Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5. It ranks #5 of 39 party speakers by sound quality at $448; the Soundboks Mix ranks #24 and costs $799, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
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 Soundboks Mix offers: USB-C fast charging (65W) for the swappable battery, up to 40 hours of battery life at mid-volume, IP65 dust/water resistance, and TeamUp linking with up to 5 other SKAA-equipped Soundboks speakers. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage. Watch for: Doesn’t have as deep of bass as higher-ranked speakers, and can sound somewhat bright in the treble. Only 72W of output and a single 10-inch woofer, less powerful than the Soundboks Go or 4, and no microphone input for karaoke like the Pro Panel models.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Soundboks Mix and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Soundboks Mix is rated for 40 hours versus 20 hours for the Sony ULT Tower 5.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Soundboks Mix | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $799 |
| Ranked | #5 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 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) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC (additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| 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) | 19.1" x 13.5" x 10.9" (484 x 342 x 276 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter | 10" woofer, 1.2" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | No |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP65 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 72W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | No |
| Power Input | AC power cord | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | No |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 121dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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
- See all 35 comparisons
Soundboks Mix: $799 Soundboks Amazon eBay
Pros: USB-C fast charging (65W) for the swappable battery, up to 40 hours of battery life at mid-volume, IP65 dust/water resistance, and TeamUp linking with up to 5 other SKAA-equipped Soundboks speakers. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage.
Cons: Doesn’t have as deep of bass as higher-ranked speakers, and can sound somewhat bright in the treble. Only 72W of output and a single 10-inch woofer, less powerful than the Soundboks Go or 4, and no microphone input for karaoke like the Pro Panel models.
Full Soundboks Mix review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 72W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 19.1" x 13.5" x 10.9" (484 x 342 x 276 mm) |
| Drivers | 10" woofer, 1.2" tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Maximum SPL | 121dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons