Sony ULT Field 1 review

The ULT POWER SOUND lineup is the latest personal audio product series from fan-favorite Sony. Straying from its traditional product names and model numbers — generally more suited as Star Trek USS starship registry call numbers — the ULT POWER SOUND lineup includes a brand new outdoor-oriented portable speaker, the ULT Field 1. Focusing on bass response and effectively replacing the Sony SRS-XE200, I took it to the mountains to discover how the ULT Field 1 performs in the wild.

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Sony ULT Field 1?

The Sony ULT Field 1 is finished in an off-white cloth wrap, an interesting choice of color and material for a portable speaker. Within a day of use, the white cloth picks up dirt and scuffs from general use and travel. However, it features an IP67 protection rating, making this speaker both dustproof and waterproof, so it’s suitable for beach days, no matter how dirty it gets. Sensibly, the ULT Field 1 is also available in black, forest gray, and orange finishes.

White cloth aside, the Sony ULT Field 1 is lightweight and won’t take up much room in your gear bin if you’re off to the woods for the weekend. The speaker also comes with a simple but adjustable rope handle attachment, which allows you to use it in various settings and environments without relying on a level surface.

The passive radiators on the ends of the speaker are recessed and protected by rubberized plastic. These protective end caps add to the ULT Field 1’s durability; Sony states this speaker is shock-proof, meaning it can handle a drop from 1.22m (4 feet) onto a sheet of plywood. Though there is no guarantee of a damage-free impact if it lands on anything less forgiving, like falling out of your car onto the driveway, it’s safe to say that it will survive a tumble or three.

How do you control the Sony ULT Field 1?

The waterproof, silicone control strip is located along the speaker’s top, and you may be drawn to the luring metallic sheen of the ULT button, just begging to be pressed. While not all controls are backlit, the UTL button is backlit when engaged, and the Power and Bluetooth buttons show green lights when active. Below is a breakdown of how they operate:

Should you use the app with the Sony ULT Field 1?

The Sony Music Center app offers little to get excited about when it comes to sonic control and customization of the ULT Field 1. While a minimal, 3-band graphic EQ is available, you cannot use it to modify the frequency response of bass-heavy ULT sound, which is disappointing. You must choose between the ULT preset or your Custom EQ preset.

Of course, the app also gives you access to any firmware updates, and if you have a second ULT Field 1 speaker, the Sony Music Center app allows you to pair them together for stereo performance.

How does the Sony ULT Field 1 connect?

The ULT Field 1 connects to your device via Bluetooth 5.3 and supports SBC and AAC only. There is no option for a wired connection. However, the ULT Field 1 offers something interesting here: the ability to choose between “Priority on Sound Quality” or “Priority on Stable Connection.” “Priority on Sound Quality” provides compatibility with SBC and AAC, and the ULT Field 1 automatically chooses the optimal codec. However, if you are experiencing connection issues, “Priority on Stable Connection” will automatically select SBC. You can access this feature via the companion app.

How long does the Sony ULT Field 1’s battery last?

Sony advertises 12 hours with ULT engaged, but in our standardized testing, designed to emulate real-world use, with ULT off, we were able to squeeze a whopping 28 hours and 45 minutes of playback time out of the ULT Field 1.

If your charging options are limited, it’s good to know there is a way to extend the battery life significantly, but it’ll cost you some low-end in exchange.

How does the Sony ULT Field 1 sound?

Considering its size, the Sony ULT Field has an acceptable sound for smaller social gatherings.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the Sony ULT Field 1 was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

Engaging ULT Mode increases the ULT Field 1’s MDAQS score by almost a whole point in both Timbre and Immersiveness categories. Interestingly, while this setting has minimal impact on its Distortion score, it also wins the ULT Field 1 an entire point overall. By this measure, it’s clear that most listeners will enjoy the added “oomph” the ULT sound provides over the default setting.

Reviewer’s notes

Having realistic expectations regarding the sound quality of smaller portable speakers is important. The Sony ULT Field 1 is powerful enough to keep a small gathering of friends going, but thanks to Hoffman’s Iron Law, you won’t get any skull-shaking low end out of a compact speaker of this size. So, if you’re hoping to get rowdy and kick off your in-law’s Sunday backyard BBQ with Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On a Prayer, you’ll need a bigger speaker.

You’ll first want to hit that ULT button to add some bass to your music, as the ULT Field 1 sounds relatively “thin” without this feature engaged. In a chill setting, this adds some low-end life to the speaker without becoming too overpowering when listening to One of These Nights by The Eagles. Although this speaker is mono, the layers of harmonized guitars and harmonized vocals are present, and there is decent separation. However, at higher volumes, Don Henley’s voice dominates the mix, front and center, and the rest of the instruments struggle to be heard.

Switching gears and pushing things a bit, the pulsing bass expected from cranking up Daft Punk’s Giorgio by Moroder proved too much for the speaker to handle at higher volumes. Again, portability comes with some sonic trade-offs, but the ULT Field 1 with ULT mode engaged performs just fine in more intimate settings, like around a campfire or hanging at the park with friends.

Lastly, if you’re hoping to fine-tune the sound of your ULT Field 1 speaker using the Sony Music Center app, a note about the ULT Sound preset versus the Custom EQ mode: You can only pick one or the other. After some experimentation, I discovered that the 3-band Custom EQ is not very powerful and cannot deliver the same amount of low-end frequencies that ULT Sound provides.

Can you use the Sony ULT Field 1 for phone calls?

Thanks to the speaker’s built-in microphone, you can take and end a phone call with a single press of the Play/Pause button. While catching up with a friend over FaceTime, I connected the Sony ULT Field 1 via Bluetooth to my laptop for better audio, and it was a welcomed addition to our time online.

Should you buy the Sony ULT Field 1?

The Sony ULT Field 1 is a decent buy for an on-the-go speaker that won’t break the bank. With ULT mode engaged, it has enough low-end oomph to keep a small gathering going. It’s durable and lightweight, doesn’t take up much room in your bag, and is designed to withstand the elements, so you know it will survive that weekend adventure.

What should you get instead of the Sony ULT Field 1?

For less outlay while keeping things portable and durable, the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 ($79.99 at Amazon) is worth a look. The Motion 300 offers 30 watts of stereo audio wrapped in a durable rubberized finish and is designed to perform in three positions: standing, lying, and hanging via a strap attachment. You can assign a different EQ to each of these positions for the best listening experience in various settings, and simply changing the speaker’s orientation will trigger a change to the assigned frequency response.

Of course, we can’t forget the JBL Charge 5 ($149 at Amazon). While more expensive, this durable, IP67-rated outdoor speaker pushes 40 watts of mono sound but is slightly heavier than the ULT Field 1. It also features a USB-A courtesy outlet for charging devices on the go.

Frequently asked questions