PROS
Decent audio quality
Built to withstand dust and water
Includes a speakerphone feature
CONS
Bass could be stronger
Battery life could be better
The accompanying app could be more impressive
Overview:
The Sony Field 1, priced at $129, is the smallest Bluetooth speaker in Sony’s ULT lineup. While it doesn’t offer the same stereo separation or deep bass as its larger counterparts, it still delivers decently powerful audio, especially with its bass-boosting ULT feature. Its rugged design makes it suitable for outdoor use, although its limited companion app and short battery life are drawbacks. Our top pick in this price range remains the older JBL Flip 6, which offers more bass power, is slightly lighter, and charges much faster.
Useful Controls, But Battery Life Shorts Out
The ULT Field 1 speaker measures 3.1 by 8.1 by 3.0 inches and weighs around 1.4 pounds. It comes in black, gray, off-white, or orange colors. Compared to the JBL Flip 6, it’s slightly larger and comes in fewer color options.
The speaker’s design features a fabric-lined oblong shape with silicone-coated ends. It houses a front-facing tweeter and woofer for mono audio, along with passive bass radiators on both ends. A sturdy strap allows for easy carrying or hanging. Sony doesn’t specify the size or frequency range of the drivers.
It supports Bluetooth 5.3, AAC and SBC codecs, multipoint connectivity, and Google Fast Pair. You can connect a second unit for stereo playback via the companion app.
On the top, there’s a silicone control panel with buttons for power, Bluetooth pairing, play, volume control, and ULT (which boosts bass). The buttons are easy to use and intuitive. On the back, there’s a snap-shut cover protecting the USB-C port for charging.
With an IP67 rating, the speaker is fully dustproof and can survive submersion in water up to one meter deep for 30 minutes. However, Sony advises against exposing it to high-pressure water like from a shower, which seems contradictory to its IP rating.
Battery life varies depending on volume and ULT usage, ranging from 3 to 12 hours per charge. Recharging takes about 5 hours. The JBL Flip 6 offers similar battery life but recharges faster in about 2.5 hours.
App Experience
I tried out a preview of the Sony Music Center app, which works with their Field 1 portable speaker. Compared to the Sony Headphones app for earphones like the WF-1000XM5, it doesn’t offer as many features. Still, considering it’s for a portable speaker, it’s not bad.
When you open the app, you’ll see the battery life of your speaker at the top. Then, there are three main sections: My Library, Music, and Settings.
The My Library part asks for permission to access your music library so it can show all your songs in the app. It has tabs to help you navigate your music, and basic controls for playing and adjusting volume.
If you tap on the Music button, it takes you to your usual music player, like Apple Music on iPhones.
In the Settings section, you can adjust three things: Sound, Power Options, and System. Sound lets you choose between different sound settings and adjust bass, mid, and treble. Power Options let you pick how you want your speaker to manage power, like staying on longer or shutting down after a while. The System button just shows the speaker’s name.
There’s also a little Settings menu in the corner. Here, you can do things like set when your speaker turns off, add shortcuts to apps like Google Maps or YouTube, see any messages from Sony, and check your software version. You can even turn off notifications if you don’t want them bothering you.
Sound Quality: Leave ULT Mode On
I tried out the speaker with and without ULT mode, a feature that makes the sound fuller. Most people will likely prefer leaving ULT mode on because it makes the sound richer, especially the bass and high tones. I found that using ULT mode gave me better bass and brighter high tones.
When I played songs with a lot of deep bass, like “Silent Shout” by The Knife, the speaker did a good job with the bass for its size. But I noticed some weird sound in the quieter parts at the beginning of the song. This is probably because of how the sound is processed, not because the speaker is broken. Once the deeper bass kicks in, the weird sound goes away, and the bass sounds strong and clear.
As expected, the speaker couldn’t quite handle the really deep bass in Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty” at a certain point. But the drums still sounded good and the vocals were clear.
On a song like “Drover” by Bill Callahan, where there’s not as much deep bass, the drums sounded okay, and Callahan’s voice sounded rich. The guitar sounded nice and full too. Overall, the sound was balanced and well-shaped.
When I listened to orchestral music, like the start of John Adams’ “The Gospel According to the Other Mary,” the speaker handled the lower notes well, giving a nice full sound. The higher notes from the brass and strings sounded bright and clear too.
The microphone on the speaker worked fine. I could hear everything clearly when I recorded myself on my phone using the speaker, although it wasn’t super loud or clear. For the best sound, make sure you’re close to the speaker.
A Fine Speaker With Few Highlights
The Sony ULT Field 1 doesn’t change the game for portable Bluetooth speakers, but it also doesn’t mess anything up. We do wish the app was a bit better and that the battery lasted longer and charged faster. Overall, we still recommend the JBL Flip 6 as our top pick in this price range. It has cleaner bass, more design options, and charges quicker. But if you’re into big bass and flashy lights and don’t mind a slightly bigger speaker, check out the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 for the same price.
