GoKawiilis a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
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Sony announced three new tower-style party speakers that will now be the largest options in its ULT Power Sound lineup. The new ULT Tower Max, ULT Tower 7, and ULT Tower 5 all feature expanded connectivity including USB-C, RCA, and XLR ports for connecting to audio gear using physical cables. The new models also come with improved lighting using up to 100 LEDs to provide visual feedback for functions like battery life and Bluetooth syncing in addition to creating an animated light show synced to what you’re listening to.
All three of Sony’s new ULT Power Sound speakers come with RCA, USB-C, XLR ports on the back for connecting to audio sources (or other speakers) with cables. Image: Sony
The largest of the new ULT Power Sound speakers is the $1,499.99, 121-pound Tower Max that looks big enough to double as a coffee table. Four tweeters, two midrange drivers, and three 280mm woofers work together to deliver what Sony describes as “the most powerful bass yet” in its ULT Power Sound collection.
The 50-pound Tower 7 is less than half the weight of the Tower Max but still includes wheels on the bottom for easier maneuverability. Image: Sony
All three of the new speakers feature four redesigned handles to improve portability while the Tower Max and Tower 7 also feature wider wheels for better maneuverability. For the first time users can also tweak the EQ settings for the speakers’ default sound profiles including ULT1 and ULT2 that maximize bass or the Flat mode that more accurately reproduces a song’s original mix with less of a chest-thumping experience.
Although it’s the smallest of the three new speakers, the 29-pound ULT Tower 5 is by no means a small wireless speaker. Image: Sony
The 50-pound, $649.99 Tower 7 features a single 280mm woofer paired with two midrange drivers and four tweeters that can run for up to 30 hours on a built-in rechargeable battery with the LED lighting turned off. The smallest of the three new models is the 29-pound, $449.99 Tower 5 that offers up to 20 hours of battery-powered playback through a 230mm woofer, two midrange drivers, and a pair of tweeters. It also has the same IPX4 water-resistance as the Tower 7, but only when the speakers are used standing vertically. The Tower Max is only “splash proof” on its top panel so you’ll want to stick to using it indoors.