This 12 months, Sony launched a brand new line of hyper-bass-focused audio merchandise below the ULT POWER SOUND moniker. The ULT Subject 1 is the smallest of the three ULT POWER SOUND Bluetooth audio system the corporate gives now, however don’t let its diminutive dimension idiot you! Typically, massive issues are available in little packages; you’ll discover that the ULT Subject 1 is one such “little bundle.”
Need one thing extremely cellular however massive sufficient to develop your cellphone’s sound for a visit to the park or seaside? The ULT Subject 1 could also be simply what you are on the lookout for.
Sony ULT Subject notes
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 only 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 have got the play/pause/name button and the quantity buttons. There’s additionally a useful carry strap on the unit’s prime edge, which may develop if crucial. The rear of the system has a rubber plug/cap, which helps it keep that IP67 ranking and preserve water and dirt out of the USB-C port.
With an IP67 ranking, you may simply take Sony’s ULT Subject 1 to the seaside and on different dusty, soiled excursions worry-free. Nevertheless, I’d advocate shopping for it in one of many different colours as a result of the off-white will look “well-traveled” fairly shortly. These different colours are black, forest grey, and orange.
| Class | Sony ULT Subject 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. Palms-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 Subject 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 means to manage the sound and make a stereo pair if in case you have two models.
Controlling the sound is fairly primary in comparison with the choices you get with the ULT WEAR headphones. On this case, you may solely flip ULT on or have it off and use your individual customized sound through the three-band EQ. Nevertheless, since you will possible be outside with this small speaker, the nuance you may management with an EQ with extra bands will possible be misplaced to the ether and inaudible.
Sony ULT discipline check
Let’s set up one thing from the beginning: this isn’t a celebration speaker to your nation barn summer season soiree or sundown seaside bonfire. This can be a “private speaker” with sufficient quantity for a small group of some buddies to hit the seaside and have a kickback or to take to the park and calm down to some Coltrane. Possibly you pack it, take it to the AirBnB you and your buddies rented to your week-long getaway, and use it within the yard. Sufficient to supply some environment 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 a couple parks and to the seaside. I used it alongside my JBL Cost 4, which is at present my and my spouse’s favourite take-along moveable speaker. After my testing, the ULT Subject 1 will completely be our new go-to.
I went to at least one park subsequent to a busy primary avenue the place a live performance was continuing in one other part of the park. I attempted to get as distant from that as potential, however the music coming from that part was nonetheless audible. Right here, I walked about 30 toes away from the speaker earlier than the audio was masked by site visitors and different noise.
The second park I visited was throughout the morning, round 10 a.m. The native non-public faculties use it for his or her PE discipline, 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 toes away from the speaker earlier than the vocals grew to become considerably indecipherable.
Evaluating the FIELD 1 to the Cost 4, I can inform you that the ULT perform positively makes a distinction. I ought to notice that the Cost 4 makes use of a much less dynamic Bluetooth codec, SBC, whereas throughout my testing, the Subject 1 used AAC, which has extra “decision.” I can even inform you that the ULT Subject 1 sounds higher when that perform is activated than when it isn’t. 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 larger distances like 50 toes.
The ULT Subject 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 will 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 once I listened to my music within the park, and instrumental music like R&B, which nonetheless had extra mids and bottoms, additionally sounded nice. Nevertheless, music from the Chevalier rating misplaced parts of the combination at 50 toes away within the park. Mushy sections of violins have been inaudible at that distance, so that you’ll need to be nearer if classical is your jam.
The one problem I discovered with the sound output from the Subject 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 an honest quantity of distortion. That mixture was a bit an excessive amount of for this small unit.
Other than music, the speaker will also be used for cellphone calls, video calls, and no matter audio is output out of your cellphone. I discovered the quantity wonderful, and the individual 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 Subject 1 lasted just below 12 hours. Turning ULT off will get you extra playback time must you want it.
Must you purchase the Sony ULT Subject 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 ranking for water and dirt ingress, stable battery life, and a small footprint with good sound output, and you’ve got a speaker effectively price contemplating to your summer season outside shenanigans.
You possibly can try our roundup of the very best Bluetooth audio system when you want one thing bigger than what this gives, however for many informal get-togethers, the Sony ULT Subject 1 is a superb choice for moveable Bluetooth audio.
Small speaker, respectable sound output
Want a speaker that straightforward for journey and your pockets? Sony’s ULT Subject 1 is each, and has a bassy further which really improves the sound high quality total for these jamming outside.
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