Short answer: the JBL Charge 5 is the bigger, more useful speaker; the Sony ULT Field 1 is the lighter rugged travel companion. JBL is #30 of 179; Sony is #99 of 179.
Charge 5 has 40W output, 99dB maximum level, a 20-hour claimed battery, and USB-A phone charging. It is warm, with boosted bass and shouty mids, but it offers much more scale.
ULT Field 1 is only 1.4 lbs (650 g), IP67 rated, survives drops and submersion, and can stereo-pair. Its upper-midrange peak and rolled-off treble limit fidelity, but its real-world battery can be excellent with ULT disabled.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 at $114.95 if you want fuller sound, longer claimed runtime, and a power bank.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 1 at $138 if compact ruggedness and stereo pairing matter most.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Charge 5 is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the Sony ULT Field 1.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 | Sony ULT Field 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $138.00 |
| Ranked | #30 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #99 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.4 lbs (650 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8.1” x 3” x 3” (206 x 77 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 83mm x 42mm woofer, 16mm tweeter + passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
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