Short answer: the JBL Partybox 520. It ranks #5 of 10 large party speakers at $799.95; the Sony ULT Tower 9 ranks #7 and costs $800, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Partybox 520 side: Handle and wheels are convenient. Set against that: Very large and heavy.
The case for the Sony ULT Tower 9: Slightly better sounding than the ULT Tower 10. The tradeoff: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume even compared to the lower end Partybox speakers.
Buy the JBL Partybox 520 if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the Sony ULT Tower 9 if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 520 | Sony ULT Tower 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.95 | $800 |
| Ranked | #5 of 10 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 10 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 65.3 lbs / 29.6 kg |
| Built in Microphone | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Wifi | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 16.34" x 30.28" x 14.53" (415 x 769 x 369 mm) | 16.1" x 35.8" x 18.0" (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 7.5" woofer, 2x 1" dome tweeter | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 2" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| Output Power | 400W | 148W |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox 520: $799.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Handle and wheels are convenient. Lightshow ability. The biggest battery powered JBL currently.
Cons: Very large and heavy. Note, JBL daisychain is not compatible with any other non-JBL speaker and is possibly a fully digital signal.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 16.34" x 30.28" x 14.53" (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 |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 400W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 56.2 lbs / 25.5 kg |
| Wifi | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 & 720 - indoor listening session
- 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
- AudioTribe: JBL Partybox 720 vs JBL Partybox 520 Who’s Better?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
Sony ULT Tower 9: $800 Amazon
Pros: Slightly better sounding than the ULT Tower 10
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. Not quite as loud as the ULT Tower 10
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1" x 35.8" x 18.0" (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 2" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 148W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 65.3 lbs / 29.6 kg |
| Wifi | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - indoor listening test
- Oluv Patreon: Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - power generator test
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 9 Vs Sony ULT Tower 10 - Size Doesn’t Matter
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 9 Review - Amazing Instrument Separation
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.