Short answer: the Partybox Ultimate for bass, the ULT Tower 9 to save money. These rank #2 and #9 out of 12 large party speakers, and the gap between them is $951.95.
The Partybox Ultimate’s whole case is bass. It packs 1100 W into two 9” subwoofers alongside 4.5” midranges and 2.75” tweeters, and our notes call it the absolute deepest bass of any Bluetooth speaker. The ULT Tower 9 runs a single 12.6” woofer at 148 W, and its own con notes admit the bass isn’t as deep and drops off more at high volume, even compared to cheaper Partybox models.
The ULT Tower 9 answers back with features, not output. It supports AAC and LDAC on top of SBC, where the Partybox Ultimate is SBC only. It also has a 10-band EQ versus the Ultimate’s 3-band EQ, and it’s the only one of the two with WiFi. The Partybox Ultimate counters with IPX4 splash resistance, where the ULT Tower 9 has no water resistance rating at all.
Everything else matches: both need to be plugged into AC power to run at full output, both include a microphone input with karaoke echo, a guitar input, USB-A power bank output, and Auracast party mode. The main practical difference is weight: 86 lbs for the Partybox Ultimate against 65.3 lbs for the ULT Tower 9, and the Tower 9 can also run up to 25 hours on its internal battery when it isn’t plugged in, something the Ultimate cannot do at all since it has no battery.
Buy the Partybox Ultimate if you want the deepest, loudest bass available in a Bluetooth speaker and don’t mind the size, weight, or the higher price.
Buy the ULT Tower 9 if you’d rather have real EQ control, better Bluetooth codecs, and WiFi, and you can live with less bass extension at the top of the volume range.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony ULT Tower 9. It ranks near the bottom of the 12 large party speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Ultimate | Sony ULT Tower 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,699.95 | $748.00 |
| Ranked | #2 of 12 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #9 of 12 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 86 lbs (39 kg) | 65.3 lbs (29.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 17.9" x 41.3" x 17.3" (455 x 1049 x 440 mm) | 16.1" x 35.8" x 18" (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 9" subwoofer, 2x 4.5" midrange, 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 | 1100W | 148W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Removable Battery | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Partybox Ultimate:
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- JBL Partybox Ultimate vs Teufel Rockster 2
- JBL Partybox 720 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- JBL Partybox 710 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM 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 Ultimate: $1,699.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A true large-venue party speaker: its 1,100W system, dual 9-inch woofers and six-driver array produce exceptionally deep, authoritative bass and very high clean output. Independent reviews praise its unusually clear, articulate sound at extreme levels. Wi-Fi streaming, app EQ, inputs for two mics/guitar, USB playback, Auracast, a polished light show and wheels make it unusually complete for karaoke and DJ-style use.
Cons: At 39kg and more than a metre tall, this is not casually portable despite the wheels. It needs AC power, has no battery and only IPX4 splash resistance. Reviews also note that its bass-heavy presentation can obscure fine detail and overwhelm a small room; its size and cost only make sense for very large spaces or frequent events.
Full JBL Partybox Ultimate review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 1100W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 17.9" x 41.3" x 17.3" (455 x 1049 x 440 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 9" subwoofer, 2x 4.5" midrange, 2x 2.75" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (3 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-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 86 lbs (39 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox Ultimate Vs SOUNDBOKS 4 & Sony XV900 - Is It Worth It? More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox Ultimate Vs Partybox 710 - They’re Both Crazy, But There Is A Clear Winner
- Flossy Carter: JBL PartyBox Ultimate VS JBL PartyBox 1000 - Which Speaker is The BEST? More from FlossyCarter →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 10 Vs JBL Partybox Ultimate & JBL Partybox 710
- M1MTechChannel: Vorsicht LAUT ⚠️ | Teufel Rockster 2 vs JBL Partybox 720 / Ultimate More from M1MTechChannel →
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026
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Sony ULT Tower 9: $748.00 Amazon eBay
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
Full Sony ULT Tower 9 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 148W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1" x 35.8" x 18" (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 |
| 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 | 65.3 lbs (29.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - indoor listening test More from Oluv’Sone →
- 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 More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 9 Review - Amazing Instrument Separation
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Joy & Oluv’Sone 3DAudio & Music: Sony ULT9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - the king of battery powered party speakers
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