We were on the market for a bluetooth portable speaker for our 18 year old daughter as a birthday present. We normally gravitate to the JBL brand - which ARE, and still remain to be, great speakers. But, being the baby of the family and living with hand-me-down [you name it]s all her life, I knew she'd appreciate a speaker in a style that was totally her own -- not another one of mom and dad's (or big brother's) speakers. Fun and easy as that sounds, this meant stepping out of my comfort zone. (You know how it is: you like what you like!) So I REALLY did my homework by researching many different brands/styles/specs (Bose, Beats, etc.) of speakers in the (about $100-150) price range.

The number one thing our daughter was asking for was portability - hesitantly saying nothing bigger than her brother's JBL Charge 4, but I could tell smaller would be better. Bigger speakers may give better sound, but she wanted a "water bottle speaker" as they're called because they fit nicely in cup holders. So I began my search by comparing models to JBL's Flip 6 - the one I was originally going to purchase.

I came across this Sony ULT Field 1, which is a new model that Sony released just a few months ago. I was impressed by it's veratility. Built the same way as the Flip 6 (outward facing woofer and tweeter, side bass) it has many of the same features as the Flip 6 like an app with an equalizer so you can fine tune your music and 12 hours of battery life. But the Field 1 came with a few extra features that raised my eyebrow... A ULT bassboost button giving you an extra, little option: go with a deeper bass if you're dancin' the night away - or turn it off if you're, say, talking with friends around a campfire and save on battery life. (By the way, it sounds GREAT even with it off!) It also comes with a phyical pause button and voice feature - where you can answer the phone through the speaker, (like in your car). Although it IS bigger than the Flip 6 it is smaller than the JBL Charge 5 - the newer version of her brother's speaker.

As far as sound quality, several reviewers (YouTube) stated that the Field 1's sound quality falls BETWEEN JBL's Flip 6 and Charge 5 models. (I used my headphones to listen while they demonstrated the different speakers' sounds and, yes... uh-huh... I agree.) Again, ALL 3 speakers have very, VERY good sound quality - you really can't go wrong with any of them. We were looking at Sony's ULT Field 1 simply because we wanted to give our daughter something unique to our household - that fit her description of "bottle speaker" but measured up to my (ha!) standards of sound quality.

I also want to point out (on a petty note) that we DO LIKE the carrying cord - a feature I thought at first glance might be awkward. It can be removed if desired but lemme tell ya, it's QUITE handy! :D

So I added it to my cart, did that lil' 'hold-your-breath' pause thing we all do ...then tapped the 'ORDER' button.

It arrived today (very next day) and, wanting to surprise her [a month] early, went ahead and handed her the package. (Sigh...gone are the days of my elegant gift wrapping sessions.) The surprise alone tickled her - but when she opened it, her eyes grew WIDE! She genuinely LOVED it!! (May I be clear here: I couldve given her a cleaned up, secondhand, garage sale speaker and she, in her sweet-nature, would have "LOVED" that. Ha! Ha! It was a sweet treat to do this for her.) 😄🥲

I asked if the size was too big and she said it was very much OK!

Now, my picky ears are truly impressed by it's CLEAR sound - even turned ALL the way up, there's no "fuzziness" here! I had chosen the white color and it's very nice. It's not a sporty, bright white - just kind of a classy, muted off-white.

One thing I DO like over the JBL brand is that the buttons have little, lights by each one so they'll be more easily seen in the evenings. (Cool!😎) Connectivity was easy - or so I assume. She had it out if the box and connected to her iPhone faster than I could say "Wait; there's an app...". She was already downloading the app and was playing music as I sat at down at the table to look it all over. So I'm feeling pretty confident to say it's easy to set up.

As far as fitting in the cup holder, it does fit...kind of. It sits about 2½ inches down - snuggly enough to keep it securely upright while driving, but not all the way seated down inside it. Our car's cupholders (Ford Escape) have these little spring loaded, retractable, grabber things that prevent it from being seated all the way down inside. Bump it with your elbow and it'll go flying. That said, it still may fit in YOUR cupholders.

It definitely will fit the (Ford) truck's cupholders. Lol!

She loved the speaker so much though, it wasn't a deal breaker!

After all that - go figure! (RME) But, hey!...that just tells you how good this speaker is!!)

