Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 7. It ranks #1 of 43 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $649.99. The JBL Partybox 310 ranks #4, rated 4.5/5, at $449.95, $200.04 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Sony ULT Tower 7 does well: A compelling large-party value at $650: 420W output, an IPX4-rated 30-hour battery, 360-degree sound, wheels and four carry handles at 22.8kg. The catch: 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.
Why pick the JBL Partybox 310: Absolute deepest bass of any battery powered speaker, most balanced sound in the class, handle and wheels are convenient. Watch for: Very large.
Worth knowing: the JBL Partybox 310 is discontinued, though it still ranks #4 of 43 party speakers by sound quality, so a used unit beats most of what is still sold new.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 7. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $200.04 with the JBL Partybox 310 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Sony ULT Tower 7 is rated for 30 hours, the JBL Partybox 310 only 18 hours.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 7 | JBL Partybox 310 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $649.99 | $449.95 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #1 of 43 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 43 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (lights off; manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Dimensions | 13.7” x 16.6” x 28” (348 x 422 x 711 mm) | 27.1”H x 12.8”W x 14.5”D (687.7 x 325.6 x 367.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x woofer, 2x midrange, 2x front tweeter, 2x rear tweeter | 2x 6.5” (165mm) woofers + 2x 2.5” (65mm) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes (3 band) |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) | No |
| Amplifier Power | 420W | 240W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) | Yes |
| Weight | 50.3 lbs (22.8 kg) | 37.5 lbs (17 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 32Hz |
| Charging Time | - | 3.5 hours |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sony ULT Tower 7:
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs JBL Partybox 330
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
- JBL Partybox Club 120 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
- JBL Partybox 130 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Sony ULT Tower 7: $649.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A compelling large-party value at $650: 420W output, an IPX4-rated 30-hour battery, 360-degree sound, wheels and four carry handles at 22.8kg. The full review praises its punchy, clean ULT1 bass, ULT2’s higher-output mode, simplified controls and unusually complete I/O: USB-C, USB-A, RCA, balanced XLR and mic input.
Cons: 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. IPX4 is splash resistance rather than full weatherproofing; the 30-hour claim requires lights off.
Full Sony ULT Tower 7 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 420W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) |
| Aux Input | RCA input |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (lights off; manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 13.7” x 16.6” x 28” (348 x 422 x 711 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x woofer, 2x midrange, 2x front tweeter, 2x rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) |
| Power Input | AC power cord |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) |
| Weight | 50.3 lbs (22.8 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs JBL Partybox 330
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs Sony ULT Tower 5
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs JBL Partybox 130
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs JBL Partybox 110
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs Zealot PT21
- See all 59 comparisons
JBL Partybox 310: $449.95 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Partybox 330, ranked higher, rated 4.6/5.
Pros: Absolute deepest bass of any battery powered speaker, most balanced sound in the class, handle and wheels are convenient. Increase treble one step in the app EQ to make it more neutral. Customizable color lighting modes. Very close to the JBL Partybox Stage 320 in terms of performance. Measured bass extension of 32Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Very large. Discontinued.
Full JBL Partybox 310 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 240W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 27.1”H x 12.8”W x 14.5”D (687.7 x 325.6 x 367.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” (165mm) woofers + 2x 2.5” (65mm) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 37.5 lbs (17 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- KULAS TECH SHOW: JBL Partybox 310, 100, on the Go Sound comparison More from KULASTECHSHOW20 →
- Flossy Carter: JBL PartyBox 310 vs PartyBox 300 More from FlossyCarter →
- DLX Willington: SONY SRS XP700 vs JBL PARTYBOX 310 First Impressions Binaural Sound Sample Sound Comparison More from DLXWillington →
- GYMCADDY: Soundboks Go Vs JBL Partybox 310 Vs Sony XP700 More from GYMCADDY →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Basement Bass Battle 💣 Sony XV800 ☢️ LG XL7 🔆 JBL Partybox 310 ☣️ All Plugged in, Sound Comparison More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs 310 🛜 Defcon 5🚨 Bass Alert! Take Shelter Immediately! 😲 Best Bass Goes To?
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs 310 🥳 A Family Feud! Battery Powered🔋Bluetooth Party Speakers Face-Off🤬
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: LG XL7 vs JBL Partybox 310 🏠 Indoor Bluetooth Party Speaker Battle. Plugged in🔌
- GYMCADDY: LG XBOOM XL7 Vs JBL Partybox 310 Vs Sony XP700
- Stereo Specs: JBL PARTYBOX 310 VS SONY GTK XB72 SOUND TEST COMPARISON
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Sony SRS-XV900 vs JBL Partybox 310 - Can the JBL Middleweight 💪🏽 Compete With The Sony Heavyweight?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 310 vs Sony ULT Tower 5
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox 330
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox 130
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox 100
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox 110
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox 300
- See all 39 comparisons