Customers are delighted by the ULT FIELD 7 Wireless Speaker's exceptional sound quality, long battery life, and convenient portability. Many appreciate its ease of connectivity and ability to pair with various devices. Positive feedback consistently highlights the impressive bass and the speaker's overall ease of use.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 276 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Review
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Posted . Owned for 5 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Very good speaker great quality and would recommend for everyone
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Richman, Awesome! We are so glad to hear that you are happy with your new Wireless Speaker! Thank you for choosing Sony! -Carl
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!…
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Best speaker that I ever had..I LOVE SONY..That’s why I dont buy other models especially JBL coz its Sony’s number one rivalry..
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hello botchie0510,
Thank you for choosing Sony!
It's truly wonderful to hear how much you love your SRSULT70 speaker! We're really happy to know that we've earned your loyalty. We appreciate your support and are delighted that you choose our products. Thank you for being a valued member of our community!
Best regards, -Fred
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Speaker
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This speaker is great. Clear, loud with good base.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi ChrisE, Awesome! We're glad you like the powerful sound, bass, and overall clarity of your Sony ULT FIELD 7 Wireless Speaker. Thanks for choosing Sony! -Sam
Pros mentioned:
Portability, Sound quality, Volume
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Huge sound, massive bass, highly portable
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I just got the Sony Ult Field 7 and have been putting it through its paces the past few days. A couple of years ago I got a Sony XP700 bluetooth speaker and while it is an absolutely amazing speaker I find that its pretty big and kinda heavy at 37 pounds so not the easiest thing to move around. When I saw the Ult Field 7 weighs in at about 13 pounds, and knowing the sound quality Sony puts in their speakers, I figured it would be a great option for a much higher level of portability and that has certainly been the case. Its easy to take with you anywhere and the sound it produces is incredible. It gets VERY loud, not as loud as the XP 700 but for a speaker about a third of the size it can put out a lot of decibels. Using the Sony Music Center app one can customize the EQ, or simply push the ULT button to select one of two settings. Press once for the Ult1 setting, very nice, press twice for Ult 2 and its frickin awesome. Massive full sound with powerful bass, definitely my preferred setting.
In one of the photos I attached I placed both of my Sony speakers next to a guitar just to give them scale. The XP700 is 27 inches tall while the Ult Field 7 is 20 inches. The Ult Field 7 can be played standing up or on its side but to me it sounds best when on its side allowing the speakers to produce their best sound.
Using the Sony Music Center app I was able to group the speakers together and play them at the same time. With those two speakers connected together the sound output is unbelievable! I did notice that the Music Center app does not save the group once you stop using the speakers, so you have to re-group them every time you want to use them as a group. Not a big deal, only takes about 20 seconds or so, but it would be nice if the group could be saved in the app.
In comparing the two speakers for outdoor use, the XP700 has an IP rating of IPX4 which means it offers protection against splashes of water. By comparison, the Ult Field 7 is rated IP67 meaning its waterproof and dustproof, that is a big step over just IPX4 so much better for outdoor use.
Another cool feature that actually both speakers have is a ¼ inch input jack for a microphone/karaoke or an electric guitar. I’m not much of a singer but I do play guitar. A feature that the Ult Field 7 has which the XP700 does not is an Echo button in the controls section. It adds an echo effect, or essentially reverb, to anything plugged into the input jack. After trying out a few of my guitars, honestly my electric acoustic sounds better than any of my electric guitars (Strat, Telecaster and others). I guess it has to do with the pickups on the guitars, not sure, just not as much sound coming through with the electrics but the acoustic sounds fantastic, especially with the Echo button pushed. Our little group plays small gigs/backyard parties and such and this will now be the go-to amp that I bring. Its so easy to take along and not only does it sound great but the light show from the speaker will make the party even better! :)
Overall, the Sony Ult Field 7 stands out for its combination of portability, powerful sound, and versatile features, making it an excellent option for those seeking an immersive audio experience in a compact package. It has quickly become my favorite in my large arsenal of Bluetooth speakers.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Randy, We appreciate your detailed feedback and we're glad that you are enjoying your new ULT Field 7. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
High end bluetooth speaker with mic / guitar input
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony ULT Field 7 is a portable bluetooth party speaker that can go all day without a recharge. Sony claims up to a 30 hour battery life and I can definitely put it at over 20 hours so far. It really depends on how you use it, but the long battery life is just a part of what makes the ULT Field 7 special. Aside from being an excellent sounding speaker, the ¼” input jack allows you to plug in a guitar or microphone with independent level control. It’s geared for karaoke, but being able to add a microphone makes it a handy PA speaker in a pinch. The IP67 rating means I shouldn’t have to worry about salt water at the beach and while I wouldn’t take it underwater, it should be fine taking splashes. I’ll get deeper further in, but if you want the short and sweet of it, the Sony ULT Field 7 is an outstanding bluetooth speaker that’s great for parties, outdoor movie nights, picnics, event booths, protests, you name it. It’s well thought out and offers the polish that you’d expect from a premium Sony product. It’s way more than a party speaker and if it’s in your budget, I highly suggest it.
SOUND
For the most part, the ULT Field 7 plays loud and clean with a lively midbass punch. Vocals are smooth and relaxed without any sense of shrillness. Bass response is going to depend on the room and EQ settings, but it definitely punches in a 15’x20’ room. There’s a good balance overall, but turn it way up and the bass starts to get drowned out by the vocals and the sound loses structure and focus. Mind you this was at an obnoxiously loud testing level (and I like loud), but for most actual use cases it’ll be more than fine. However, you can also wirelessly pair it up with up to 100 other Party Connect speakers if you need more power. In terms of tuning, there’s 2 preset bass modes (ULT 1 and 2) with ULT 1 being geared for deeper bass extension, while ULT 2 is for a more lively and punchy sound. I honestly found ULT 2 to be superior in all instances except for gaming, where sometimes the mids seemed a little over pronounced. And if neither of them suit you, the free Sony Music Center app will give you access to a customizable 7 channel EQ among a few other useful features. Sound quality ¼” jack sounds clean with an XLR mic, but I haven’t tried a guitar yet. The bluetooth connection is LDAC compatible for high resolution audio and more importantly, there’s no perceptible input lag, so there’s no lip sync issues when watching movies and playing games. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing Metro Boomin, Santana, ZZ Top, Ben E. King, Far Cry 6, watching F1, singing, or giving a speech, the Sony ULT Field 7 sounds good doing it all (depending on your singing). If you’re an old school Sony fan, this will not disappoint you.