Overall, it is very much a sweet little speaker for its size and price point! (Way to go, Sony!) As they say in other Amazon reviews: "If you're on the fence give it a try - you will be pleasantly surprised."

(🤔Hmmm...Let's see...

MY birthday is in March...) 😄

I looked at a lot of Bluetooth speakers at a local big box store to "test drive" them before purchasing. This model was neither the cheapest nor the most expensive, but it certainly checked all the boxes for me. I use it to "open up" my Martin guitars - the vibration of music simulates playing the guitar, which advances the maturity of the wood. The tone is deep and vibrant, battery seems pretty good, it pairs seamlessly with one of my old phones, it's portability makes it a great size, and it is ridiculously easy to use. They make devices that do this that cost upwards of around $300; this speaker is just as effective, more versatile, and way less expensive!

Awesome. Love them!

 Would purchase the TWO combined again. Great stereo sound with TWO Bluetooth'ed together.

 Battery life seems very good even with the enhanced sound button on. They connect effortlessly too. And are durable. Mine have fallen to a carpeted floor 3 TIMES because I placed them in precarious spots and their inherent bass caused them to move just a tiny bit enough to fall. Place them on a table top, etc. and no problems. This was my definite user error, instead of any kind of fault.

 I was looking for sound equal to, or better, than a 1982 Walkman I bought but never forgot.

 I definitely wasn't disappointed! These are by far, better sounding than 3 other name branded Bluetooth speakers I have purchased. And those, weren't cheap ones either!

 They possess a balanced sound profile with enough bass too. Clean sound across the entire spectrum!

 "Thrilling" really.

 Just don't expect them to sound like there's a dedicated subwoofer attached. But again, I find the bass response very pleasing. Super easy to grab as a pair and carry around too. Genuine "Grab and Go" anywhere!

 They'll accept either a "Normal / Standard" speed charger or a standard "Fast charger" too. They adapt. Just not something like "Super Fast" chargers. You need to not provide too much "voltage". With varying "amps", they only draw exactly what they need.

I would rate these very highly. And would DEFINITELY purchase these TWO again.

 They will easily fill a large living room, and a good portion of an entire home.

Volume is very good and clean even turned all the way up.

No complaints here.

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* ADDITIONAL INFO I PROVIDED IN "AN ANSWER" TO A QUESTION, POSED ELSEWHERE. BUT, WELL WORTH READING I BELIEVE:

I have TWO Ult Field 1's and run them in TRUE STEREO. They automatically connect, even just turning 1 of the 2 on, or BOTH at the same time, from within the appropriate app!

If you notice, the Ult Field 1's are THE ONLY Ult Field in the full lineup of speakers which ACTUALLY DO STEREO. The other models ALL connect in "Party Mode" MONO.

Now, here's where I think your issues arose. The Ult Field 1's MUST, FIRST-EVER be "stereo paired" in the Sony *Music Center* app, NOT the newer "Sound Connect" app. However, once Bluetooth stereo paired in the Sony "Music Center" app THE FIRST TIME, they'll THEN work fine in Sony's "Sound Connect" too.

I found, I simply prefer using the "Sony Music Center" app BETTER, regardless! It seems to provide additional features for the Ult Field 1 over what's available in "Sound Connect".

And AGAIN all this, really only applies to the STEREO SEPARATION which ONLY the "Ult Field 1 model" can provide.

"Party mode" may be LOUDER MONO, but never actually SEPARATES into 2 different channels for TRUE STEREO.

I only know all this, partly because I read the instructions carefully, but also because I loved the Ult Field 1's STEREO PAIRED together so much, that I came back and was seriously looking into the larger versions offered.

That was, until I found NONE of the larger speakers provide true stereo SEPARATION when paired and placed several feet apart.

This is really because the larger models already separate into STEREO WITHIN *ONLY* THEIR OWN CASE, and NEVER actually do provide TRUE STEREO SEPARATION because it's already locked-in to their, each separate case.

I'm keeping my Ult Field 1's because they're the only true way within the entire lineup, of achieving TRUE SEPARATION (of up to several / many distinct, feet apart)!

It's one thing I believe "most buyers" aren't actually noticing about the entire lineup.

I'm SURE the larger units provide better INDIVIDUAL sound, however when "paired" together they never truly form a separate-able stereo pair.

They instead just make additional "volume" and "space-filling" sound in their "Party Mode" of up to many, multiple pairings.

I wonder if you initially PAIRED in "Sound Connect" and haven't actually achieved TRUE STEREO SEPARATION yet!

If not, DELETE all instances of the speakers existing within whatever apps, then re-Bluetooth pair within Sony *MUSIC CENTER* FIRST.

Then, set your speakers several feet apart on separate sides of your head, and truly ENJOY!

I'm keeping my little Ult Field 1 pair. Because they provide something special to make up for their otherwise tiny size: TRUE STEREO SEPARATION!

(I sincerely hope I didn't mix up the TWO app names within this composition. If you wish to review your "original" instructions, but otherwise threw them away, they can be re-downloaded from Sony's website, of course.)

I was in need of a new versatile portable speaker to fit my summer adventures; one that was portable enough to fit in a beach bag and left in my car or to play out in my pool area that packed a punch in sound. After a week of owning this speaker, all in all it has checked every box.

TLDR: This speaker, while a tiny bit smaller than what I was expecting, packs amazing sound quality from a trusted brand to easily liven up any outdoor occasion. Their app is great for EQ settings, however the physical ULT button provided great boost to your music by itself to hype up any outdoor event. Waterproofing is great and holds a good charge while being extremely portable with its carrying strap.

Packaging:

- The speaker arrived in a regular cardboard box. While it was nice to see Sony turn to the newer trend of making packaging as recyclable as possible, I did notice that the pieces holding the speaker were flimsy and could possibly be a concern during delivery. However, mine thankfully arrived in perfect condition. Included inside the box was the speaker itself with the carrying band already attached, a USB A to USB C charging cable, and a very small paper pamphlet. Instructions for the speaker are found through a scanned QR code within this pamphlet which allowed for more information about the speaker to be addressed.

Sound Quality:

- As to no surprise from this being from Sony, this speaker sounds amazing. It doesn’t get tinny at higher volumes, the dual drivers create amazing bass, and overall it covers all genres with no issue presenting truly enjoyable melodies for all music. At max volume, while the speaker does not get deafening loud if you are outdoors (indoors it possibly will depending on what you define as deafening lol), it certain gets loud enough to entertain a large area. In my 40 foot by 120 foot patio, this speaker shined and was the center piece of great sound quality and entertainment. While it certain suits my needs for loudness, you can always take it a notch up by either using the ULT button or pairing it with a second ULT Field 1 and working them in stereo (both discussed in features).

Features:

- This speaker is packed with all of the expected features of a modern Bluetooth speaker. It quickly connects to remembered devices when powered on (one nice little note: to power on/off this device, only a single press of the power button is needed for each. While a small detail, it truly is something that is appreciated for ease of use) and has a great battery life. While I cannot speak for the full I’ve gone 6 hours of using the speaker which left it at 50%, so I believe their claim of 12 hours of battery life to be true. This speaker also has a quick charger feature of 10 mins of charging for 3 hours of playback. I haven’t tested that myself as of yet, but I have other newer Song products with similar fast charging features and their claims for those products have not fallen short, so I believe these ones as well.

- There is also a Bluetooth pairing button, a multiple use button that can play/pause tracks, skip/reverse tracks, and answer/hang up phone calls depending on need. Functionality was clearly a forethought of this speaker, since this button’s commands—while certainly vast—are greatly designed. Play/pause is a single press, skip is a double press, reverse is a triple press, and it converts to a call answer/hang up button with a single press functionality when you receive a call. There are also independent volume up/down buttons which increase the volume by a decent percentage in each press.

- Then there is the ULT button, which is a built in EQ adjustment presented as a physical button on the speaker. It comes with default settings when pressed that noticeably enhance the all around sound quality of any melody, with an emphasis on bass and treble. The EQ for the ULT button can be adjusted in the Sony Music Center app. It’s a great feature to use when you want to give that extra boost to your music.

- While I have not tried it myself, this speaker also has the ability to be set in stereo with a second ULT speaker, and I’m sure the dual speaker combination could easily work as a stereo set up for any venue needs.

- The waterproofing of this speaker is on par with expectations. I’ve taken it to many water-based areas and have gotten it splashed with water and it’s been completely fine. The USB C charging port is covered with a water tight seal that you can open and close easily.

- This speaker works with Sony’s music center app, and while it’s a bit rougher than their headphone app, it still works wonderfully to optimize the speaker’s functionality and performance. Full EQ settings are available, along with specific battery percentage, updates, and settings for the speaker.

