Launched last year, Sony’s ULT Power Sound line-up includes a selection of portable wireless Bluetooth speakers – and one pair of headphones – all with Sony’s ULT Power Sound feature to beef up the bass and treble for a more punchy and dynamic overall sound. All speakers in the ULT line support Bluetooth connectivity. Many also include line level or microphone inputs so you can connect a mic, guitar, keyboard or electronic drums for an impromptu jam session with your friends.
Joining the ULT Field 1, ULT Field 7 and ULT Tower 10 are the new ULT Field 3 ($199), ULT Field 5 ($329) and ULT Tower 9 ($899). Despite the tariff craziness, Sony has maintained the same – or lower – prices compared to their previous models. There’s also a brand new accessory called the ULT Mic ($149), which allows you to add dual mic Karaoke or PA functionality to the ULT Field 7, ULT Tower 9 or ULT Tower 10.
The company has folded two separate mobile apps down into one app called “Sony | Sound Connect” for simplicity and access to advanced features like custom equalization (EQ) and light shows. They’ve also added dedicated Party Mode/Pairing buttons for simpler and quicker pairing, both for stereo mode and for Party Connect mode. Now you can link Sony speakers in Party Connect mode easily without having to read a manual or lookup a video on YouTube for instructions.
ULT Field 3 – 24 Hours of Sound Unplugged
The ULT Field 3 is the big brother to the excellent ULT Field 1 in a slightly larger/heavier form factor, with a nice nylon carrying strap. Unlike the ULT Field 1, the ULT Field 3 does support Sony’s Party Connect mode so it can synch with other Sony wireless speakers. The ULT Field 3 features up to 24 hours of playback at moderate volume levels or 5 hours of max volume cranking with ULT Power Sound fully engaged. If you forget to charge it before a party or trip to the beach, you’ll appreciate the quick charge feature which can get you up to 120 minutes of play time with just 10 minutes of charging.
The ULT Field 3 can be mated with a twin for true stereo sound or you can engage Sony’s Party Connect mode for up to 100 speakers singing the same tune in perfect harmony. In addition to ULT power sound mode, the Field 3 features a 7-band EQ (available in the app) to customize the sound to your preference.
ULT 3 is available now for $199 at Amazon
ULT Field 5 – Bring Your Own Light Show
Adding a bit more dynamic range and bass, the next entry is the ULT Field 5. At $329 (MSRP), it’s actually $20 cheaper than the model it replaces, the SRS-XG300. The ULT Field 5 also includes a strap and can last a bit longer on a full charge than the Field 3 (25 Hours). The Field 5 expands to a 10-band EQ and offers two levels of ULT Power Sound, one which gives the sound a bass boost and a second level that acts like a loudness control on steroids, with accentuated bass and treble. ULT mode helps a smallish speaker like the ULT Field 5 to fill a room (or an outdoor space) with rich dynamic sound.
The ULT Field 5 is also Sony’s smallest speaker to include an integrated light show so you’ll have something to stare at instead of making eye contact with the cutie across the room. Don’t worry – you can turn off the light show if some liquid courage enables you to make that move and you don’t want any visual distractions.
We have an ULT Field 5 in house and so far are impressed with its sound quality. Stay Tuned for more details on that.
ULT 5 is available now for $329 at Amazon
ULT Tower 9 – Big Sound Anywhere
The largest and most powerful of the new speakers, the ULT Tower 9, is Sony’s biggest party speaker with a built-in battery. The larger ULT Tower 10 requires a power plug. The ULT Tower 9 actually comes in two versions, a battery-powered one for $899 (same price as its predecessor, the SRS-XV900) and a less expensive version with no built-in battery, the ULT Tower 9AC for $749. If you have no need to take this thing outside or on the road, then you can save a few bucks on the plug-in version.
Compared to the older XV900, the ULT Tower 9 adds additional light modules (23 vs. 15), 10-Band EQ (vs. 3-band), two modes of ULT Power Sound (vs. “MegaBass”), a “splashproof” rating for the top control panel and a dedicated Party Connect button to link up to 100 speakers. They’ve also beefed up the wheels and handle to make it easier to transport.
Listening to the ULT Tower 9 at a speakeasy-style club in Manhattan, it was clear that the speaker can fill a room with dynamic full-range sound. The Tower 9 features four separate tweeters, 2 midrange drivers and a dedicated woofer. Speakers are oriented in multiple directions in order to create a 360 degree soundfield. Like its little brothers, the ULT Tower 9 can be paired with a second Tower 9 for true stereo sound, or it can be linked with up to 100 compatible Sony speakers in Party Connect mode. The dedicated Party Connect button makes multi-speaker set-up a breeze.
A fully charged ULT Tower 9 is good for around 25 hours of playback while a quick 10-minute charge will get you about 3 hours of playback time.
ULT Tower 9 is available now for $899 at Amazon
ULT Tower 9AC is available now for $749 at Amazon
ULT Mic – It’s Karaoke Time
The last new product announced today is not a speaker at all, but a microphone – a pair of microphones actually. The ULT Mic comes with a wireless transmitter and two microphones so you can add karaoke or PA capability to a compatible speaker. When used with the Sony Sound Connect app, you can take advantage of “Duet Match” which adjusts mic levels so a louder singer won’t drown out a quieter one.
Sony says the ULT Mic is compatible with Sony’s ULT Field 7, ULT Tower 9 and ULT Tower 10 speakers as well as older models, the XV900, XV800, XV500,
XP700 and XP500. Some Sony speakers, including the ULT Tower 9 and ULT Tower 10, even include disappearing mic holders near the top of the unit to safely store the mics when not in use. In addition to these Sony speakers, the ULT Mic should work with any speaker or amplifier with a level-adjustable 1/4-inch (6.53mm) line input.
ULT Mic is available now for $149 at Amazon
The Bottom Line
Sony’s ULT Power Sound line offers high quality portable sound in a variety of form factors for different use cases and needs. From the compact ULT Field 1 and ULT Field 3 to the impressive ULT Tower 9 and ULT Tower 10, there’s bound to be a Sony wireless speaker that can meet your needs, indoor or outdoor. And now, with the new dedicated “Connect” button making it even simpler to connect multiple speakers to each other, Sony is making it easier than ever to bring your music or movies to even the largest indoor and outdoor spaces.
Where to Buy:
Sony’s newest ULT speakers and ULT Mic will be available to order and purchase from authorized Sony dealers starting April 9.
- ULT 3 – $199 at Amazon
- ULT 5 – $329 at Amazon
- ULT Tower 9AC – $749 at Amazon
- ULT Tower 9 – $899 at Amazon
- ULT Mic – $149 at Amazon
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