“I like Big Bass and I cannot lie.” If this describes you, you’ll be happy to hear that Sony just launched a new line of headphones and wireless speakers that feature the next evolution of company’s “XBS” (eXtra Bass System) technology, now simply dubbed “ULT.” ULT, short for “Ultimate Power Sound” is also the brand of the company’s newest wireless speakers, party speakers and one pair of headphones. Hitting the ULT button on any of the new products will bring a big boost to the low bass response. Hitting the button a second time will shift to a higher max SPL output with a more neutral frequency response.
With the larger ULT speakers, the goal is to attempt to reproduce the sound of being in the front row at an amplified live musical performance. And the company’s “ULT TOWER 10” speaker ($1,199) did a great job of doing just that, filling a club in New York City with sound from just a single speaker at their launch party last month.
ULT TOWER 10 Brings the House Down
The ULT TOWER 10 is a true party speaker with not only high SPL output but also an integrated light show that can follow the beat of the music. For customization, there are 34 controllable light options and a 7-band Equalizer built into Sony’s mobile apps (Sony Music Connect and Fiestable). The ULT TOWER 10 has sound reinforcement/PA functions built-in with a wireless microphone included and the option to add a second wired microphone, keyboard, PC, guitar or electronic drum set. Of course, the speaker also supports Bluetooth connections so you can connect a phone or tablet with a wireless or hard-wired connection, load up some tunes and host an impromptu Karaoke party with your friends and family.
Although the ULT Tower 10 speaker can connect to sources and other speakers wirelessly, it does require a power cord (and a power outlet) as it’s too power hungry to rely on batteries alone. If you’re planning to take it to the beach, camping or tailgating you’ll need a portable power station like the ones from Anker or Bluetti.
The ULT TOWER 10 produces omni-directional sound for maximum dispersion. Although one speaker can get quite loud, the ULT TOWER 10 can be linked with up to 99 additional ULT speakers to fill even the largest venue with sound.
An array of touch controls on top of the ULT TOWER 10 allow you to control playback, switch inputs, change lighting colors and adjust volume. That’s also where you find the ULT button for that powerful deep bass boost. A notch in in the top panel provides the perfect spot for a cell phone or tablet for that marathon Karaoke session. You can even adjust the key of any song or add echo to your voice for more professional sounding results.
For party speakers, it’s hard to get bigger (or louder) than the ULT Tower 10. I tested a few of my favorite tracks and I didn’t turn the volume up much before the “walls started shaking, the earth started quaking.” Yeah, it truly shook me (and my neighbors) “All… Night… Long.”
ULT Field: Take the Party With You
Sony also unveiled a pair of smaller, more easily transportable wireless speakers in the “ULT FIELD” line. The ULT FIELD speakers are ip67-rated for water and dust resistance. They’re rust proof too, which is something you don’t see every day.
The larger ULT FIELD speaker, the ULT FIELD 7 ($499) packs a punch in a fairly portable size. It can be placed sideways or upright with the sound adjusting itself as necessary. It supports wireless Bluetooth or wired connectivity with up to to 30 hours of playback on a charge. It can do Karaoke or PA duties with a wired microphone or instrument input (microphone not included).
If you need to fill a larger space or want true stereo separation, two FIELD 7s can be paired up in stereo mode. If you’re filling an even larger space you can synch up to 100 FIELD and TOWER speakers in Party Mode. In addition to high SPL and the ULT bass boost, the FIELD 7 offers clearer voice reproduction than previous Sony portable speakers. This, along with its weather resistance make the ULT Field 7 an excellent match for those outdoor movie nights.
The smaller entry into the ULT line is the ULT FIELD 1 ($129) wireless Bluetooth speaker. Its full model number is the SRS-ULT10. The ULT FIELD 1 also features the ULT boost for enhanced bass or extended SPL. Like the FIELD 7, the FIELD 1 can be paired with a second speaker for stereo playback, but the smaller speaker can’t be used in “Party” mode. The FIELD 1 offers up to 12 hours of music playback with a single charge. It can also be used as a speakerphone for voice calls or video conferencing. The ULT FIELD 1 comes in 4 colors – off-white, black, forest gray and orange – so you can set yourself apart from the crowd.
ULT WEAR Headphones – For Your Personal Listening Pleasure
The ULT line also includes a pair of wireless over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. Simply called “ULT WEAR” ($199) the new ‘phones feature extremely effective noise cancellation with up to 30 hours of music playback with ANC enabled or 50 hours with no noise cancellation. A 10-minute quick charge will get you up to 5 hours of music playback. The ULT WEAR comes in three colors to match your eyes: forest gray, black and off-white.
With a beamforming microphone and a mesh screen to prevent wind noise, the ULT WEAR (which has a model number of WH-ULT900N) also offers exceptional call clarity. Call into that Zoom meeting from the beach if you like. No one will know. The ULT WEAR even includes head-tracking technology to adjust the sound based on your head position. This feature can make your listening experience more immersive on compatible content like music encoded with Sony 360 Reality Audio, and on select apps including Netflix. The head-tracking feature is currently only available on Android phones and devices.
Don’t Call it a “Beats” Button
There are many headphones on the market today that provide prominenent bass response, Apple’s “Beats” being some of the better known models. Sony has some experience here as their popular WH-XB910N headphones (which this model is replacing) are highly rated by customers for their extended and prominent bass response. With a new improved 40mm driver, the ULT WEAR carries over the deep bass that customers loved so much on its predecessor to an even greater level of bassimilitude (not a real word). Just press the ULT button and prepare to be blown away by big bottomed bass. If it’s too much for you, then press it again to return to a more civilized frequency response.
In case you prefer a wired connection (or need to plug into an in-flight entertainment system), the ULT WEAR supports that too, with a headphone cable included. For wireless Bluetooth connections, the ULT WEAR can be connected to two different devices at the same time. Dueling playlists, perhaps? The ULT WEAR also supports Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa and Google voice assistants in case you like people thinking that you are talking to yourself in public. “Hey, Siri, why is everyone staring at me?”
Listening Impressions
In terms of actual use, I found the ULT WEAR’s ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) to be very effective at reducing steady state background noise like the rumble of a jet engine, air conditioning or subway trains. Sound quality was solid and musical overall, though bass was quite prominent with the “ULT” bass boost enabled (as expected). The headphones were comfortable for extended listening. The only thing that took some getting used to was three separate buttons on the left earcup – one for noise cancellation, one for pairing and playback control and a third to activate (or deactivate) the ULT bass boost. I’d imagine it wouldn’t take long to get used to it but I’ll admit to some fumbling around to find the right button.
The price point, portability, highly effective noise cancellation and flexibility of the ULT WEAR headphones with wired or wireless connections make them an ideal travel companion. Those with a penchant for more precise sonic reproduction can choose one of Sony’s more refined (and more expensive) offerings like the WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones or the WF-1000XM5 earbuds.
The Bottom Line
Overall, Sony’s ULT brand shows a lot of promise, maybe not for the audiophile who likes his or her sound to precisely match the original recording, but for more casual listeners who like their music to move them and like a little bit more of that big bouncy bottom.
Where to buy:
- ULT WEAR Wireless Headphones – $199 at Amazon
- ULT FIELD 1 Bluetooth Speaker – $129 at Amazon
- ULT FIELD 7 Bluetooth Speaker – $499 at Amazon
- ULT TOWER 10 Party Speaker – $1,199 at Amazon
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Asa
April 15, 2024 at 8:52 pm
I have the previous version of the Sony Towers (2) and can confirm they are great for a noisy gyms and easily put out a lot of sound. Your “Bottom Line” response is spot on. I like that they are easily portable and can be used for events, parties and the like, without wires and can can be from your phone via USB or via wired input. Funny, as this seems like a JBL-type product, but Sony executed it well.
Chris Boylan
April 17, 2024 at 2:36 am
They are fun to play around with. I have the ULT headphones, the little FIELD 1 and the massive TOWER 10 in right now for review. The only thing that I’m not crazy about is that the TOWER 10 requires a power cord. No battery. I guess adding a powerful enough battery would have made the unit substantially more expensive and heavier. But it would be nice if it were truly portable.