Sony is adding the ULT TOWER 7 (model SRS-ULT700) to its bass-focused ULT POWER SOUND lineup, with a Japanese release set for September 18 and an estimated street price of around 85,000 yen. A newly developed circular woofer roughly 280mm across, paired with up to 420W of amplification, is meant to cover everything from listening at home to DJ sets and light PA duty.

Rebuilding the bass around a circular woofer

Party speakers in this class have long used oval woofers to fit a narrow, tall cabinet. The ULT TOWER 7 breaks with that. Sony developed a circular woofer measuring about 280mm in diameter, returning to a shape that works in the speaker's favour for deep bass.

The layout is a 3-way design. Alongside the circular woofer sit two midrange drivers of about 120mm, two 50mm front tweeters and two 40mm rear tweeters. The ULT DUCT that raises low-frequency pressure carries over, and amplifier output peaks at 420W. Thickening the bass usually costs midrange clarity, so separating the midrange and tweeters into their own drivers reads as an attempt to keep vocals defined.

Sony says the overall sound was tuned with feedback from hip-hop sound creators, among them Grammy-nominated producer Dot da Genius. It is the first time the series has been developed this way.

Four modes, and sound aimed in every direction

The ULT button on the front of the cabinet switches the character of the sound. The existing ULT1, which emphasises deep low end, and ULT2, which adds more pressure, are now joined by FLAT for a faithful reproduction of the source and LIVE for the sense of space you get at a venue. LIVE is not assigned to the button out of the box, however; users assign it themselves through the Sony Sound Connect app.

The same app offers a 10-band equaliser, and supported codecs are SBC, AAC and LDAC.

For dispersion, the four tweeters split front and rear enable 360-degree Party Sound, sending sound behind the cabinet as well as in front of it. A sound field optimisation feature also kicks in: where a speaker sits against a wall or in a corner and the bass would otherwise swell, it corrects the mid and high frequencies to preserve vocal clarity. Correction is applied automatically whether the speaker stands upright or lies on its side.

Three lighting modes are on offer, named BEAT, WAVE and MELLOW. They can be switched with the LIGHT button on the cabinet or customised by colour in the app.

XLR and RCA push it toward professional use

Connectivity is where the model stretches furthest. XLR and RCA inputs are new, allowing a direct connection to DJ gear and other external audio equipment. A microphone input is also fitted, which covers light PA work such as announcements at retail events, lectures and company functions. Echo and key change are available too, so karaoke remains within reach. A USB-C port has been added for music playback and for charging a smartphone.

Multi-unit setups are part of the plan. The new Party Chain feature uses Auracast broadcast to link up to 100 compatible Sony speakers wirelessly, synchronising both audio and lighting. Two units can also be paired as a stereo set.

The 22.8kg question

The most practical issue in the spec sheet is weight. The cabinet measures roughly 421 x 347 x 710mm (width x depth x height) and weighs about 22.8kg. This is not something you pick up with one hand.

Sony's answer is carry handles at all four corners, so two people can lift it using the upper and lower handles. The transport wheels are larger and set on a wider tread for stability on uneven ground, an improvement Sony describes in comparison with the current SRS-XV800.

For use away from mains power, the built-in battery runs for up to about 30 hours. Fast charging delivers roughly 180 minutes of playback from a 10-minute charge, which leaves some room to recover if the battery level is missed before an event. Standing upright, the speaker carries IPX4-equivalent splash resistance for outdoor use.

About 20 percent of the plastic used in the speaker body is recycled material.

On display before launch

The ULT TOWER 7 has been on show at five Sony Store locations, in Ginza, Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka Tenjin, since September 2. Neither 22.8kg nor the difference between ULT1 and LIVE reads well on paper, so anyone considering the speaker would do well to hear one before release.

Sony has also entered a partnership with Red Bull as part of the ULT POWER SOUND effort, supporting the one-on-one dance battle event Red Bull Dance Your Style 2026. That covers the national final in the United States in September 2026 and the world final in Switzerland in October.

Summary

The ULT TOWER 7 is a tower-style wireless speaker built around a newly developed 280mm circular woofer and a 420W amplifier, aiming to deliver weight in the low end without losing vocal clarity. FLAT and LIVE widen the tonal choices, while XLR and RCA inputs take it into light PA and DJ territory. At about 22.8kg it behaves much like installed equipment, but the four handles, larger wheels and roughly 30-hour battery keep mobile use realistic. It goes on sale September 18 at an estimated street price of around 85,000 yen.