Tribit has established itself because the go-to alternative in case you want a value-focused Bluetooth speaker. Having used the StormBox Blast, the all-new StormBox Blast 2, and the diminutive StormBox 2, I can say with some confidence that Tribit is aware of what it is doing on this space.
The Blast 2 continues to be a terrific all-rounder in case you want a celebration speaker, however it’s fairly heavy, and it is overkill in most conditions. That is the place the StormBox Lava slots in; it’s significantly smaller — and simply moveable — however you continue to get 80W of sound in whole, and all of the extras. The StormBox Lava is accessible for $139 on Amazon, and that is a good worth when you think about the caliber of the sound.
Like different StormBox merchandise, the Lava has a design that does not seize a lot consideration. It is bought in a black shade possibility, and whereas the construct high quality is nice, you miss out on enjoyable colours which are provided with Bose and Final Ears merchandise. That is a minor quibble as this stuff go, as a result of the colour finally would not make a lot of a distinction in usability.
The Lava has an rectangular design, and whereas it would not have 360-degree sound, you get 4 audio drivers that ship a complete of 80W of energy. The again of the unit homes the ports — behind a protecting cap — and also you get USB-A alongside USB-C and a 3.5mm jack. Fortunately, the Lava fees by way of the usual USB-C port, so you do not have to fret about utilizing a devoted barrel connector.
What I like concerning the Lava is that it will get a strap that permits you to carry it round. This makes it extremely handy, and also you get a shoulder strap together with a removable deal with — which is a pleasant contact. There’s IP67 mud and water resistance as commonplace, making it excellent to make use of on the pool.
There are onboard controls on the entrance, together with an influence button, Bluetooth pairing mode, quantity up/down, music playback button, and devoted buttons to launch the XBass mode and join one other Lava as a stereo pair. Total, the construct high quality is nice, and after a month of standard use, I did not see any points in any respect.
The StormBox Lava connects by way of Bluetooth 5.4, and I paired it with my Vivo X200 Professional, X200 Extremely, iPad Professional M4, and Pixel 9 Professional XL. The power to plug in an aux cable is a pleasant addition, and I used to be in a position to join it to my Arturia MiniFreak and Teenage Engineering OP-1 Discipline synths with none issues.
The Lava will get twin 10W tweeters mixed with two 30W woofers, and it manages to ship a vibrant and fascinating sound. Like different Tribit merchandise, the main target is clearly on low-end vitality, and the Lava produces a rumbling bass that makes listening to trendy music extremely pleasing.
For those who want much more bass, the customized XBass mode supplies a noticeable distinction to the rumble and vitality. The sound high quality usually is oriented towards bass-focused music, and if that is what you want listening to, you will undoubtedly benefit from the tonality of the Lava.
Tribit helps you to modify the sound to a point by way of its cellular app, and though there is not a 10-band EQ, you get to tweak the sound in a significant method. The speaker has rubber ft on the backside that ensures it stays planted, and at 6.13lb, it is not heavy sufficient that it is cumbersome to hold.
Quite a lot of that weight has to do with the battery; the StormBox Lava has a 42.3Wh battery, and it delivers over 18 hours of use between fees with XBass mode enabled. That is a superb factor, as a result of charging the speaker takes over 5 hours, and there is no quick charging. An fascinating addition is reverse charging — you need to use the Lava to cost your cellphone at 10W.
The one characteristic that is lacking is high-res codecs; the Lava has the usual SBC and AAC codecs, and you do not get any AptX. This is a matter with most Bluetooth audio system anyway, and truthfully, it is not an enormous limiting issue. On the finish of the day, the StormBox Lava produces extremely detailed sound with a transparent bass-focused signature, and it is a particular contender in case you want a robust Bluetooth get together speaker.
With highly effective sound and a conveyable design, the Lava is a terrific Bluetooth get together speaker.