Tribit XSound Go review

We don’t usually start our reviews with a complaint, but this time we feel we have to. It doesn’t make sense for a company to make a high-end Bluetooth speaker like the Tribit XSound Go and then consistently sell it for less than it’s worth. The full list of features for Tribit’s smallest and least expensive speaker looks great for the price.

It has Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging, a 24-hour battery life, IPX7 waterproofing, a total of 16W of power, and the ability to pair with another speaker. Tribit’s website, on the other hand, says that the XSound Go only works with Bluetooth 4.2 and has a total power output of 12W. Again, the product manual has a different set of numbers. It says that the total power is 14W and that it takes five hours to charge, while the website says it takes four.

The Tribit XSound Go speaker has an IPX7 rating and can be submerged in water for 30 minutes at a depth of 1m. It’s too bad, because in this very competitive price range, these things really do matter.

We recently reviewed Tribit’s Stormbox Micro, which also had vague specs, and found it to be a five-star budget portable speaker that sounded great. Can its even cheaper sibling get past its own misinformation about its specs and become a budget belter in the same way.

Tribit XSound Go review: Design

The size of the XSound Go is about the same as a case for sunglasses. Its size makes it easy to throw in your bag, but it’s heavier than it looks, so you’ll know it’s there if you do. Under the hood are two 4cm drivers and one passive bass radiator. It feels like you’re holding a more expensive product than you actually are. On the back, a rubber plug covers the USB-C port for charging and the 3.5mm aux-in port for wired listening.

The usual power, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause, and volume controls are on the top of the device. There is also a useful lanyard cord that you can slip over your wrist to hold it. This is a good idea, since dropping it on your toe could hurt. It looks like many other Bluetooth speakers, but it is neither as cute nor as unique as the Stormbox Micro, which is shaped like a cushion.

The Micro’s slate-colored fabric jacket and rubberized strap are gone. The Tribit logo on the front of the metal grille might be a little big, but it’s a sturdy and useful speaker that seems like a good deal for the price. The one we looked at is black but comes in a blue finish. And don’t forget that the battery is supposed to last for 24 hours, which means it should play music for three times as long as the Stormbox Micro. You can buy this speaker from its official website.

Tribit XSound Go review: Features

The top of the box has four icons that show what the speaker can do: it’s waterproof, has a long battery life, has a speakerphone, and has great sound. The rest of the packaging didn’t have much useful information. I was disappointed by how boring the box was and how the speaker looked.

The packaging didn’t make me want to buy it, and there was no “WOW” factor to make me look at it again. Please don’t judge this book by its cover; that would be a big mistake. As soon as I saw and heard the speaker.

Tribit XSound Go review: Sound Performance

The latest portable Bluetooth speaker from Tribit faces a lot of competition in the small-form market, which is usually full of cheap sound machines that don’t work well or aren’t very good. But the XSound Go is a speaker who stands out among the many failed attempts to make money from people’s desire to hear music anywhere. In fact, it could have easily been at the top of the list if not for a few small problems, which we’ll talk about later.

Even better, the Tribit XSound Go is currently on sale on Amazon. You can buy it for $39.99 until June 2, which is more than enough to put it at the top of its price range for now. At that price, it’s possible that this should be the first thing anyone who wants a portable Bluetooth speaker should think about.

Tribit XSound Go review: Build

The size of the XSound Go is about the same as a case for sunglasses. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket but heavier than it looks, so you’ll know it’s there if you carry it. Under the hood are two 4cm drivers and a passive bass radiator that feel like they belong in a more expensive product than they do. On the back is a rubberized connector covering a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm aux-in port for wired listening.

The power button, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause, and volume controls are all on the top of the device. There is also a useful cord that you can wrap around your wrist when you’re holding the device. This is a good idea, since dropping it on your toe can hurt. It looks like many other Bluetooth speakers, but it’s not as cute or unique as the Stormbox Micro, which is shaped like a pillow.

Tribit XSound Go review: Final Words

For how cheap it is, the Tribit XSound Go shouldn’t sound this good, but it does. The speaker blew me away with its balanced sound. It doesn’t distort much even at high volumes and can play for over 20 hours at a medium volume. The speaker is also resistant to dust and water (IPX7), so you can take it to the beach or pool without worrying about it. Even though the XSound Go may not look like much, you won’t care once you hear how good it sounds.

In order to get better sound quality, you’ll have to spend a lot more money. The UE Wonderboom is a great speaker for outdoors, but it costs twice as much as the Tribit and doesn’t last as long. But the UE Wonderboom has 360-degree sound and can be paired with more than one speaker, if that’s important to you. The JBL Flip 4 is also a good option if you want more bass and 360-degree sound, but if you’re on a tight budget, the XSound Go is your best bet.