Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower 7. It ranks #1 of 54 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $648. The Soundboks Rider ranks #31, rated 3.4/5, at $599, $49 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Sony ULT Tower 7 is the better-sounding pick. A big, loud party speaker on wheels with punchy bass, a 30 hour battery, 360 degree sound and inputs for mics and instruments. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the Soundboks Rider cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Soundboks Rider. 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 Soundboks Rider is the lighter, tougher pick. A light, rugged party speaker with a swappable battery that lasts all day at mid volume and an app with a six band EQ. At 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Tower 7 at 50.3 lbs (22.8 kg). It is rated IP66 against IPX4 for the Sony ULT Tower 7. The catch: Its sealed 8in woofer runs out of real bass at high volume: Xander measured the -6 dB point rising to roughly 75 to 85 Hz at maximum, with 40 Hz some 20 dB down, and M1M heard the bass pulled back toward the upper bass above mid volume.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower 7. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $49 saving on the Soundboks Rider is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 7 | Soundboks Rider | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $648.00 | $599.00 |
| Ranked | #1 of 54 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #31 of 54 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes (Soundboks) |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (lights off; manufacturer specified) | 35 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| 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) | - |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x woofer, 2x midrange, 2x front tweeter, 2x rear tweeter | 8” woofer (sealed), 1.2” dome tweeter in horn |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes (6-band EQ + Bass+, Indoor and Outdoor profiles) |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP66 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) | No |
| Amplifier Power | 420W | 92W RMS (72W woofer + 20W tweeter) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No (no TeamUp) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) | - |
| Power Input | AC power cord | USB-C (65W fast charging) |
| Removable Battery | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | No |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Weight | 50.3 lbs (22.8 kg) | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 113.2dB(C) (measured by M1M Tech Channel) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Sony ULT Tower 7: reviews by New Stuff TV 2, postscript speaker and AudioTribe.
- Soundboks Rider: reviews by M1MTechChannel, Xander and Forbes.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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