Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 vs Sony ULT TOWER 9AC

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

JBL PartyBox Stage 320
Sony ULT TOWER 9AC

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Aug 14, 2025 12:58 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Aug 14, 2025 12:58 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Picture
Sony ULT TOWER 9AC Picture
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Loud

Our Verdict

JBL PartyBox Stage 320

Sony ULT TOWER 9AC

The JBL PartyBox Stage 320 is an optionally battery or A/C-powered speaker that weighs nearly half of the larger, Sony ULT TOWER 9AC. Its frequency response is more balanced, but it doesn't have as much low-end as the Sony. However, it compresses less at max volume, and despite its smaller size, it still gets very loud. Its controls are straightforward and focus on audio playback, while the Sony includes direct controls of the lights. Both include mic and guitar inputs and similar Bluetooth and wired connectivity, although the JBL has a wired line out, which is handy for adding any speaker with a line-in, and the Sony includes Optical input for connecting a TV or projector. On the other hand, if you're into bassy tuning, the Sony is the way to go. Like the JBL, it gets loud and it's quite bassy. That said, you need a power source nearby to use it.

0 

Variants

  • PartyBox Stage 320 (Black)
  • ULT TOWER 9 (Black)
  • ULT TOWER 9AC (Black)

Check Price

Black
PartyBox Stage 320
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
ULT TOWER 9AC
Searching
Finding store
Black
PartyBox Stage 320
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
ULT TOWER 9
Searching
Finding store
Black
PartyBox Stage 320
Amazon.com
 

Main Differences for
Music

Threshold 

0.10

Music 

7.9
7.5

Soundstage 
 

7.2
6.3

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

8.1
7.9

Dynamics 
 

8.3
7.6

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Photo  

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Style Photo
Sony ULT TOWER 9AC Style Photo

RGB Lights  

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Portability 
 

5.5
0.0

Dimensions Photo  

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Dimensions Photo
Sony ULT TOWER 9AC Dimensions Photo

Volume 
 

5,273 in³ (86,413 cm³)
9,730 in³ (159,438 cm³)

Weight 
 

35.5 lbs (16.1 kg)
63.3 lbs (28.7 kg)

Power Source 
 

AC & Battery
AC Only

One-Hand Carry 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.0
6.4

Build Quality Photo  

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Build Quality Photo
Sony ULT TOWER 9AC Build Quality Photo

Material Quality 
 

Good
Good

Water Resistance 
 

Water-resistant (IPx4)
No

Dust Resistance 
 

Unspecified
Unspecified

Impact Resistance 
 

Unspecified
Unspecified

Floats In Water 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Controls 
 

8.0
6.9

Controls Photo  

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Controls Photo
Sony ULT TOWER 9AC Controls Photo

Controls Photo 2  

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Controls Photo 2
Sony ULT TOWER 9AC Controls Photo 2

Ease Of Use 
 

Great
Great

Feedback 
 

Great
Good

Music Play/Pause 
 

Yes (Physical)
Yes (Tactile)

Call Answer/End 
 

No
No

Volume Up/Down 
 

Yes (Physical)
Yes (Tactile)

Track Next/Previous 
 

Yes (Physical)
Yes (Tactile)

Microphone On/Off 
 

Yes (Physical)
No

Additional Controls 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo  

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 In The Box Photo
Sony ULT TOWER 9AC In The Box Photo
Show Text 
Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

8.1
7.9

Frequency Response Graph  

See details
See details

Slope 
 

0.13
-1.26

Std. Err. 
 

2.77 dB
4.07 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.2 Hz
29.5 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.5 kHz
18.0 kHz
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw Frequency Response Graph  

See details
See details

Binaural Recording @ 1m 
 

Binaural Recording @ 2m 
 

Soundstage 
 

7.2
6.3

Directivity Graph  

See details
See details

Directivity Index 
 

5.15 dB
6.80 dB

Stereo 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Dynamics 
 

8.3
7.6

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details
See details

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

105.2 dB SPL
110.0 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.32 dB
4.69 dB
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

9.1
0.0

Battery Life 
 

23.4 hrs
N/A

Charge Time 
 

2.9 hrs
N/A

Power Saving 
 

Yes
No

Charging Port 
 

AC
No Battery

Battery Powered 
 

Yes
No
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 Microphone
No Microphone

Far-Field Performance 
 

No Microphone
No Microphone

Ambient Noise Performance 
 

No Microphone
No Microphone

App 
 

7.9
7.9

App Picture  

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 App Picture
Sony ULT TOWER 9AC App Picture

App Name 
 

JBL PartyBox
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
Yes

Other Ports 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Bluetooth 
 

8.2
8.5

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Bluetooth Version 
 

5.4
5.3

Bluetooth iOS Latency 
 

115 ms
82 ms

Bluetooth Android Latency 
 

167 ms
146 ms

Bluetooth Range 
 

341.2 ft (104.0 m)
328.1 ft (100.0 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
PartyBox Stage 320
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
ULT TOWER 9AC
Searching
Finding store
Black
PartyBox Stage 320
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
ULT TOWER 9
Searching
Finding store
Black
PartyBox Stage 320
Amazon.com
 

JBL PartyBox Stage 320

Sony ULT TOWER 9AC

Comments

  1. Comparison

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 vs Sony ULT TOWER 9AC: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones