Short answer: the Partybox 720, and it isn’t close on bass. These rank #3 and #7 out of 10 large-party speakers, at $899.95 and $800.
The core problem with the ULT Tower 9: it loses bass as you turn it up. Our notes are blunt about it - bass drops off substantially at higher volume, to the point of falling behind even some of JBL’s lower-end Partybox models. For a speaker whose entire size class exists to be loud, running out of low end exactly when you push it is a real flaw, not a footnote.
What the Tower 9 does win: battery life, 25 hours against 15, and it’s slightly better sounding than its own sibling, the ULT Tower 10. It’s also 1.4 kg lighter, for whatever that’s worth at nearly 30 kg either way.
What the Partybox 720 wins: genuinely deep bass that holds up under load, and JBL’s lightshow and handle-and-wheels design that this whole class is built around. Its own weakness is a somewhat dark default tuning that wants a treble boost to sound neutral - fixable with EQ, unlike the Sony’s bass compression, which isn’t.
Both need mains power at this size and neither is something you move around casually - this is stationary party equipment, not a boombox.
Buy the Partybox 720. It’s $100 cheaper, ranks four places higher, and doesn’t have the Sony’s core weakness. The only reason to pick the Tower 9 is if you specifically need the extra 10 hours of battery and can live with less bass at volume.
Last updated: August 08, 2026
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 720 | Sony ULT Tower 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $899.95 | $800 |
| Ranked | #3 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 | 68.3 lbs / 31 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 | 16.38" x 37.1" x 16.0" (416 x 942 x 406 mm) | 16.1" x 35.8" x 18.0" (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 9" woofer, 2x 1.25" dome tweeter | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 2" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| Output Power | 800W | 148W |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox 720: $899.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Biggest best sounding speaker with a battery. Handle and wheels are convenient. Lightshow ability.
Cons: Very large and heavy. Note, JBL daisychain is not compatible with any other non-JBL speaker and is possibly a fully digital signal. Somewhat dark sounding by default, needs some treble boost to sound neutral
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 16.38" x 37.1" x 16.0" (416 x 942 x 406 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 9" woofer, 2x 1.25" dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 800W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 68.3 lbs / 31 kg |
| Wifi | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 720 - indoor EQ
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 & 720 - indoor listening session
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 vs 720 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 720 - first impressions
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 720 vs Teufel Rockster Neo - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 720 vs Marshall Bromley 750 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 720 - first impressions
- 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: JBL Partybox 720 Vs JBL Partybox 520
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Review
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- 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 7, 2026 at 5:43 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.