Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5 for battery life and price, the Bose S1 Pro+ for real mixing. The Tower 5’s claimed 20-hour battery beats the Bose’s 11 hours, and at $348 it costs less, while its 9-inch woofer and ULT1/ULT2 EQ suit a living-room-to-backyard party. The Bose has a 3-channel mixer with per-channel OLED displays and Auto EQ in a 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) cabinet, which suits a performer better than the Sony’s single mic/line jack.
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 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg).
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 $348 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 ($348) for a party speaker; the Bose S1 Pro+ ($699) suits a battery-powered PA speaker instead.
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.
A powerful party tower with deep bass, a removable long battery, and mic and XLR inputs for karaoke or DJ use.
A compact, light battery PA speaker that is very loud for its size, with a three channel mixer and Auto EQ for any placement.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Bose S1 Pro+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $348.00 | $699.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 51 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #6 of 17 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 | - |
| Strap | No | - |
| Passive | - | No |
| 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 |
| DSP | - | 3-channel mixer with EQ, reverb and Auto EQ |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Coverage | - | 120° H x 50° V |
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