Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Home. Both are rated 3.4/5 for sound quality (#73 and #75 of 167 medium speakers), and the Bose SoundLink Home costs $179 against $208 for the Sony ULT Field 3, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
The Bose SoundLink Home is the lighter choice. Delivers remarkably even on-axis midrange and treble linearity, rendering vocals, podcasts, and acoustic instruments clearly without harshness. At 2 lbs (890 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Sony ULT Field 3 at 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg). Watch for: Single full-range driver produces mono sound with limited soundstage width, and it lacks true deep sub-bass rumble.
The Sony ULT Field 3 is the longer-running, tougher choice. IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 9 for the Bose SoundLink Home. It is rated IP67, while the Bose SoundLink Home has no water resistance. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Bose SoundLink Home lacks. The catch: Sounds a bit hollow, a bit boosted in the treble.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Home. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $29 less than the Sony ULT Field 3.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Home | Sony ULT Field 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $208.00 |
| Ranked | #73 of 167 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #75 of 167 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 9 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C audio) | No |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 4.4” x 2.3” (216 x 112 x 58 mm) | 10.1” x 4.4” x 3.1” (256 x 113 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x full-range transducer with dual passive radiators | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer |
| EQ | No | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2 lbs (890 g) | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 27W |
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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 Home: $179.00 Bose eBay
Pros: Delivers remarkably even on-axis midrange and treble linearity, rendering vocals, podcasts, and acoustic instruments clearly without harshness. Dual passive radiators provide punchy mid-bass down to ~65Hz that sounds full and warm for its compact 890g size. Premium anodized aluminum enclosure with a built-in stand, USB-C digital audio input for wired playback from computers, and a built-in microphone for speakerphone calls. Supports wireless stereo pairing when linked with a second unit.
Cons: Single full-range driver produces mono sound with limited soundstage width, and it lacks true deep sub-bass rumble. There is no companion app support or customizable EQ to adjust the tonal balance. Battery life is rated at only 9 hours, and recharging takes up to 4 hours via USB-C. Unlike most portable SoundLink models, it has no IP water or dust resistance rating and no 3.5mm analog auxiliary input.
Full Bose SoundLink Home review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 9 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C audio) |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 4.4” x 2.3” (216 x 112 x 58 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x full-range transducer with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2 lbs (890 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony ULT Field 3: $208.00 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Sony XB33 (ranked lower, rated 3.4/5), the Sony SRS-XE300 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5), the Sony SRS-XB31 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5) and the Sony SRS-XB30 (ranked lower, rated 2.6/5). See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Same family: the Sony ULT Field 1 (smaller model, ranked lower, 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 5 (larger model, rated 3.5/5), 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: IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant. 24 hour battery life. App with 10-band EQ. Party Connect with up to 100 speakers. USB-C in/out for charging your phone.
Cons: Sounds a bit hollow, a bit boosted in the treble. Custom EQ and the ULT bass-boost button can’t be used together: turning on ULT disables the EQ. Bass is very weak with ULT off. Lost to the JBL Charge 6 in a side-by-side comparison despite being the larger speaker.
Full Sony ULT Field 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 27W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1” x 4.4” x 3.1” (256 x 113 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm 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, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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