A difference in the sound profile will split fans of the original Stormbox Blast
Tribit recently released the new Stormbox Blast, but with a significant 50% price increase, is it worth sticking with the original or upgrading? In this comparison, we look at all the differences between these two speakers and find an answer to that pressing question, which isn’t as clear-cut as one may think from the spec sheet.
Key Takeaways:
- The original Stormbox Blast is both lighter and smaller.
- The Stormbox Blast 2 has better inputs, including dual mic.
- The Stormbox Blast 2’s warmer sound may not appeal to fans of the original.
- Despite having twice the output, the volume levels remain similar.
Winner
The clear, bright sound of the Stormbox Blast remains a favorite. While the new version adds more bass and new features, the classic release is still better value.
Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Stormbox Blast 2
Model | Stormbox Blast | Stormbox Blast 2 |
Water Resistance | IPX7 | IP67 |
Output Power | 90W | 200W |
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP,HFP, HSP | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP |
Battery Life | Up to 30 Hours | Up to 30 Hours |
Charging Time | 4 Hours | 4 Hours |
Frequency Response | 50Hz – 20KHz | 40Hz – 20KHz |
Subwoofers | None | 80W Subwoofer |
Midrange | Dual 30W | Dual 40W |
Tweeters | Dual 15W | Dual 15W |
TWS | Yes | Yes |
Multispeaker Pairing | No | Yes (TWS) |
Weight | 12 lbs | 15.75 lbs |
Dimensions | 6.41 x 15.9 x 8.89″ | 7.6 x 18.74 x 10.2″ |
App Support | Yes (Tribit) | Yes (Tribit) |
Price: | Check Price | Check Price |
Design, Build, & Durability
When discussing design and build, each speaker has its own benefits and drawbacks. The original is lighter and more compact, making it easier to carry around. However, the Stormbox Blast 2 has dust resistance and improved lighting effects.
Design
Winner: Tied
Both models of the Stormbox Blast have a boombox-style design with a handle in the center and drivers on each side. Although some changes were made to the design of the Stormbox Blast 2, the speaker retains most of its silhouette, with controls on the top side of the speaker, below the handle.
The Stormbox Blast 2 features a center contact point while the original had feet on either end. The original Blast is a little more stable as a result, but there are no real concerns about the stability of the new model either, as the contact point is still large enough to keep it secure.
Durability & Waterproofing
Winner: Stormbox Blast 2
Both speakers are made from durable plastics and can be used outdoors without much risk of damage. The original Stormbox Blast is waterproof with an IPX7 rating, protecting it from heavy rain and sprays of water, even limited submergence.
The Stormbox Blast 2 is also waterproof to the same degree, but has the added benefit of a dust protection rating, meaning it’s safer to use at the beach or in dusty areas when camping.
Portability
Winner: Stormbox Blast
The Stormbox has undergone significant changes between its first and second iteration. The Stormbox 2 is a larger and heavier speaker, with the original weighing 12 lbs while the new model comes in at 15.75 lbs. It still retains the iconic built-in handle, but the additional weight is noticeable.
The lighter weight and more compact design of the original Stormbox Blast makes it easier to carry.
Lighting Effects
Winner: Stormbox Blast 2
Both speakers have built-in lighting effects which although not very flashy, do a reasonably good job at adding some visual ambiance to the room. The new Stormbox Blast 2’s lighting is a bit better than its predecessor for a few reasons.
The first is that the original had lines along the side lights that kind of make it look like a power-up bar, while on the new Stormbox Blast 2, the side lighting areas are smooth and have a gradient.
The second reason is that there is more coverage from the Stormbox Blast 2, where initially the lighting only wrapped around two midrange drivers, it now wraps around 2 midrange drivers and the central subwoofer, giving more vibrancy.
Both speakers’ lights can be synced up to the music for a dynamic experience.
