Short answer: the Skullcandy Barrel. Both are rated 3.2/5 for sound quality (#55 and #56 of 90 boombox speakers), and the Skullcandy Barrel costs $162.18 against $400 for the Sony ULT Field 7, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
What the Sony ULT Field 7 offers: Better sounding than the XG500. Watch for: Still not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
Buy the Skullcandy Barrel. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $237.82 less than the Sony ULT Field 7.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Skullcandy Barrel | Sony ULT Field 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $162.18 | $400 |
| Ranked | #55 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | ~52Hz |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) | 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 100W |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) | 20.2” x 8.8” x 8.7” (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9”) tweeters |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power cord |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Skullcandy Barrel: $162.18 Amazon eBay
Pros: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. 12 hour battery life. Bass Boost mode. Multi-Link feature connects up to 99 speakers. Doubles as phone charger. Measured bass extension of ~50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. Not as loud as the top ranked speakers. Rolled off treble.
Full Skullcandy Barrel review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Sony ULT Field 7: $400 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Sony SRS-XG500 (ranked lower, rated 3/5).
Pros: Sony ULT Field 7 uses 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9”) tweeters. Its 6.3 kg, claimed 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection, aux input and stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. Measured bass extension of ~52Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its ~52Hz specification. There is no companion app. A peak around 8kHz, and bass does not reach as deep as the top-ranked speakers.
Full Sony ULT Field 7 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) |
- Links
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- See all 76 comparisons