Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5. It ranks #5 of 53 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $448. The Sony SRS-XV500 ranks #16, rated 4.0/5, at $315.99, $132.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The ULT Tower 5 is the newer, better-sounding Sony. A 9-inch woofer and two tweeters on 300W play in stereo with deeper bass, and it adds a 10-band EQ, LDAC, Auracast, and RCA, XLR and mic inputs. Its removable battery is rated for 20 hours. It has no wheels and is only splash resistant.
The SRS-XV500 has the longer battery and more karaoke controls. It claims 25 hours, with 2.5 hours from a 10-minute charge, and two 6.3mm inputs take a mic or guitar with key and echo controls. RTINGS found it warm and very loud, but the sound changes as you move off to the sides and its bass pumps near full volume.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $132.01 with the Sony SRS-XV500 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Sony SRS-XV500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $315.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #16 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | - |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| 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) | 22.2”H x 10.6”W x 11.6”D (564 x 269 x 294 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9” woofer, 2x 2.4” tweeter | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 60mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (two 6.3mm inputs) |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 55W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | - |
| Power Input | AC power cord | - |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | - |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony ULT Tower 5: