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 53 party speakers by sound quality at $448; the JBL Boombox 4 ranks #20 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $549.95.
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 JBL Boombox 4 lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Boombox 4 lacks. It has a microphone input for karaoke or announcements, which the JBL Boombox 4 lacks. 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 JBL Boombox 4 is the longer-running, lighter option. An extremely loud boombox for its size with fully waterproof, dustproof build, a long battery and a flexible app EQ. It is rated for 28 hours of battery against 20 for the Sony ULT Tower 5. At 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Tower 5 at 28 lbs (12.7 kg). It is rated IP68 against IPX4 for the Sony ULT Tower 5. Watch for: Pretty overpriced for the category.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 ($448) for a party speaker; the JBL Boombox 4 ($549.95) suits a boombox speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM 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 | JBL Boombox 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $549.95 |
| Ranked | #5 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #20 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, LC3, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 14.1” x 21.1” x 11.1” (358 x 536 x 282 mm) | 20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9” woofer, 2x 2.4” tweeter | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes (7 band) |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP68 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 210W AC / 200W battery |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 41Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
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