Short answer: it depends on whether you need a battery. The JBL Partybox 710 runs only on mains power, while the Sony ULT Tower 9 has a battery rated for 25 hours. The JBL Partybox 710 ranks higher on sound quality (#7 vs #10 of 13 large party speakers, 4.7/5 vs 4.2/5) and costs $249 less. Get the JBL Partybox 710 if it will always be plugged in, or the Sony ULT Tower 9 if you want to play away from an outlet.
On sound, the Partybox 710 is well ahead. The ULT Tower 9’s own notes admit its bass isn’t as deep as others in the class and drops off a lot at higher volumes, even compared to lower-end Partybox models, and it’s noted as not quite as loud as its own sibling, the ULT Tower 10. The Partybox 710 runs 800W through two 8” woofers and two 2.75” tweeters, well above the ULT Tower 9’s 148W through a single 12.6” woofer.
Water resistance is the other clear gap. The Partybox 710 is IPX4 rated for splash resistance, while the ULT Tower 9 has no water resistance rating at all. The ULT Tower 9 does answer with more refined features: a 10-band EQ versus 3 bands on the Partybox 710, AAC and LDAC codec support versus SBC only, and a 25-hour internal battery, something the Partybox 710 doesn’t have since it must stay plugged into AC power.
Everything else matches: both include a handle-free karaoke mic input with echo effect, a guitar input, USB-A power bank output, and party mode support for linking multiple speakers.
Buy the JBL Partybox 710 if it will always be near an outlet: it ranks higher, costs less and is the only one of the two with a water resistance rating.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 9 if you need to play away from an outlet: its 25-hour battery is the one thing the 710 cannot match, and it adds a 10-band EQ and better Bluetooth codecs.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 710 | Sony ULT Tower 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $649.00 | $898.00 |
| Ranked | #7 of 13 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #10 of 13 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 61.7 lbs (28 kg) | 65.3 lbs (29.6 kg) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost) | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 15.7” x 35.6” x 17.2” (399 x 905 x 436 mm) | 16.1” x 35.8” x 18” (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 8” woofer, 2x 2.75” tweeter | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6”x12.6” woofer, 2x 4.7” midrange, 2x 2” tweeter, 2x 1.6” rear tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 800W | 148W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
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