Short answer: the Tribit Xsound Surf. It ranks #79 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $26; the Tribit Stormbox 2 ranks #80 and costs $70, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Tribit Xsound Surf side: Rugged rubberized frame with a metal grille. Set against that: Bass doesn’t go as deep as others, strange midrange peaks.
What the Tribit Stormbox 2 gets right: A little better sounding than the Stormbox 1, less of a rolled off treble. The catch: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Buy the Tribit Xsound Surf. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Tribit Stormbox 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Tribit Stormbox 2 is rated for 24 hours versus 10 hours for the Tribit Xsound Surf.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Xsound Surf | Tribit Stormbox 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $26 | $70 |
| Ranked | #79 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Stereo | Yes | No (front/rear drivers) |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1 lbs / 440 g | 1.3 lbs / 593 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7" x 2.2" x 2.1" (178 x 57 x 54 mm) | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.7" (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 12W RMS | 34W RMS |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX HD, aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Built in Microphone | Likely Yes (based on Tribit pattern) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 40W: 2x drivers with passive radiator | 2x 48mm fullrange |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 200ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Max Volume | - | 99dB |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| TWS | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Soundcore 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Soundcore 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Tribit Xsound Go vs W-King D320
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Soundcore 2
- Tribit Xsound Go vs Tribit Stormbox 2
The Two Speakers In Full
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.
- 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 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 Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Tozo PE1
Tribit Stormbox 2: $70 Amazon
Pros: A little better sounding than the Stormbox 1, less of a rolled off treble. Keep Xbass on for best frequency response.
Cons: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Full Tribit Stormbox 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Latency | 200ms |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.7" (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 34W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Stereo | No (front/rear drivers) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 593 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Soundcore 2
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs LG Xboom Grab
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Tribit Xsound Go
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Treblab HD77
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Sony ULT Field 1
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- See all 11 comparisons