Short answer: the JBL PartyBox 520 is the more manageable high-output party speaker, while the Sony ULT Tower 10 is for shoppers who want maximum tower-speaker scale. JBL is 7 of 12 versus 10 of 12 for Sony.
The PartyBox 520 includes a handle and wheels, making its considerable size easier to manage, although it remains a large and heavy system. The ULT Tower 10 can play louder than JBL’s PartyBox Ultimate, but it does not reach as deep in the bass and sheds bass noticeably as volume rises.
Buy the JBL PartyBox 520 if you want a high-output party speaker that is still designed to be moved around.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 10 if absolute loudness and a large tower format outweigh bass consistency at high volume.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 520 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Sony ULT Tower 10 at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 520 | Sony ULT Tower 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.95 | $898.99 |
| Ranked | #7 of 12 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #10 of 12 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 |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes (7 band) |
| 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 |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 56.2 lbs (25.5 kg) | 63.9 lbs (29 kg) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 16.3" x 30.3" x 14.5" (415 x 769 x 369 mm) | 16.5" x 43.5" x 16.9" (418 x 1106 x 428 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 7.5" woofer, 2x 1" dome tweeter | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 3.1" midrange, 2x 1.6" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 400W | 139W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes Included |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Partybox 520:
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower Max
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox 520
- Teufel Rockster 2 vs JBL Partybox 520
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 720
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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 Partybox 520: $799.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: JBL’s biggest battery-powered PartyBox combines very high output, deep chesty bass, wheels and a telescoping handle with a capable app EQ, lights, USB-C audio and mic/instrument inputs. RTINGS finds it loud enough for backyards and unusually well-equipped for a battery party speaker.
Cons: It is very large and heavy, Bluetooth latency is high for video, and its front-facing design loses much of the mids and treble to people off to the sides. The bass-heavy default can also make dialogue less clear without EQ.
Full JBL Partybox 520 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 400W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3" x 30.3" x 14.5" (415 x 769 x 369 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 7.5" woofer, 2x 1" dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 56.2 lbs (25.5 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 & 720 - indoor listening session More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 vs 720 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 320 vs 520 - indoor listening session
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 320 vs 520 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster Neo
- Oluv Patreon: W-King T12 vs JBL Partybox 520
- AudioTribe: JBL PartyBox 520 Loudness & BASS Test Will Shock You!
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs JBL Partybox 520 More from GYMCADDY →
- AudioTribe: JBL Partybox 720 vs JBL Partybox 520 Who’s Better?
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 710
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 1000
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony SRS-XV900
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Marshall Bromley 750
- See all 15 comparisons
Sony ULT Tower 10: $898.99 Amazon eBay
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 139W |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| 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) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes Included |
- 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 710
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs JBL Partybox 720
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- Sony ULT Tower 10 vs JBL Partybox 1000
- See all 14 comparisons