Sony ULT Area 1: Highly effective private sound for outside enjoyable

This yr, Sony launched a brand new line of hyper-bass-focused audio merchandise underneath the ULT POWER SOUND moniker. The ULT Area 1 is the smallest of the three ULT POWER SOUND Bluetooth audio system the corporate presents now, however don’t let its diminutive dimension idiot you! Generally, huge issues are available in little packages; you’ll discover that the ULT Area 1 is one such “little package deal.”

Need one thing extremely cell however giant sufficient to increase your telephone’s sound for a visit to the park or seaside? The ULT Area 1 could also be simply what you are searching for.

Sony ULT Area notes

Sony ULT Field 1

(Picture credit score: Tshaka Armstrong)

This eight-inch lengthy or tall (it may be used mendacity on its aspect or standing on finish) Bluetooth speaker helps Bluetooth 5.3 and some Bluetooth audio codes like SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. For a mono speaker setup, the one tweeter and single woofer models produce a satisfying quantity of readability and heat audio with ULT enabled. That’s the backlit button on the highest of the speaker, the place you’ll additionally discover the opposite controls.

The facility button and Bluetooth pairing buttons even have standing indicator lights; subsequent to these, you’ve got the play/pause/name button and the quantity buttons. There’s additionally a helpful carry strap on the unit’s prime edge, which may increase if vital. The rear of the machine has a rubber plug/cap, which helps it preserve that IP67 score and preserve water and dirt out of the USB-C port.

Sony ULT Field 1

(Picture credit score: Tshaka Armstrong)

With an IP67 score, you’ll be able to simply take Sony’s ULT Area 1 to the seaside and on different dusty, soiled excursions worry-free. Nonetheless, I’d suggest shopping for it in one of many different colours as a result of the off-white will look “well-traveled” fairly rapidly. These different colours are black, forest grey, and orange.

Sony ULT Field 1

(Picture credit score: Tshaka Armstrong)

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Class	Sony ULT Area 1
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, LDAC help
Dimensions	8 inches x 3.03 inches x 2.99 inches
Weight	Approx. 650 g
Sturdiness	IP67
Battery life	Roughly 12 hours (prolonged with ULT off)
Telephone name/Microphones	Sure. Arms-free help

The speaker helps multipoint connections (two at a time) and can be utilized as a stereo pair when linked to a different ULT Area 1 unit utilizing Sony’s Music Middle app. And talking of that app, it is really fairly primary right here. Its most vital options would be the capability to manage the sound and make a stereo pair you probably have two models.

Sony ULT Field 1

(Picture credit score: Tshaka Armstrong)

Controlling the sound is fairly primary in comparison with the choices you get with the ULT WEAR headphones. On this case, you’ll be able to solely flip ULT on or have it off and use your personal customized sound through the three-band EQ. Nonetheless, since you will doubtless be outside with this small speaker, the nuance you’ll be able to management with an EQ with extra bands will doubtless be misplaced to the ether and inaudible.

Sony ULT area take a look at

Sony ULT Field 1

(Picture credit score: Tshaka Armstrong)

Let’s set up one thing from the beginning: this isn’t a celebration speaker on your nation barn summer time soiree or sundown seaside bonfire. It is a “private speaker” with sufficient quantity for a small group of some friends to hit the seaside and have a kickback or to take to the park and loosen up to some Coltrane. Possibly you pack it, take it to the AirBnB you and your buddies rented on your week-long getaway, and use it within the yard. Sufficient to offer some ambiance and transfer your booties however nowhere close to loud sufficient to elicit “disturbing the peace” calls to the police from neighbors.

To check the audio high quality, I took the speaker to some parks and to the seaside. I used it alongside my JBL Cost 4, which is at the moment my and my spouse’s favourite take-along moveable speaker. After my testing, the ULT Area 1 will completely be our new go-to.

I went to 1 park subsequent to a busy major avenue the place a live performance was continuing in one other part of the park. I attempted to get as far-off from that as potential, however the music coming from that part was nonetheless audible. Right here, I walked about 30 ft away from the speaker earlier than the audio was masked by visitors and different noise.

Sony ULT Field 1

(Picture credit score: Tshaka Armstrong)

The second park I visited was in the course of the morning, round 10 a.m. The native personal faculties use it for his or her PE area, and it simply so occurred that there have been round 50 highschool college students there that morning. Right here, I used to be capable of get roughly 50 ft away from the speaker earlier than the vocals grew to become considerably indecipherable.

Sony ULT Field 1

(Picture credit score: Tshaka Armstrong)

Evaluating the FIELD 1 to the Cost 4, I can inform you that the ULT operate undoubtedly makes a distinction. I ought to word that the Cost 4 makes use of a much less dynamic Bluetooth codec, SBC, whereas throughout my testing, the Area 1 used AAC, which has extra “decision.” I may also inform you that the ULT Area 1 sounds higher when that operate is activated than when it is not. The sound is flatter with ULT off, however turning it on instantly imbues presence and depth to the sound, making the music fuller and extra strong close-up and at higher distances like 50 ft.

The ULT Area 1 does help LDAC, which is a pleasant addition, however I used to be unable to get it to work with that codec utilizing a Pixel 7 Professional and a Galaxy S22 Extremely, which each help LDAC. You could have higher luck than me.

We’ve mentioned “auditory masking” in different articles right here, so preserve that in thoughts when utilizing a speaker like this outside. On the seaside, the sound of the waves will compete with the upper frequencies in a few of your music. Orchestral music, for instance. Backside-heavy songs sounded nice after I listened to my music within the park, and instrumental music like R&B, which nonetheless had extra mids and bottoms, additionally sounded nice. Nonetheless, music from the Chevalier rating misplaced parts of the combo at 50 ft away within the park. Comfortable sections of violins have been inaudible at that distance, so that you’ll wish to be nearer if classical is your jam.

The one problem I discovered with the sound output from the Area 1 was that while you flip the quantity as much as its max and play a observe with a extremely heavy backside finish, like Skrillex’s “Mumbai Place,” I bumped into a good quantity of distortion. That mixture was a bit an excessive amount of for this small unit.

Except for music, the speaker will also be used for telephone calls, video calls, and no matter audio is output out of your telephone. I discovered the quantity wonderful, and the particular person on the opposite finish mentioned I sounded clear. What can also be clear is the accuracy of the battery life that Sony claims you’ll get. I let the speaker play with ULT activated the quantity stage set to 25 (it has 50 steps of quantity), and the Area 1 lasted just below 12 hours. Turning ULT off will get you extra playback time do you have to want it.

Do you have to purchase the Sony ULT Area 1?

The Sony ULT POWER SOUND sequence of audio system brings the BOOM! However, on this case, that “BOOM” really interprets to a fuller sound for outside use. Couple that with an IP67 score for water and dirt ingress, stable battery life, and a small footprint with good sound output, and you’ve got a speaker effectively value contemplating on your summer time outside shenanigans.

You may take a look at our roundup of one of the best Bluetooth audio system should you want one thing bigger than what this presents, however for many informal get-togethers, the Sony ULT Area 1 is a superb possibility for moveable Bluetooth audio.

Sony ULT Field 1

Sony ULT Area 1: Highly effective private sound for outside enjoyable

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