DESIGN
Good looking with a simple, functional design. Offering IP67 level dust, water, and rust protection means a well sealed body and gasket panels for any ports. The ULT Field 7 definitely fits that bill and it has the proper fit and finish of a higher end Sony product. Details like a simple rubber edge that functions as sound absorbing feet, hand grips, and scratch protection are indicative of a well thought out product. At about 14 lbs it’s not heavy to lift, but enough that you don’t want it falling onto a hard surface. To prevent the tube from rolling, there’s a flat side to the edges which serve as footers. They also make great hand grips and it was entirely too comfortable to carry this on my shoulders and blast music like a boombox. The access panel is a wide blocky chunk of rubber which serves as a gasket to seal it from the elements with a recessed wide grip to make it easier to open. I’m a little concerned about how long the thin rubber hinge will hold up, but I can’t complain about something that hasn’t happened. Beneath the panel you’ll be greeted by hard button controls for light, battery, microphone key, echo, guitar mode and a fader. Input wise there’s a ⅛” input jack, a 1.5A USB input/charger, and a ¼” input jack for a microphone or guitar. The latter is what sets this speaker apart from being just a nice and loud bluetooth speaker. It’s built for karaoke, but it’s also like a very portable entry level all-in-one speaker. It’s an easy music and 1 mic setup for trade shows, presentations, marches, protests, meetings and parties. The 30 hour battery life means you can stay portable all day and don’t need to station it near any outlets. If you need a quick top up, 10 minutes of charge time is supposed to provide 3 hours of run time, which is a pretty swell trade off. The only area where this speaker falls a bit flat are the lights. I notice them when I’m looking at the speaker, but they don’t really color a room or anything. It’s cool that you can adjust the pattern, but they’re more like a side note to me.
LIKES
- Loud and clear sound
- Bass has punch
- Low latency bluetooth (no delay)
- ¼” jack for microphone and guitar input
- Basically a loud and portable bluetooth PA speaker with good sound
- IP67 rated and saltwater resistant
- Great for the beach and cookouts
- Excellent for outdoor movie and game night
- Music Center / Fiestable app has a lot of fun features (karaoke, DJ, etc..)
- Excellent build quality
- Handles rubber cushioning protects and cushions
- All day battery life
- Quick charging
- Can comfortably carry it over my shoulder while walking around
- ULT modes and customizable EQ
- Classic Sony quality
- Can stand it up or lay it flat
- Can sync with up to 100 other Party Connect speakers
DISLIKES
- Lights are only really noticeable in a fully dark room
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi BIGASN, Great! We're glad that you're enjoying your ULT FIELD 7 Wireless Speaker. Your feedback is greatly appreciate. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Portability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Portable Powerful Perfection
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony ULT Field 7 Wireless Speaker is an audiophile’s dream! The sound is just amazing. It is a personal portable speaker that is built to take on the elements of nature. And to top it off, the design, options, and quality are all there to support its magnificent sound.
First things first, the sound.
The speaker comes with ULT Power Sound which has two options when switched on, both of which change the bass setting. ULT1 will drop the bass frequency to bring out the low, deep vibrations in the music. You really get the rumbles of those deep bass notes with smooth fluidity that vibrate the walls and furniture. ULT2 will bring out the sub bass notes that is described as “punchy,” and it definitely comes across that way. Rather than a deep rumble, the bass permeates through the air so the body can feel it, but the house doesn’t vibrate. Additionally, the strategically placed tweeters allow the higher frequency notes to play clearly and beautifully without getting drowned out by the bass. Altogether, the speaker provides a smooth, clear, crisp sound that allows the ear to catch all the notes of the music melodiously.
The design makes the speaker so easy to just grab-and-go. It is also fairly lightweight in my opinion at about 14lbs. I take it around my house and outside as I’m getting things done and while listening to music and have no struggle whatsoever.
The battery is quite long-lasting, it can play up to 30 hours on one full charge. I have not had to charge it yet despite using it daily. What’s more, it can go 3 extra hours of playing just from charging it for 10 minutes!
There is an input for a mic or guitar so that it can be used for karaoke or as a guitar amp. The karaoke function is made fun by the app, which allows for voice change and special effects functions. Next to the input is a separate volume knob for it, allowing the voice volume level to be balanced with the music volume according to one’s preferences.
Because it is waterproof, dustproof, and rustproof, this speaker can go just about anywhere. There is no need to be concerned about the environment it is put it. It can even go in the water up to one meter. Whenever it gets dirty it is even recommended to give it a rinse. It just can’t go in the shower because the water pressure can affect it adversely.
I connects via Bluetooth and can support up to two connections at a time so I can toggle between devices easily. One thing to note is that it will connect automatically when turned on, so if you and another person in your house are connected, one device can easily interrupt the other unwittingly until the device is made to disconnect via its settings. There is also the option to connect a device using a USB connection. This port doubles as a charger.
The speaker has customizable lights on each end and on the ULT button. These can be customized via the apps, which can change the rhythms and light colors according to preference or to go with the setting and atmosphere desired.
Sony includes two apps that can be used to elevate the experience of the speaker. These are Music Center and Fiestable. Music Center allows you to access your music library, group the speaker with other compatible speakers, and change certain settings, such as sound, power options, illumination, and manage Bluetooth connections. Fiestable provides some limited DJ controls, illumination customization, and karaoke voice effects to name a few.
I can honestly say I am fully enjoying this speaker. The additional controls the app provides coupled with the resistance to the elements makes this speaker ideal for all sorts of settings. Of course, the sound is the primary reason one gets a speaker, and Sony’s ULT Field 7 has what an audiophile wants. Whether you want a speaker next to the pool, the beach, camping, or just inside, this has you covered.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Akire, Awesome! Thank you for your detailed feedback. We're glad that you're enjoying your ULT FIELD 7. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Portability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
This Sony ULT FIELD 7 goes BOOM!!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
When I opened the box I was kind of amazed at the Sony - ULT FIELD 7's size. At just a few inches short of 2' long standing on end, My first impression was "is this going to be portable?" Well it is!. Even though it's spec says 13 pounds, it's a very easy carry. If 13 pounds is a lot to you there are handles on each end so you can hold it across your body but it's just a easy to grab one end and carry with one hand.
Out of the box the Sony - ULT FIELD 7 came about 70% charged. I decide to plug it in anyhow while i downloaded the app and explored it's functions. Within 15 minutes it had a full charge. Where the cord plugs in on a back panel you will also see a button to turn of the lights, a button to hear your battery life left and a port to plug in mic's and guitars. Also there is a USB port and aux port.
When you are all set up and ready to listen you will be amazed by the sound coming from the Sony - ULT FIELD 7. I started with the ULT7 setting to off and you get really good clear vocals and music without the pounding punch of bass. But then I picked some of my favorite bass pounding tunes and was blown away by the deep punchy bass coming from this unit. On ULT1 you get a rumbling bass that doesn't over do it but sounds great. Then onto ULT2 where the bass was rumbling through my chest, the table it was on and the walls. It was like being in concert, close to the stage. Don't get my wrong, it wasn't a distorted bass sound ruining the music and lyrics, but instead a beautifully schyronization of the 2 woofers pounding out deep bass while the tweeters were still strong enough to produce great highs of the music and vocals that weren't drowned out by the bass.
The look of the Sony - ULT FIELD 7 is very eye pleasing. The buttons on the outside of the speaker are huge and easy to use. The power, Bluetooth, volume and ULT button are easy to find standing on end or on it's side (there is a flat edge of the round ends to keep it from rolling). The waterproof case is very important as you will definitely want to take this to the pool, beach, lake or anywhere else the party is happening.
Battery life is really amazing too. The specs say 30 hours. I haven't put it to the test but I'm sure with the lights flashing, bass on full blast, volume up loud you might not get the full 30 hours but who can party for that long anyhow. It is nice that a quick plug for 10 minutes will get you another 3 hours of use.
They recommend 2 apps to download. The Sony music app is the one you want, The fiestable app is not really necessary to download as it is built right into the music center app. In Music Center you can add you music apps for ease of use without having to switch apps to change your music. In settings you can also change the ULT setting and change your sound with a custom EQ. The Fiesatble link has pretty cool features if you were at a fun party with lots of people. You can set the colors and flashing speed of the lights on the speaker as well as use your phones motion sensors to turn up volume, change songs and pause music. The cool thing if you had a lot of people is they can all download the app and use the party light feature which would turn everyones phone into an interactive light show.
All in all this Sony - ULT FIELD 7 Wireless Speaker is fun for easy listening all the way up to a bass boosting rave.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi internetuser, Great! We're delighted to hear that you're enjoying the ULT FIELD 7. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Music Power Hours Delivers Punch to Smooth Jazz
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony Ult Field 7 is a rugged, portable, and cutting-edge music powerhouse for all who love bass.
The first thing I noticed about this speaker was its build quality. Speaker cloth is very high quality and the whole unit is a sealed system. The speaker also has rubberized feet and sides, making it able to stand vertically or horizontally. Both ends of the speaker are large carrying handles which double as openings for sound to pass through when the speaker is stood vertically. Am a big fan of this design as the speaker is versatile and can fit in with just about any environment.
Boasting an IP67 rating, this speaker is both dust and waterproof making it the perfect speaker to take outdoors. Have inadvertently verified this by spraying it with my pressure washer while playing tunes and working outside.
Out of the box the speaker arrived charged to 60%. Speaker is marketed to have 30 hours of playtime and has yet to run out of charge throughout the duration of my testing. Included is a generic, non-polarized charging cable which can easily be replaced if lost. This is a huge plus as proprietary charging cables can be expensive and a pain to replace.
The speaker sounds amazing. The bass radiating from the 4.4” woofers on each side is punchy and powerful. Ult 7 easily fills my whole house with clear and vibrant music. Am very impressed with the sound this can produce for its portability and 13lbs weight.
The top of the speaker has power, Bluetooth, play/pause, and volume buttons which all have a tactile feel. There is also the “ULT” button which switches between different EQ presets. ULT 1 “enhances the deeper low-pass range” and ULT 2 “has a sense of increased power”. A custom 7-band EQ preset can be created within the Music Center app as well. Have not had to adjust the EQ as the ULT 2 preset is already tuned perfectly for my taste.
Rear of the speaker has a 3.5mm audio-in port as well as a ¼” mic/guitar port. There is also an “echo” effect button, flat and sharp key control buttons, battery care, and light button. Battery care limits the max charge to 90% to prolong the life of the battery. The light button powers on/off the reactive lighting on the ULT button and each side of the speaker. There are several lighting presets also available through the Sony Music Center app.
Another nice touch is that this speaker supports Bluetooth 5.2 and LDAC high quality audio, which I was able to enable through the settings of my phone. It can be verified that LDAC is enabled through the Music Center app as well.
The Sony Music Center app allows for even more control and customization of the speaker. App allows the speaker to be paired with another of the same type to create stereo audio, or up to 100 speakers in party mode. Various settings are also available including sound and power options. Another neat feature is the “Sound Field Optimization” which adjusts the sound quality of the speaker according to the ambient noise.
Overall, if you are looking for a powerful and rugged Bluetooth speaker with cutting edge technology, the Sonly Ult Field 7 is the perfect choice.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi vrs99, Great! We're glad that you're enjoying your ULT FIELD 7 Wireless Speaker. We appreciate your feedback and thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Portability, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
An Exceptional Balance between Power & Mobile
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Portable speakers are something that are much more common, but also there are a lot of low quality speakers out there that miss the mark on a lot of areas. Sony has long been a reliable brand in the audio world, and they stepped up with their new ULT series, specifically the ULT Field 7 speaker which has been great!
PROS:
- Unboxing the ULT Field 7, this thing is big! But what it does so well is provide the built in handles on each side and allow you to set it horizontally or vertically which makes it feel more versatile for how big it is.
- And although it's big, it justifies its size by being packed with features. Being able to plug in a mic/guitar is awesome, it can charge your phone for you, it has built in lights for a party theme, and has really nice controls on it so you do not have to use your phone for everything.
- Let's get to the sound of course which is the main seller of this...and the sound is BIG just like the speaker. Does a really nice job handling the highs and lows, as well as putting out a really giant sound that fills a room or encompasses your outdoor space but it never sounds like its so loud that its just a rattle. It really provides great sound quality.
- Part of the portability aspect of this is that it is waterproof, dustproof, and rustproof. All must haves for those that want to bring this out by the pool or lake, camping, out doing any sports or activities. Just understanding that this thing is going to last in the elements is great!
- Lastly, the Sony app is nice addition to the speaker. It provides ways for you to do some customizing and see some extra settings all from your phone.
CONS:
- I would have liked to see a USB-C input instead of the USB-A input. I think that would have allowed for faster charge output as well as a way for USB-C direct audio in to the speaker.
- The Sony app needs some UX updating. It feels too analog and could benefit from a face lift or even a way to see what colors you are changing the lights to and not just a phrase.
BOTTOM LINE:
- The Sony ULT Field 7 is a big speaker that is for sure, but it delivers in so many areas while also providing a surprising amount of portability too. It has huge sound that is still clear and crisp for the vocals while providing outstanding bass, and has load of features like being waterproof and having lights on both ends of the speakers. This is a high end portable speaker but it delivers on so many areas that it is worth the price.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Njuice, We're delighted to hear that you're enjoying your ULT FILED 7. We'll take note of your feedback. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Good speaker
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Good speaker to use in home with your friends and family
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi RichardC, We're happy to hear that you're enjoying your speaker. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Portability, Sound quality
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Very close to perfect
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony “ULT FIELD 7” attempts to tell us a lot about itself by its name - but there is a lot hiding here. Will you like it?
***QUALITY:***
The Sony ULT FIELD 7 Wireless Speaker is a robust, well-designed portable speaker. It’s hefty, but not too hefty, weighing just under 15 pounds, made of quality and thick plastic, rubber and - unfortunately… mesh. Mesh is almost always a bad choice in something which should be durable. It _is_ well balanced for carrying by the handles which exist on each end, and even the exposed woofers appear well suited to handle curious kid hands. I think (though Sony may not officially endorse this) the speaker’s construction strength makes it great to sit on it like a stool at a gathering. Its IP67 rating makes it waterproof and dustproof, suitable for beach and outdoor use, though I wouldn’t want to take my nice speaker anywhere near sand which is “course and rough, and irritating and gets everywhere”.
***SETUP:***
Setting up the speaker is straightforward. Controls on the top of the horizontally placed speaker include power, volume, Bluetooth, and pause/resume buttons. Additional fine-tuning can be managed through the Sony Music Center app, which also allows grouping multiple speakers for synchronized playback - allegedly with up to 100 devices. Bluetooth pairing (version 5.2) is quick and reliable, and the range is excellent.
***FEATURES:***
The Field 7 is feature-rich, including:
- Battery Life: Up to 30 hours of playtime, with a quick charge providing 3 hours of playtime after just 10 minutes.
- Connectivity: Includes a charging socket, a ¼ inch microphone/guitar input, a USB port for music input and phone charging, and a stereo mini-jack for non-Bluetooth connections.
- Additional Controls: Features for battery care, key control, echo effects, and a volume dial for karaoke or guitar input.
***SOUND:***
The Sony ULT FIELD 7 delivers powerful sound with strong mid-bass in a larger room. If you place it in a corner, the lower frequencies get a chance to reverberate. The low frequency drop-off isn’t surprising, given the size of the “subwoofers” on the sides, but this is still a mark against it. Even small woofers can be tuned to match volumes as you go up in frequency. Mids and highs are always difficult to review unless directly in the line of fire, but the FIELD 7 does an adequate job with both from the box, and can be improved with a 7-band equalizer in the app. With this adjustability, sound quality really is good for a party speaker. A built-in mic can “read the room” and improve sound quality as well.
***CONTROLS:***
A quick press of power turns the speaker on and off, a hold of the Bluetooth button gets the unit into pairing mode, play/pause do what you would think PLUS double tap skipping forward (triple skips back). Volume up, down, and then the “ULT” button, which offers three bass settings: ULT off, ULT1 for deeper bass, and ULT2 for punchy bass. I prefer ULT off in most cases, being that bass can easily overpower the rest of the range.
***DRAWBACKS:***
1.) The mesh will likely get caught on something at some point, slowly exposing the patterns in the matte plastic over time. 2.) Without using the app to customize the EQ, you may find the punchy bass to be overwhelming for some music genres. 3.) The lighting is the same way. Moral of the story: keep it from sharp things and get the app. And Sony - do something other than small-fibered mesh next time.
***CONCLUSION:***
I really like the FIELD 7: Excellent quality, connectivity options, and user-friendly controls make it an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor audio experiences, so long as you you take a minute to get the EQ set up and keep the mesh away from things which will snag it! Get a protection plan and you’ll be golden.
-HighlyExcellent
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Highly Excellent, We appreciate your detailed feedback and we're glad that you're enjoying the SRSULT70. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Portability, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Basshunters rejoice!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Sony continues to dominate the portable blue tooth speaker competition in my opinion year after year. The new ULT7 is no exception. This year they return with a familiar looking speaker with a few surprises. This speaker BOOMS and I am not exaggerating one bit.
In the box comes with all you need to kick off your party. Speaker, power cable and some literature to help you get the Apps you need to take full advantage of speaker's capabilities. After charging out of the box (roughly 2 hours) I was at 100% and ready to make my neighbors mad.
New to me on this year's model is the inclusion of the ULT selection. Turning it off leaves you with the standard baseline on what you are currently streaming to the speaker. Pressing it again enables ULT1 and ups the BASS quite a bit to get the feels going. Pressing it for a second time turns on ULT2 and basically maxes the bass and get the walls shaking.
Also as an alternative, I highly recommend using the Sony App as the EQ function is great. I use this to fine tune highs, mids and lows to my personal tastes.
The ULT7 is super portable to bring along with you to a party, beach, pool or a friends house. The handles on the side offer the perfect grips to grab and go. Protection is also part of it as both the bottom edges are rubberized (where the RGB is) and also the "bottom" if you lay it flat so it wont be moving or rattling on whatever you place it on. IPX67 rating lets you play this outside just fine even in the rain.
Charging is quick. They claim 10 mins can get you up to 3hrs of playtime. On a full charge, they say 30 hours of playtime. I was blasting music for a total of ~6 hours and the battery life only dropped to 80%.
Another cool bit included on this speaker, like some of it's older brothers, is what's hidden behind the back flap. Opening it up reveals controls for lights, battery health, Karaoke Settings, Amp settings for guitar, and even a USB A charger.
Sound, portability and the immense amount of features makes this speaker another SOLID choice for the BT speaker market.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Woo151, Great! We're delighted to hear that you're enjoying the ULT FIELD 7. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Volume
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
“Portable”; heavy in weight & bass, great parties!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
To consider this portable, depends on YOUR strength.
The speaker naked is about 14 pounds (6.3 kg). Its size is impressive, but not extreme (9 inches height and 20 inches in length). With molded handles on both ends, it is surprising easy to tote around. Too large to place on a bookshelf, but can sit vertically or horizontally on the floor or a tabletop.
And it is RUGGED, with impressive water resistant (IP67) & dust resistant (IEC 60529 IP5X standard) ratings. They state that even salt water is not an issue, so beach is also okay. If it gets sandy at the beach, you can honestly just hose it down when you get home. That “water proof” rating is for environmental splashes, not water under pressure, so don’t let it fall into the swimming pool. The pressure on it once it hits the bottom of the deep end might encroach on the core.
Controls on the top of the horizontally placed speaker are power, volume +/-, Bluetooth, and pause/resume. These are all you really need for daily usage. The Sony app takes care of all fine tuning beyond that.
That water resistant rating is achieved with a very nice gasket cover over the external plug ports: the charging socket, a microphone socket (where your Karaoke mic or guitar can join in the party), a USB port which can receive music input from a portable device or output power to your phone where your music library is stored, and a stereo mini-jack for non-Bluetooth music input. Also in this array are buttons for control of battery care (to prevent overcharging which could lead to more rapid battery deterioration with age), key control (with a music notation sign for sharp/flat), Echo effect, and a volume dial for the karaoke or guitar input.
A great deal of the weight comes from the battery power supply. With this large a battery, it boasts a playtime duration of up to 30 hours, depending on your settings, most notably the volume. The accessory lights on both ends of the speaker can be turned off, to lessen the battery drain, as well. If you find yourself loosing battery function, you can fast charge. With quick charging, 10 minutes you get up to 3 hours of playing time.
Volume is this speaker’s forte. At indoor, normal volume the un-adjusted audio spectrum seems quite balanced. You can customize to your preference with the Sony app, which offers 7 bands of spectrum. The speaker’s output tonal range is stated to be 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. That treble range is well beyond my aging hearing capacity, so I’ll take their word on it; the bass I can appreciate, feel as well as hear.
Depending on your music choice, the bass could be overwhelming. In my testing, it certainly made sense to keep the ULT button in its neutral selection when playing classical music, opera, spoken word/podcast listening.
But if the goal is moving in time to the music, the ULT Field 7 likes to support that vibe! In an indoor environment, the bass was almost distracting; a palpable thumping on your torso effect.
Their web pages speaks of Sound Field Optimization which they define as an electronic feedback of ambient noise correction: “By detecting local noise, it automatically changes the sound setting to deliver clear music even when you are surrounded by other sounds.” That’s pretty swell, although in normal listening, I could not vouch for its presence.
Un-enhanced, the bass output is quite accurate, and reproduced the 20 Hz introduction to Richard Strauss’s tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra, the famous opening cords of Kubrick’s 2001:A Space Odyssey. Orchestral pieces seemed to be full range and clear, especially in indoor, lower volume listening.
There are two levels of bass boost. According to Sony’s explanation, it is “two different types of bass-emphasized sound. Powerful bass to feel the beat and get you dancing. Deep bass boost for low-frequency sound that will make your heart tremble”. I was not able to specifically define whether it was ULT 1 or ULT 2, but certainly the bass boost was quite noticeable. Sony’s description of the two settings states: “Select ULT1 for deeper, lower frequency bass. Select ULT2 for powerful, punchy bass”. So ULT 2 is more tactile, I suppose.
Where this speaker system really shines is outdoors, on the dock at the lake house. Having 5 teenage grandsons, the music catalogue switched to more on the Hip-Hop end of the spectrum. And the bass boost was fully engaged, to their delight. Outdoors in bright daylight, we switched off the light show, which better suits evening performances.
Two Sony apps give you a wide range of accessory control over the ULT Field 7. Required is the Sony Music Center app, the core application for various fine tuning and customization of your speaker. Items like 7 tonal frequency spectrums, boosting treble, midrange, and bass quite precisely.
And bass is the ULT Field 7’s defining strength. Through the ULT button, right on the top and close at hand, you can cycle through 3 settings: no bass boost, ULT 1 and ULT 2.
The front mounted twin woofers present a rectangle of bass output front and center, a respectable 4.4” each in size. The front array includes twin 1.8” tweeters. End mounted passive radiators round out the output, to optimize the sound and enhance the clear bass.
You can link to up to 100 speakers (not a typo, truly one hundred) electronically; daisy chained using the app. Two ULT Field 7 speakers can be joined for stereo reproduction.
The pairing to Bluetooth (version 5.2) was quick and did not fade with the music source being a bit distant. The Bluetooth range is stated to be 100 feet, and that seems accurate.
The other app is entitled “Fiestable”, which encourages the party ethic that seems to be genetically bound to this speaker. Major controls here are to choose your party playlist and the built in lights that encircle the end mounted sub-woofers. The lighting runs in synch with the music, and alters in color as well. I haven’t deciphered the algorithm as to when it changes from red to blue to green to yellow, but there seems to be some pattern to the choices. It generally was appreciated by my audience as being certainly in touch with the music.
A variety of special amusements are available in the Fiestable app, which I have not yet tried out, as they range to more esoteric needs. These include, according to Sony’s description:
-DJ Control: Control DJ Effect (Isolator/Flanger/Wah/Pan), Sampler (Drums, Voice, etc.) and EQ of your audio system.
- Illumination: Custom Flash (Change the color and flashing speed of your audio system) and Custom Color (Change the color of your audio system).
- Voice Playback: Record your voice through the microphone. After the recording, you can preset your voice and play over and over again.
- Party Light via Fiestable: Emits light from the smartphones of party participants in sync with the music.
- Party Playlist: Continuously plays songs favorited by participants on their smartphone
- Voice Control via Fiestable: Operations including playback, volume adjustment, and lighting can be performed by voice (which might require your phone and a voice agent such as Alexa, Siri, or Hey Google to activate)
- KARAOKE/TAIKO Game Ranking: You can save your KARAOKE/TAIKO GAME score and check your rank.
* "Limited to compatible devices", but not stated up front which those are....
In summary, this is an excellent powerful, long playing speaker. Party centric in design and execution, no matter your music tastes or environment, indoors or outside.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Josenieve, We're thrilled to hear that you're enjoying your ULT FIELD 7. Your detailed feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Portability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Good looks and great sound!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve recently received the Sony ULT FIELD 7 wireless speaker to add to my collection of portable sound devices – and it is a TOP CONTENDER for the best sound and performance. This unit was designed for bass lovers – as a quick press of the ULT button activates two different sound modes for your bass listening pleasure. Try both modes and you’ll definitely hear the difference it makes to the sound.
In addition, there are a bunch of features worth mentioning that includes:
- The ULT FIELD 7 is IP67 waterproof, dustproof and rustproof.
- There are ports on the back of the speaker to allow a guitar or microphone to connect directly to the speaker to provide a solution for karaoke nights. Turn on the LED lights as well by using the Music App from Sony, and you’ll infuse your room or gathering with cool view and sounds.
Mentioning the Sony Music App, in it there are controls for lights as previously mentioned, audio tuning and settings and Party Connect. Because I have another Sony speaker, this time I could test out Party Connect. I will say, once it’s working it is pretty cool. I had some difficulty getting it setup the first time sue to the fact that my old speaker has some older firmware that needed to be updated.
Once I did that, I was able to group the speakers, but the first 60 seconds of music were very choppy. It got better after that, just something to note.
The unit itself is well built and feels solid, easy to carry with the built-in handles, can charge your phone or device with it’s larger battery and totes that only a 10 minute AC charge give you 3 hours of music while fully charging can give you 30 hours.
Overall, I’m very happy with the speaker and hope to try out Party Connect at a real party soon!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi TechMatcher, We appreciate your detailed feedback and we're glad that you are enjoying your new ULT Field 7. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A great refinement with loud powerful live sound!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony ULT Field 7 is a mid-size portable bluetooth speaker that brings dual passive radiators, volumetrically efficient main drivers, and long battery life to the party. Sony’s new line of ULT speakers bring the ULTimate Vibe - or at least that’s the marketing. Replacing the SRS-XG500, the Field 7 brings some significant design changes that improve the overall experience while retaining the portability of the predecessor.
First of all, inside the box you’ll find a well packaged ULT Field 7, power cord, and some documentation. Overall the unboxing is fairly standard, and materials recyclable. The unit itself is covered in a water resistant black fabric. Unlike its predecessor, the unit doesn’t have a handle on top, but rather either end is basically an accessible handle and passive radiator protector. You can grab both ends or carry as a handle from one. It’s a nice design overall. Each radiator has a ring light that syncs with music and has different effects that can be enabled through the app. While the speaker isn’t hefty, it isn’t exactly light - weighing in just under 14lbs. The handles make the weight manageable by keeping the center of gravity close to your body when carrying on its side upright.
Powering on the Field 7 immediately puts it in pairing mode. It’s easy to find, and will prompt you to install the Sony Music Center app if you don’t have it previously installed. While totally optional, it’s a nice addition for more advanced lighting, equalizer, and input control. Software wise, I wouldn’t say sony leads the pack, but their offering is reliable and solid and doesn’t require an ‘account’ like some manufacturers. The software also allows stereo pairing, and party mode, which allows up to 100 speakers to be paired in a group. I was unable to test this feature due to only having one Field 7, but it does seem like a nice feature.
Sound wise, the Field 7 shines as being a bass heavy, concert style reproduction speaker. Weighing in at 20w RMS per channel, there is a large emphasis on the sound stage and bass presence. Powered by 4 active speakers; including 2 rectangular woofers, and 2 rectangular tweeters, the Field 7 puts out some impressive sound. EDM music comes alive, while classics like Billy Joel have a live quality to them. The passive radiators really fill in the bass. These radiators are unpowered diaphragms found on either side of the speaker and offer additional bass response as they vibrate with the sound pressure created by the main drivers. These aren’t a new idea, in fact my mother’s vintage 70’s system included 8” passive radiators, but the ones found on the sony have large excursion limits that really allow the bass to resonate. Bass as low as 15Hz is audible, and really takes off around 60Hz. Overall, if you’re looking for a reference speaker, the Field 7 is NOT that, but it is an excellent offering for outdoor entertainment.
Furthermore, the Field 7 offers ULT sound modes, which are quite effective. When ULT is off, the sound is definitely more flat, but probably well balanced for top volume usage. ULT1 offers a bit more bass presence while maintaining a semi-flat profile. ULT2 really amps up the powerful equalizer and honestly at under 2/3rd’s listening volume gives a nice ‘live’ vibe that I was impressed with. I wouldn’t operate the speaker at full volume at this setting as some clipping occurs. Additionally, Sony offers Sound Field Optimization that uses an on board microphone to optimize the sound output to account for surrounding noise. While I didn’t have any noisy locations to test this, this sort of sound correction can make a difference.
Speaking of entertainment, the Field 7 has some really nice features to add to its list. Not only do you get bluetooth, but also auxiliary line in, guitar/microphone 1/4" jack w/ separate volume, echo and tonal controls. Opening the water resistant back port is easy. Here is where you find the aforementioned controls. The aux is a 3.5mm jack, which while is phasing out of the mainstream, still a welcome addition. The microphone connection is a 1/4" jack that does sense and appropriately mixes music and the device connected. I used both a microphone and my electric guitar. The microphone worked exceedingly well, but the guitar volume was somewhat disappointing, coming out much quieter than my cheap mono amp. The echo effect worked well, and the key change I didn’t fully understand as I’m not much of a karaoke person. It’s definitely one more the more fully featured back panel controls I’ve seen in a modern speaker. Oh, and there’s a USB port too - and while it can charge at 1.5amps, it actually supports MP3, WAV and WMA files.
Battery life is represented in hours, which range from 3-30. Having the speaker at max volume, with all the features and lights turned on it can perform as poorly as 3 hours, but in realistic usage I would say medium listening volume outdoors 6-8 hours is easily achievable - which is my litmus test for an outdoor speaker. The speaker is also rated for IP67 dust/rust/water proof - which is an improvement over the previous IP66 rating. This should make the Field 7 quite durable and suitable for beach or pool duty this summer.
Overall, like many of Sony’s audio products, the Field 7 offers Sony’s experience and penchant for functional design. Sony produces some of the best equipment tuned for specific audiences. The Field 7 is tuned for your summer goings, outdoor parties, and bass heavy music with a nod to karaoke and performances. If you’re looking for something to amp your guitar, you’ll find much better offerings, but if you need a good music speaker that can pull part time karaoke duty, this might be your guy. I’m certain my kids and I will use this speaker a ton this summer.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi aarondr, We're thrilled to hear that you're enjoying your ULT FIELD 7. Your detailed feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Portability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Totally impressive bass, especially for its size!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This Sony ULT Field 7 wireless speaker has really impressed me with the depth of the bass on the MAX ULT setting!
Opening up the box you can see Sony's commitment to sustainability with it's eco friendly, recyclable packaging. Pulling out the bluetooth speaker from the box, it is not particularly heavy or cumbersome to move around. You can power it up right away out of the box as well, with about 60% battery life available.
The unit contains two bass woofers and two tweeters in a cylindrical form, with rubberized and illuminated rubber membranes on each end. There is a control panel on the top for your volume, power on/off, bluetooth connection, play/pause and the magical ULT button.
Pressing the ULT button (ULT Off), out of the box, takes it to the lowest level of bass. This is where the speakers is nice and competent, but is definitely lacking in punch. This mode would be for easy listening, for more of a background feel to the speaker, not the life of the party.
Press the ULT button again (ULT1), a snare drum sound is heard, and the bass kicks in. It's more authoritative, and punchy. This is an all round sound mode that's great to amplify whatever you are listening to while adding some good bass.
Press the ULT button again (ULT2), a snare drum and symbol crash sound, and the MAX bass is added. Holy cow, that adds so much power to the music, it really is incredibly punchy and sounds so much deeper and louder than the speaker size suggests. I was really really impressed with that. It totally helps to fill the room with sound in this ULT2 mode.
You can stand the speaker on either end, there is a rubber ring on each end, so you won't worry about beating it up whether you are inside or outside. You can also lay it down horizontally, with the SONY logo facing you. There are flat rubber feet to stop it from rolling around. And talking of being outside, you can go anywhere without worrying as it's IP67 rated for dust and water protection. It is waterproof, as long as you have the rubber accessory cover on the back fully seated. In this case, it can sit submerged in 1meter of water for up to 30 mins without damage. Very impressive, so taking it to the pool or the beach, you don't have to worry about anything. Take it out in the rain? No issues at all there either. The party is with you all the time.
It has integrated carry handles so it's incredibly portable, and as I mentioned, it's not that heavy either so you can move it around with ease. It has a really long battery life as well at 30 hours continuous play. That's awesome. And with the included mains power cord you can add a 10 min charge to the unit and play for another 3 hours with it's fast charging capability! A very versatile unit at all. Things have come a long way! I used to have a SONY MegaBass Subwoofer cassette deck back in the day, and that thing would eat batteries like they were going out of fashion! Long gone are those days with quick charge technology like this!
If you choose to download the Music Center app, you can control more elements of the speaker, set up your own equalizer, turn on and off the lights, customize their display, and also add more speakers to a group if you own more than one of these, or other SONY bluetooth speakers. That expands the sound scape and gives you full control over your speaker. A total of 100 speakers can be added, should you choose to have that many! Incredible!
And as if that wasn't enough - in the back, under the waterproof flap, where you charge the speaker, you can adjust the lights there, but there's a port to connect a guitar or microphone directly to the speaker as well, so you can use it like a PA or Amp for either. There are even tone and flange controls and gain as well. So much versatility from this bluetooth speaker.
But going back to connectivity and bass, the bass really is incredible. So impressive for the size of the speaker. And it maintains its bass up to about 75% volume. Anything after that starts to get a lot more tinny, as the bass fades away. But even at full volume, it doesn't distort to break up, it just loses some bass integrity.
And connection, as soon as I opened the bluetooth settings on my phone as I got the speaker out of the box, I was able to see it and connect to it right away.
I am using this speaker out in my garage space and it fills the whole area with sound. Absolutely love it!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Cupra!, this is great! We're delighted to hear that you're enjoying our ULT FIELD 7 Wireless Speaker. Your feedback is greatly appreciated! Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The ULTimate Party Speaker!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony ULT Field 7 Wireless speaker is the best portable speaker I’ve ever used. While it’s a bit larger and heavier than others I have used in the past, the size and robust design is welcomed when you hear what this speaker is capable of.
As a teen and young adult, I was quite into upgrading my car’s audio system, focusing primarily on bass. At one point I had 2 12” subwoofers in a ported custom enclosure that continuously knocked my rearview mirror off, and literally shook my taillights out of their housings on the trunk of my car. Even though I no longer have such a crazy system in my car, I still appreciate loud, punchy bass, and I tend to like headphones and sound systems that lean towards the warmer, lower end of the sound spectrum.
Since I love bass, I feel right at home with the ULT Field 7. Sporting 2 1.8” tweeters and 2 4.4” woofers, along with dual passive radiators on either end, this is engineered for bass, yet it has no problem keeping the mids and highs clear and present right along with the low end. Pressing the “ULT” button toggles different sound modes that emphasize 2 types of bass performance, which you can customize on the smartphone app that works with the speaker.
I tested a wide range of music, from hip-hop, reggae, and dubstep, to metal, country, and classical, and everything sounded amazing. Obviously, the bass-heavy genres really shine on the ULT Field 7, but honestly, even less bass-centric tunes sounded brilliant as well. On most hip-hop and EDM tracks, the bass was loud, visceral, and clean, no matter how much I cranked the volume. I loved that the highs were never lost in the mix, even when there were large amounts of bass. Before hitting the "ULT" button I found that things sounded good, yet it was when you turned this feature on that bass-focused tunes got exciting. The 2 “ULT” settings highlight different bass profiles, and I found them both to be fun and engaging with most of my music. I noticed that they even took older, more neutral songs and made what little bass that was present more up front and punchy.
The Sony "Music Center" app that works with this speaker is straightforward, yet I did find that you could easily operate the ULT Field 7 independently of the app. Still, it has some nice features and is incredibly easy to use.
There are some really neat features on this speaker, such as the ¼” jack that allows you to plug in either a guitar or microphone and play/sing along with your music. There is a dedicated volume knob for this input, which I found to be pretty thoughtful. Additionally, the speaker is waterproof and dustproof, so I didn’t worry about taking it to my backyard to blast some music. Sony states that it has 30 hours of battery life, and I have to say that I used this for quite some time before I had to plug it in to recharge.
Build quality is fantastic. This thing is big, and weighs about 13 pounds, but man it feels well-made. All of the materials seem high quality and robust, and they even found a way to include some awesome lighting that illuminates the passive radiators in tune with the music that is playing. Yes, you can customize the light show on the app as well. I liked that I could sit the ULT Field 7 horizontally or vertically, depending on where I was, and what worked best.
Sony has created the ultimate party speaker with the ULT Field 7. Considering this doesn't have to be plugged in to work, and is portable with 30 hours of playtime, just makes the performance even more astounding. I found it was effortless to fill a large room with powerful sound, and the ULT Field 7 had no problem keeping us in a large backyard entertained as well. For the price, I simply cannot imagine a more impressive Bluetooth speaker, period. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone looking for one of the most fun, dynamic, and powerful portable Bluetooth speakers on the market.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi JohnR, We appreciate your detailed feedback and we're glad that you are enjoying your new ULT Field 7. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Battery life, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic and powerful Bluetooth speaker
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This portable Bluetooth speaker absolutely rocks, and is perfect for parties as well as being your main sound system speaker in any room in the house -- even large living rooms. The specs say 45W of total power, but it sounds like a lot more, and will definitely fill a room. Bass is powerful and rich without being muddled or overpowering, and can be further boosted in two similar but distinct modes by pressing the ULT button. Unlike other boomboxes I’ve heard, this one doesn’t skimp on the midrange and trebles, which are crisp and clear, leading to a very well-balanced sound. Sound is further improved if you take advantage of Sound Field Optimization, which uses a built-in mic to sample the sound being generated, and adjust the output to match the room environment. Sound can be further modified by using the Sony Music Center app on your mobile device, where you can customize a 7-band equalizer.
Connection is primarily via Bluetooth, and pairing is quick and reliable. 2-device multipoint connection is supported, which allows for easy switching between devices (the speaker will otherwise remember up to 8 devices). Connection range is up to about 90 feet, assuming there’s not much solid in between (like a wall). There’s also a 3.5 mm aux jack and a USB port (which can be used to play music files from a USB drive, as well as to charge a device).
Like any party speaker, this one has RGB lights that illuminate at the side woofers, ostensibly to the beat of the music. The style of illumination can be adjusted using the Music Center app, with 9 different choices. This is one of the only weak points of the speaker, because 5 of those choices just show a static color (even “Strobe”, which doesn’t strobe at all) -- not sure if this is a bug or not. If it is a bug, hopefully Sony can fix it in a firmware update. Fancy lights aren’t important to me, but for those looking for a speaker that will dazzle people visually at a party, keep this in mind.
The speaker can also be used for karaoke and as a guitar amp, with a standard ¼” jack in the back. There are even pitch control buttons if a song is out of a person’s singing range. I didn’t test either of these.
