Short answer: the Sony ULT Field 1. It ranks #76 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $98; the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 ranks #89 and costs $129.90, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Sony ULT Field 1 offers: IP67 rated, survives drops and 1m submersion. Real-world battery around 28+ hours with ULT (bass boost) mode off. Stereo-pairs with a second ULT Field 1. Watch for: Upper midrange peak, rolled off treble
What the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 offers: Rich and warm bass without muddying mix, crisp highs, excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 rated and floats, rugged fabric shell, can pair up to 150 speakers via PartyUp Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2021. Lots of mentions of failing batteries on amazon. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 1. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Field 1 | Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $98.00 | $129.90 |
| Ranked | #76 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #89 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 650 g | 1.3 lbs / 608 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.1" x 3" x 3" (206 x 77 x 76 mm) | 7.2" x 2.9" (184 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 83mm x 42mm woofer, 16mm tweeter + passive radiator | 2x 2" active drivers + 2x 2" x 4" passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 91Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 87dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Sonos Roam vs JBL Grip
- JBL Grip vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Sony SRS-XE300
- JBL Flip 7 vs Sony ULT Field 1
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Sony ULT Field 1
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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
Sony ULT Field 1: $98.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated, survives drops and 1m submersion. Real-world battery around 28+ hours with ULT (bass boost) mode off. Stereo-pairs with a second ULT Field 1.
Cons: Upper midrange peak, rolled off treble
Full Sony ULT Field 1 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.1" x 3" x 3" (206 x 77 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 83mm x 42mm woofer, 16mm tweeter + passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 650 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Ultimate Ears Boom 3: $129.90 Amazon eBay
Pros: Rich and warm bass without muddying mix, crisp highs, excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 rated and floats, rugged fabric shell, can pair up to 150 speakers via PartyUp
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2021. Lots of mentions of failing batteries on amazon. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.9" (184 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" active drivers + 2x 2" x 4" passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 87dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 608 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Tribit Stormbox
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Sony SRS-XB20
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