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 40 party speakers by sound quality at $448; the Sony ULT Tower 9 ranks #9 of 12 large party speakers by sound quality at $748.
Different sizes. The ULT Tower 5 is a 12.7 kg party speaker with a 9 inch woofer. The ULT Tower 9 is a 29.6 kg large party tower with front and rear drivers. Each is rated within its own class.
The Tower 5 has the more useful battery. It is removable, with a claimed 20 hours, and the speaker is IPX4. It has balanced XLR, RCA and mic inputs and ULT1 and ULT2 bass modes. It has no wheels.
The Tower 9 spreads sound in 360 degrees and claims 25 hours, with mic and guitar inputs. Its bass drops off a lot at high volume, more than even the smaller PartyBox speakers, and it has no water rating.
Both support LDAC, AAC and Auracast with a 10-band EQ.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 ($448) for a party speaker; the Sony ULT Tower 9 ($748) suits a large party speaker instead.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Sony ULT Tower 5 at IPX4 (splashing) against the Sony ULT Tower 9, which has no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Sony ULT Tower 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $748.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 40 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #9 of 12 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1” x 21.1” x 11.1” (358 x 536 x 282 mm) | 16.1” x 35.8” x 18” (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9” woofer, 2x 2.4” tweeter | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6”x12.6” woofer, 2x 4.7” midrange, 2x 2” tweeter, 2x 1.6” rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 148W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | Yes |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 65.3 lbs (29.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
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 26, 2026 at 11:14 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 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
- 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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Sony ULT Tower 9: $748.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Sony SRS-XV900 (rated 3.7/5).
Pros: Slightly better sounding than the ULT Tower 10
Cons: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume even compared to the lower end Partybox speakers. Bass drops off a lot at higher volumes. Not quite as loud as the ULT Tower 10
Full Sony ULT Tower 9 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 148W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1” x 35.8” x 18” (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6”x12.6” woofer, 2x 4.7” midrange, 2x 2” tweeter, 2x 1.6” rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 65.3 lbs (29.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - indoor listening test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - power generator test
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 9 Vs Sony ULT Tower 10 - Size Doesn’t Matter More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 9 Review - Amazing Instrument Separation
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Joy & Oluv’Sone 3DAudio & Music: Sony ULT9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - the king of battery powered party speakers
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs Teufel Rockster
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 520
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs Sony SRS-XV900
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 710
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- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs Teufel Rockster 2
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