I've already put so many Bluetooth speakers under the microscope in tests that you'd actually think I'm fed up with the little roaring cubes. But the opposite is the case: I'm always curious to see how the wireless speakers sound and - once again with my children - have a lot of fun trying out the speakers.
This time it's about that Tribit Max Sound Pluswhich has already been praised by many specialist media. Now I have the opportunity to take a close look at the device myself and describe to you completely without hifi technical jargon how good the Tribit loudspeaker is.
Chapter in this post:
Transparency notice
The manufacturer made the Tribit MaxSound Plus available to me free of charge. However, that is no guarantee of a positive rating, which I communicate to the manufacturers with every test offer. If there are negative points that I notice about a device, they end up unadorned in my test report.
Technical specifications of the loudspeaker
This will be the only place where there will be some technical jargon to be read after all:
- Power: 2x 12 watts
- Bluetooth: version 4.2
- Bluetooth range: approx. 30 m
- Bluetooth profiles: A2SP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
- Bass Boost: yes (XBass)
- Protection class: IPX-7 (protection against water, dust and sand)
- Runtime: up to 20 hours
- Charging time: 4 hours at 5 V / 1,5 A.
- Built-in battery: 7,4 V / 2200 mAh
- Weight: 590 grams
- Dimensions: 20 6,5 x x 7 cm
- Volume control: synchronized
- Connections: Micro-USB and AUX
- 2 drivers (45 mm) and 2 passive diaphragms
Design and workmanship
If you read through the specifications, you can see that the pill-shaped loudspeaker weighs almost 20 grams with a width of only 600 cm. The housing is made of very robust and heavy plastic, with the driver on the front being covered with a black grille.
On the back you can see an air outlet, which was also designed like a grid. This is noticeable when you place the box close to a wall.
Surely there are more colorful speakers like that Anker SoundCore Flore 2, the JBL Pulse 3 or EasyAcc F10 (here in the test). But not everyone likes lighting effects and LED color changes, so the Tribit Max Sound Plus appeals to people who prefer a simple, elegant design.
Control elements and setting options
The Bluetooth box is operated via a field on the top. There are six buttons attached, which are only noticeable by a raised surface. Since there are no edges or the like, the construction looks very well protected from the ingress of water or dust.
On the back there is a solid rubber flap behind which there is a micro USB charging port and a 3,5 mm jack input. I would have preferred a USB-C port, but apparently we're not there yet. : D
For safe transport, a carrying loop was placed on one side of the box, with which you can easily hang the loudspeaker in the shower or on a branch in the garden.
Pairing and volume control
The pairing takes place - as usual with Bluetooth audio devices - with a long press on the Bluetooth button. After a few seconds a tone sounds and the LED flashes blue. This signals that the Tribit loudspeaker is in paring mode.
Now call up the Settings > Bluetooth menu on the iPhone and look for the entry “Tribit MaxSound Plus” under “Other devices”. If you select this, the iPhone is paired with the speaker.
Another plus point, in addition to the simple pairing, is the volume control, which is synchronized with the paired iPhone or iPad. This means that when I control the volume on the box, the volume bar is displayed on the iOS device and changes accordingly.
Sound? Impressive!
The point that you read again and again in reviews of the Tribit MaxSound Plus is that the sound is very good and round. I can actually confirm this. In terms of size, it is roughly the same as my Bose Soundlink Mini, which, however, costs almost four times the Tribit.
To compare Bluetooth speakers, I usually like to use models that are similar in size and price. It is otherwise a little unfair to compare a 200 EUR box with a speaker that costs only 50 EUR - of course, completely different components can be installed here, which also affect the sound.
However, the Tribit MaxSound Plus does not have to shy away from comparison with significantly more expensive speakers. If you switch on the XBass (a bass boost function), the sound is quite on par with my Bose box. Without XBass I would classify the sound as a bit "flat". Hifi people would probably rather speak of an even frequency spectrum.
I had that a while ago Riva Turbo X in the testthat sounds similarly neutral and where the manufacturer says he wants to play the music exactly as it was mixed by the artist. My preference for a little more bass (like with the HomePod also) is not for everyone.
XBass: Bass booster at the push of a button
The XBass function is usually switched on for me, as it makes the sound significantly more room-filling and warmer. The bass is amplified but not obtrusive.
The function is particularly advantageous if you want to listen to your music quietly, but still don't want to do without a voluminous sound.
You can switch off the XBass, for example, when listening to audio books or podcasts where the speaker already has a bass-heavy voice. Then the intelligibility may be better if you deactivate XBass.
Waterproof - tested by yourself!
IPX-7 protection class the speaker is rated "waterproof" and should survive short-term submersion to a depth of 1 meter. You should of course close the rubber flap on the back before sinking it, but that should be obvious.
Since we didn't have any bathing lake weather, the test had to take place in a salad bowl with water. My son and I enjoyed that no less, because if you submerge the device and turn it on, you get a small, vertical shower that hits you completely unprepared the first time.
By the way: My son found the sound of the Tribit MaxSound Plus even better compared to the Bose Soundlink Mini.
In contrast to the EasyAcc F10, which briefly sounded strangely dull after submerging, the Tribit MaxSound Plus gets rid of the water immediately after surfacing and sounds like it did before the bathing action.
We really tortured the speaker extensively underwater, but we still don't see a problem even weeks after testing. I think you can see the IPX 7 protection as confirmed.
My conclusion on the Tribit MaxSound Plus
If I had to recommend a cheap Bluetooth speaker with a very good sound and without a lot of optical frills, then the choice would definitely fall on the Tribit MaxSound Plus.
So far, I haven't had a loudspeaker in the test that has delivered such a stunning sound with such small dimensions. The fact that he even manages to put him in the same group as my Bose SoundLink Mini shows how much I think of the device.
If you are interested in the device, you will find it here at Amazon or via the following product box:
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Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.
The page contains affiliate links / images: Amazon.de
