Bluetooth speakers have been a major fixture among most of us because we want to go beyond the sound smartphones offer. I use them to listen to podcasts or my favourite playlists while I’m cooking or if I’m going on a weekend trip. The question one must ask is do you need big, booming sounds with some app support or do you simply want a speaker that’s all about sound engineering? Sony has a solution for the party crowd: Sony’s ULT Field 1 Bluetooth speaker tries to deliver sonic punches that defy the size of the device.

Rugged design, built to last

The speaker is built for portability and ruggedness with a dash of party flair in mind. It’s just about eight inches long, three inches high and three inches deep. It’s surprisingly lightweight. There are rubberised end caps that allow the speaker to stabilise itself when it’s on a flat surface so it’s not going to vibrate and move the speaker around when you’re listening to music. These also help utilise Sony’s “Sound Diffusion Processor” technology that intends to fill a room with music rather than just play music into it.

The speaker is waterproof and dust-proof, with an IP67 rating. It is rated for up to 12 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels

You also have some dedicated control buttons for power, pairing, voice assistant and track controls alongside a new ULT mode button, which is backlit when turned on. The volume buttons are tactile and clicky but I have a quibble: To change the volume, you need to mash the buttons more times than required.

The Field 1 comes with a built-in microphone that allows you to use it as a speaker phone or to connect to your smartphone’s voice assistant to control whatever kind of playlist or music you’re listening to through that. Though I am not sure how many would use a microphone that comes on a speaker, it offers good echo cancellation.

All the technology and drivers, everything that comes in the package is wrapped in a mesh fabric that surrounds the entire speaker despite the fact music will only be projected in the direction of the Sony logo with a sealed-off compartment on the back which, once opened, will reveal a USB-C port that you’re going to use to recharge the ULT Field 1 Bluetooth speaker. For additional portability, you are also getting a built-in removable rope strap, which you could use as a little handle or you may use this to attach the speaker to, say, a backpack.

The speaker has IP67 ingress rating, allowing it to withstand dust and water. Further, it is shockproof so it can take some bumps. Overall, design-wise, there’s a lot to love about the Sony offering.

Boom-boom magic

The Field 1 supports AAC and SBC audio codecs, but there’s no LDAC support here, which is not a surprise when you consider the price point. It’s something more than a no-frills speaker, that is, there is the ability to set custom EQ preset from Sony’s companion app.

The big selling point is the ULT mode or something like the “ultra” mode. Once you slip into this mode, you will get a richer, fuller and more powerful sound than usual. It brings out the best in the drivers. The ULT mode offers a punchy sound with slightly more emphasis in the low end than you’re probably used to out of a speaker this size. I have noticed that when you start to crank up the volume, you don’t lose clarity. Of course, if you cross 85 per cent volume, it may take some patience to figure out the lyrics to most Elton John songs. Does he sing “hold me closer Tony Danza” or “hold me closer tiny dancer”?! I think the sweet spot is 60-65 per cent but if you want to enjoy a bit of bass, keep it between 75-85 per cent. When you have been elbow-bending the entire evening and wouldn’t mind singing Dancing Queen aloud, max out the volume. Or you could always get a second Sony ULT Field 1 and pair them together for a stereo pair.

When you press the ULT button, you get a bass boost and overall fuller sound

If you consider the situations in which you’ll use the Field 1 Bluetooth speaker, like pool parties, I think this is a fantastic device.

Should you buy it?

What’s the battery life like on the Field 1? Sony is promising around 12 hours of listening time with ULT mode turned on and when you’re at around 50 per cent volume. But if you find yourself constantly cranking up the volume on this thing close to max, that’s where you’re going to notice a dip in battery life. We got around seven hours because the volume was dialled up and ULT mode was turned on. Even then, that is enough to float you through a party. If you are using this Bluetooth speaker in more intimate settings, you will get all-day battery life. Just a quick 10-minute charge yields around three hours of battery life.

Sure, its volume buttons take time getting adjusted to but if that’s my biggest gripe, it’s fair to say that the speaker is a winner. Sony ULT Field 1 can withstand tumbles and splashes but, more importantly, it delivers an expansive soundstage.

At a glance

Device: Sony ULT Field 1

Price: Rs 10,990

High notes

Booming sound

Sturdy design

IP67 ingress rating

Custom equaliser setting

Good soundstage

Muffled notes

Limited equaliser setting

Volume buttons need some mashing