These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Sony ULT Tower 5 ranks #5 of 39 party speakers by sound quality at $449.99; the Electro-Voice Everse 8 ranks #3 of 14 battery-powered PA speakers by sound quality at $780.94.
This pits Sony’s Tower 5, a compact consumer party speaker, against the Electro-Voice Everse 8, 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 Electro-Voice Everse 8 offers the same 4-channel app-controlled mixer as the Everse 12 in a lighter 8kg cabinet, an 8-inch woofer rated to 121dB max SPL, a 12-hour removable battery and IP43 protection.
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 Electro-Voice Everse 8’s 12h. 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 Electro-Voice Everse 8 for true multi-channel mixing in a much lighter cabinet: 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 Electro-Voice Everse 8 ($780.94) suits a battery-powered PA speaker instead.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Sony ULT Tower 5 is rated for 20 hours, the Electro-Voice Everse 8 only 12 hours.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings and PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Electro-Voice Everse 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.99 | $780.94 |
| Ranked | #5 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #3 of 14 in Battery-Powered PA Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| 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) | 15.7" x 10.8" x 10.7" (400 x 275 x 272 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter | 8" woofer, 1" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP43 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 400W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Speaker Link, up to 6 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | Yes (USB-C, 1.5A max) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 50Hz |
| Inputs | - | 2x XLR/TRS combo (mic/line), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | - | 121dB |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
| Configuration | - | Battery-powered 2-way active PA |
| Cabinet Material | - | Polypropylene |
| Rigging | - | 35mm pole mount; 30° or 55° monitor angle |
| Coverage | - | 100° H x 100° V |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | Not specified |
| DSP | - | 4-channel digital mixer with EQ, effects and ducking |
| Bluetooth | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | Not specified |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sony ULT Tower 5 compares with other leading options:
- 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
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Electro-Voice Everse 8: $780.94 Amazon eBay
Pros: Good midrange and treble. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage. Measured bass extension of 50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Designed for more loudness than deeper bass.
Full Electro-Voice Everse 8 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 400W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Not specified |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, SBC |
| Cabinet Material | Polypropylene |
| Configuration | Battery-powered 2-way active PA |
| Coverage | 100° H x 100° V |
| DSP | 4-channel digital mixer with EQ, effects and ducking |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7" x 10.8" x 10.7" (400 x 275 x 272 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" woofer, 1" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | Not specified |
| IP Rating | IP43 |
| Inputs | 2x XLR/TRS combo (mic/line), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 121dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Speaker Link, up to 6 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 1.5A max) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Rigging | 35mm pole mount; 30° or 55° monitor angle |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Electro-Voice Everse 8 vs Electrotec Stage One
- Electro-Voice Everse 8 vs Teufel Rockster Air 2
- Electro-Voice Everse 8 vs Electro-Voice Everse 12
- Electro-Voice Everse 8 vs Soundboks 4
- Electro-Voice Everse 8 vs Bose S1 Pro+
- Electro-Voice Everse 8 vs JBL Eon One Compact
- Electro-Voice Everse 8 vs JBL Partybox 330
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