Short answer: the Tribit Xsound Plus 2. It ranks #32 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $60; the JBL Flip Essential ranks #66 and costs $130, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Tribit Xsound Plus 2 offers: Use this EQ for the best sound quality Watch for: Boosted treble, boosted bass in the factory EQs. Peak at 320hz, dip at 500hz. Bass is slappy and distorted in xbass mode
What the JBL Flip Essential offers: Aux input for wired sources. IPX7 rated. Genuinely portable at under a pound; a cheaper, more basic alternative to the Flip 5. Watch for: Less bass than a Flip 5.
Buy the Tribit Xsound Plus 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Flip Essential and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
If battery life is a priority, the Tribit Xsound Plus 2 is rated for 24 hours versus 10 hours for the JBL Flip Essential.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Xsound Plus 2 | JBL Flip Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60 | $130 |
| Ranked | #32 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #66 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Aux Latency | 16ms | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | SBC 233ms, AAC 240ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs / 798 g | / 1 lbs / 471 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.8" x 2.8" x 2.6" (198 x 71 x 66 mm) | 6.7" x 2.5" x 2.5" (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Output Power | 30W | 16W RMS |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm neodymium full-range drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
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- Tribit Xsound Plus 2 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Flip Essential
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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 Xsound Plus 2: $60 Amazon eBay
Pros: Use this EQ for the best sound quality
Cons: Boosted treble, boosted bass in the factory EQs. Peak at 320hz, dip at 500hz. Bass is slappy and distorted in xbass mode
Full Tribit Xsound Plus 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 16ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | SBC 233ms, AAC 240ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.8" x 2.8" x 2.6" (198 x 71 x 66 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm neodymium full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 30W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs / 798 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Xsound Plus 2: Upgrade Your Sound With Maxsound Eq Preset! New firmware tested More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Goodbye Maxsound Plus hello Tribit Xsound Plus 2! neutral heaven or bass for the masses?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bogasing G4 spot cheap speaker - I was NOT expecting this!
- Oluv Patreon: Tribit XSound Plus 2 - first impressions More from Oluv’Sone →
- Reddit Search for Tribit Xsound Plus 2 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Tribit Xsound Plus 2 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Tribit Xsound Plus 2 vs 1More S1001bt
- Tribit Xsound Plus 2 vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- Tribit Xsound Plus 2 vs JBL Charge 5
- See all 76 comparisons
JBL Flip Essential: $130 eBay
Pros: Aux input for wired sources. IPX7 rated. Genuinely portable at under a pound; a cheaper, more basic alternative to the Flip 5.
Cons: Less bass than a Flip 5.
Full JBL Flip Essential review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 2.5" x 2.5" (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Weight | / 1 lbs / 471 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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