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 53 party speakers by sound quality at $448; the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus ranks #39 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $169.99.
The case for the Sony ULT Tower 5: A powerful party tower with deep bass, a removable long battery, and mic and XLR inputs for karaoke or DJ use. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus lacks. The tradeoff: 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 Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is the lighter, tougher choice. A fairly light stereo boombox, easy to carry to the beach or park. At 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Tower 5 at 28 lbs (12.7 kg). It is rated IPX7 against IPX4 for the Sony ULT Tower 5. The tradeoff: Warm tuning meaning a rolled off treble and some upper bass boost.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 ($448) for a party speaker; the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus ($169.99) suits a boombox speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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 | Soundcore Boom 2 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $169.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1” x 21.1” x 11.1” (358 x 536 x 282 mm) | 17.3” x 9.1” x 5.9” (440 x 230 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9” woofer, 2x 2.4” tweeter | 2x 114mm (4.5”) woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75”) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes (Pro EQ + presets) |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 140W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyCast 2.0) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
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