Short answer: the JBL Charge 5. It ranks #30 of 179 medium speakers at $114.95; the ULT Field 3 ranks #71 at $208, $93.05 more, so there isn’t a real tradeoff to weigh here.
The ULT Field 3’s issues run deeper than a single tonal quirk. Reviewers describe it as sounding a bit hollow and boosted in the treble, note that its custom EQ and ULT bass-boost button can’t be used together since turning on ULT disables the EQ, and say bass is very weak with ULT off. It’s also reported to have lost to the JBL Charge 6 in a side-by-side comparison despite being the larger speaker. The Charge 5’s complaints are narrower: a warm, shouty-in-the-upper-mids sound with boosted bass and slightly rolled-off treble.
What the ULT Field 3 adds: built-in stereo output, which the mono Charge 5 doesn’t have, a 10-band app EQ, and a longer rated battery life at 24 hours versus the Charge 5’s 20.
What the Charge 5 adds: a USB-A power bank output for charging a phone, versus the ULT Field 3’s USB-C.
Buy the JBL Charge 5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sony ULT Field 3 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone.
A rugged waterproof stereo speaker with long battery life, a detailed app EQ, a shoulder strap and a phone charging port.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 | Sony ULT Field 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $208.00 |
| Ranked | #30 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #71 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| 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) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 10.1” x 4.4” x 3.1” (256 x 113 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 27W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
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