The Sony ULT Field 1 portable speaker impresses with its powerful sound, battery life, and very reasonable price.
When it comes to premium sound quality and high performance, there is one brand that always comes to mind: Sony.
Thanks to their excellent work with their high-end range, which currently includes the sensational WH-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM5, they have little to prove in this area.
However, there is one market that has so far resisted them: young people. In mid-April, they unveiled their ULT line, which retains Sony’s key sound hallmarks, but at a more affordable price and with some features more suited to this market.
For a few weeks, I had the opportunity to test the Sony ULT Field 1, a portable speaker that has several very interesting features: great sound, powerful battery, and a price tag of $140, which is more than attractive. Are they worth it? I’ll give you more details below.
Design: easy to carry and with personality
The design of the device follows the classic style of this type of portable speaker with an elongated shape, but it manages to stand out from the competition with a cord, ideal for carrying the speaker around easily and even hanging it wherever you want, on the sides and, above all, the ULT button that lights up when you turn on the device and changes color depending on where you look at it.
As you can imagine, it can only be used in one position, resting on a surface, horizontally so that the sound comes out from the sides.
Noteworthy features include a uniform body with a grille covering the entire unit and a covered area where the USB-C connection for charging is located.
Finally, it weighs only 650 grams and measures 206 x 77 x 76 mm, making it very easy to handle and transport, with IP67 resistance so you don’t have to worry about dust or water, making it the perfect companion for a day at the beach or pool, for example.
Connectivity: immediate connection, although the app is a bit of a letdown
To connect to the device, simply turn on the speaker, press the Bluetooth icon until pairing mode starts, and connect it to your device. That’s it, ready to go.
Add to this an app called Music Center which, given what it offers, could have been left out. In the end, it only allows you to change the sound mode, something you can do by pressing the ULT button directly, and little else.
It’s a shame, as Sony usually puts a lot of work into its music apps, such as those that manage the WH or WF range, but here I didn’t feel the need to enter the app for absolutely anything.
Sound: bass takes center stage
Coming from Sony, I knew I was going to get a refined sound. And the truth is that, thanks to its 16 mm tweeter and 83 x 42 woofer unit, it delivers bombproof quality.
It’s true that the sound it produces isn’t for everyone, as it’s a speaker designed for those who want to blast music where the bass is the star of the show.
As I mentioned, it has two sound modes. One is basic, where the sound is somewhat flat but has good punch, and the other is ULT mode, which gives the device its name and gives the speaker its personality.
How? By boosting the bass to an absolute sound limit. So much so that even vocals and high notes are overshadowed by its power. It’s clear that this has been carefully thought out by Sony to appeal to an audience that likes techno or electronic music, so if that’s your style, this is the perfect companion.
Finally, it’s worth highlighting its compatibility with SBC and AAC, a frequency range from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and Bluetooth 5.3 for a completely seamless experience.
Battery: perfect for whatever you need
As for the battery, I couldn’t be happier, as it can last up to 12 hours without having to be plugged in.
It’s true that this is at around 50% power, which is more than enough to fill a room or space, I can assure you, because if you turn it up to maximum, the battery life is reduced to about half. Still, these are more than respectable figures, it must be said.
It should be noted that it only comes with a USB-C cable, so you’ll have to buy a separate adapter or charge it via your computer’s USB port, for example, as it only has a standard 5V charge. In other words, forget about using it anytime soon, as it takes a while to reach 100%.
Final rating of the Sony ULT Field 1: A compact speaker with great potential
I found it to be a very complete speaker and the truth is that for the $140 it costs, it’s well worth it.
It’s true that due to its sound configuration, it may not suit your musical style, but if you’re a bass lover, I can assure you that you’ll find an ideal companion here.
In addition, it has fantastic battery life that will allow you to forget about plugging it in for a few days, unless you push it to the limit, as well as IP67 resistance and a very modest weight, so you can take it anywhere and not worry about it being damaged by external elements.
