Sony's ULT Field 5 speaker is easily my new favorite portable Bluetooth speaker of 2025. It's one of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers I've tested in its size class, with big volume, thumping bass and a great design.
This speaker is usually $330, but right now you can grab it for $195 on Amazon, or $198 at Walmart, for Black Friday. That's a 45% drop in price, making it significantly more affordable, and the perfect time to grab a speaker and prepare for all of the adventures 2026 has in store for you.
ULT is short for ultimate or, as Sony says, "The ultimate step into the evolution of its portable audio products." Power represents "dynamic sound pressure and deep bass." Sound translates to "as if you were in the front row at a concert."
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In the past, I thought Sony's Bluetooth speakers were decent enough but not great. With the ULT series, Sony has significantly improved the sound quality of its Bluetooth speakers.
Enlarge Image The Sony ULT Field 5 (left) compared to the ULT Field 3 (right). Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
I also like the new designs of the ULT Field 3 and ULT Field 5, which can stand vertically or lie horizontally. Both speakers are fully water-, dust- and rust-proof, with an IP67 certification.
Both include a new removable shoulder strap, which I ended up using more with the heftier ULT Field 5 than the lighter ULT Field 3. The ULT Field 5 weighs 7.27 pounds, while the ULT Field 3 weighs 2.65 pounds, just over a third as heavy. (Read my hands-on first take on both ULT speakers.)
Enlarge Image The ULT Field 5 with its removable shoulder strap attached. David Carnoy/CNET
The ULT Field 3 delivers more bass and volume than you'd expect, given its relatively compact size (and it offers better clarity and bass performance than its predecessor, the SRS-XE300). But the ULT Field 5's soundstage is noticeably wider, and the speaker plays louder with noticeably fuller, richer sound. It also has built-in party lighting with a USB-C charge in-out port so the speaker can be used as a power bank to charge your devices. Battery life is rated at up to 25 hours at moderate volume levels or 10 hours with the party lighting activated.
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