Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5. It ranks #5 of 53 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $448; the Soundboks Rider ranks #31, rated 3.4/5, and costs $599, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Sony ULT Tower 5 is the better-sounding choice. A powerful party tower with deep bass, a removable long battery, and mic and XLR inputs for karaoke or DJ use. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the Soundboks Rider cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Soundboks Rider. Watch for: It has a shorter 20-hour battery claim than the Sony ULT Tower 7’s 30 hours, no wheels, and only IPX4 splash resistance.
The Soundboks Rider is the longer-running, lighter pick. A light, rugged party speaker with a swappable battery that lasts all day at mid volume and an app with a six band EQ. It is rated for 35 hours of battery against 20 for the Sony ULT Tower 5. At 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Tower 5 at 28 lbs (12.7 kg). It is rated IP66 against IPX4 for the Sony ULT Tower 5. Watch for: Its sealed 8in woofer runs out of real bass at high volume: Xander measured the -6 dB point rising to roughly 75 to 85 Hz at maximum, with 40 Hz some 20 dB down, and M1M heard the bass pulled back toward the upper bass above mid volume.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Soundboks Rider and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Soundboks Rider | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $599.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #31 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes (Soundboks) |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 35 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| 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) | - |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9” woofer, 2x 2.4” tweeter | 8” woofer (sealed), 1.2” dome tweeter in horn |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes (6-band EQ + Bass+, Indoor and Outdoor profiles) |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP66 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 92W RMS (72W woofer + 20W tweeter) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No (no TeamUp) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | - |
| Power Input | AC power cord | USB-C (65W fast charging) |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | No |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | - |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 113.2dB(C) (measured by M1M Tech Channel) |
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