Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5 for better sound quality, the Klipsch Gig XXL for the lower price. The Sony ULT Tower 5 ranks #5 of 39 party speakers at $448. The Klipsch Gig XXL ranks #20 at $79.99, $368.01 cheaper.
What the Sony ULT Tower 5 offers: 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. Watch for: 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.
What the Klipsch Gig XXL offers: A straightforward 8.2kg party speaker with a large 8-inch woofer, horn tweeter, aux and USB playback, guitar and microphone inputs, karaoke reverb, TWS pairing and a USB-A power bank. Independent testing confirms that it gets remarkably loud and gives EDM and hip-hop a lively, bass-forward character. Watch for: Bass is more warm than deep and can become muddy at high volume. There is no app or proper EQ beyond a Bass button, no water rating, and the claimed eight-hour battery life is short for an outdoor party speaker. It is a fun, simple option, but not the cleanest or most flexible choice.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Klipsch Gig XXL if the price matters more than sound quality.
Battery life favors the Sony ULT Tower 5: rated for 20 hours against 8 hours for the Klipsch Gig XXL.
Water resistance is not close: the Sony ULT Tower 5 is rated at IPX4 (splashing), well ahead of the Klipsch Gig XXL at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Klipsch Gig XXL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #20 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | No |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 8 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) | - |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter | 8" (203mm) Cerametallic woofer + horn tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | No |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (Karaoke mode with reverb effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | Yes |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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 Club 120
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 130
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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: $448.00 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
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 110
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Zealot PT21
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Klipsch Gig XXL: $79.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A straightforward 8.2kg party speaker with a large 8-inch woofer, horn tweeter, aux and USB playback, guitar and microphone inputs, karaoke reverb, TWS pairing and a USB-A power bank. Independent testing confirms that it gets remarkably loud and gives EDM and hip-hop a lively, bass-forward character.
Cons: Bass is more warm than deep and can become muddy at high volume. There is no app or proper EQ beyond a Bass button, no water rating, and the claimed eight-hour battery life is short for an outdoor party speaker. It is a fun, simple option, but not the cleanest or most flexible choice.
Full Klipsch Gig XXL review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) Cerametallic woofer + horn tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with reverb effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Klipsch Gig XXL vs JBL Partybox 110 🎉 Bluetooth Party Speaker Comparison. Is The Party Over For Gig? More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Klipsch Gig XXL vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential (Pee-Wee) - Indoors, Plugged In🔌 Bluetooth Speakers
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Klipsch Gig XXL vs ONN Large Party Speaker Gen 2 ⚔️ Budge Bluetooth Speaker Battle🔉 Bass Boost On
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