Invoxia Triby :: First Impressions
by Volker Weber
This is one cool device. It isn't new, just new to me. And it is easy and difficult to explain at the same time. Let me run down a list:
- Triby is a smart speaker. You can send music via Bluetooth or AirPlay.
- Triby can play music by itself. You can have it play Internet Radio, or Spotify Playlists. It works with Spotify Connect.
- You can link up Triby to Alexa. It either listens for "Alexa" or you can set it to listen after you push the side button.
- Triby charges over Micro-USB with up to 2A and plays for up to 12 hours on battery.
- Triby has programmable buttons and a low-power ink display like Kindle.
- Triby is HomeKit-enabled. It displays and records temperature and humidity.
- Triby is surprisingly small and sounds quite incredible for a speaker of its size.It stands about as tall as a modern smartphone.
- Triby works as a speakerphone when connected via Bluetooth.
- Triby has magnets on the back. Fix it to your fridge.
- Triby is not water-proof. Don't take it into the shower.
Triby can communicate with other Tribys or a smartphone app. You can send small doodles to its display from the app. It then pops out a little flag on the side to alert you. If you push the flag back in, the sender gets a message telling him somebody has acknowledged the message.
As you can see there is a whole lot going on. Lots of things to look at. Since it is going to live at vowe's magic flying circus, I will find its limitations. First thing I noticed: AirPlay, not AirPlay 2. That means it cannot be grouped with AirPlay 2 devices. It's also not a HomeKit hub.
Comments
Boy that sounds interesting! Sound quality was my biggest concern.
How is the sound compared to a Sonos Play:1 for radio (mainly news program)?
I am using a Play:1 since a couple if years and like the sound, but I miss buttons to switch between my favorite channels without using an app...
And as my old Play:1 does not work with Airplay, I would love to connect the speaker easily with my iPhone when streaming youtube or mediathek content. Sound like the Triby would be fine for that?!
Sonos sound is way better. I have to write down my use cases for you to get a feel when Triby is appropriate.