Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5 for better sound quality, the Soundcore Rave 3S for the lower price. The Sony ULT Tower 5 ranks #5 of 39 party speakers at $448. The Soundcore Rave 3S ranks #16 at $299.99, $148.01 cheaper.
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 Soundcore Rave 3S offers: 2 AA battery Wireless Microphones and remote control included. AI voice removal feature for Karaoke Watch for: Some upper bass and upper mids boost. Not as deep of bass as a Partybox 110/120
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Soundcore Rave 3S if the price matters more than sound quality.
Battery life favors the Sony ULT Tower 5: rated for 20 hours against 12 hours for the Soundcore Rave 3S.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Soundcore Rave 3S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #16 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) | - |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter | 1x 6.5" (165mm) woofer + 3x 2.5" (63mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (Karaoke mode with reverb effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 200W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | No |
| Power Input | AC power cord | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | No |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes 2 Included |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to 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
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Soundcore Rave 3S: $299.99 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: 2 AA battery Wireless Microphones and remote control included. AI voice removal feature for Karaoke
Cons: Some upper bass and upper mids boost. Not as deep of bass as a Partybox 110/120
Full Soundcore Rave 3S review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 200W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5" (165mm) woofer + 3x 2.5" (63mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with reverb effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes 2 Included |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Sony SRS-XP500
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs W-King T12
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs LG XL7
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Sony SRS-XP700
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Klipsch Gig XXL
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Zealot PT21
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Samsung MX-ST50B
- See all 36 comparisons