TechRadar review: Sony ULT Tower 5 is an affordable, bass-heavy party speaker

TechRadar said the ULT Tower 5 produces bass that almost defies belief for its size and offers excellent value for money. The review praised its sleek design and customizable lights. It listed only two main drawbacks: middling IPX4 waterproofing and a fairly hefty build.

The review said Sony has made several changes to its new ULT range, including a shift to newly developed rounded woofers instead of the nearly rectangular X-Balanced woofer units used on previous ULT models. TechRadar said Sony told it the change was intended to maximize deep bass, which the company considers crucial for party environments. The reviewer considered that choice a success.

According to TechRadar, the ULT Tower 5 has a maximum power output of 300W and can get very loud. In the ULT 2 EQ mode, which aims for a powerful yet rounded performance, the speaker reproduced the pumping deep bass of Jesse Maas's Everytime while leaving room for electronic elements, vocals and higher-pitched drums, the review said. In ULT 1 mode, deep bass is prioritized; TechRadar found this mode ideal for outdoor environments, where low-end richness was not deterred by wind, passing cars or other ambient noise. The review said ULT 1 also suits large open indoor spaces but is ill-suited to smaller rooms.

TechRadar also tested energetic tracks such as Midas Field and Marijn Jansen's What We Got, saying the speaker handled dynamics well, produced textured vocals and created a wide soundstage for its size with angled tweeters. The review said the ULT Tower 5 lacks the 360-degree sound of its larger siblings because it has no rear-facing drivers, and audio was not as full-sounding from the side or back. Other EQ options include Flat, Live and a 10-band custom equalizer.

On connectivity, TechRadar said it mainly streamed over Bluetooth with Sony's LDAC codec active, enabling higher-resolution listening when the source device supports it. The speaker also offers USB-A, USB-C, XLR and RCA inputs for USB drives, DJ controllers or turntables, the review said. TechRadar added that a microphone port supports karaoke, with built-in effects such as a voice changer and echo, plus a party pad for sound effects. Multiple ULT Towers can be linked through Party Chain; TechRadar paired the ULT Tower 5 with the Tower 7 by pressing a button on each model.

Editor's Summary

TechRadar rates the Sony ULT Tower 5 as an affordable party speaker with very deep bass, 300W output, broad wired and wireless connectivity, karaoke microphone support and customizable lighting. The review says it lacks 360-degree sound, offers only IPX4 water resistance and is fairly heavy. At its relatively low price, the model is positioned for both casual listeners and professional use.