Short answer: the Sonos Play for better sound quality, the Sony ULT Field 1 for the lower price. The Sonos Play ranks #56 of 177 medium speakers, rated 3.5/5, at $299. The Sony ULT Field 1 ranks #99, rated 3.1/5, at $108, $191 cheaper.
The Sony ULT Field 1 is the lighter option. A tough, waterproof small speaker that survives drops, with long real world battery life and stereo pairing. At 1.4 lbs (650 g) it weighs much less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Sonos Play lacks. It links with other speakers (Party Connect up to 100 speakers), which the Sonos Play cannot. The tradeoff: Upper midrange peak, rolled off treble.
The Sonos Play is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the Sony ULT Field 1. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sony ULT Field 1 lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Sony ULT Field 1. Watch for: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 1 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Sonos Play when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A tough, waterproof small speaker that survives drops, with long real world battery life and stereo pairing.
A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Field 1 | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $108.00 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #99 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (650 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.1” x 3” x 3” (206 x 77 x 76 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 83mm x 42mm woofer, 16mm tweeter + passive radiator | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
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