Short answer: the Sony ULT Field 5. It ranks #55 of 105 large speakers by sound quality (rated 3.5/5) at $348 and is still sold new; the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III ranks #64 (rated 3.4/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III is the lighter option. Four drivers and two opposing passive radiators give fuller, deeper bass than the Bose Soundlink Mini 2. At 3 lbs (1.37 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Field 5 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). Watch for: No water or dust resistance.
The Sony ULT Field 5 is the longer-running, tougher choice. A tough 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) portable with IP67 protection, LDAC/AAC support, aux input, a 10-band app EQ, Party Connect, USB-C power-bank output and a claimed 25-hour battery. It is rated for 25 hours of battery against 14 for the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III. It is rated IP67, while the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III has no water resistance. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III lacks. The catch: It prioritizes bass and loudness over fidelity: reviews find the upper mids and highs subdued, with limited stereo separation and soundstage depth.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 5. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III is no longer sold new.
About the ratings: the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.1 to 3.7, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III | Sony ULT Field 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.95 Discontinued | $348.00 |
| Ranked | #64 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers Estimated | #55 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 4x neodymium full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 46mm tweeters + 1x 79mm x 107mm woofer |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Weight | 3 lbs (1.37 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Dimensions | 10.1” x 5.3” x 1.9” (256 x 135 x 48 mm) | 12.6” x 5.7” x 4.9” (320 x 144 x 125 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 27W |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III: $299.95 Discontinued Estimated eBay
Pros: Four drivers and two opposing passive radiators give fuller, deeper bass than the Bose Soundlink Mini 2. Two drivers per side play left and right channels. Up to 14 hours of battery. Wraparound metal grille and sealed silicone buttons hold up to daily handling. Has a 3.5mm aux input.
Cons: No water or dust resistance. No app, EQ, speakerphone or multi speaker pairing. Charges through a proprietary AC adapter rather than USB. Bose boosts the upper bass, so voices can sound thick. Discontinued, so only used or renewed units remain.
Full Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2014 (12 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1” x 5.3” x 1.9” (256 x 135 x 48 mm) |
| Drivers | 4x neodymium full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 3 lbs (1.37 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- CNET: Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III: Revamped design, better sound and battery life More from Cnet →
- Android Authority: Bose SoundLink 3 Review
- Solo Trips: BOSE soundlink 3 vs JBL Xtreme
- Solo Trips: BOSE soundtouch 10 vs BOSE Soundlink 3
- Reviews, Tutorials & Tech: Review Bose SoundLink III Bluetooth Speaker More from Audio Science Review →
- Aaron X Loud and Wireless: Bose SoundLink III Speaker in 2018? Watch This Before you buy!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony ULT Field 5: $348.00 Amazon $348.00 eBay
Older models: the Sony SRS-XB43 (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5) and the Sony SRS-XG300 (ranked lower, rated 3.1/5). See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Same family: the Sony ULT Field 1 (smaller model, rated 3.1/5), the Sony ULT Field 7 (smaller model, rated 3.2/5), the Sony ULT Tower 10 (smaller model, rated 3.9/5), the Sony ULT Field 3 (smaller model, rated 3.4/5), the Sony ULT Tower 5 (larger model, rated 4.5/5), the Sony ULT Tower 7 (larger model, rated 4.7/5), the Sony ULT Tower 9 (larger model, rated 4.2/5) and the Sony ULT Tower Max (larger model, rated 4.8/5).
Pros: A tough 3.3kg portable with IP67 protection, LDAC/AAC support, aux input, a 10-band app EQ, Party Connect, USB-C power-bank output and a claimed 25-hour battery. Reviews find it energetic and dynamic with substantial bass, enough volume for a yard, and two ULT modes that let bass-focused listeners choose a deeper or punchier presentation.
Cons: It prioritizes bass and loudness over fidelity: reviews find the upper mids and highs subdued, with limited stereo separation and soundstage depth. Deep bass is less authoritative than the enclosure suggests, and the loud confirmation tone when pressing the ULT button is an unnecessary annoyance. Use the app EQ and audition it before buying for detail-focused music.
Full Sony ULT Field 5 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 27W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 5.7” x 4.9” (320 x 144 x 125 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 46mm tweeters + 1x 79mm x 107mm woofer |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Danny Pops: Don’t TOUCH that ULT Button! Sony ULT Field 5 Review More from DannyPops →
- Mark Ellis Reviews: Sony just changed summer sound 🤨 | Sony ULT Field 5 & 3 Review
- Dominik Reviews: Sony ULT Field 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - Outdoor Sound Test - Sony shines or not? More from Dominik Reviews →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Sony ULT Field 5 vs Anker SoundCore Boom 2 - listening test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Mateusz Cholewa: SONY ULT Field 5 vs BOGASING S8 PRO MAX More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Mateusz Cholewa: MARSHALL Kilburn 3 vs SONY ULT Field 5
- Head-to-Head Comparisons