Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower Max. It ranks #1 of 13 large party speakers by sound quality (rated 4.8/5); the JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 ranks #7 (rated 4.7/5).
Why pick the Sony ULT Tower Max: AudioTribe measured 110.6dBC at roughly 6m outdoors with Flat EQ and ULT1 enabled, 4.4dB above the JBL PartyBox Ultimate in the same setup. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 lacks. The tradeoff: The same comparison found it 1.2dB behind the JBL in A-weighted loudness and weaker below 40Hz.
What the JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 does well: A 1500W RMS system (up from the original Ultimate’s 1100W) driving dual 264mm subwoofers, dual 124mm mid-range drivers and dual 30mm horn-loaded PEN tweeters, with manufacturer-rated extension to 28Hz (-6dB) from a 1.05m-tall cabinet. It streams over Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, which the Sony ULT Tower Max cannot. The tradeoff: AC-only: there is no battery, so it needs mains power wherever it goes.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower Max. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Partybox Ultimate 2.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower Max | JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,498.00 | £1,399.00 Upcoming |
| Ranked | #1 of 13 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 13 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | JBL One |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Dimensions | 21” x 41.8” x 18.6” (534 x 1062 x 472 mm) | 18.4” x 41.4” x 19.4” (466.7 x 1052.5 x 493.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 9 drivers: 3x 11” woofer (2 front, 1 rear), 2x 4.7” midrange, 2x 1” tweeter, 2x 1.6” rear tweeter | 2x 264mm subwoofer, 2x 124mm mid-range, 2x 30mm horn-loaded tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat / Live) | Yes (Smart EQ Mode) |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | Splashproof top surface | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (6.3mm) | Yes (EasySing AI vocal removal) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) | No |
| Amplifier Power | 2,150W (manufacturer specified) | 1500W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Chain) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) | Yes (USB-C PD, up to 20V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC 120-240V, 50/60Hz | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) | Yes |
| Weight | 124.1 lbs (56.3 kg) | 105.1 lbs (47.68 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 28Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) |
| Optical Input | - | Yes |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sony ULT Tower Max:
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 1000
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs Teufel Rockster 2
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox 710 vs Sony ULT Tower Max
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Sony ULT Tower Max: $1,498.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: AudioTribe measured 110.6dBC at roughly 6m outdoors with Flat EQ and ULT1 enabled, 4.4dB above the JBL PartyBox Ultimate in the same setup. Its three 11-inch woofers held about 110dB from 40-100Hz; Sony also provides 10-band EQ, Sound Field Optimization, RCA and XLR inputs, USB-C, a mic input, and XLR output.
Cons: The same comparison found it 1.2dB behind the JBL in A-weighted loudness and weaker below 40Hz. At 56.3kg (124lb) and AC-only, this is a wheeled event speaker rather than a portable battery model.
Full Sony ULT Tower Max review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 2,150W (manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) |
| Aux Input | RCA input |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 21” x 41.8” x 18.6” (534 x 1062 x 472 mm) |
| Drivers | 9 drivers: 3x 11” woofer (2 front, 1 rear), 2x 4.7” midrange, 2x 1” tweeter, 2x 1.6” rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat / Live) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| IP Rating | Splashproof top surface |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (6.3mm) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Chain) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) |
| Power Input | AC 120-240V, 50/60Hz |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) |
| Weight | 124.1 lbs (56.3 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 1000
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs Teufel Rockster 2
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 720
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 710
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 520
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- See all 29 comparisons
JBL Partybox Ultimate 2: £1,399.00 Upcoming Estimated Peter Tyson
Older model: the JBL Partybox Ultimate (ranked higher, rated 4.7/5).
Pros: A 1500W RMS system (up from the original Ultimate’s 1100W) driving dual 264mm subwoofers, dual 124mm mid-range drivers and dual 30mm horn-loaded PEN tweeters, with manufacturer-rated extension to 28Hz (-6dB) from a 1.05m-tall cabinet. Wi-Fi streaming with AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect sits alongside Bluetooth 5.3 and Auracast multi-speaker linking. Inputs cover an XLR line-in, mic, guitar, aux, optical and USB-C playback, and karaoke gets AI vocal removal. JBL One app control, a full-panel light show with floor projection, and wheels plus a handle for its 47.68kg. IPX4 splash resistance.
Cons: AC-only: there is no battery, so it needs mains power wherever it goes. At 47.68kg and just over a metre tall it is still a two-person lift despite the wheels, and 47.68kg is heavier than the 39kg model it replaces. IPX4 only shrugs off splashes, not rain or dust. No independent measurements have been published yet, so its real output and sound quality can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Not yet sold in the US.
Full JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 1500W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | JBL One |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 18.4” x 41.4” x 19.4” (466.7 x 1052.5 x 493.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 264mm subwoofer, 2x 124mm mid-range, 2x 30mm horn-loaded tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ Mode) |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (EasySing AI vocal removal) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C PD, up to 20V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 105.1 lbs (47.68 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox 520
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox 710
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox 1000
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- See all 10 comparisons