Controls, Connectivity & App Support
Although upgrading Bluetooth 5.3 to 5.4 doesn’t have a noticeable impact on performance, the Stormbox Blast 2 has TWS multispeaker pairing support, along with several new inputs, including dual microphone inputs for karaoke. The mobile app is also a little more versatile for the Stormbox Blast 2.
Compare Control & Connectivity Specifications
Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Bluetooth version
5.3 - Bluetooth profiles
A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP - Bluetooth codecs
AAC and SBC
Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
- Bluetooth version
5.4 - Bluetooth profiles
A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP - Bluetooth codecs
AAC and SBC
Inputs & Outputs
Winner: Stormbox Blast 2
There are substantial differences between the ports on the first and second Stormbox Blast. And for many, this offers significant value. Here are the differences in ports between these two speakers:
Stormbox Blast
- USB-C Output
- Aux Input
Stormbox Blast 2
- USB-C Output
- USB-A Output
- Aux Input
- 2x 6.25mm Microphone Inputs
The introduction of microphone inputs means the Stormbox Blast 2 can be turned into a dual karaoke speaker, which will make it popular for guests who’ve had a few drinks during the night or for kids who have friends over for slumber parties.
Additionally, the microphones also make the Stormbox Blast 2 a viable tailgate speaker.
Controls
Winner: Stormbox Blast 2
These speakers share similar controls and give comprehensive control over the speaker. Both speakers have the following buttons:
- Power
- Bluetooth pairing
- Volume down
- Play/Pause
- Volume up
- Lighting effects
- X-Bass toggle
Although there isn’t a dedicated track skip button, the function is achieved via the play/pause button which skips to the next track when pressed twice or skips back a track when pressed three times in succession.
There’s one additional button on the Stormbox Blast 2, and that’s the multispeaker pairing control – giving it a slight advantage.
Bluetooth
Winner: Tied
The Stormbox Blast isn’t a particularly old speaker and comes with Bluetooth 5.3 while the new model has upgraded 5.4. This may seem like an immediate improvement, but many of Bluetooth’s best-selling features come included with version 5.2 onwards and there isn’t a significant difference between 5.3 and 5.4.
Overall, I wouldn’t say either speaker has inherently better Bluetooth than the other. They both support high-quality codecs which result in richer, more refined sound with great dynamics. Range and latency are also quite similar between these two versions and can hold stable connections over long distances.
Multi-Speaker Pairing
Winner: Stormbox Blast 2
The original Stormbox Blast has one glaring weakness, the lack of multispeaker support. Although multispeaker pairing is only used by a small percentage of speaker owners, having it as an option is a significant benefit.
The Stormbox Blast 2 introduces multispeaker pairing, supporting a TWS (True Wireless Stereo) connection with another Stormbox Blast 2. It effectively increases the soundstage, as well as offering better coverage – two of these paired together can host a lively party of between 15 and 30 people.
App Support
Winner: Stormbox Blast 2
Both speakers support the Tribit mobile app, where one can adjust the sound using either one of several presets or custom graphics EQ settings. The app also lets you adjust the lighting settings on either speaker.
The Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 has more app features, however, supporting voice prompts along with a volume indicator and auto shutdown toggles.
Overall, the app covers the essentials and is effective for both these speakers, with the Stormbox Blast 2 having a slight edge because of its additional options.
Audio Performance
These two speakers sound distinctly different. If you want the best vocal clarity and prefer a bright sound the original Stormbox Blast does this excellently. If you prefer a warmer sound with deeper bass, the Stormbox Blast 2 is the better choice.
Compare Audio Specifications
Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Power Output
90W - Frequency Response Range
50Hz – 20kHz - Drivers
2x 30W Midrange, 2x 15W Tweeters
Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
- Power Output
200W - Frequency Response Range
40Hz – 20kHz - Drivers
1x Subwoofer, 2x 40W Midrange, 2x 15W Tweeters
Frequency Response
Winner: Stormbox Blast
The original Stormbox Blast has a distinctly bright sound with a lot of clarity, which forms a large part of what makes it such a popular speaker. This can be most easily heard in the vocals, where the Stormbox Blast comes across as refined, clear, and very present.
