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 Turtlebox Gen 3 ranks #105 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $430.
What the Sony ULT Tower 5 does well: 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 Turtlebox Gen 3 lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Turtlebox Gen 3 lacks. 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 Turtlebox Gen 3 is the lighter, tougher pick. A loud, waterproof and crushproof outdoor speaker with a big battery, device charging and party mode linking. At 10 lbs (4.54 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Tower 5 at 28 lbs (12.7 kg). It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Sony ULT Tower 5. The tradeoff: Sounds basically identical to the original and the Turtlebox Gen 2: each generation mainly added features, not sound quality.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5 at $448 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Turtlebox Gen 3 at $430 if you want a boombox speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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 | Turtlebox Gen 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $430.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #105 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | No |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1” x 21.1” x 11.1” (358 x 536 x 282 mm) | 12” x 7” x 8.7” (305 x 178 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9” woofer, 2x 2.4” tweeter | 1x 6x9” (152x228mm) woofer + 1x 1” (25mm) tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | No |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 50W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | DC Barrel Connector (15V/3A) |
| 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) | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~65Hz |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | - | 85Wh |
| Maximum SPL | - | 102dB (measured by Williston Audio Labs) |
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