Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The JBL Partybox 130 ranks #5 of 50 party speakers by sound quality at $449.95; the Sony ULT Tower 10 ranks #9 of 11 large party speakers by sound quality at $799.97.
What the JBL Partybox 130 offers: Handle and wheels are convenient. Set against that: Boomier and less clear than the Partybox 120. High price.
The case for the Sony ULT Tower 10: Louder than the Partybox Ultimate. Includes a wireless microphone. The catch: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume even compared to the lower end Partybox speakers.
Buy the JBL Partybox 130 at $449.95 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Sony ULT Tower 10 at $799.97 if you want a large party speaker instead.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony ULT Tower 10. It ranks near the bottom of the 11 large party speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 130 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Sony ULT Tower 10 at no water resistance.

Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 130 | Sony ULT Tower 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 | $799.97 |
| Ranked | #5 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #9 of 11 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.2 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 5.2" woofers, 2x 1" tweeters | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 3.1" midrange, 2x 1.6" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg | 63.9 lbs / 29 kg |
| Output Power | 200W | 139W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes Included |
| Built in Microphone | - | No |
| Wifi | - | No |
| Dimensions | - | 16.5" x 43.5" x 16.9" (418 x 1106 x 428 mm) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Partybox Club 120 vs Soundboks Mix
- JBL Partybox Club 120 vs Teufel Rockster Neo
- JBL Partybox 100 vs Bose S1 Pro
- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox 710
- JBL Partybox 130 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox 130: $449.95 Amazon
Pros: Handle and wheels are convenient. Customizable color lighting modes. Quite neutral sound. Removable battery.
Cons: Boomier and less clear than the Partybox 120. High price. Note, JBL daisychain is not compatible with any other non-JBL speaker and is possibly a fully digital signal.
Full JBL Partybox 130 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Drivers | 2x 5.2" woofers, 2x 1" tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 200W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox 100
- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox 110
- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox 310
- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox 300
- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox 330
- JBL Partybox 130 vs Electro-Voice Everse 12
- See all 66 comparisons
Sony ULT Tower 10: $799.97 Amazon
Pros: Louder than the Partybox Ultimate. Includes a wireless microphone.
Cons: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume even compared to the lower end Partybox speakers. Bass drops off a lot at higher volumes.
Full Sony ULT Tower 10 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5" x 43.5" x 16.9" (418 x 1106 x 428 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 3.1" midrange, 2x 1.6" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 139W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 63.9 lbs / 29 kg |
| Wifi | No |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes Included |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs Sony SRS-XV900
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs Marshall Bromley 750
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs Teufel Rockster
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs JBL Partybox 520
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs JBL Partybox 710
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs JBL Partybox 720
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- See all 11 comparisons

