Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 7. It ranks #1 of 53 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $648. The Sony SRS-XV500 ranks #16, rated 4.0/5, at $315.99, $332.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Sony ULT Tower 7 is the better-sounding choice. A big, loud party speaker on wheels with punchy bass, a 30 hour battery, 360 degree sound and inputs for mics and instruments. 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.
The Sony SRS-XV500 is the lighter pick. A slightly warm party speaker with plenty of bass punch that gets very loud outdoors, plus karaoke inputs and a long battery. At 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Tower 7 at 50.3 lbs (22.8 kg). The catch: RTINGS measured poor directivity, so the sound changes noticeably as you move off to the sides.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 7. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $332.01 you would save on the Sony SRS-XV500 does not close the gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 7 | Sony SRS-XV500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $648.00 | $315.99 |
| Ranked | #1 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #16 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | - |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (lights off; manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Dimensions | 13.7” x 16.6” x 28” (348 x 422 x 711 mm) | 22.2”H x 10.6”W x 11.6”D (564 x 269 x 294 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x woofer, 2x midrange, 2x front tweeter, 2x rear tweeter | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 60mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (two 6.3mm inputs) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 420W | 55W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) | - |
| Power Input | AC power cord | - |
| Removable Battery | No | - |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Weight | 50.3 lbs (22.8 kg) | 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
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