Sony ULT Field 1 Review: Powerful Bass and Robust Design in a Portable Speaker

HomeGadgetsSony ULT Field 1 Review: Powerful Bass and Robust Design in a Portable Speaker

Highlights

  • Rich, immersive sound with front-facing tweeter, woofer, and passive bass radiators.
  • Durable and portable design with IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.
  • Long battery life up to 16 hours with quick charge functionality.
  • Easy customization with the Sony Music Center app, though limited in-depth options.

I guess there’s a reason to celebrate audiophiles: Sony has just launched a new line of products with names that are easy to remember. 

Sony ULT Power Sound series is around giving you powerful bass.

The new line sports three speakers and a pair of headphones, diversifications of Sony’s Extra Bass and XE-Series lines.

One of these new speakers is the ULT Field 1, which is a tiny portable speaker that will cost Rs 16,990—almost as much as some top-end JBL models.

Let’s go in deep and find out what the ULT Field 1 has in this review.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Rich, immersive sound Limited app customization
Robust and durable design Larger than some competitors
Long battery life Basic design options

Key Specs

Key Specs
Key Specs
  • Wireless Speakers
  • Bluetooth 5.3
  • 20 Hz – 20 kHz Frequency Response
  • Amplifier
  • Subwoofer
  • Microphone
  • 1 year Brand Warranty
  • IP67 Water and Dust Resistant

Unboxing Experience

The Sony ULT Field 1 looked great right after unboxing.

The packaging was very sleek and premium-designed.

Inside the package, the speaker was well secured and packaged together with a USB Type-C charging cable and a user manual.

Simple unboxing offered access to each element in an obvious and easy way.

Build and Design

•Rich, immersive sound with front-facing tweeter, woofer, and passive bass radiators.
Rich, immersive sound with front-facing tweeter, woofer, and passive bass radiators.

The ULT Field 1 has somewhat of a small footprint, which means it is very portable and is great for outside use.

Its design is wrapped in a hip, sturdy body with a premium feel.

The speaker is slightly larger than the JBL Flip 6 but offers fewer color options.

It is 2.7 by 7.6 by 2.8 inches and barely heavier at 1.4 pounds.

The speaker is oblong and lined with fabric, narrowing towards the middle, like the costlier Sony SRS-XG300.

The ends are then protected with a coating of silicone.

The tweeter and woofer are front-firing into a 15-degree angle for mono audio; passive bass radiators are located at each end for full-spectrum sound reinforcement.

It includes a rugged strap for carrying or hanging that’s in a bootlace style.

•Durable and portable design with IP67 rating for water and dust resistance
Durable and portable design with IP67 rating for water and dust resistance

The ULT Field 1 can be set up in either vertical or horizontal orientation.

Its body form is a standard rectangle, quite different from the XE200 in terms of design.

The bungee strap is adjustable, although one has to be a bit more patient with the fit.

The controls for power, Bluetooth, play/pause/call, volume, and ULT are easy to navigate.

Sony has its Music Center app, facilitating an adjustable equalizer, with not many options, of course.

It’s an IP67-rated device as well; hence, it is waterproof, dustproof, rustproof, and shockproof.

Sound Quality, Features and Battery

•Easy customization with the Sony Music Center app, though limited in-depth options.
Easy customization with the Sony Music Center app, though limited in-depth options.

The Sony ULT Field 1 provides great sound quality, especially for a portable speaker.

The woofer has been designed and placed front-firing, while the speakers are forward-firing, resulting in passive radiators at both ends—bestowing rich, room-filling sound. 

Listening to the track “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd, the speaker implemented very strong sound staging; the guitar solos and atmospheric sounds resonated with brilliant highs and detailed mids.

“Come Together” by The Beatles had deep and resonant bass without covering the rest of the audio spectrum; the bass lines were punchy and filled the soundscape completely.

Using the Sony Music Center app made customizing sounds to my personal enjoyment easy.

The user interface of the app is straightforward, and I found it easy to manage almost everything I want from the speaker.

Sound Quality, Features and Battery
Sound Quality, Features and Battery

The onboard equalizer was a tad finicky to adjust the sound profile, but when once set, it really gives a personalized experience.

Streaming music from Tidal and Spotify was easy, with the app providing fast, easy access.

The Sony app isn’t as granular as others, like the JBL One App I mentioned, but it gives you access to the essentials. 

It doesn’t have that level of premium finish and intuitiveness as app designers that some competitors have, but pass the Music Center app it did for most standard-level adjustments and searching for settings all around. 

One of them has to be the eXtra Bass technology, which really beefs up an already bass-heavy track.

While listening to Pink Floyd’s \”Money,\” the bass was powerful and punchy, yet the mids and highs were not at all distorted, even at higher volumes.

It is quite balanced, and thus, every genre of music, right from classic rock through modern pop, is handled well by ULT Field 1.

Final Verdict

Final Verdict
Final Verdict

The Sony ULT Field 1 is a very good portable speaker that actually encompasses a very robust build quality, amazing sound performance, and amazing practical features.

At a price of Rs16,990, the Sony ULT Field 1 is really a good deal with heavy bass, balanced mids, and crisp highs.

The claim to outdoor use is backed by the durability of an IP67 rating.

The Sony Music Center app is less robust than those of some other companies but still gives you the basics as well as the ability to play with settings.

Its portability, ease of connection, and long battery life all rank it high for music lovers who want tunes working for them while on the move.

The ULT Field 1 is a speaker fit for everyone and serves as an extremely reliable and high-quality portable speaker.

5 Reasons to Buy

5 Reasons to Buy
5 Reasons to Buy
  • Powerful and Rich Sound: Equipped with front-facing tweeter, woofer, and passive bass radiators for a full-bodied audio experience.
  • Durable and Portable Design: Compact, robust, and IP67-rated for water, dust, rust, and shock resistance, ideal for outdoor activities.
  • Extra Bass Technology: Enhances bass-heavy tracks, making music vibrant and energetic without distortion at higher volumes.
  • Long Battery Life: Up to 16 hours of playback on a single charge, with quick charge functionality for extended listening.
  • Easy Customization: Sony Music Center app offers straightforward controls and sound profile adjustments for a personalized experience.

3 Reasons Not to Buy

3 Reasons Not to Buy
3 Reasons Not to Buy
  • Limited Customization Options: The app lacks the depth and intuitive design compared to some competitor apps like JBL One.
  • Slightly Larger Size: Larger and heavier than some competing models, which may not suit everyone’s portability needs.
  • Basic Design: Fewer colour options and a simpler design may not appeal to users looking for a more stylish speaker.

FAQs

What are the pros and cons of the Sony ULT Field 1?

Pros include rich sound quality, robust design, long battery life, and IP67 rating. Cons are limited app customization, larger size compared to competitors, and basic design options.

How does the Sony ULT Field 1 handle different music genres?

The speaker excels across various genres, with powerful bass for tracks like “Money” by Pink Floyd and clear highs and detailed mids for songs like “Comfortably Numb.”

What makes the Sony ULT Field 1 suitable for outdoor use?

Its IP67 rating ensures it is waterproof, dustproof, rustproof, and shockproof, making it ideal for outdoor activities and rugged use.

How effective is the battery performance of the Sony ULT Field 1?

The speaker offers up to 16 hours of playback on a single charge, and the quick charge functionality ensures extended listening without long charging times.

What are the customization features available in the Sony Music Center app?

The app provides essential controls and sound profile adjustments, though it lacks the depth and intuitive design of some competitor apps like JBL One.

Also Read: Sony Unleashes Ultimate Power with New ULT Sound Series in India: Pricing, Features, Specs

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