Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5 if sound quality matters most, the Onn Large Party gen 2 if price matters most. The Sony ULT Tower 5 ranks #5 of 39 party speakers at $448. The Onn Large Party gen 2 ranks #15 at $129, $319 cheaper.
What the Onn Large Party gen 2 offers: A remarkably full-featured, manageable 9.5kg party speaker: wheels and handle, FM radio, aux, USB-A charging, mic and guitar inputs with karaoke echo, and Party Sync. Independent testing confirms bass with real impact and enough output for a large room; it is a clear improvement over the Gen 1 for low-end weight. Watch for: The low price shows in the refinement. Consumer Reports found boomy bass, hazy/grainy mids, a prominent smeared treble and a narrow, two-dimensional soundfield; it also notes distortion or other audio issues. There is no app or EQ to tame the tuning, and IPX4 only covers splashes rather than rain or immersion.
What the Sony ULT Tower 5 offers: At $449.99, its 300W system with a 9-inch woofer delivers a notably capable party-speaker package: a removable 20-hour battery, IPX4 splash resistance, 10-band EQ and ULT1/ULT2 modes. AudioTribe’s first impressions praise its deeper bass and clearer sound than the JBL PartyBox Club 120; it also has USB-C and USB-A, RCA, balanced XLR and mic inputs for DJ and karaoke use. Watch for: It has a shorter 20-hour battery claim than the Tower 7’s 30 hours, no wheels, and only IPX4 splash resistance. Its single-woofer, two-tweeter layout lacks the Tower 7’s 360-degree rear-driver array, and the reviewer describes the sound assessment as first impressions rather than a controlled measurement comparison.
Buy the Onn Large Party gen 2 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Sony ULT Tower 5 when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Sony ULT Tower 5 is rated for 20 hours, the Onn Large Party gen 2 only 12 hours.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Onn Large Party gen 2 | Sony ULT Tower 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $448.00 |
| Ranked | #15 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | RCA input |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) |
| FM Tuner | Yes | - |
| Guitar Input | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Sync Mode) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) | Yes (USB-C charging) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC power cord |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| App | No | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) |
| EQ | No | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) |
| TWS | No | Yes (Stereo Pair) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) |
| Drivers | Dual 8" (203mm) woofers + dual tweeters | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Dimensions | - | 14.1" x 21.1" x 11.1" (358 x 536 x 282 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 300W |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
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- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 130
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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
Onn Large Party gen 2: $129 Walmart eBay
Pros: A remarkably full-featured, manageable 9.5kg party speaker: wheels and handle, FM radio, aux, USB-A charging, mic and guitar inputs with karaoke echo, and Party Sync. Independent testing confirms bass with real impact and enough output for a large room; it is a clear improvement over the Gen 1 for low-end weight.
Cons: The low price shows in the refinement. Consumer Reports found boomy bass, hazy/grainy mids, a prominent smeared treble and a narrow, two-dimensional soundfield; it also notes distortion or other audio issues. There is no app or EQ to tame the tuning, and IPX4 only covers splashes rather than rain or immersion.
Full Onn Large Party gen 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Drivers | Dual 8" (203mm) woofers + dual tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Sync Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Sony ULT Tower 5: $448.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: At $449.99, its 300W system with a 9-inch woofer delivers a notably capable party-speaker package: a removable 20-hour battery, IPX4 splash resistance, 10-band EQ and ULT1/ULT2 modes. AudioTribe’s first impressions praise its deeper bass and clearer sound than the JBL PartyBox Club 120; it also has USB-C and USB-A, RCA, balanced XLR and mic inputs for DJ and karaoke use.
Cons: It has a shorter 20-hour battery claim than the Tower 7’s 30 hours, no wheels, and only IPX4 splash resistance. Its single-woofer, two-tweeter layout lacks the Tower 7’s 360-degree rear-driver array, and the reviewer describes the sound assessment as first impressions rather than a controlled measurement comparison.
Full Sony ULT Tower 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 300W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) |
| Aux Input | RCA input |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 14.1" x 21.1" x 11.1" (358 x 536 x 282 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) |
| Power Input | AC power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
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- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 330
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 110
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
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