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Tribit Stormbox Lava: Two-minute review
A new Bluetooth speaker has erupted, boasting booming bass output that will make you “feel the heartbeat of the earth”. So yes, enter the Tribit Stormbox Lava. This semi-cylindrical party speaker aims to supply powerful sound and a rugged build in one budget-friendly package. It comes in with a list price of $129.99 / £111 (about AU$200) which is really quite modest for a medium-large sized option like this.
As some of you may have suspected given that low price-tag, feeling the earth’s heartbeat may be a slight exaggeration. And you’d be correct. Sure, you can get bold, room-filling low-end output from the Tribit Stormbox Lava, but it struggles to knock those really deep notes out of the park, even after some EQ adjustment.
General audio quality is decent, but hardly as red-hot as some of the best Bluetooth speakers. Out of the box, the standard tuning is a little bloated, with sounds in the mid-range often smothered by rumbling low-end frequencies. That can often be the case when you activate XBass too – a mode which ramps up low sounds even further and will cause the speaker’s solid 24 hour battery life to deplete at a faster rate.
With a bit of tuning, you can get relatively clean sound for a speaker close to $100 / £100. It’s never going to get ultra-detailed or airy, especially with the lack of ‘hi-res’ codecs like LDAC, but it’s certainly clear enough for house parties or outdoor events with lots of background noise.
And this speaker truly is party-ready, no matter the surroundings. It has a rugged build – similar to that of the JBL Xtreme 4 and, like the best waterproof speakers, has the IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, protecting it against grime and underwater submersion. Other practical elements include an interchangeable handle and strap, AUX port for wired listening and a USB-A port for charging external devices – though I would’ve preferred to see a more 2025-friendly USB-C slot substituted in.
The basic but handy Tribit app is back too, opening up access to a ten-band equaliser and a bunch of EQ presets, voice prompt settings and multi-speaker pairing. Speaking of, you can actually link more than 160 of the same model together. I didn’t get the chance to validate that, of course, but still…I’m sure 160 of these at once could create quite a racket.
I think the most disappointing aspect of the Tribit Stormbox Lava is that really, it does very little to appear on-theme and validate its strong name. Yes, the whole Lava thing may be more in reference to bass than anything else, but surely it could’ve inspired a more volcanic, explosive design? The Stormbox Lava is a plain, black speaker that does very little to stand out from the crowd.
Another issue I ran into was that sound would cut out for half a second whenever I adjusted volume, but I’d hope this will be remedied in a future firmware update. Otherwise, there’s a lot to like about this affordable party speaker. It can’t compete with more sonically talented speakers like the Bose SoundLink Max or even its cousin, the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2. But if you can grab it for around $100 / £100 it’s a reasonable, cheap option that’s worth a look.
I’d argue that the original Tribit Stormbox Blast is a stronger alternative thanks to its regimented bass floor, eye-catching looks and USB-C out port. And given it’s regularly available for less than $200 / £150, it beats the Stormbox Lava for sound-for-pound value – so long as you’re OK with a more boombox-like appearance.
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Price and release date
- $129.99 / £111 (about AU$200)
- Launched in March 2025
The Tribit Stormbox Lava is the latest addition to the audio manufacturer’s speaker range, having launched in March 2025. Pricing already seems to be in flux, but at the time of writing, Tribit is shipping the Stormbox Lava for $129.99 / £111 (about AU$200). I’d expect to see discounts coming thick and fast though, as this is regularly the case with Tribit products in my experience.
At the moment, it’s only available in black, but a grey version is said to be coming in May 2025. For a speaker of this size, the Stormbox Lava is very modestly priced. It’s strikingly similar in form to the JBL Xtreme 4, which for reference, has a list price well in excess of $300 / £300.
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Specs
|
Drivers |
2x 30W woofers, 2x 10W tweeters |
|
Dimensions |
12.2 x 5.8 x 6 inches / 310 x 147 x 152mm |
|
Weight |
5.1lbs / 2.3kg |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.4, AUX |
|
Battery life |
24 hours |
|
Waterproofing |
IP67 |
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Features
- Handy app with nice EQ options
- USB-A charge out
- Solid 24-hour battery life
Tribit hasn’t done anything crazy with the Stormbox Lava’s feature-set, but it’s still got the basics down. Of course all the usual stuff is here, be that multi-speaker pairing, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity or XBass – a feature which ramps up low-end power for bass-heavy bangers.
