Massive levels of volume aren’t in the cards for a speaker of this size, but unlike some portables I’ve tried, you can ramp the StormBox up to 100% with almost no distortion. At that level, you’ll easily annoy your neighbors. Battery life will also take a major hit when playing that loud, and the speaker will amusingly bounce itself around, yet it’s still a very enjoyable listen.
Likewise, you’ll have to keep your expectations in check when it comes to bass. Despite its festive LED light show, it’s not a party speaker. You’ll hear some lows, and if you place the speaker on a large surface like a non-marble kitchen counter, you may feel them. For its size, I have no complaints. Moreover, if you place the StormBox Mini+ in a corner or up against a wall, the boundary gain effect can offer significant bass enhancement.
Tribit’s newly added, app-based EQ function is worth experimenting with. The available nine-channel custom equalizer is overkill for such a small speaker, but I’ve got to hand it to Tribit: If you’re going to offer an equalizer, you need to let people save their favorite mixes, and this lets you save 15 of them. I had better luck with the five built-in presets (Music, Audiobook, Classical, Rock, and Jazz).
Stay Close for Calls
Photograph: Simon Cohen
The speakerphone function works well. That said, the gain on the built-in mic is a tad on the low side. If I moved further than about two feet from the speaker, my voice became a lot fainter. Other reviewers have tested the StormBox Mini+ for phone calls and noted that the speaker disconnected. I had no such problems. I also had no problem summoning Siri. A long press on the multifunction button was followed by two tones, one to confirm the long press and a second to let you know Siri was now listening.
Tribit claims you’ll get 12 hours of playtime on a single charge (you’ll need 2.5 hours to charge it from empty). If you keep the volume at 50% and turn off the LED ring, you’ll probably get pretty close to that number. In my testing, using a variety of volume levels (mostly above 50%), with the ring lit continuously, it was closer to 9.5 hours. These aren’t the best specs for a portable speaker, but given that you can get almost a whole day out of a charge, they aren’t a deal-breaker, either.
The StormBox Mini+ has no shortage of competitors in the portable Bluetooth speaker market. You can go smaller and less expensive with the Soundcore Select 4 Go, you can spend more for slightly better sound in UE Wonderboom 4, and the sky’s the limit for more powerful options, including the excellent JBL Flip 7 ($150), Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 ($150), and Marshall Middleton ($320). However, I’d argue that for its unique combination of price, sound quality, and features, you’d be hard pressed to find another waterproof model that checks as many boxes.
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