Sony Expands ULT Speaker Lineup with Larger Tower Models and Auracast Multi-Room Audio
Developing story first seen 1 hour ago
Sony has expanded its ULT Power Sound range with three new tower-style party speakers, the ULT Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5, which replace the previous Tower 10, XV800 and XV500 models respectively. Alongside their larger builds, the new speakers introduce broader physical connectivity, including USB-C, RCA and XLR inputs, letting them link up with DJ equipment or Sony's ULT MIC1 microphone for karaoke. The standout addition is a "Party Chain" feature using Bluetooth Auracast technology, previously exclusive to Sony's headphones, which allows multiple speakers to be wirelessly linked for multi-room audio, though only between the new models themselves.
Each speaker offers four preset EQ modes, ULT1, ULT2, FLAT and LIVE, switchable at the touch of a button to favour bass, natural sound or a live-performance feel. The flagship ULT Tower Max costs $1,500, features a rear woofer, four tweeters and a mid-range driver with 360-degree "Party Sound" projection, and gets upgraded wheels for easier moving. The ULT Tower 7 costs $650, offers IPX4 water resistance and up to 30 hours of battery life, while the smaller ULT Tower 5, priced at $450, matches the water resistance rating but lasts around 20 hours per charge.
- Sony launches ULT Tower Max, 7 and 5 party speakers with more ports
- New Auracast "Party Chain" enables wireless multi-room speaker linking
- Prices range from $450 to $1,500, replacing older Tower models
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Sony's ULT Power Sound range is a line of loud, bass-heavy "party speakers" aimed at people who want big sound for gatherings rather than everyday hi-fi listening. The range sits alongside Sony's ULT headphones and earbuds, which share the same emphasis on boosted bass. These tower-style speakers are portable, battery-powered units designed to compete with rivals like JBL's PartyBox line.
A recurring challenge for portable party speakers has been linking several units together to fill a bigger space or play in multiple rooms at once, something that has traditionally relied on manufacturer-specific wireless systems. Auracast is a newer Bluetooth broadcasting standard designed to let compatible audio devices share a signal more flexibly than older Bluetooth pairing methods, and it has mostly been associated with headphones and hearing aids so far.
This matters because it shows how established audio brands are refreshing their party-speaker ranges with better connectivity and shared industry standards, in a market where such speakers are popular for parties, karaoke and outdoor events.
Full account
Sony has broadened its ULT Power Sound speaker range with three new tower-style models, the ULT Tower Max, ULT Tower 7 and ULT Tower 5, which now sit at the top of the line-up and are pitched as the brand's biggest and most powerful party speakers to date. The trio effectively supersedes Sony's previous Tower 10, XV800 and XV500 units, carrying over the chunky, wheeled design associated with the range while adding new hardware and software features aimed at DJs, hosts and karaoke enthusiasts alike.
A central selling point is the expanded connectivity on offer. Each speaker is fitted with USB-C, RCA and XLR ports, allowing them to be wired directly into DJ decks, mixers or other audio equipment, and they can also pair with Sony's ULT MIC1 microphone for karaoke use. Beyond physical cabling, the speakers introduce a wireless "Party Chain" function built on Bluetooth Auracast technology, a feature previously confined to Sony's headphones. This lets multiple units be linked together without cables to create synchronised, multi-room sound for larger gatherings, though the Auracast linking currently only works between the new models rather than with older ULT speakers already in circulation.
On the design side, all three speakers gain four redesigned carry handles for easier portability, while the Tower Max and Tower 7 also get wider-tread wheels intended to make manoeuvring the heavier units simpler. Lighting has been upgraded too, with up to 100 LEDs used both to signal functions such as battery status and Bluetooth pairing and to drive an animated light show that reacts to the music. Sound customisation has also improved: users can now switch between four EQ presets, ULT1 and ULT2 (which emphasise bass to different degrees), a Flat mode for a more faithful reproduction of the original mix, and a Live setting designed to mimic the feel of a performance, all adjustable via dedicated buttons on the unit.
Pricing and specification scale with size. The range-topping ULT Tower Max costs $1,499.99, weighs around 121 pounds and combines multiple tweeters, midrange drivers and large 280mm woofers to deliver what Sony calls its most powerful bass yet, though it is only splash-resistant on its top panel and intended for indoor use. The ULT Tower 7, priced at $649.99 and weighing about 50 pounds, pairs a single 280mm woofer with midrange drivers and tweeters, offers up to 30 hours of battery life with its lighting disabled, and carries an IPX4 water-resistance rating when used upright. The smallest model, the ULT Tower 5, costs $449.99, weighs roughly 29 pounds, uses a 230mm woofer alongside smaller drivers, and provides up to 20 hours of playback with the same IPX4 rating as the Tower 7.
Where outlets differ
The two reports emphasise different headline features: one focuses on physical connectivity, LED lighting and the newly adjustable EQ, while the other frames the wireless Auracast-based Party Chain multi-room function as the standout addition and notes its current limitation to the new models only.
Only one report explicitly names the older models being replaced (Tower 10, XV800 and XV500) and mentions compatibility with Sony's ULT MIC1 karaoke microphone; the other omits these details.
There is a discrepancy in the described driver configuration of the ULT Tower Max: one account lists three 280mm woofers alongside two midrange drivers and four tweeters, while the other describes a single rear woofer, one midrange driver and four tweeters.
Only one report notes that the Tower Max is merely splash-resistant on its top panel and meant for indoor use, and that EQ customisation is a first for the range; the other does not mention these caveats.
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