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 JBL Eon One Compact ranks #13 of 14 battery-powered PA speakers by sound quality at $699.
This pits Sony’s Tower 5, a compact consumer party speaker, against the JBL Eon One Compact, 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 JBL Eon One Compact offers a 4-channel mixer with phantom power for condenser mics and auto-ducking, an 8-inch woofer extending to 37.5Hz, and a swappable 12-hour battery at 8kg.
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 JBL Eon One Compact’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 JBL Eon One Compact for true multi-channel mixing with phantom power for performers: 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 at $449.99 for a party speaker, or the JBL Eon One Compact at $699 for a battery-powered PA speaker instead.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the JBL Eon One Compact. It ranks near the bottom of the 14 battery-powered PA speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony ULT Tower 5 is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the JBL Eon One Compact.
Water resistance is not close: the Sony ULT Tower 5 is rated at IPX4 (splashing), well ahead of the JBL Eon One Compact at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings and PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | JBL Eon One Compact | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.99 | $699.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #13 of 14 in Battery-Powered PA Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | No |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | 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) | 11.5" x 10" x 15.7" (291.1 x 255 x 399 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter | 8" woofer, 1" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | No |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 150W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | No |
| Power Input | AC power cord | - |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | No |
| 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 | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 37.5Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | - | 2x XLR/TRS combo (mic/line), 6.3mm Hi-Z instrument, 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Configuration | - | Battery-powered 2-way active PA |
| Cabinet Material | - | Polypropylene |
| Rigging | - | 35mm pole mount |
| Coverage | - | 100° H x 50° V |
| Maximum SPL | - | 112dB |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | Not specified |
| DSP | - | 4-channel digital mixer with EQ and effects |
| Bluetooth | - | Yes |
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
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JBL Eon One Compact: $699.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Professional 4-channel mixer with XLR/TRS preamps, phantom power for condenser mics. 112dB SPL, lightweight 17.6 lbs with swappable 12-hour battery. 8-inch woofer extends to 37.5Hz. Versatile positioning (upright PA or floor monitor). Large clear controls. Ducking feature auto-lowers music when speech detected. Handles DJ sets, vocals, guitar, corporate talks, and Bluetooth streaming. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage.
Cons: Quite distorted at full volume. Treble is quite rolled off, not much clarity. Not stereo.
Full JBL Eon One Compact review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 150W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Not specified |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Cabinet Material | Polypropylene |
| Configuration | Battery-powered 2-way active PA |
| Coverage | 100° H x 50° V |
| DSP | 4-channel digital mixer with EQ and effects |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.5" x 10" x 15.7" (291.1 x 255 x 399 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" woofer, 1" tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 37.5Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | 2x XLR/TRS combo (mic/line), 6.3mm Hi-Z instrument, 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 112dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Rigging | 35mm pole mount |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
- Links
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