Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Sony ULT Tower 7 ranks #1 of 53 party speakers by sound quality at $648; the JBL Boombox 4 ranks #20 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $549.95.
Why pick the Sony ULT Tower 7: A big, loud party speaker on wheels with punchy bass, a 30 hour battery, 360 degree sound and inputs for mics and instruments. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Boombox 4 lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Boombox 4 lacks. It has a microphone input for karaoke or announcements, which the JBL Boombox 4 lacks. Watch for: The reviewer notes that Auracast pairing is not backward-compatible with Sony’s older Party Connect speakers, and the hard-plastic corners lack protective rubber bumpers.
The JBL Boombox 4 is the lighter, tougher pick. An extremely loud boombox for its size with fully waterproof, dustproof build, a long battery and a flexible app EQ. At 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Tower 7 at 50.3 lbs (22.8 kg). It is rated IP68 against IPX4 for the Sony ULT Tower 7. Watch for: Pretty overpriced for the category.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 7 ($648) for a party speaker; the JBL Boombox 4 ($549.95) suits a boombox speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full 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 7 | JBL Boombox 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $648.00 | $549.95 |
| Ranked | #1 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #20 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | No |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (lights off; manufacturer specified) | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, LC3, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 13.7” x 16.6” x 28” (348 x 422 x 711 mm) | 20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x woofer, 2x midrange, 2x front tweeter, 2x rear tweeter | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes (7 band) |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP68 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) | No |
| Amplifier Power | 420W | 210W AC / 200W battery |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Weight | 50.3 lbs (22.8 kg) | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 41Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
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