Short answer: the Minirig 4 with subwoofer for balance, the Sony ULT Field 5 for rugged outdoor use. The Sony is IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant, and it costs $92 less, but its bass is not as deep as others in the category and overall sound is just okay. The Minirig is very balanced with USB-C charging, yet it is not stereo and its app is buggy.
The case for the Minirig mk4 with subwoofer: Very balanced sound. Set against that: Not stereo, app is buggy.
What the Sony ULT Field 5 gets right: IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant. The catch: Bass not as deep as others in the category, and sound quality overall is just okay.
Buy the Minirig 4 with subwoofer. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $92 saving on the Sony ULT Field 5 is not enough to make up the difference.
Water resistance is not close: the Sony ULT Field 5 is rated at IP67 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Minirig 4 with subwoofer at Splash resistant (splashing).
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig 4 with subwoofer | Sony ULT Field 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $290 | $198 |
| Ranked | #5 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #41 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) | Yes |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs (1.44 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 4" x 2.9" (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) | 12.6" x 5.7" x 4.9" (320 x 144 x 125 mm) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver | 2x 46mm tweeters + 1x 79mm x 107mm woofer |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 27W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Minirig 4 with subwoofer:
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Brane X vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
- Minirig 3 with subwoofer vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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
Minirig 4 with subwoofer: $290 Minirigs eBay
Pros: Very balanced sound. Finally USB-C charging. Deeper, more impactful bass than the old Sub 3. Subwoofer pairs wirelessly and can be placed anywhere in the room for extra bass. Fine-grained tuning via the app - 5-band EQ plus separate bass/treble and subwoofer controls. Sounded more accurate than the JBL Xtreme 5 in a side-by-side comparison, and the whole 2.1 setup is smaller and lighter than it.
Cons: Not stereo, app is buggy. Not easy to carry on the go, no handle and there’s 2 pieces. Calls itself splash resistant but has no official water rating. A bit expensive. Has reliability issues more often than any other speaker. Default out-of-the-box tuning sounds off and needs a custom EQ to sound its best.
Full Minirig 4 with subwoofer review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4" x 2.9" (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs (1.44 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Minirigs 4 with Sub 4 vs JBL Xtreme 5 - 1st impressions More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Game changer! Minirig wireless portable subwoofer mk4 goes boom!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 4 vs Minirig 3, stuff they tell you, stuff they don’t! 😂
- Beautiful Zar DJ: MINIRIG 4 Vs MINIRIG 3 (50-100%Volume Audio Test)
- Alan Ross Reviews: A true story: Minirigs 4 with Sub 4 vs JBL Xtreme 5 - 1st impressions
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Brane X
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Minirig 2 with subwoofer
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs JBL Xtreme 5
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Vifa Helsinki
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Marshall Stockwell 2
- See all 36 comparisons
Sony ULT Field 5: $198 Amazon eBay
Pros: A tough 3.3kg portable with IP67 protection, LDAC/AAC support, aux input, a 10-band app EQ, Party Connect, USB-C power-bank output and a claimed 25-hour battery. Reviews find it energetic and dynamic with substantial bass, enough volume for a yard, and two ULT modes that let bass-focused listeners choose a deeper or punchier presentation.
Cons: It prioritizes bass and loudness over fidelity: reviews find the upper mids and highs subdued, with limited stereo separation and soundstage depth. Deep bass is less authoritative than the enclosure suggests, and the loud confirmation tone when pressing the ULT button is an unnecessary annoyance. Use the app EQ and audition it before buying for detail-focused music.
Full Sony ULT Field 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 27W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6" x 5.7" x 4.9" (320 x 144 x 125 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 46mm tweeters + 1x 79mm x 107mm woofer |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Danny Pops: Don’t TOUCH that ULT Button! Sony ULT Field 5 Review More from DannyPops →
- Mark Ellis Reviews: Sony just changed summer sound 🤨 | Sony ULT Field 5 & 3 Review
- Dominik Reviews: Sony ULT Field 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - Outdoor Sound Test - Sony shines or not? More from Dominik Reviews →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Sony ULT Field 5 vs Anker SoundCore Boom 2 - listening test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons