Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranks #3 of 76 boombox speakers by sound quality at $385; the Sony ULT Field 5 ranks #44 of 82 large speakers by sound quality at $198.
The Go + Play 3 is the better sounding speaker. It has the deepest bass of any boombox in its class, reaching about 35Hz, with a warm and more natural tuning than the Go + Play 2. It is a boombox at 4.7 kg with a 5 inch subwoofer, two midrange drivers and two tweeters.
The ULT Field 5 is built for outdoors. It is IP67 against the Go + Play 3’s lack of any water rating, lasts a claimed 25 hours against 8, and weighs 3.3 kg. It supports LDAC, has a 10-band app EQ, Party Connect and a USB-C power bank. Reviews find it energetic and bass focused, with subdued upper mids and highs.
Volume: the Go + Play 3 measures about 103dB, a little over half as loud as the loudest boomboxes. Both have an aux input, a built-in microphone and stereo pairing.
Choose the Go + Play 3 for sound indoors or on a patio with power nearby, and the ULT Field 5 for beach, pool or campsite use.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at $385 if you want a boombox speaker. Buy the Sony ULT Field 5 at $198 if you want a large speaker instead.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Sony ULT Field 5 at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3, which has no water resistance.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | Sony ULT Field 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $198 |
| Ranked | #3 of 76 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #44 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes (USB-C) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS | 27W |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) | 12.6” x 5.7” x 4.9” (320 x 144 x 125 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 46mm tweeters + 1x 79mm x 107mm woofer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Harman Kardon Go + Play 3:
- Earfun Uboom X vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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
Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 (rated 3.9/5).
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2. An aux input, a built-in microphone, a power bank function, stereo pairing and hidden button combinations for adjusting bass and treble. Measured bass extension of 35Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. Only 8 hours of battery at medium volume. No water rating.
Setup: Use the hidden EQ modes to adjust the bass up when outside and down when inside. To adjust bass, quickly press the bluetooth and volume down buttons together, the number of light flashes tell you what mode you’re in. To adjust treble, quickly press the volume up and phone buttons at the same time, the number of yellow flashes on the light tell you what mode you are in.
Full Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3 vs Go Play 2, the holy grail has arrived? ✔ More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 hidden eq modes - world has gone crazy! 🤣
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Distortion Fest vs my favorite speaker today! I wasn’t expecting this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max „HiFi” 🎶🧐🆚 Harman Kardon Go Play 3 „HiFi”🔊 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 - best sounding? More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast - outdoor soundtest
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Mateusz Cholewa: LOEWE WE Hear Pro SUPER STEREO vs HiFi Harman Kardon Go Plus Play 3
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Earfun Uboom X
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- See all 50 comparisons
Sony ULT Field 5: $198 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Sony SRS-XB43 (rated 3.5/5) and the Sony SRS-XG300 (rated 3.1/5).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 27W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons