Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 5. It ranks #5 of 39 party speakers by sound quality at $448; the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom ranks #23 and costs $449.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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 Ultimate Ears Hyperboom offers: Strong audio performance with 2x 4.5” woofers, 2x 1” tweeters, 2x passive radiators. Up to 24 hours battery at 50% volume (3 hours at max). Adaptive bass compensation for wall-reflective environments. Dual Bluetooth pairing, aux and optical inputs, USB-out for device charging. IPX4 splash-proof. Sliding rubber handle and compact square design. Watch for: Very expensive for what it does, a bit dull and muddy sound. Not as loud as others in the class. Bass not as deep as a Partybox 100. External power brick for charging.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Water resistance is not close: the Sony ULT Tower 5 is rated at IPX4 (splashing), well ahead of the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Ultimate Ears Hyperboom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $449.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #23 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) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| 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) | 7.5" x 7.5" x 14.3" (190 x 190 x 364 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9" woofer, 2x 2.4" tweeter | 2x 5.66" woofers, 2x 0.98" tweeters, passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | No |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | No |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power brick |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | No |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 55Hz |
| Charging Time | - | 2.6 hours |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sony ULT Tower 5 compares with other leading options:
- 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
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom: $449.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Strong audio performance with 2x 4.5” woofers, 2x 1” tweeters, 2x passive radiators. Up to 24 hours battery at 50% volume (3 hours at max). Adaptive bass compensation for wall-reflective environments. Dual Bluetooth pairing, aux and optical inputs, USB-out for device charging. IPX4 splash-proof. Sliding rubber handle and compact square design. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Very expensive for what it does, a bit dull and muddy sound. Not as loud as others in the class. Bass not as deep as a Partybox 100. External power brick for charging.
Full Ultimate Ears Hyperboom review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 2.6 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5" x 7.5" x 14.3" (190 x 190 x 364 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.66" woofers, 2x 0.98" tweeters, passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Soundboks Mix
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Samsung MX-ST50B
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Klipsch Gig XXL
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs W-King T9 Pro
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs LG XL7
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs W-King T12
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Soundcore Rave 3S
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- See all 35 comparisons