short answer: the Tribit Xsound Surf. It ranks #79 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $26; the Tribit Stormbox ranks #93 and costs $68, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Tribit Stormbox: IPX7 water resistant, dual pairing for stereo setup, excellent battery life (20 hours), instant on/off buttons, 97dB max volume. The catch: Muffled sounding, treble dips from 5khz-12khz.
On the Tribit Xsound Surf side: Rugged rubberized frame with a metal grille. Watch for: Bass doesn’t go as deep as others, strange midrange peaks.
Buy the Tribit Xsound Surf. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Tribit Stormbox and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Tribit Stormbox is rated for 20 hours versus 10 hours for the Tribit Xsound Surf.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Stormbox | Tribit Xsound Surf | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $68 | $26 |
| Ranked | #93 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #79 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Likely Yes (based on Tribit pattern) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 166ms | - |
| Max Volume | 97dB | - |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 535 g | 1 lbs / 440 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX HD, aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.7" (180 x 68 x 68 mm) | 7" x 2.2" x 2.1" (178 x 57 x 54 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 40W: 2x drivers with passive radiator |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Output Power | 20W | 12W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
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 |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: All Tribit Speakers Compared - Maxsound Plus, Stormbox, Xsound Go, Maxboom More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Earfun Uboom vs Tribit Stormbox - 360 degree bluetooth speaker comparison
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Pro Review - vs Tribit Stormbox - bass monster?? 🤔
- Reddit Search for Tribit Stormbox Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Stormbox vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Tribit Stormbox vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Tribit Stormbox vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Tribit Stormbox vs Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove
- Tribit Stormbox vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Tribit Stormbox vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Tribit Stormbox vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Tribit Stormbox vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- See all 23 comparisons
Tribit Xsound Surf: $26
Pros: Rugged rubberized frame with a metal grille. About 20% louder than the XSound Go at the same volume. IPX7 rated, USB-C charging, and pairs with a second Surf for stereo.
Cons: Bass doesn’t go as deep as others, strange midrange peaks
Full Tribit Xsound Surf review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX HD, aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Likely Yes (based on Tribit pattern) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7" x 2.2" x 2.1" (178 x 57 x 54 mm) |
| Drivers | 40W: 2x drivers with passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 12W RMS |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1 lbs / 440 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit XSound Surf vs. XSound Go (Upgraded Model) Bluetooth Speaker Sound Comparison. More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Aphid Tech: Tribit XSound Surf vs Soundcore 2 - With Sound Comparison!
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Zealot S61 🦨 Bluetooth Speaker Review & Sound Comparison to Tribit XSound Surf. Another Zealot dud❓
- Reddit Search for Tribit Xsound Surf Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Tribit Xsound Go
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Tribit Stormbox 2
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Soundcore 2
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Sony ULT Field 1
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs LG Xboom Grab
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs JBL Grip
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- See all 27 comparisons