Sony is well known for its excellent headphones, but the company also makes some excellent speakers. One of its latest rugged portable speakers is the ULT Field 5, which launched in the spring of 2025 along with the ULT Field 3 and ULT Tower 9. This speaker falls between the ULT Field 3 and the ULT Field 7 in price and features, hitting the sweet spot of portability and power.

It's my pick for the best midrange speaker released last year, and you can currently pick one up for $198, more than 40% off the original $349.99 price—a near-record low for this speaker, according to price-tracking tools.

The ULT Field 5 is a bass-heavy portable speaker that's a great option for those who value long battery life and portability, as noted in PCMag's "excellent" review. It comes with a ten-band EQ, an honest-to-god woofer (surprising, given its portable size), a ULT mode that boosts the base, an IP67 rating (meaning it is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and rustproof), and the ability to connect to other speakers through Party Connect.

With the ULT Power on, you can expect 25 hours of battery life. Blasting it at full volume will drain the battery much faster, though, giving you around five hours of juice. A quick 10-minute charge gets you two hours of listening time, which is a welcome feature in a portable speaker. It uses the Sound Connect app, where you can see the battery life, control the EQ, connect to other Sony devices, and use the DJ Control feature, which lets you add sound effects to your music.

This speaker is designed for parties, the outdoors, and larger rooms. It comes with a shoulder strap that you can hook into the speaker for easy carrying, adding to its portability.