Sony ULT Field 1 Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

What the Sony ULT Field 1 actually is

This is Sony's small, bass-forward Bluetooth speaker, sitting at the bottom of the ULT lineup below the bigger Field 3 and the boombox-sized ULT Field 7. It runs roughly $120 to $150 depending on color and sales, and it competes head-on with the JBL Flip 6 and the Bose SoundLink Flex.

The headline feature is the ULT button. Press it and a dedicated passive radiator kicks in extra low end. That's the whole personality of this thing. It's not trying to be a neutral, audiophile-accurate speaker. It wants to thump.

How it sounds day to day

For its size, the bass is genuinely impressive. With ULT on, kick drums and bass lines land with real weight, which is exactly what most people want at a pool or a backyard hang. It's a fun, energetic tuning that flatters pop, hip-hop, and electronic music.

The trade-off is honesty. With ULT engaged, mids can get a little buried and vocals lose some clarity. Leave ULT off and the speaker sounds more balanced but noticeably thinner, almost like Sony built it to be heard with the bass boost on. It also gets loud enough for a small patio, though like most compact speakers it starts to strain and lose composure near max volume. Buy it for character, not neutrality.

Battery, durability, and the practical stuff

Sony rates it around 12 hours, and owners report that's roughly accurate at moderate volume. Crank the ULT button and play loud and you'll see less. There's no quick-charge headline feature here, so plan ahead before a long day out.

Durability is where it earns its keep. The IP67 rating means it survives dust and a dunk, so the pool deck and beach are fair game. It's compact, has an attached strap loop, and pairs quickly. You can stereo-pair two of them, which is a nice option if you end up liking the sound enough to buy a second.

Pros and cons

Pros: big, satisfying bass for the size, genuinely tough IP67 build, compact and easy to carry, solid 12-ish hour battery, and the fun ULT toggle when you want it.

Cons: the tuning leans bass over clarity, mids and vocals can get muddy with ULT on, it sounds thin with the boost off, and at this price the JBL Flip 6 arguably sounds more even. No standout extras like a speakerphone people rave about.

Who should buy it, who should skip it

Buy it if you want maximum low end from a small, rugged speaker and you mostly listen to bass-heavy music outdoors. It's a great poolside and backyard pick, and it shrugs off splashes without drama.

Skip it if you care about balanced, accurate sound or you listen to a lot of acoustic, jazz, or vocal-forward tracks. In that case the Bose SoundLink Flex or JBL Flip 6 will serve you better. Also skip it if bass boost gimmicks annoy you, because that boost is the entire point of this speaker.

The verdict

The ULT Field 1 knows what it is. It's a rugged, fun, bass-first speaker that's perfect for casual outdoor listening and a poor fit for anyone chasing fidelity. At its usual sale price it's an easy recommendation for the bass crowd. Pay full price and the competition gets a lot stiffer.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Sony ULT Field 1 waterproof?

Yes. It carries an IP67 rating, meaning it's dust-tight and can survive being submerged in shallow water briefly. It's fine for pool decks, beaches, and rain, though it's not meant for swimming with.

How long does the ULT Field 1 battery last?

Sony rates it at about 12 hours, and that holds up at moderate volume. Expect less if you keep the ULT bass boost on and play at high volume.

ULT Field 1 vs JBL Flip 6: which is better?

The ULT Field 1 hits harder on bass, while the JBL Flip 6 has a more balanced, even sound. Pick the Sony for thump and the JBL for clarity. Both are similarly priced and IP67 rated.