Short answer: the Tower 9 for sound, the Tower 10 if you need the microphone. These rank #7 and #8 out of 10 large-party speakers, at $800 and $799.97 - a two-cent difference, so price decides nothing here.
The Tower 9 is described in our own notes as slightly better sounding. Both share the exact same core weakness: bass that drops off substantially at higher volume, to the point of trailing even some of JBL’s lower-end Partybox models - see the Partybox 720 vs Tower 9 comparison for how badly that costs Sony against the competition. Neither Tower fixes it; the 9 is simply the cleaner-sounding of the two Sony siblings.
The Tower 10’s case is entirely about two features: it’s louder than the JBL Partybox Ultimate, and it includes a wireless microphone the Tower 9 doesn’t have. If karaoke or announcements are part of why you’re buying a speaker this size, that’s a real, specific reason to pick it over its sibling - see karaoke setups for how to build that around it properly.
Both are stationary party equipment that need mains power, so portability isn’t a differentiator between them the way it might be one size class down.
Buy the Tower 9 for the better default sound. Buy the Tower 10 if the wireless microphone or the extra headroom over the Partybox Ultimate matters more to you than the sound quality gap.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 10 | Sony ULT Tower 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.97 | $800 |
| Ranked | #8 of 10 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 10 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 63.9 lbs / 29 kg | 65.3 lbs / 29.6 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes Included | - |
| Built in Microphone | No | No |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Wifi | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 16.5" x 43.5" x 16.9" (418 x 1106 x 428 mm) | 16.1" x 35.8" x 18.0" (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 3.1" midrange, 2x 1.6" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 2" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| Output Power | 139W | 148W |
The Two Speakers In Full
Sony ULT Tower 10: $799.97 Amazon
Pros: Louder than the Partybox Ultimate. Includes a wireless microphone.
Cons: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume even compared to the lower end Partybox speakers. Bass drops off a lot at higher volumes.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5" x 43.5" x 16.9" (418 x 1106 x 428 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 3.1" midrange, 2x 1.6" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 139W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 63.9 lbs / 29 kg |
| Wifi | No |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes Included |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Links
Sony ULT Tower 9: $800 Amazon
Pros: Slightly better sounding than the ULT Tower 10
Cons: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume even compared to the lower end Partybox speakers. Bass drops off a lot at higher volumes. Not quite as loud as the ULT Tower 10
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1" x 35.8" x 18.0" (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 2" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 148W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 65.3 lbs / 29.6 kg |
| Wifi | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - indoor listening test
- Oluv Patreon: Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - power generator test
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 9 Vs Sony ULT Tower 10 - Size Doesn’t Matter
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 9 Review - Amazing Instrument Separation
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Product prices and availability were last checked August 7, 2026 at 5:43 AM UTC 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.