These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Sony ULT Tower 5 ranks #5 of 53 party speakers by sound quality at $449.99; the Sony ULT Tower Max ranks #1 of 12 large party speakers by sound quality at $1499.99.
These models are for very different scales of party. The Tower 5 is a 12.7kg, battery-powered 300W speaker with a 20-hour claim. The Tower Max is a 56.3kg AC-powered flagship with three 11-inch woofers, 2,150W specified output and event-oriented XLR/RCA connections.
Choose the Tower 5 for portability: It is dramatically smaller, runs from a removable battery and is appropriate when a single person needs to carry the speaker.
Choose the Tower Max for venue-scale output: It measured 110.6dBC at about 6m outdoors in AudioTribe’s test and has the capacity, connections and bass system for large AC-powered events.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 at $449.99 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Sony ULT Tower Max at $1499.99 if you want a large party speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Sony ULT Tower Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.99 | $1,499.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #1 of 12 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) |
| Aux Input | RCA input | RCA input |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | No Battery |
| 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) | 21" x 41.8" x 18.6" (534 x 1062 x 472 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter | 9 drivers: 3x 11" woofer (2 front, 1 rear), 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 1" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat / Live) |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | Splashproof top surface |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (6.3mm) |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) |
| Output Power | 300W | 2,150W (manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Chain) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | Yes (USB charging) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC 120-240V, 50/60Hz |
| Removable Battery | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes (Stereo Pair) |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Weight | 28 lbs / 12.7 kg | 124.1 lbs / 56.3 kg |
| Wifi | No | No |
| Max Volume | - | 110.6dBC at about 6m outdoors (AudioTribe; Flat EQ, ULT1) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony ULT Tower Max:
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 1000
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 720
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs Sony ULT Tower 10
Prices on this page were last checked September 12, 2026 at 9:50 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: $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 →
| 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 |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 300W |
| 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 |
| Wifi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony ULT Tower Max: $1,499.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: AudioTribe measured 110.6dBC at roughly 6m outdoors with Flat EQ and ULT1 enabled, 4.4dB above the JBL PartyBox Ultimate in the same setup. Its three 11-inch woofers held about 110dB from 40-100Hz; Sony also provides 10-band EQ, Sound Field Optimization, RCA and XLR inputs, USB-C, a mic input, and XLR output.
Cons: The same comparison found it 1.2dB behind the JBL in A-weighted loudness and weaker below 40Hz. At 56.3kg (124lb) and AC-only, this is a wheeled event speaker rather than a portable battery model.
Full Sony ULT Tower Max review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | RCA input |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 21" x 41.8" x 18.6" (534 x 1062 x 472 mm) |
| Drivers | 9 drivers: 3x 11" woofer (2 front, 1 rear), 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 1" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat / Live) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| IP Rating | Splashproof top surface |
| Max Volume | 110.6dBC at about 6m outdoors (AudioTribe; Flat EQ, ULT1) |
| Microphone Input | Yes (6.3mm) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) |
| Output Power | 2,150W (manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Chain) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) |
| Power Input | AC 120-240V, 50/60Hz |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) |
| Weight | 124.1 lbs / 56.3 kg |
| Wifi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons