I can hardly pass a moment at home without an audiobook or an audio podcast playing. But I haven’t invested in a new Bluetooth speaker for a long time. So the Tribit XSound Go, selling for $36.99 USD, was a welcome generational upgrade.

No more Micro-USB charging—instead, the Tribit has a USB-C socket, exactly the same as my phone and tablets. That’s one fewer cable. It has Bluetooth 5.0. It has two 8-watt drivers for a total of 16 watts. Under the waterproof cover at the back, there is the USB-C socket and a standard 3.5mm audio jack for a cable if you want a wired connection.

The slightly rubbery surface of the casing certainly backs up the claims for solid waterproofing, and the cap over the sockets at the back feels secure.

Sings in the rain and even underwater

“Waterproof means you can listen effortlessly in any environment, perfect for shower, by the pool or beach…,” the company says. To quote online advertising, the Tribit XSound “sings in the rain.”

The speaker is somewhat heavy to my mind, but that just supports the strength of the sound. To say that the sound has presence is a considerable understatement—it has real power and substance, almost enough to knock me back in my seat when I turned it on for the first time. And I haven’t noted any lack of clarity in the higher registers either. The Bluetooth connection is prompt and robust, even though my favourite option for this kind of device is to use the audio jack and keep the power cable plugged in. Battery life is rated at 24 hours. I can’t guarantee that, but it certainly has endurance.

Sadly, I lack a pool to test the waterproofing with, but I can testify at least that the sound is loud and full enough to potentially irritate neighbours and fellow picnickers—so consider those around you. But the SoundX certainly could support an outdoor dance party. For me, it’s handled everything from heavy metal to smooth piano jazz, let alone providing crisp and clear articulation on audiobooks and podcasts.

All in all, this is an excellent portable speaker, just as suited as a permanent installation.

My only little annoyance with it is that I can’t use the USB-C socket both to charge and to play the PC’s audio at the same time—although that could be just my ignorance of the relevant settings. In any case, with a stable Bluetooth connection, there’s no need for most people to even consider that option, and the XSound Go does have a traditional audio jack too. Recommended.

Editor’s note: Paul received a free XSound in return for an honest review.