Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5 for price and app EQ, the Soundboks 3 for peak output off the resale market. At $348 the Tower 5 costs less and brings ULT1/ULT2 modes, 10-band EQ and RCA/XLR/USB-C with a 20-hour claimed battery. The Soundboks 3 claims 126dB from dual 10-inch woofers and 40 hours of playback, but it is discontinued with only third-party resale stock available.
This pits Sony’s Tower 5, a compact consumer party speaker, against the Soundboks 3, a performer-focused battery PA. The Tower 5 offers a 9-inch woofer with dual tweeters, a removable 20-hour battery, IPX4 splash resistance, 10-band EQ with ULT1/ULT2 modes, and RCA/XLR/USB-C inputs for DJ and karaoke use. The Soundboks 3 offers the same dual-10-inch, 126dB, IP65-rated design as the Soundboks 4 and a removable 40-hour battery, though it is now discontinued with only third-party resale stock available.
Choose the Tower 5 for big-room output and app EQ modes and a lower price: Its ULT1/ULT2/EQ modes and compact footprint suit a living-room-to-backyard party speaker better than a performer-focused PA cabinet. At $348 it also costs less.
Choose the Soundboks 3 for higher peak output at a discounted resale price: Its claimed 40h battery beats the Tower 5’s 20h. It is discontinued, so check current stock and condition before buying.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 at $348 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Soundboks 3 at $699 if you want a battery-powered PA speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings and PA & Live Sound rankings.
A powerful party tower with deep bass, a removable long battery, and mic and XLR inputs for karaoke or DJ use.
A very loud battery party speaker with two 10 inch woofers and a removable 40 hour battery, now discontinued.
Prices on this page were last checked October 29, 2026 at 4:42 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Soundboks 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $348.00 | $699 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #5 of 51 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 17 in Battery-Powered PA Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| 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) | 25.6” x 17” x 13” (650.2 x 431.8 x 330.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9” woofer, 2x 2.4” tweeter | 2x 10” (254mm) woofers + 1x 1” (25mm) compression tweeter with horn |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP65 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 216W (3x 72W) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | No |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 34 lbs (15.4 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | - |
| Passive | - | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 52Hz |
| Inputs | - | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/instrument), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | - | 126dB |
| XLR Input | - | Yes (2x combo) |
| SKAA | - | Yes |
| Configuration | - | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| Cabinet Material | - | Poplar plywood |
| DSP | - | App EQ |
| Rigging | - | 35mm pole mount socket |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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