Short answer: the Zealot S97 for deep bass on a budget, the Sony ULT Field 5 if it will get wet. The Zealot is the rare speaker at $78.62 with bass that deep and a reasonable tuning, but it does not get very loud. The Sony is IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant, while its bass is not as deep as others in the category and its sound quality overall is just okay.
On the Zealot S97 side: There is nothing else for $78.62 with that deep of bass and a reasonable tuning. Set against that: Doesn’t get very loud compared to other speakers in this class.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 5 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Zealot S97 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Battery life favors the Sony ULT Field 5: rated for 25 hours against 12 hours for the Zealot S97.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Field 5 | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $348.00 | $78.62 |
| Ranked | #49 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #55 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 5.7” x 4.9” (320 x 144 x 125 mm) | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 46mm tweeters + 1x 79mm x 107mm woofer | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX6 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 27W | 80W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony ULT Field 5:
- Sony ULT Field 5 vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Sony ULT Field 5 vs Brane X
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Sony ULT Field 5
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Sony ULT Field 5: $348.00 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Sony SRS-XB43 (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5) and the Sony SRS-XG300 (ranked lower, rated 3.1/5).
Pros: A tough 3.3kg portable with IP67 protection, LDAC/AAC support, aux input, a 10-band app EQ, Party Connect, USB-C power-bank output and a claimed 25-hour battery. Reviews find it energetic and dynamic with substantial bass, enough volume for a yard, and two ULT modes that let bass-focused listeners choose a deeper or punchier presentation.
Cons: It prioritizes bass and loudness over fidelity: reviews find the upper mids and highs subdued, with limited stereo separation and soundstage depth. Deep bass is less authoritative than the enclosure suggests, and the loud confirmation tone when pressing the ULT button is an unnecessary annoyance. Use the app EQ and audition it before buying for detail-focused music.
Full Sony ULT Field 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 27W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 5.7” x 4.9” (320 x 144 x 125 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 46mm tweeters + 1x 79mm x 107mm woofer |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Danny Pops: Don’t TOUCH that ULT Button! Sony ULT Field 5 Review More from DannyPops →
- Mark Ellis Reviews: Sony just changed summer sound 🤨 | Sony ULT Field 5 & 3 Review
- Dominik Reviews: Sony ULT Field 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - Outdoor Sound Test - Sony shines or not? More from Dominik Reviews →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Sony ULT Field 5 vs Anker SoundCore Boom 2 - listening test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Mateusz Cholewa: SONY ULT Field 5 vs BOGASING S8 PRO MAX More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Zealot S97: $78.62 Amazon eBay
Pros: For a compact 3.3kg boombox, the S97 delivers unusually deep, clean-enough bass with a more sensible default balance than many inexpensive Zealot models. It also brings IPX6 protection, aux and microSD playback, power-bank outputs, three EQ presets and PartyAdd linking.
Cons: It is not especially loud for its size, battery life is only a claimed 12 hours, and the bass preset can swamp the rest of the music. There is no app or fine-grained EQ, so the Vocal preset is the only practical way to improve the balance. It is still heavy for a speaker with this output ceiling.
Full Zealot S97 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons