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Sony\u2019s new ULT range of speakers stretches from the relatively manageable $450 ULT Tower 5 to the frankly ridiculous $1,200 ULT Tower Max. Sitting between them is the ULT Tower 7, with excellent sound, an ample selection of inputs, a combined 420 watts of output, and a 30-hour battery. Be warned, though, while it\u2019s smaller than the Tower Max, it is still absolutely enormous and weighs 50.3 pounds.<\/p>\n
Most party speakers will accept music from a DJ controller, but Sony goes further with RCA and balanced XLR inputs, plus an XLR output for expanding a wired setup. Auracast-based Party Chain can also connect up to 100 compatible speakers, so you can go head-to-head with Madison Square Garden on volume.<\/p>\n
Inside is an 11-inch woofer, two 4.7-inch midrange drivers, and four tweeters, including a rear-facing pair that spread audio around the room. Bass is deep and effective, and at close quarters with the volume cranked, I could really feel it. It\u2019s not quite bone-shaking at the club levels, but it\u2019s still impressive.<\/p>\n
The 360-degree driver configuration helps sound spread out and avoid sounding too boxed in, and while the bass is still quite directional, I really enjoyed the scale and ease with which this speaker filled the room.<\/p>\n
If you have the budget and space, and you want to play loud all night, the Sony delivers, but I do wish it had a retractable handle. The built-in corner handles are OK-, but you need to angle it sharply at an odd angle to engage the wheels, and trust me, you don\u2019t want to carry this speaker by hand very far.<\/p>\n