- The included carrying strap is a nice touch that, I will admit I did not initially think I was going to like, however it very quickly grew on me and I find myself carrying the speaker solely by the strap anywhere I take it. It is tied onto the speaker and can be removed, however you will have to re-tie it yourself if you want to reattach it.

Build Quality:

- Once again, as expected from this price point and the Song brand, this is truly a high quality speaker. It feels great to hold, with the fabric being sturdy and made of soft material. The buttons are covered in strong rubber that give a satisfying response when pushed. The carrying strap is thick and made of a high quality and very slightly elastic material. You are certainly getting your money’s worth on quality alone, which is what I expect from the Song brand.

Final Thoughts:

- While it is certainly understandable to hesitant when looking at a $120 Bluetooth speaker, this one truly is worth its value. I have very little complaints with this speaker, and think that it’s a great edition to anyone’s outdoor entertainment experience. The ULT button is a feature I find myself using more than expected (in a good way) to help boost my music during gatherings to help the entertainment. With its waterproofing, I feel comfortable using it as a travel speaker to any destination I plan on visiting. This feature packed speaker is truly one of a kind, and I’m certainly satisfied with my purchase.

There is no such thing as a perfect Bluetooth speaker. There are different sizes in styles for different use cases.

This one includes a USB charge cable (short)

It also includes a cover for the ports which gives me confidence in its water resistant abilities

I could connect it to my phone without the requirement of an app, but the app provided additional functionality ( if desired)

Battery life is plenty of hours so there are no complaints

The only wish I would have would be to use this as a power bank!

This is the only speaker with a rope based handle that can be used to hang it on things in its size category .( See photos from product description.)

I cannot give it a perfect five star rating due to some weird compression artifacts that I have not found in JBL or other competitor speakers and this is not specific to my unit. It is to each Sony unit I have had. It is not extremely noticeable, but I noticed it at about 70% volume on extreme bass heavy tracks..

This unit has a tweeter and a race track woofer configuration , which makes it a lot better than older Sony units (which use 2 full range xbalanced drivers)

Anyways, a great Bluetooth speaker that is very easy to use and looks great and comes in an awesome orange color!

I had a Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker in my shower to enjoy music while showering. It was good, nice size and average sound. I gave this Sony ULT Fiel 1 a try and man does this thing puts Bose on the bench. Amazing sound, both on bass and treble, its volumen strength is scary, I cannot use this at half a volume on Spotify because is way to much loud. Nice design too, its battery life is great, worth its price every penny. Fully compatible with my iPhone 16 Pro.

Super speaker. Purchased Sony ULT Field 1, JBL Flip 6, Bose SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Revolve +II for comparison (give away Bluetooth speaker at end of annual international trips, so I go through a few of them). Have also had several UE Boom 1-3 (unbeatable speakers, but no longer available), and a few cheaper Bluetooth speakers. My criteria include: battery life, weatherproof, sound quality (realism rather than bass-heavy, although good base is required for projection, especially outside or when on boats or with much noise), size, portability, volume without distortion, affordability (~$100). All are comparable in most aspects. Full volume level is very similar, none distort, bass is a little more distinct in JBL. Soundstage is absent with all, but mid- to high-volume compensates for this, and projection is good with all. Running two UE Booms was a good way around this, but I want to carry only one speaker (traveling, in the garden, fishing, etc) and not deal with proprietary apps required to run two in stereo. The JBL beats all for portability (size, shape, hanger), with the Sony right behind (just a bit larger). SoundLink Flex doesn’t project quite as well, but is still a great speaker (when on sale and cheaper than the other two). The Revolve +II sound quality, projection, soundstage and volume beats them all, but is too large and expensive to carry on trips, so was just used as a comparison to what a Bluetooth speaker could do (nothing even touches the sound quality of the Sonos Move, that I borrowed from a friend - out of curiosity only - doesn’t fit my criteria of portability or affordability). In short - you’ll be happy with any of these three, but I’ll stick with the JBL and Sony until no longer available.

So, yes 5 stars, and I mean that. To cut to the chase, this is an excellent speaker, and you should get one!

Now, I usually do not post reviews, but I thought if you knew all this, it would help you understand why I gave it 5 stars and recommend it so highly!

SOUND

It sounds way bigger than it looks. The ULT button adds a lot of bass and I love that! It is great for EDM, Hip hop, R&B, 80s, 90s,... I tried basically everything I could, and it all sounded great. Even added a little more depth to a classical cello playlist I listen to while I am working.

If you like a less bass-heavy sound, just turn the ULT feature off, and it will sound excellent. If that does not suit you, there is a 3-band EQ in the app.

OH, and it sounds just as good standing up as it does lying down!!

APP

As mentioned, there is an EQ in there!! You can also change other settings and even see the battery life, which I could not believe was still 60% after a couple of days of me casually using it! Super surprised because I never charged it when I got it!

Oh, I also noticed the "group with other speakers," and apparently, you can pair another one of these and get stereo sound out of them.... I have not tried that, but I will as soon as I get my second one!

STRAP

This was one I was really unsure about when looking at it online. The strap is genius! It can tighten or loosen and then stay in place. My little one liked to carry it around like a purse, but it is really versatile, and I found I could hang it one way or another everywhere I went.

DESIGN

Again the design is great, it is very stable standing up or lying down. The buttons are easy to use and because they are raised, you can use them without even looking at them.

The SONY logo on the front looks silver most of the time but actually has some... I don't know what, but it changes color, which is a nice touch. See pics.

Love the Forest Grey color, it is exactly as expected. A subtle green/grey that I have gotten a lot more comments on than I ever though I would.

LIFE/KID-PROOF!

Ok, so I like music in the shower, and let me tell you... this thing delivers, even when it got wet it still sounded clear. I did not need to have it at full volume either.

Of course, my girls heard it, and when it was bath time, they wanted to have it with them. That is when I discovered it could float!! Now it does not sound great that way, but it still played even after multiple "accidental" dunks in the tub! They also loved to see what they could put on the woofer part, and see it dance and fall out.

Lastly it is stink proof, as well as mud, sand and waterproof... My daughters and I clean the pond behind our house, usually after big storms, and pick up plastic and other garbage we find. My 6 yo, who likes to hold the speaker as a purse, thought it would be a great idea to bring "Ultra" (that is what they named it) with us while we did so. As expected, it dropped into the stinky pond muck when a dragonfly landed on it, and she screamed and tossed it like a live grenade...after fishing it out, I rinsed it off with some dawn and the water hose and it was good as new.

To say this has held up remarkably well is an understatement. It looks great, sounds great, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a portable speaker. Hope this review helps!!!

Vale totalmente la pena.

El sonido está que te cagas tomando en cuenta su tamaño, parece que tienes una bocinota. Yo la ame y más que la compré con descuento 🪩🕺

Excelente

I recently purchased the Sony ULT, and I’m genuinely impressed with its performance. If you’re looking for a speaker that delivers exceptional sound quality with a sleek design, this one’s a winner.

Pros:

• Sound Quality: The audio is crisp and balanced with deep bass. Whether I’m playing soft acoustic tunes or heavy beats, the sound remains clear at all volumes.

• Battery Life: It offers long-lasting battery life, easily powering through an entire day without needing a recharge. Perfect for outdoor events or extended listening sessions.

• Portability: It’s compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. Despite its size, it packs a powerful punch with sound.

• Bluetooth Connectivity: Pairing with devices is seamless, and the connection remains stable even at a distance.

• Durability: The speaker feels solid and well-built. It has an IPX7 water resistance rating, so it’s perfect for poolside parties or camping trips without worrying about damage.

Cons:

• Price: It’s a bit on the expensive side compared to other speakers in its category, but the quality justifies the cost.

• Limited Color Options: It would have been nice to have more color choices. Currently, it’s available in just a couple of standard shades.

Overall, the Sony ULT is a fantastic speaker for those who value sound quality and portability. Despite a few minor drawbacks, it’s definitely worth the investment if you’re serious about great audio on the go.

The Sony ULT 1 hits harder than a TIE fighter in hyperspace. Bass so deep even Darth Vader would nod in approval. Highs slice through like a lightsaber, mids stay calm like Yoda meditating, and the whole thing feels built to survive a Death Star blast.

Connectivity is smooth, battery life goes the distance, and the build quality feels rock solid. Compact yet mighty, it’s the Jedi of portable speakers, balanced, powerful, and wise.

Warning: play it loud and your neighbors might join the Rebel Alliance.

Verdict: The Force isn’t just strong with this one, it is this one.

Muito bom... atendeu plenamente as minhas expectativas