Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 300

Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5. It ranks #5 of 44 party speakers by sound quality (rated 4.5/5) at $448 and is still sold new; the JBL Partybox 300 ranks #10 (rated 4.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.

The Sony ULT Tower 5 is the lighter, tougher choice. At $448, 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. At 28 lbs (12.7 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Partybox 300 at 35.3 lbs (16 kg). It is rated IPX4, while the JBL Partybox 300 has no water resistance. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Partybox 300 lacks. Watch for: It has a shorter 20-hour battery claim than the Tower 7’s 30 hours, no wheels, and only IPX4 splash resistance.

What the JBL Partybox 300 does well: Exceptional sound quality with crisp, crystal clear highs and midranges, hard punchy bass without muddiness. The tradeoff: Hard to carry, too tall, drags on the ground.

Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Partybox 300 is discontinued.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony ULT Tower 5:

• 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 310
• Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Club 120

Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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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The Two Speakers In Full

Sony ULT Tower 5: $448.00 Amazon eBay

Pros: At $448, 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	Yes
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
Strap	No
TWS	Yes (Stereo Pair)
USB Playback	Yes (USB-A and USB-C)
Weight	28 lbs (12.7 kg)
Wi-Fi	No

• Links
  • Official Sony ULT Tower 5 Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AudioTribe: Sony ULT Tower 5 - first impressions
  • AudioTribe: New 2026 Sony speakers lineup - ULT Tower 5 vs ULT Tower 7 vs ULT Tower Max
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
  • Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 310
  • 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 JBL Partybox 100
  • Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
  • Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 110
  • See all 59 comparisons

JBL Partybox 300: $300 Discontinued eBay

Newer model: the JBL Partybox 330, ranked higher, rated 4.6/5.

Pros: Exceptional sound quality with crisp, crystal clear highs and midranges, hard punchy bass without muddiness. 2x 6.5” woofers + 3x 2.25” tweeters, bass boost function, 45Hz-20kHz frequency range. 18-hour battery with 10400mAh capacity. Multiple inputs (RCA, USB, 3.5mm aux, mic, guitar). LED light modes (meter/pulse/party). True Wireless Stereo pairing up to 2 units. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-10dB).

Cons: Hard to carry, too tall, drags on the ground. Max spl and bass extension are only as good as the Partybox 100. No real reason to ever get one, get a Partybox 100 instead. Discontinued.

Full JBL Partybox 300 review and specifications →

Amplifier Power	120W
App	No
Aux Input	Yes
Bass Extension (-10dB)	40Hz
Battery Life	18 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth	Yes
Bluetooth Codecs	SBC
Bluetooth Version	4.2
Digital Aux Input	No
Dimensions	27” x 13” x 12.7” (685.8 x 330.2 x 322.6 mm)
Drivers	2x 6.5” (165mm) woofers + 3x 2.25” (57mm) tweeters
EQ	No
Frequency Response	45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Guitar Input	Yes
IP Rating	None
Lights	Yes
Microphone Input	Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect)
Omnidirectional	No
Party Mode	No
Power Bank	Yes (USB-A)
Power Input	AC Power cord
Stereo	Yes (lying down)
Strap	No
TWS	Yes
USB Playback	Yes
Weight	35.3 lbs (16 kg)

• Links
  • Official JBL Partybox 300 Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
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