Short answer: the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks #39 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $150; the Sony ULT Field 7 ranks #40 and costs $400, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Skullcandy Barrel gets right: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. The catch: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
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. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony ULT Field 7 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Skullcandy Barrel | Sony ULT Field 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $400 |
| Ranked | #39 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #40 of 73 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 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 | - |
| Output 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 |
| Max Volume | 104dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Power Input | - | AC Power cord |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Skullcandy Barrel: $150 Amazon
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.
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 →
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 104dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs / 5.4 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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Sony ULT Field 7: $400 Amazon
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Soundcore Rave Party 2
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- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Sony SRS-XG500
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs JBL Boombox
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Soundcore Motion Boom+
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs B&O Beolit 20
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs JBL Authentics 300
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs JBL Boombox 2
- See all 19 comparisons