I’ve over a dozen Bluetooth audio system in the home, however within the final yr and a half, I’ve only 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 Pro for all transportable wants. While I just like the latter’s comfort, it does not have any ingress safety, and that is the place the Flow is available in.
Tribit unveiled the StormBox Flow on the finish of final yr, and its key differentiator is IP67 ingress safety, permitting it for use nearly anyplace. So in case you need a speaker to take to the pool or to be used within the bathe, the Flow is your best option in Tribit’s catalog. And like the remainder of the model’s merchandise, it’s inherently reasonably priced; the StormBox Flow often retails for $79 on Amazon, however you should buy it for simply $60 proper now.
Both the StormBox Blast and Pro have an analogous design scheme with darkish colours, and Tribit did not make too many adjustments with the Flow. The speaker is available in a lighter gray colour, however the design remains to be muted and unobtrusive. The flatter profile makes the Flow simpler to journey with, and coming in at 662g, it is not too heavy.
What I like concerning the design of the Flow is you can simply change orientation; you may have it going through ahead by default, or have it on the again. Another nifty addition is stereo pairing, the place you may mix two models to create an immersive stereo sound. The construct high quality itself is incredible, 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 situated on the high, and also you get the standard energy and Bluetooth buttons along with EQ, and a stereo mode that allows you to join two models collectively. The playback controls embody quantity up and down buttons together with a multifunction key that handles play/pause with a brief press, invoking digital assistants with an extended press, and search controls — three presses to go to the earlier observe, and two to go to the following.
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There’s loads to love on the subject of connectivity as properly; the StormBox Flow pairs by way of 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 toes. Pairing is as easy because it will get; simply maintain down the Bluetooth button for 2 seconds, and the Flow goes into pairing mode. You can use it to take calls as properly, and it does job on this space.
As the Flow has IP67 ingress safety, you may comfortably use it on the pool with none points; I used it extensively as a bathe speaker, and it’s ideally suited to this activity. There’s a lanyard that attaches to the best, and it permits you to dangle the Flow to a hook or bathe caddy.
Like the remainder of the merchandise within the StormBox sequence, the Flow delivers unimaginable sound — that is the defining attribute of the speaker, and it holds up in opposition to the most effective Bluetooth audio system beneath $100 on this space. It is ready to ship 25W by way of two drivers, the sound is vibrant and detailed out of the field, and you may allow XBass mode to drastically enhance low-end power. Doing so means the bass exuberance bleeds into the mid-range, however the added rumble and vigor is very pleasing. The treble is not as detailed, however you continue to get good general definition.
You also can tweak the EQ by downloading the Tribit app, and whereas it is not intuitive, it permits you to regulate the sound to your liking. There are preset modes out there — together with Audiobook, Classical, Rock, and Jazz — they usually make a noticeable distinction to the sound. The only subject with the sound high quality is that the Flow does 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 Flow excels; I obtained over 20 hours of music playback with a single cost out of the 4800mAh battery, and that is with XBass mode enabled — you may eke out significantly better battery life in any other case. It’s factor that the speaker lasts a very long time on a full cost, because it takes 4 hours to cost the interior battery. There’s no quick charging — it only goes as much as 10W — and I principally plugged it in in a single day to cost.
Outside of the gradual charging and lacking AptX codecs, there is not something to fault with the StormBox Flow. The Bluetooth speaker has good construct high quality, simply accessible controls, and with IP67 mud and water resistance, you should use it anyplace. The sound high quality is nice, the EQ allows you to regulate the audio profile, and it lasts over 20 hours between fees.
If you need a transportable Bluetooth speaker with terrific sound that can be utilized open air, the StormBox Flow is among the finest round — notably within the sub-$100 phase.
The StormBox Flow 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 may simply regulate the sound to your preferences.