These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Sony ULT Tower 5 ranks #5 of 53 party speakers by sound quality at $448; the EcoXGear Defender ranks #85 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $299.99.
The case for the Sony ULT Tower 5: A powerful party tower with deep bass, a removable long battery, and mic and XLR inputs for karaoke or DJ use. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the EcoXGear Defender lacks. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the EcoXGear Defender cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the EcoXGear Defender. Watch for: It has a shorter 20-hour battery claim than the Sony ULT Tower 7’s 30 hours, no wheels, and only IPX4 splash resistance.
The EcoXGear Defender is the lighter, tougher choice. A rugged, floating waterproof speaker that gets very loud for its size, with a flashlight, bottle opener and power bank. At 10 lbs (4.54 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Tower 5 at 28 lbs (12.7 kg). It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Sony ULT Tower 5. The tradeoff: Its single front-facing driver layout has narrow dispersion: clarity and detail drop noticeably when you move off-axis, and the soundstage is limited.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 ($448) for a party speaker; the EcoXGear Defender ($299.99) suits a boombox speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | EcoXGear Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #85 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | No |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1” x 21.1” x 11.1” (358 x 536 x 282 mm) | 6.7” x 15.4” x 9.6” (170.2 x 391.2 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9” woofer, 2x 2.4” tweeter | 52mm full-range driver |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 100W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | USB-C |
| 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) | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
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