I’ve over a dozen Bluetooth audio system in the home, however within the final 12 months and a half, I’ve solely used Tribit’s merchandise — the StormBox Blast is the go-to selection if I would like wall-shaking sound, and I flip to the StormBox Professional for all moveable wants. Whereas I just like the latter’s comfort, it would not have any ingress safety, and that is the place the Stream is available in.
Tribit unveiled the StormBox Stream on the finish of final 12 months, and its key differentiator is IP67 ingress safety, permitting it for use nearly anyplace. So for those who want a speaker to take to the pool or to be used within the bathe, the Stream is your best option in Tribit’s catalog. And like the remainder of the model’s merchandise, it’s inherently inexpensive; the StormBox Stream often retails for $79 on Amazon, however you should purchase it for simply $60 proper now.
Each the StormBox Blast and Professional have an analogous design scheme with darkish colours, and Tribit did not make too many modifications with the Stream. The speaker is available in a lighter gray colour, however the design continues to be muted and unobtrusive. The flatter profile makes the Stream simpler to journey with, and coming in at 662g, it is not too heavy.
What I like in regards to the design of the Stream is you could simply change orientation; you’ll be able to have it dealing with ahead by default, or have it on the again. One other nifty addition is stereo pairing, the place you’ll be able to mix two items to create an immersive stereo sound. The construct high quality itself is implausible, and I’ve no issues on this space. The general design is not flashy, and that is not a foul factor.
The management buttons are positioned on the high, and also you get the standard energy and Bluetooth buttons along with EQ, and a stereo mode that permits you to join two items collectively. The playback controls embrace quantity up and down buttons together with a multifunction key that handles play/pause with a brief press, invoking digital assistants with a protracted press, and search controls — three presses to go to the earlier monitor, and two to go to the following.
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There’s quite a bit to love on the subject of connectivity as effectively; the StormBox Stream pairs through Bluetooth 5.3, and I did not see any points with sign high quality even at vary — it was capable of preserve a gradual connection past 30 ft. Pairing is as easy because it will get; simply maintain down the Bluetooth button for 2 seconds, and the Stream goes into pairing mode. You should use it to take calls as effectively, and it does job on this space.
Because the Stream has IP67 ingress safety, you’ll be able to comfortably use it on the pool with none points; I used it extensively as a bathe speaker, and it’s ideally fitted to this job. There is a lanyard that attaches to the appropriate, and it permits you to hold the Stream to a hook or bathe caddy.
Like the remainder of the merchandise within the StormBox sequence, the Stream delivers unbelievable sound — that is the defining attribute of the speaker, and it holds up towards the finest Bluetooth audio system underneath $100 on this space. It is ready to ship 25W through two drivers, the sound is vibrant and detailed out of the field, and you’ll allow XBass mode to drastically enhance low-end vitality. Doing so means the bass exuberance bleeds into the mid-range, however the added rumble and vigor is very pleasurable. The treble is not as detailed, however you continue to get good total definition.
You can even tweak the EQ by downloading the Tribit app, and whereas it is not intuitive, it permits you to modify the sound to your liking. There are preset modes out there — together with Audiobook, Classical, Rock, and Jazz — and so they make a noticeable distinction to the sound. The one subject with the sound high quality is that the Stream would not have LDAC or any AptX codecs; you are restricted to the usual AAC and SBC.
Battery life is one other space the place the Stream excels; I received over 20 hours of music playback with a single cost out of the 4800mAh battery, and that is with XBass mode enabled — you’ll be able to eke out significantly better battery life in any other case. It is a good factor that the speaker lasts a very long time on a full cost, because it takes 4 hours to cost the inner battery. There is not any quick charging — it solely goes as much as 10W — and I mainly plugged it in in a single day to cost.
Exterior of the gradual charging and lacking AptX codecs, there is not something to fault with the StormBox Stream. The Bluetooth speaker has good construct high quality, simply accessible controls, and with IP67 mud and water resistance, you need to use it anyplace. The sound high quality is nice, the EQ enables you to modify the audio profile, and it lasts over 20 hours between expenses.
When you want a transportable Bluetooth speaker with terrific sound that can be utilized open air, the StormBox Stream is likely one of the finest round — significantly within the sub-$100 section.
The StormBox Stream is small in stature, however nonetheless manages to ship room-filling sound. The watertight enclosure is good to be used on the pool or bathe, and you’ll simply modify the sound to your preferences.
