Short answer: the Sony ULT Tower Max if sound quality matters most, the Sony ULT Tower 9 if price matters most. The Sony ULT Tower Max ranks #1 of 12 large party speakers at $1499.99. The Sony ULT Tower 9 ranks #9 at $748, $751.99 cheaper.
The Tower Max is an AC-powered event speaker; the Tower 9 is the battery-powered older alternative. Max uses three 11-inch woofers, 2,150W specified output, 10-band EQ and XLR/RCA/USB-C connections, while Tower 9 prioritizes a 25-hour battery.
Choose the Tower Max for the largest venues: AudioTribe measured 110.6dBC at about 6m outdoors and found strong output from 40-100Hz. Its 56.3kg weight and AC requirement are the tradeoff.
Choose the Tower 9 for battery operation: It is the practical option when mains power is unavailable, but its review notes flag bass loss at higher volume.
Buy the Sony ULT Tower Max if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony ULT Tower 9 if the price matters more than sound quality.
The Sony ULT Tower 9 is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 12 large party speakers; there are better options higher up.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower Max | Sony ULT Tower 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.99 | $748.00 |
| Ranked | #1 of 12 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #9 of 12 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes |
| Aux Input | RCA input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| 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) | 16.1" x 35.8" x 18" (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 9 drivers: 3x 11" woofer (2 front, 1 rear), 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 1" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 2" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat / Live) | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | Splashproof top surface | None |
| Max Volume | 110.6dBC at about 6m outdoors (AudioTribe; Flat EQ, ULT1) | - |
| Microphone Input | Yes (6.3mm) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) | No |
| Output Power | 2,150W (manufacturer specified) | 148W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Chain) | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC 120-240V, 50/60Hz | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) | Yes |
| Weight | 124.1 lbs / 56.3 kg | 65.3 lbs / 29.6 kg |
| Wifi | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sony ULT Tower Max compares with other leading options:
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 1000
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 720
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs Sony ULT Tower Max
Prices on this page were last checked September 12, 2026 at 9:50 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: $1,499.99 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 →
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | RCA input |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 110.6dBC at about 6m outdoors (AudioTribe; Flat EQ, ULT1) |
| Microphone Input | Yes (6.3mm) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes (360 degree Party Sound) |
| Output Power | 2,150W (manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Chain) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB charging) |
| Power Input | AC 120-240V, 50/60Hz |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) |
| Weight | 124.1 lbs / 56.3 kg |
| Wifi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony ULT Tower 9: $748.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Slightly better sounding than the ULT Tower 10
Cons: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume even compared to the lower end Partybox speakers. Bass drops off a lot at higher volumes. Not quite as loud as the ULT Tower 10
Full Sony ULT Tower 9 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1" x 35.8" x 18" (410 x 910 x 456 mm) |
| Drivers | 7 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 2" tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 148W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 65.3 lbs / 29.6 kg |
| Wifi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - indoor listening test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - power generator test
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 9 Vs Sony ULT Tower 10 - Size Doesn’t Matter More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: Sony ULT Tower 9 Review - Amazing Instrument Separation
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Joy & Oluv’Sone 3DAudio & Music: Sony ULT9 vs JBL Partybox 720 - the king of battery powered party speakers
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs Teufel Rockster
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 520
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs Sony SRS-XV900
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 710
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs Marshall Bromley 750
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs JBL Partybox 720
- Sony ULT Tower 9 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- See all 13 comparisons