In contrast, the Stormbox 2 has a sound we consider ‘warm’, meaning it has shifted some of the emphasis off the upper midrange and highs and more towards the lower mids. This warmer sound makes some instruments, like electric guitar more present, but it slightly reduces that distinct and almost iconic vocal clarity level.
This will split fans, as although the preference between warm and bright sound is unique to each listener, many owners of the original Stormbox bought the speaker precisely for its brightness.
One area where the Stormbox Blast 2 is the clear winner is in its bass. The lows are deeper and are retained with more clarity and presence at higher volume, in part as a result of the new subwoofer that was added.
Overall, the original Stormbox Blast is likely to appeal to a larger group of people, especially those who already own it.
Soundstage & Dynamics
Winner: Stormbox Blast 2
The soundstage and dynamic range are slightly better on the Stormbox Blast 2, owed in part to its inclusion of a dedicated subwoofer that its predecessor didn’t offer. The soundstage is also enhanced because the midrange drivers have been moved slightly further off to the sides. Although both speakers have stereo sound, the soundstage is a bit wider with the new model.
Dynamics are marginally better, and this is most noticeable at high volume levels where the speaker retains clarity and detail than the original Stormbox Blast. The lows are especially well preserved at maximum volume.
Volume
Winner: Stormbox Blast 2
With the Stormbox Blast 2 having more than double the output power of the original, I expected a lot of additional volume from it. However, that’s not the case.
The Stormbox Blast 2 is a little louder than the original model, but not by large margins. At maximum volume, it only produces under 1dB more. The Stormbox Blast one comes in at around 97.5dB, while the Stormbox Blast 2 reaches around 98.1 dB. Both speakers are loud enough to fill a medium-sized room and can entertain between 10 and 20 guests.
To squeeze another decibel or two out of the Stormbox Blast 2, play it with the power cable attached.
Battery
Playtime and charging times are similar with both speakers, despite the Stormbox Blast 2 having a significantly higher output power. Both speakers produce between 28 and 32 hours of playtime at moderate volume levels with lighting and features disabled.
Compare Battery Specifications
Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Charging time
4 hours - Estimated Playtime
Up to 30 hours
Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
- Charging Time
4 hours - Estimated Playtime
Up to 30 hours
Playtime & Charging Time
Winner: Tied
Despite the Stormbox Blast 2 having a 200W output compared to the 90W of the original, it’s impressive that it manages to retain the same industry-leading battery life. Both speakers have a charge time of around 4 hours with a total playtime of between 28 and 32 hours. While rated to provide 30 hours of playback, the lighting effects and volume levels will influence this amount.
Price & Value
So it’s clear that the new Tribit Stormbox Blast brings some new features to the table – but is it worth the significant price increase? The original Stormbox Blast costs around $199 while the new version goes for $299.
The original Stormbox Blast offers the best value for the everyday speaker lover who wants clear sound, and decent bass, with little to no interest in features like karaoke or multispeaker pairing.
The new Stormbox Blast 2 is a better speaker for those wanting to use it for party purposes, where multispeaker pairing may be required, or where having microphone inputs is an important feature. Bassheads are also going to prefer the Stormbox Blast 2 with its dedicated subwoofer.
Conclusion
Overall, there’s no clear winner between these two speakers, but here’s how I see it. If you already own the Stormbox Blast, it’s probably not worth upgrading to the Stormbox Blast 2, unless its newly added features are something you plan to use regularly.
If you don’t own either speaker, it’s worth investing in the Stormbox Blast 2 – unless you find the Stormbox Blast on sale for $175 or under, in which case the original is still going to be the better pick.
- Best Wireless Boombox – CNET
- Body-shaking XBass Tech: Providing a distortion-free, rich, and balanced sound, Tribit StormBox Blast is powerful 90w portable speaker you need; Press the XBass to pump the bass and feel the body-shaking experience of the StormBox Blast.
- Best value Bluetooth boom box party speaker – CNET