Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks #5 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $239; the Sony ULT Field 7 ranks #40 and costs $400, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 offers: Appears to have better off axis performance due to the move to dome tweeters over cone. A little less rolled off in the highs than the first Encore. Goes slightly deeper than the old Encore. Better battery life than the first Encore. Watch for: Missing a little bit of upper bass. No wireless Microphones like the non-Essential
What the Sony ULT Field 7 offers: Better sounding than the XG500 Watch for: Still not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. 8khz peak
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony ULT Field 7 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Sony ULT Field 7 is rated for 30 hours, the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 only 15 hours.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Sony ULT Field 7 at IP67 (brief submersion) against the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2, which has IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | Sony ULT Field 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239.00 | $400 |
| Ranked | #5 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #40 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg | 13.9 lbs / 6.3 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | No | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Output Power | 100W RMS | 100W |
| Dimensions | 12.6" x 13.5" x 10.3" (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) | 20.2" x 8.8" x 8.7" (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9") tweeters |
| Max Volume | 110dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~52Hz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Partybox On the Go
- Turtlebox Gen 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- Turtlebox Gen 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Boombox
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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 Encore Essential 2: $239.00 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Appears to have better off axis performance due to the move to dome tweeters over cone. A little less rolled off in the highs than the first Encore. Goes slightly deeper than the old Encore. Better battery life than the first Encore.
Cons: Missing a little bit of upper bass. No wireless Microphones like the non-Essential
Full JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
|---|---|
| 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 | 12.6" x 13.5" x 10.3" (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Max Volume | 110dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 100W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Earfun Uboom X
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- See all 46 comparisons
Sony ULT Field 7: $400 Amazon eBay
Pros: Better sounding than the XG500
Cons: Still not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. 8khz peak
Full Sony ULT Field 7 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 20.2" x 8.8" x 8.7" (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9") tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 100W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.9 lbs / 6.3 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: SONY ULT Field 7 💣vs JBL Boombox 3 🧨 Showdown! 🪇Let’s Shake it Up! 🔋Battery Powered Basement Battle More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Sony ULT Field 7 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast Both good? 😂 More from Dominik Reviews →
- Reddit Search for Sony ULT Field 7 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Skullcandy Barrel
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Soundcore Rave Party 2
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Teufel Boomster NG (2017)
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs JBL Partybox On the Go
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Sony SRS-XG500
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs W-King T11
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs JBL Boombox
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Soundcore Motion Boom+
- See all 48 comparisons