Following the launch of its rebranded ULT portable speaker range last year, Sony launched the flagship ULT Tower 10 along with the ULT Field 7 and ULT Field 1. Now, it has expanded the lineup to include two versions of a slightly smaller ULT Tower 9 and two much smaller units called ULT Field 3 and ULT Field 5 to fill the numbered gaps.
The shoulder strap-equipped ULT Field 3 steps into the shoes of the outgoing SRS-XE300. It houses an 86 x 46mm woofer and 20mm tweeter, and it can be operated horizontally or vertically. Although horizontal will probably sound best, considering the two wobbly passive radiators on either end.
The new model has received a few upgrades, including better EQ implementation and Sony’s new favourite thing: a bass-boosting ULT button, while other aspects remain unchanged. The ULT Field 3 retains the IP67 rating of the old XE300, and battery life is supposedly the same at 24 hours, although using the USB-C port to charge other devices will probably drain it quicker than that. When you need to charge it, it benefits from an improved quick-charge feature with 10 minutes netting you two more hours of playback.
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The ULT Field 5 sits between the ULT Field 3 and ULT Field 7, according to numbers. It’s bigger than the 3 but smaller than the 7, obviously, and replaces the SRS-XG300. The woofer inside is a little larger at 79 x 107mm, and there are two 46mm tweeters in this one towards the centre flanked by the same wobbly radiators.
Continuing the trend of small additions, the ULT Field 5 gets two ULT sound modes, like the ULT Tower 10 that we reviewed not so long ago. It also scores support for Sony’s ‘Sound Field Optimisation’, which we assume does what it says on the tin.
Around back, next to the USB-C charging port and underneath a snug-fitting IP67-rated flap, is an aux input jack and a few controls. The Field 5 boasts the same 25-hour battery life of the outgoing XG300. But this guy features colourful lights, which will surely impact its stamina.
Lastly, the slightly smaller behemoth of the ULT Tower 9 fixes one of our biggest gripes with its larger sibling. The ULT Tower 10 might roll around on wheels, but that’s where it draws the ‘portable’ line – it requires AC power at all times. The ULT Tower 9AC does as well, but Sony saw it fit to release a battery-powered version, too. It will go a claimed 25 hours between charges.
The driver complement here consists of a large single 320 x 320mm woofer, two 120mm mid-range units, and four tweeters, two 50mm units pointing forward and two 40mm units facing the rear. Like the Tower 10, it features all of Sony’s bells and whistles, including an expanded EQ, ‘Sound Field Optimisation’, and two ULT modes. It’s got plenty of lights to get the party going, controlled via the companion app or top panel.
Sony has only confirmed the local price of the ULT Tower 9AC at R19,000. If you’d rather have the wireless version, you can probably expect to pay slightly more. Pricing and availability of the ULT Field 3 and 5 will be “released at a later date.” We do, however, know that in the US they’re priced at $200 and $330, respectively. With the ULT Field 7 going for R12,000 locally, expect these to be less… because numbers.
