Bose SoundLink Max vs Sony ULT FIELD 5

Which Speaker Is Better?

Products

Bose SoundLink Max
Sony ULT FIELD 5

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Oct 22, 2025 07:06 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Jun 27, 2025 12:15 PM

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  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
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  3. Bose

Our Verdict

Bose SoundLink Max

Sony ULT FIELD 5

The Bose SoundLink Max is a lighter weight speaker than the Sony ULT FIELD 5, with an integrated handle, compared to the Sony's removable strap. Which speaker is better depends on your preferences. Both are well-built with IP67 ratings. The Bose is primarily coated in silicone, while the Sony is wrapped in a durable mesh. Only the Sony will float, though. The controls on the Bose are more comprehensive, and there's support for voice assistants. The Bose has a more balanced default tuning than the Sony, but you can EQ either. The Sony has a more involved 10-band EQ, and lower Bluetooth latency, alongside support for LDAC for higher-quality streaming. While the Bose has a longer battery life, the Sony's 'Stamina' mode can extend the battery life much longer than the Bose.

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Variants

  • SoundLink Max (Black)
  • SoundLink Max (Blue Dusk)
  • SoundLink Max (Citrus Yellow)
  • ULT FIELD 5 (Black)
  • ULT FIELD 5 (Off White)

Check Price

Black
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
ULT FIELD 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Blue Dusk
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Off White
ULT FIELD 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Citrus Yellow
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 

Main Differences for
Music

Threshold 

0.10

Music 

7.4
7.0

Soundstage 
 

7.8
6.9

Dynamics 
 

7.6
6.9

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Photo  

RGB Lights  

No
Yes
Show Text 

Portability 
 

8.9
8.7

Dimensions Photo  

Volume 
 

222 in³ (3,644 cm³)
351 in³ (5,760 cm³)

Weight 
 

4.9 lbs (2.2 kg)
7.3 lbs (3.3 kg)

Power Source 
 

Battery & USB
Battery & USB

One-Hand Carry 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.7
8.1

Build Quality Photo  

Material Quality 
 

Good
Good

Water Resistance 
 

Submersible (IPx7)
Submersible (IPx7)

Dust Resistance 
 

Dust-Proof (IP6x)
Dust-Proof (IP6x)

Impact Resistance 
 

Yes (IK rating unspecified)
Unspecified

Floats In Water 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Controls 
 

7.8
6.8

Controls Photo  

Controls Photo 2  

Ease Of Use 
 

Good
Good

Feedback 
 

Good
Good

Music Play/Pause 
 

Yes (Physical)
Yes (Physical)

Call Answer/End 
 

Yes (Physical)
No

Volume Up/Down 
 

Yes (Physical)
Yes (Physical)

Track Next/Previous 
 

Yes (Physical)
Yes (Physical)

Microphone On/Off 
 

No
No

Additional Controls 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo  

Show Text 
Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

7.2
7.1

Frequency Response Graph  

See details
See details

Slope 
 

-0.21
-0.04

Std. Err. 
 

2.65 dB
2.59 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

52.6 Hz
58.2 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.8 kHz
19.3 kHz
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw Frequency Response Graph  

See details
See details

Binaural Recording @ 1m 
 

Binaural Recording @ 2m 
 

Soundstage 
 

7.8
6.9

Directivity Graph  

See details
See details

Directivity Index 
 

4.23 dB
5.83 dB

Stereo 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Dynamics 
 

7.6
6.9

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details
See details

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.7 dB SPL
96.7 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

2.55 dB
4.26 dB
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

8.8
8.7

Battery Life 
 

15.5 hrs
13.3 hrs

Charge Time 
 

3.7 hrs
3.4 hrs

Power Saving 
 

Yes
Yes

Charging Port 
 

USB-C
USB-C

Battery Powered 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Voice Assistant 
 

0.0
0.0

Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Speakerphone 
 

No
No

Siri 
 

No
No

Voice Assistant 
 

No
No

Voice Activation 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No Microphone

Far-Field Performance 
 

No Microphone
No Microphone

Ambient Noise Performance 
 

No Microphone
No Microphone
Show Text 

App 
 

7.9
7.9

App Picture  

App Name 
 

Bose
Sound Connect

iOS 
 

Yes
Yes

Android 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Graphic + Presets
Graphic + Presets

Stereo Pair Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Party Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Multi-Room 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired 
 

Aux Input 
 

Yes
Yes

USB Audio 
 

No
No

Other Ports 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bluetooth 
 

8.6
9.2

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Bluetooth Version 
 

5.4
5.3

Bluetooth iOS Latency 
 

106 ms
27 ms

Bluetooth Android Latency 
 

84 ms
79 ms

Bluetooth Range 
 

334.6 ft (102.0 m)
334.6 ft (102.0 m)

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

2 Devices
2 Devices
Show Text 

Wi-Fi 
 

0.0
0.0

Wi-Fi Version 
 

No Wi-Fi
No Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi Frequency Band 
 

No Wi-Fi
No Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
No

AirPlay Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Google Chromecast 
 

No
No

Chromecast Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Check Price

Black
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
ULT FIELD 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Blue Dusk
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Off White
ULT FIELD 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Citrus Yellow
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 

Bose SoundLink Max

Sony ULT FIELD 5

Comments

  1. Comparison

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