Tribit XBoom Review: solid power at affordable price!

Tribit is one of those companies that has managed to built a certain reputation over the years, especially when it comes to high-quality audio solutions that don’t necessarily break the bank. I have to say that this new XBoom rugged portable speaker is surely leaving up to the myth and maybe more.

The impressive mini speaker is currently available at the company’s official Amazon listing for just €61.42, and if you ask me – after 10 days of heavu usage – it’s SURELY worth it!  Paying for this device will get you a fully waterproof speaker with a solid 20-hour battery life, and clear audio delivered at a full 24-watts across two 360-degree speakers drivers.

Its design is similar to the one the JBL speakers have enforced in the market over the past couple of years, but the price is much lower while performing exceptionally at the same time. So how did this little beauty managed to do in our hands? Have a look at its small review and… go buy it, before you lose the chance. 

Tribit XBoom – Highlights and Features

• Fully Waterproof (IPX7) – It also floats
• Huge battery life – Up to 20 Hours (5200mAH)
• Bluetooth 4.2 – Range 66 feet (20m)
• Bass boost button
• 24 Watt drivers and 360° sound
• Links with a second Tribit XBOOM

Tribit XBoom – Features and Specifications

Design and Build Quality

As you can easily understand, the Tribit XBOOM shares its looks with the JBL Flip4 Bluetooth speaker, as they share almost the same size and shape. The only thing that’s different between them is those large white PLUS-MINUS controls on the XBOOM compared to the more subtle ones found on the JBL. In my case, I really liked them, they are easy to use and at the same time good looking 😉 

One thing I didn’t quite like is the black silicone carrying strap up top, which doesn’t seem to be removable. I must admit that I prefer Ultimate Ears’ approach of a metal ring hidden on the bottom. That being said, you could just cut it off if it really bothers you.

The Tribit XBoom has IPX7 certification so – according to the company- it can be used at the sea or while having a swim by your pool – it also floats! – so you can use it with no worries about it being… destroyed by the water.

Battery life/Playback time

There’s a small micro USB cable inside the main package that thunkfully charges at 2A, so you won’t spend so much time waiting for its 5200 mAh battery to fully charge! And when this happens be prepared to be blown away as you can easily have more than 20 hours of play back time – even in continuous usage! When compared to the 3000 mAh battery of the JBL Flip 4 opponent and its mere 12 hours of playback time, you can easily understand why this thing is considered as a value for money product in the market.

Sound quality

Obviously, the sound quality is the main reason one would consider buying a portable Bluetooth speaker and I can safely say that this is one device that doesn’t disappoint. That’s not to say the “boom” name is necessarily 100-percent accurate. No company has yet devised a way to engineer a speaker quite this small and still deliver heart-stopping thumps at every kick of the bass drum or thrum of the bass guitar. Bearing that in mind, the bass tones are substantially more powerful than is often found in a Bluetooth speaker and crystal clear to a point. 

Overall, the quality of noise put out by the XBoom is very good, with clear bass and impressive high frequencies especially with consideration to its price. Yes, some times some bass tones can get washed out and tend to produce some slight static in the higher pitched low tones if both the source volume and speaker are set at maximum volume. That’s not surprising in almost any kind of speakers in this price range, so no harm done. 

If you take a good look at the photos, you may see a button with an X letter on it. This is the XBASS button that can surely improve drastically the whole acoustic experience if you want to crank the volume up and possibly use it while hanging out with friends at home or anywhere else.

Below the XBASS button you can find is a robust cover that protects the micro USB and AUX-in port. Now, If you’re a nail-biter, you’re going to struggle to remove this cover. Using this cover is vital if you want to either charge the speaker, or connect a 3.5mm audio jack. 

Obviously there’s also Bluetooth version 4.2 compatibility, so you can easily connect your smartphone with the Tribit Speaker in 1 second, while offering an extremely reliable signal even at distances exceeding 10m.

Special perks

If you’ve got two XBOOM’s they can be linked together by holding down the pairing button for 5 seconds. This will “daisy chain” them, so each speaker will be playing the same audio. This is a cool feature for boosting output and filling larger spaces, but it’s a bit of a shame they don’t pair as left and rights to offer a stereo sound.

Think of it as a way to enrich the audio inside a room, with two speakers that produce basically twice the same audio, from opossite directions. Cool feature, that can surely help make a party outdoors in… seconds 😉

Our verdict

I loved it. The Tribit XBoom Speaker is surely worth it’s money, as it can deliver above-par sound at a full 360-degrees and at a volume that can be heard at a distance and at the center of a party or gathering. While it lacks a few smaller features that others might have it makes up for them where it counts. The sound quality and battery life are superior to the more expensive speakers, and if you ask me, that’s what makes this device a VFM in the market. 

Visit Tribit's Official Product Page