Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Sony ULT Tower 5 ranks #5 of 39 party speakers by sound quality at $449.99; the Bose S1 Pro+ ranks #9 of 14 battery-powered PA speakers by sound quality at $699.
This pits Sony’s Tower 5, a compact consumer party speaker, against the Bose S1 Pro+, a performer-focused battery PA. The Tower 5 offers a 9-inch woofer with dual tweeters, a removable 20-hour battery, IPX4 splash resistance, 10-band EQ with ULT1/ULT2 modes, and RCA/XLR/USB-C inputs for DJ and karaoke use. The Bose S1 Pro+ offers a 3-channel mixer with per-channel OLED displays for quick EQ/reverb adjustment, Auto EQ that adapts to cabinet orientation, and multiple angled placement positions, all at just 6.5kg.
Choose the Tower 5 for longer claimed battery life, big-room output and app EQ modes and a lower price: Its claimed 20h battery beats the Bose S1 Pro+’s 11h. Its ULT1/ULT2/EQ modes and compact footprint suit a living-room-to-backyard party speaker better than a performer-focused PA cabinet. At $449.99 it also costs less.
Choose the Bose S1 Pro+ for true multi-channel mixing in the lightest cabinet here: Its independent-channel mixer with dedicated gain/EQ per input suits a performer or DJ better than the Tower 5’s single mic/line jack.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 ($449.99) for a party speaker; the Bose S1 Pro+ ($699) suits a battery-powered PA speaker instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony ULT Tower 5 is rated for 20 hours versus 11 hours for the Bose S1 Pro+.
Water resistance is not close: the Sony ULT Tower 5 is rated at IPX4 (splashing), well ahead of the Bose S1 Pro+ at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings and PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Bose S1 Pro+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.99 | $699.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #9 of 14 in Battery-Powered PA Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 11 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1" x 21.1" x 11.1" (358 x 536 x 282 mm) | 13.1" x 9.4" x 11" (332.7 x 238.8 x 279.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter | 1x 6" (152mm) woofer + 3x 2.25" (57mm) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 150W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | No |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 55Hz |
| Charging Time | - | 5 hours |
| Inputs | - | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/line/instrument), 6.3mm line, 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | - | 109dB |
| Configuration | - | Battery-powered 2-way active PA |
| Cabinet Material | - | Polypropylene |
| Rigging | - | 35mm pole mount; multi-position cabinet |
| Coverage | - | Not specified |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | Not specified |
| DSP | - | 3-channel mixer with EQ, reverb and Auto EQ |
| Bluetooth | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | Not specified |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony ULT Tower 5:
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 330
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 130
Prices on this page were last checked September 15, 2026 at 12:52 AM 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 Tower 5: $449.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: At $449.99, its 300W system with a 9-inch woofer delivers a notably capable party-speaker package: a removable 20-hour battery, IPX4 splash resistance, 10-band EQ and ULT1/ULT2 modes. AudioTribe’s first impressions praise its deeper bass and clearer sound than the JBL PartyBox Club 120; it also has USB-C and USB-A, RCA, balanced XLR and mic inputs for DJ and karaoke use.
Cons: It has a shorter 20-hour battery claim than the Tower 7’s 30 hours, no wheels, and only IPX4 splash resistance. Its single-woofer, two-tweeter layout lacks the Tower 7’s 360-degree rear-driver array, and the reviewer describes the sound assessment as first impressions rather than a controlled measurement comparison.
Full Sony ULT Tower 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 300W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) |
| Aux Input | RCA input |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 14.1" x 21.1" x 11.1" (358 x 536 x 282 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) |
| Power Input | AC power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 130
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 330
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony SRS-XP700
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony SRS-XP500
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony ULT Tower Max
- See all 21 comparisons
Bose S1 Pro+: $699.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Extremely compact and light with flexible placement options. Full sound with no lack of low-end output, crystal-clear audio quality. Three-channel mixer (2 XLR/quarter-inch combo mic-instrument + 1 line/Bluetooth), each with its own OLED display for quick treble/bass/reverb adjustment. Auto EQ adjusts sound based on orientation. Multiple angled surfaces for various positioning including tilted portrait mode, plus a line out to daisy-chain a second unit. Optional WT-XLR/WT-INST wireless transmitters dock, pair, and charge right in the speaker for a cable-free mic or instrument. Up to 11 hours battery life. Professional build quality. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: With full range music, it becomes distorted above ⅔ volume, and reviewers describe it as screeching at max volume. Better suited for voice amplification. Not as much deep bass as the Everse 8, midrange sounds reasonably balanced. Treble is pretty boosted. Not stereo. Designed for more loudness than deeper bass. Ports are fully exposed with no water resistance. Charges via a less common three-prong AC cable instead of the two-prong barrel cable most rivals use.
Full Bose S1 Pro+ review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 150W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Not specified |
| Battery Life | 11 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Cabinet Material | Polypropylene |
| Charging Time | 5 hours |
| Configuration | Battery-powered 2-way active PA |
| Coverage | Not specified |
| DSP | 3-channel mixer with EQ, reverb and Auto EQ |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.1" x 9.4" x 11" (332.7 x 238.8 x 279.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6" (152mm) woofer + 3x 2.25" (57mm) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | Not specified |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/line/instrument), 6.3mm line, 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 109dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Rigging | 35mm pole mount; multi-position cabinet |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Precision Drive Audio: Music test for BOSE S1 PRO& PD K8 & JBL EON ONE COMPACT
- Precision Drive Audio: Bose S1 pro VS PD K8 VS JBL EON ONE COMPACT
- HQ AUDIO Exchange: Bose S1 Pro vs. JBL PartyBox 100 Bass Sound Test 😱💥🔥
- briansredd: Electro-Voice Everse 8 VS Bose S1 Pro - Side By Side Shoot-Out (Attempt)
- briansredd: Q&A - Electro-Voice Everse 8 Vs Bose S1 Pro AND (Warning) My Opinion
- True Techy: BOSE S1 Pro vs JBLPartybox ENCORE This Comparison SHOCKED me!!!
- JPW Pro: EV Everse 8 vs JBL EON One Compact Review
- W. Weiss: Part 3 Shootout MACKIE THUMP GO vs BOSE S1 PRO vs JBL EON ONE COMPACT Max Volume Demo A New Winner!
- James from Canada: SOUND TESTS - Soundboks, Minirig 3, dB Technologies, Bose S1 Pro, etc - RAVE TEST
- GYMCADDY: Bose S1 Pro+ Review More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: Bose S1 Pro Vs JBL Partybox 120 & Sony XV500
- GYMCADDY: Bose S1 Pro Vs JBL Partybox 320 & Sony XV800
- Aaron Strawn: The Battery Speaker Battle: QSC/EV/Mackie/LD/Bose
- GYMCADDY: Bose S1 Pro Vs JBL Boombox 3 & Sony ULT 7
- Head-to-Head Comparisons