Short answer: the JBL Authentics 300. It ranks #41 of 90 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $299.95; the Sony ULT Field 7 ranks #56, rated 3.2/5, and costs $400, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Sony ULT Field 7 gets right: Better sounding than the XG500. The catch: Still not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
Buy the JBL Authentics 300. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sony ULT Field 7 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Sony ULT Field 7 is rated for 30 hours, the JBL Authentics 300 only 8 hours.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sony ULT Field 7 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the JBL Authentics 300 at no water resistance.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Authentics 300 | Sony ULT Field 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.95 | $400 |
| Ranked | #41 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) | 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 100W | 100W |
| Dimensions | 13.5” x 7.7” x 7.1” (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) | 20.2” x 8.8” x 8.7” (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer + passive radiators | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9”) tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Authentics 300 compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs JBL Authentics 300
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Authentics 300
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Authentics 300
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus vs JBL Authentics 300
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Authentics 300
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
JBL Authentics 300: $299.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Integrates both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously (rare for smart speakers). Retro seventies design with leather and Quadrex grille. 100-watt amp, carries well with leather-trimmed handle. Rechargeable battery rated ~8 hours. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Narrow sounding, bass not as deep as others. Peaky upper mids. No TWS. No IP rating. Not as loud as others. Not much battery life.
Full JBL Authentics 300 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.5” x 7.7” x 7.1” (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Authentics 300 - sound quality test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Authentics 300 - update
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Authentics 300 - listening session
- Alan Ross Reviews: Not quite! JBL Authentics 300 review and sound test vs Boombox 3, Encore and Stormbox Blast More from alanrossreviews →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Sony ULT Field 7: $400 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Sony SRS-XG500 (ranked lower, rated 3/5).
Pros: Sony ULT Field 7 uses 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9”) tweeters. Its 6.3 kg, claimed 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection, aux input and stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. Measured bass extension of ~52Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its ~52Hz specification. There is no companion app. A peak around 8kHz, and bass does not reach as deep as the top-ranked speakers.
Full Sony ULT Field 7 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 20.2” x 8.8” x 8.7” (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9”) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Skullcandy Barrel
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- See all 76 comparisons