Tomorrow’s Tech, Today: Innovation That Moves Us Forward
- Most party speakers accept DJ controllers; Sony adds RCA and balanced XLR inputs plus an XLR output for wired expansion.
- Auracast Party Chain can link up to 100 compatible speakers for massive, synchronized volume across large spaces.
- Inside drivers include an 11-inch woofer, dual midrange drivers, and four tweeters, including rear-facing units for wider dispersion.
- A 360-degree driver layout helps the speaker fill rooms without sounding boxed in, though bass remains somewhat directional.
- Design favors power over portability; corner handles and wheels are awkward, and a retractable handle is noticeably absent.
Sony’s new ULT range of speakers stretches from the relatively manageable $450 ULT Tower 5 to the frankly ridiculous $1,200 ULT Tower Max. Sitting between them is the ULT Tower 7, with excellent sound, an ample selection of inputs, a combined 420 watts of output, and a 30-hour battery. Be warned, though, while it’s smaller than the Tower Max, it is still absolutely enormous and weighs 50.3 pounds.
Most party speakers will accept music from a DJ controller, but Sony goes further with RCA and balanced XLR inputs, plus an XLR output for expanding a wired setup. Auracast-based Party Chain can also connect up to 100 compatible speakers, so you can go head-to-head with Madison Square Garden on volume.
Inside is an 11-inch woofer, two 4.7-inch midrange drivers, and four tweeters, including a rear-facing pair that spread audio around the room. Bass is deep and effective, and at close quarters with the volume cranked, I could really feel it. It’s not quite bone-shaking at the club levels, but it’s still impressive.
The 360-degree driver configuration helps sound spread out and avoid sounding too boxed in, and while the bass is still quite directional, I really enjoyed the scale and ease with which this speaker filled the room.
If you have the budget and space, and you want to play loud all night, the Sony delivers, but I do wish it had a retractable handle. The built-in corner handles are OK-, but you need to angle it sharply at an odd angle to engage the wheels, and trust me, you don’t want to carry this speaker by hand very far.
Best Compact Party Speaker
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