But you also get EQ settings that have been fleshed out pretty nicely. There are six presets, including genre-specific options like Rock or Jazz, but there’s also space to save some custom calibrations via a ten-band equaliser. You’ll likely want to make use of that custom EQ option to achieve the best sound, but we’ll get more into that later…
There are a few other small options to mess around like toggles for voice prompt or remotely adjust volume and play/pause music. But a more prominent addition is a USB-A charge out port that enables the Stormbox Lava to double up as a power bank for other devices, including the best phones. I would’ve preferred to see a more modern USB-C port used for this function, something the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus offers, among others.
Another big talking point is battery life – an area in which the Stormbox Lava performs decently. It can offer 24 hours of playtime, so long as you’re listening at 50% volume with XBass on. That’s very much in-line with competitors in this size class – it’s nothing mind-blowing, but more than enough if you want a speaker that’s going to keep the party moving into the early hours.
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Sound quality
- Relatively clean audio possible with some tuning
- Bass is fairly meaty, but the deepest notes can prove challenging
- Can struggle a little at top volumes
At around $100 / £100, I really wasn’t expecting any miracles from the Tribit Stormbox Lava and although there were definitely some sonic shortcomings, it still put up an adequate performance.
I knew what I was in for with the Stormbox Lava; a whole lotta bass. And that’s exactly what it delivers. XBass was on by default and I realized the room instantly filled with an impactful, in-your-face low end rumble. When tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, the thump of the drum machine had commendable depth and didn’t sound too lethargic. But with XBass on, there was a slightly muddy audio profile and that deep bass smothered other sonic elements like electronica and vocals – the latter was given much more room to breathe after flicking XBass off.
Bass response, though big, wasn’t the most beautiful however. Comparing it to a more expensive and slightly more powerful model, the JBL Xtreme 4, I picked up on a lack of dynamism with the Stormbox Lava. Bass didn’t connect up to the mid-range quite as effectively, resulting in a slightly thin and cluttered sound at points, to the extent that the track’s trademark bounce felt less defined.
And although the Stormbox Lava can reach frequencies as low as 43Hz, it really struggled to belt out some ultra-deep notes. In Yung Gravy’s The Boys Are Back In Town, the deep dark sub-bass that blasts throughout sounded feeble, especially at high volumes. And although you can adjust EQ to improve this slightly, the Lava still won’t be able to go quite as far into depth as more premium competitors.
Everything from the mid bass and up does sound relatively clear though and even if you’re missing out on the absolute deepest notes in their fully-fledged glory, bass is generally powerful. Unfortunately, I found the standard XBass off EQ mode to sound a little uneven and slightly bloated, though. Thanks to Tribit’s easy-to-use app, though, I was able to adapt the speaker’s EQ to have a slight bump to deep bass and treble for a more balanced, albeit still exciting sound.
This made for an improved listening experience overall, especially for tracks that are less centred around thumping bass. For instance, when listening to SAMBA DO MARCOS by Sadao Watanabe, the intro’s raw, emotive guitar was tonally accurate and the accompanying piano layered nicely. Samba drums also entered the fray rhythmically with gusto. Some of the finer details, like light percussion in the background were understated. There are no ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth codecs here, such as LDAC, which can offer up a less compressed performance either.
Another factor worth noting is that this speaker can get pretty loud thanks to its 80W maximum power output. However, at top volumes audio quality is going to take a bit of a dip. This is pretty standard and to be expected for what is ultimately, a budget Bluetooth speaker, but at peak loudness, treble could be a touch grating and vocal clarity took quite the hit to boot. If you’re looking for the ultimate party speaker, that may be problematic, but if you’re unlikely to venture into ear-splitting volume territory, this may not bother you all too much.
And one more note before I wrap up on sound. I realized that when altering volume on the Stormbox Lava, sound would cut out for half a second or so, which was pretty frustrating. I’m sure Tribit will fix this with a firmware update in the near future, but it’s still a frustrating quirk that I’m sure would frustrate a lot of users.
So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag for the Stormbox Lava. Does it sound terrible? No. With a bit of tuning, you can get decently clean audio out of this $100 speaker without sacrificing its room-filling low-end presence. But the combination of audio cutting out, sub-bass troubles and high-volume distortion will be hard to ignore for audiophiles.
- Sound quality score: 3.5/5
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Design
- Plain design that lacks a creative spark
- But it is conveniently IP67-rated
- Interchangeable handle and strap attachments
For me, the Tribit Stormbox Lava sounds like it should be a pretty cool-looking speaker – I pictured some red details or maybe even some fiery LED lights that could sync up to bass output. Unfortunately, this is a totally basic looking speaker with no real design quirk. It’s a plain, black model with no lights or splashes of color and I’m not sure why Tribit played it so safe.
Having said that, it’s undeniable that this model is a pretty practical beast. It’s got a rugged build – very much reminiscent of the JBL Xtreme line of speakers. And it also has an IP67 rating, meaning it’s both dustproof and waterproof. That rating even ensures that the Stormbox Lava can be submerged in one meter of water for a period of up to 30 minutes – ideal for beach-side listening or pool parties.
Another practical inclusion is the Stormbox Lava’s accessories box, which includes both a handle and a strap for carrying the speaker around. The handle has an elastic-like property to it and is comfortable to hold, while the strap is adjustable and is useful for carrying the Stormbox Lava over longer distances.
The speaker is also adorned with seven button controls, all of which are well sized and responsive, these include buttons for volume/play controls, Bluetooth pairing, toggling XBass and even multi-speaker pairing. On top of that, you can find a tab on the reverse side of the speaker for accessing its AUX and charging ports.
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Value
- Low price for a speaker of this size
- And you can expect to see discounts in coming months
- But that will come with a few hiccups in performance and design
The Tribit Stormbox Lava is available at a point ever-so-close to $100 / £100. It’s a medium-to-larged sized option that sounds decent with some tuning and plates up both a good battery life and feature-set. At that price, this is an option worth your consideration.
I wouldn’t be surprised, either, to see this speaker available for less in the coming months as has so often been the case with Tribit’s products, including the Tribit XSound Plus 2 and Tribit Stormbox Blast. You’ll be able to find other low-priced alternatives in this ballpark, like the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 or even the giant Earfun UBoom X when it’s one sale. But these both take more of a boombox form, which might be a dealbreaker for some.
As I mentioned earlier, this speaker feels far more reminiscent of the JBL Xtreme line of speakers, with its pseudo-cylindrical looks and similar scale. But the most recent iteration from it, the JBL Xtreme 4, will set you back $379.95 / £329.99 / AU$499.95 if you’re buying at full price – and I wouldn’t expect it to get anywhere near as cheap on sale.
Of course, this thing isn’t going to challenge the Xtreme 4 on sound quality, let alone looks or feature-set. But if you’re not the most analytical listener and you just want a bass-heavy, budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker for parties, the Tribit Stormbox Lava will still get the job done.
Should I buy the Tribit Stormbox Lava?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
Nothing extraordinary here, but good battery life and EQ options are a big plus. |
4/5 |
|
Sound quality |
Struggles with sub-bass and peak volume, fairly clear sound with EQ edits. |
3.5/5 |
|
Design |
Feels off theme and overly plain but IP67-rated and has a handle/strap option. |
3/5 |
|
Value |
Not without its flaws but cheap compared to rivals. |
4/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Tribit Stormbox Lava |
JBL Xtreme 4 |
Anker Soundcore Boom 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$129.99 / £111 (about AU$200) |
$379.95 / £329.99 / AU$499.95 |
$129.99 / £119.99 / AU$219.99 |
|
Drivers |
2x 30W woofers, 2x 10W tweeters |
2 x 30W woofers, 2 x 20W tweeters |
1 x 50W racetrack subwoofer, 2 x 15W tweeters |
|
Dimensions |
12.2 x 5.8 x 6 inches / 310 x 147 x 152mm |
11.69 x 5.87 x 5.55 inches / 297 x 149 x 141mm |
11.65 x 7.28 x 3.98 inches / 296 x 185 x 101 mm |
|
Weight |
5.1lbs / 2.3kg |
4.63lbs / 2.1kg |
3.66lbs / 1.67kg |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.4, AUX |
Bluetooth 5.3 |
Bluetooth 5.3 |
|
Battery life |
24 hours |
24 hours (plus up to 6 hours more with Playtime Boost) |
24 hours |
|
Waterproofing |
IP67 |
IP67 |
IPX7 |
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: How I tested
- Tested for one week
- Mainly used at our music testing facility at Future Labs
- Predominantly tested using Tidal
I put the Tribit Stormbox to the test over a one week period, exhausting all of its features, blasting out tune after tune and closely critiquing all aspects of its design. I predominantly tested it out at our music testing room at Future Labs in order to test audio quality in a quiet, controlled environment.
When listening to music, I mainly used Tidal, though I occasionally played songs via Spotify after connecting up my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. To start with, I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to music from my own personal library. Where appropriate, I tested the Stormbox Lava alongside the JBL Xtreme 4 to compare sound quality and ease-of-use.
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RXfQqdS9SCqZr2fq8spZM5-1200-80.jpg
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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)
