Sony ULT Field 3 hands-on review: Testing the new addition to Sony’s bass line

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A year after its initial launch, Sony has expanded its ULT speaker lineup. New additions include the ULT Field 3, ULT Field 5, and ULT Tower 9. This expansion focuses on middle sizes of the Field variations and a smaller tower speaker.

I was stoked to see Sony expand this line because I adore the Sony ULT Wear headphones, and the ULT Field 1 is my go-to portable Bluetooth speaker. Plus, it’s a much-appreciated departure from Sony’s typical naming nomenclature. 

I got my hands on the ULT Field 3 speaker and have been testing it out for about two weeks, and overall, it’s a great bass-heavy option for people who host or take their music outside.

Sony ULT Field 3 price and specs

The Sony ULT Field 3 speaker retails for $199, which is the same price as its predecessor, the SRS-XE300. It does have some upgraded specs, so it’s nice to see the price go unchanged. Those specs include:

• 7-band EQ (compared to the SRS-XE300’s 3-band EQ)

• 1 woofer, 2 passive radiators, 1 tweeter

• ULT mode for extra bass

• IP67 waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, rustproof

• Multi-speaker connection, with up to 100 paired speakers through Party Connect

• Vertical and horizontal listening orientation

• USB-C device charging

Sony ULT Field 3 battery life

The ULT Field 3’s battery is supposed to last up to 24 hours of continuous music playback with ULT Power on. That drops down to five hours if the volume is at max level. The speaker does have quick charging, where a 10-minute charge gives you 120 minutes of playback at volume level 22.

I haven’t had the chance to do a full battery rundown, but I did charge the speaker to 100 percent before running it for an all-day sewing session and kept it going while I got ready for a night out. In total, I played the speaker for about 10 hours straight at 50 percent volume with ULT Power turned on, and the battery dropped down to 60 percent.

Loud, room-filling sound

If you’re just looking for a casual portable speaker to listen to in the shower or while you work, the ULT FIeld 3 is going to be far more than you need. I suggest opting for the smaller, more affordable ULT Field 1.

The ULT Field 3 is best for parties, the outdoors, larger working spaces, or people who just love to blast loud music. This thing gets loud. 

The speaker has noticeably fuller sound compared to its predecessor. And while I’m always a big fan of Sony’s audio quality, the ULT Field 3 can sound a bit tinny if you’re right next to it and the volume is cranked. However, if you step away a few feet, it sounds perfectly fine. (For your ear drums’ sake, you probably shouldn’t be so close to a loud speaker anyway.) 

I listened to the Sony ULT Field 3 and Bose SoundLink Max simultaneously and back-to-back, and the audio quality is decently comparable between the two. Bose ultimately sounded better, but the SoudnLink Max also costs $200 more, so that was expected. The ULT Field 3 provides generally clear, full sound that can fill a room at a relatively budget-friendly price.

Outside of music, I also listened to a couple of episodes of “The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller and Adam Scott.” Their voices sounded loud and clear from wherever I went in my 1,000-square-foot apartment.

This speaker is definitely for bass lovers

Tap the ULT button to boost the bass up a notch.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

With the ULT Power turned on, the speaker is incredibly bass-forward. If you don’t like heavy bass, the ULT Field 3 is probably not the best speaker for you. You can obviously turn off the extra bass feature, but at that point, you could just opt for a cheaper speaker instead.

Listening to Bad Bunny’s “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” I felt like I was at a bumping party, even though I was just in my apartment by myself. I could actually feel the bass vibrate while the speaker sat on my desk and I sat in my desk chair.

ULT Field 3 introduced me to background bass that I never even knew existed in “The Last Time (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift and Gary Lightbody. The speaker is great for punching up your music and bringing out little details you might miss on another speaker.

Portability and ruggedness shine

The detachable strap is stylish and great for portability.
Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Let me start by saying that this speaker is surprisingly lightweight — it doesn’t feel much heavier than the smaller ULT Field 1 speaker. It also comes with a detachable, adjustable shoulder strap that makes transportation easy. The strap has a cute design with Baggu or Off-White vibes.

The speaker is about 10 inches wide x 4.5 inches high x 3 inches deep, so even without the strap, it’s small enough to fit in a tote or backpack.

As I mentioned above, Sony’s ULT Field 3 is IP67-rated waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and rustproof. I took a shower with the speaker sitting on the ledge of the tub, and it was totally unaffected by water spraying all over it. The sound still came out great and the speaker itself was unharmed.

I can see this being a really great speaker for outdoor parties, pool days, hikes, or camping. It’s tough enough to withstand any accidents that might happen with dropping or spillage.

The speaker survived getting drenched in my shower.
Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Sony Sound Connect app

Sony used to have separate apps for headphones and speakers, but now they’re all combined under the Sony Sound Connect app. This is where you can customize your 7-band EQ for the ULT Field 3 or connect the speaker with other Sony speakers. You can also see the speaker’s battery life and swap between other Sony devices in the app. I did have trouble getting the speaker to connect to the app, and then I wasn’t able to connect my ULT Field 1, so I couldn’t try out the Party Connect between the two speakers. I’m hoping that was just a fluke that will get sorted out.

The app also has DJ Control, where you can isolate audio or add in DJ sound effects like an air horn or record scratch. I found this feature to be very funny and not something I would ever seriously use, but maybe an aspiring DJ who’s more well-versed in the effects would find it more useful.

Where the ULT Field 3 falls in the Sony ULT lineup

When the Sony ULT lineup launched in 2024, it started with the ULT Wear headphones, ULT Field 1 small portable speaker, ULT Field 7 large portable speaker, and ULT Tower 10 large tower speaker. The 2025 launch includes the ULT Field 3, ULT Field 5, and ULT Tower 9.

The smaller ULT Field 1 (left) with the medium-sized ULT Field 3 (right).
Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The ULT Field 3 sits toward the smaller end of the lineup, larger than the ultra-portable ULT Field 1 but smaller than the ULT Field 5 or 7, which are technically portable but would be better for more stationary uses like house parties. The Field 3 also gets significantly louder than the ULT Field 1. However, it doesn’t have the fun party lights of the ULT Field 5 or Field 7.

Is the Sony ULT Field 3 worth it?

The Sony ULT Field 3 speaker is worth it for someone who loves to hear the bass in their music and needs a speaker to fill a large space — or someone who listens to music outdoors often, like at the beach or on a hike.

It’s a decently priced mid-size speaker from one of our favorite audio brands, so I don’t think anyone would regret purchasing it. It has great audio quality (as long as you’re not right next to the speaker), a good battery life, and can withstand tough conditions.