Power is supplied via AC plug, and a fully charged battery is supposed to last up to 30 hours with the volume at about ⅓ of maximum and the RGB lights off. If you plan to use this as a stationary speaker and keep it plugged in all the time, there’s a Battery Care feature that limits the battery charge to 90% max, which helps prolong its overall lifespan -- a thoughtful inclusion, considering how hobbled these kinds of speakers will become when the battery will no longer hold a charge.
Build quality is excellent, as expected from Sony. The unit feels extremely solid, and although it has some heft, it’s still easily portable using the sturdy handles. It has an IP67 water resistance rating, so it should be protected from the occasional splash -- but as with any IP-rated device, keep in mind that it’s water RESISTANT, but not waterPROOF. Don’t go soaking it in a pool!
Overall, this is a very impressive and powerful portable Bluetooth speaker. The price is fairly steep, but comparable to other companies like JBL in this tier. I would easily recommend this.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi William C, We appreciate your detailed feedback and we're glad that you are enjoying your new ULT Field 7. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Sony
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Too expensive, sound is not for this price. Quality of sound is fair
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The Modern Boombox
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony ULT FIELD 7 is a member of their ULT Power Sound series of audio products that (at this time) includes a tower “party speaker”, a noise-cancelling headphone, and two portable Bluetooth speakers, including this one and a smaller one called the ULT FIELD 1.
The ULT FIELD 7 is basically a 20-inch-long cylindrical “tube” consisting of two tweeters and two woofers on the face of the tube, two passive radiators at each end of the tube and each are surrounded by a light “ring” that provide visual party ambiance, a set of controls on the top of the tube, and lastly a group of jacks and lesser-used controls on the back of the tube. The ULT 7 is really a modern version of the boombox that was popular in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It is portable with handles at each end, and while it weighs a solid feeling 13.9 pounds, it is still easy to take along wherever you may be going. The speaker comes packaged with minimal accessories that include a paper Reference Guide providing basic information, a paper Limited Warranty document, and an AC power cord (with no “wall wart” at the end of it, yay!) which looks identical to the power cord on other Sony products in our house. An additional “Help Guide” is available on Sony’s web site and can be downloaded for future reference. This Help Guide is 113 pages long in English (although most pages are only about half full of information) and will be necessary for the user to fully understand the complete feature set of this device, as a good amount of the functionality is not immediately intuitive.
After you unbox the ULT 7, you will want to download two apps to your smart phone that will help immensely with controlling and tailoring the functions to your needs and likes (the Sony Music Center app), and the other for changing a variety of different effects from DJ, Motion, and Voice controls, to lighting controls, to karaoke and playlists (the Fiestable app). While these apps work with iOS on iPhones and iPads (there are also Android versions in the Google Play Store), there are no counterparts to work with a Mac computer. This does not mean that you cannot listen to music from a Mac or other computer, just that the functionality of these apps are not available to you.
The ULT 7 pairs quickly and easily to Bluetooth devices and can be paired to multiple devices. I did notice a bit of lag time when using the Music Center app and switching among its functions. The controls on the top of the speaker are for Power, Bluetooth pairing, Play/Pause, Volume Up and Down, and changing the ULT sound mode. While I can understand the need to use the Play/Pause button for “Next Track” and “Previous Track” functions when there is insufficient space for two more buttons on a device, I find it annoying that Sony did not include separate buttons for these functions on a unit this large. These two functions are engaged by pressing the “Play/Pause” button 2 or 3 times respectively in quick succession. Another interesting thing is that the volume control on the iPhone (side buttons) will increase or decrease the speaker volume in larger increments (and fewer overall steps) than the volume buttons on the speaker or the volume control in the Music Center app.
The controls on the back panel are hidden under a water and dust resistant cover to keep contaminants out of the four jacks/ports that also reside there. These controls are usually only accessed when a cable is plugged into these receptacles or are used infrequently. Included here is the connection for the AC power cord. It would have been nice to have a separate covered port for the power connection so the main cover could stay shut keeping this area clean such as during long-term use in a dusty location like a garage or shop.
The ULT 7 has the capability to charge USB devices such as a phone, via a USB-A jack that provides 5V at 1.5A (this is 7.5 watts). You’ll note this is substantially less than what most modern smart phones will charge at, meaning that charging will take longer than what you might be used to. The provided USB port is the old style USB-A, rather than the newer USB-C standard. If you are playing music with a Bluetooth connected device, you cannot charge another device as the Bluetooth connection is defeated when a USB cable is plugged into the jack. And while this jack will charge an iPhone, you cannot play music from an iPhone through this USB port. Other USB connected devices may be able to do so.
The party-themed function of having two or more compatible Sony speakers wirelessly connected together will work only when the music source is connected via Bluetooth. Music sourced via the USB or “Audio In” jacks cannot be played through multiple speakers at the same time. Personally, I’m a little confused as to why Sony even provides these connection options in this day and age with virtually all phones having Bluetooth connectivity. I can only assume it is to provide a proper quality connection option for their Walkman High-Resolution portable music players.
And speaking of connecting other devices to the ULT FIELD 7, there are provisions for connecting a microphone for karaoke or PA usage, or for a guitar using the 1/4 inch phone jack, along with a dedicated volume control. While I neither sing nor play a musical instrument and can’t comment on this functionality, I can easily see where these options would be welcomed in a party environment.
There are a couple things I could not figure out from the Help Guide or any videos I could find online and that is, do either the karaoke or the guitar amp functions work while you are playing music through the speaker? It would seem to me that using the MIC/GUITAR jack would allow you to sing along or play along with the music being played from a Bluetooth source, as that is kind of the point of karaoke. The Help Guide did not really make this point clear. Sony?
I have both a fairly large great room and garage, and the ULT FIELD 7 is more than up to the task to fill either area with great sound…better than I would have expected based on the size of the speaker. This speaker has the ability to push out stronger and deeper bass with either the ULT1 or ULT2 sound setting, and both sound better to my ears than when off, but this comes at the price of shorter battery life. Sony does state that you can get an additional 3 hours of playing time with only a 10 minute charge. There is also an option to “brew” your own sound experience with a “Custom” setting that gives you access to a 7-band graphic equalizer through the Music Center app. The ability to stand the speaker on one end or the other (with minimal impact on sound quality) helps in placing it where space is tight.
While I did not test the water and dust shedding abilities of the ULT FIELD 7, I will take Sony’s word for it that it can be washed with clean water after excursions to the beach or pool. When I looked at Sony’s promotional material on their web site for this product and others in their ULT Power Sound series, I could tell I wasn’t in their target demographic, but I now know who Peso Pluma is. And if you don’t, you can still take his and my endorsements that you will thoroughly enjoy the sound experience of this powerful portable speaker system. It’s been awhile since my last boombox died, and it’s nice to once again have a music source with some real power behind it, and that is designed to withstand less than pristine operational conditions.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi pillboy, Awesome! Thank you for your detailed feedback. We're glad that you're enjoying your ULT FIELD 7. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin