Sony ULT Discipline 3 hands-on evaluation: Testing the brand new addition to Sony’s bass line

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A 12 months after its preliminary launch, Sony has expanded its ULT speaker lineup. New additions embody the ULT Discipline 3, ULT Discipline 5, and ULT Tower 9. This growth focuses on center sizes of the Discipline variations and a smaller tower speaker.

I used to be stoked to see Sony develop this line as a result of I like the Sony ULT Put on headphones, and the ULT Discipline 1 is my go-to moveable Bluetooth speaker. Plus, it’s a much-appreciated departure from Sony’s typical naming nomenclature. 

I received my palms on the ULT Discipline 3 speaker and have been testing it out for about two weeks, and total, it’s an awesome bass-heavy possibility for individuals who host or take their music exterior.

Sony ULT Discipline 3 worth and specs

The Sony ULT Discipline 3 speaker retails for $199, which is identical worth as its predecessor, the SRS-XE300. It does have some upgraded specs, so it’s good to see the value go unchanged. These specs embody:

• 7-band EQ (in comparison with the SRS-XE300’s 3-band EQ)

• 1 woofer, 2 passive radiators, 1 tweeter

• ULT mode for additional bass

• IP67 waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, rustproof

• Multi-speaker connection, with as much as 100 paired audio system by means of Occasion Join

• Vertical and horizontal listening orientation

• USB-C system charging

Sony ULT Discipline 3 battery life

The ULT Discipline 3’s battery is meant to last as long as 24 hours of steady music playback with ULT Energy on. That drops down to 5 hours if the quantity is at max degree. The speaker does have fast charging, the place a 10-minute cost offers you 120 minutes of playback at quantity degree 22.

I haven’t had the prospect to do a full battery rundown, however I did cost the speaker to one hundred pc earlier than operating it for an all-day stitching session and stored it going whereas I received prepared for an evening out. In complete, I performed the speaker for about 10 hours straight at 50 p.c quantity with ULT Energy turned on, and the battery dropped all the way down to 60 p.c.

Loud, room-filling sound

Should you’re simply on the lookout for an off-the-cuff moveable speaker to take heed to within the bathe or whilst you work, the ULT FIeld 3 goes to be way over you want. I counsel choosing the smaller, extra inexpensive ULT Discipline 1.

The ULT Discipline 3 is finest for events, the outside, bigger working areas, or individuals who simply like to blast loud music. This factor will get loud. 

The speaker has noticeably fuller sound in comparison with its predecessor. And whereas I’m at all times an enormous fan of Sony’s audio high quality, the ULT Discipline 3 can sound a bit tinny should you’re proper subsequent to it and the quantity is cranked. Nonetheless, should you step away just a few ft, it sounds completely effective. (On your ear drums’ sake, you in all probability shouldn’t be so near a loud speaker anyway.) 

I listened to the Sony ULT Discipline 3 and Bose SoundLink Max concurrently and back-to-back, and the audio high quality is decently comparable between the 2. Bose in the end sounded higher, however the SoudnLink Max additionally prices $200 extra, in order that was anticipated. The ULT Discipline 3 gives usually clear, full sound that may fill a room at a comparatively budget-friendly worth.

Outdoors of music, I additionally listened to a few episodes of “The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller and Adam Scott.” Their voices sounded loud and clear from wherever I went in my 1,000-square-foot condo.

This speaker is unquestionably for bass lovers

With the ULT Energy turned on, the speaker is extremely bass-forward. Should you don’t like heavy bass, the ULT Discipline 3 might be not the very best speaker for you. You’ll be able to clearly flip off the additional bass function, however at that time, you may simply go for a cheaper speaker as a substitute.

Listening to Unhealthy Bunny’s “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” I felt like I used to be at a bumping celebration, despite the fact that I used to be simply in my condo on my own. I may really really feel the bass vibrate whereas the speaker sat on my desk and I sat in my desk chair.

ULT Discipline 3 launched me to background bass that I by no means even knew existed in “The Last Time (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift and Gary Lightbody. The speaker is nice for punching up your music and bringing out little particulars you would possibly miss on one other speaker.

Portability and ruggedness shine

Let me begin by saying that this speaker is surprisingly light-weight — it doesn’t really feel a lot heavier than the smaller ULT Discipline 1 speaker. It additionally comes with a removable, adjustable shoulder strap that makes transportation straightforward. The strap has a cute design with Baggu or Off-White vibes.

The speaker is about 10 inches broad x 4.5 inches excessive x 3 inches deep, so even with out the strap, it’s sufficiently small to slot in a tote or backpack.

As I discussed above, Sony’s ULT Discipline 3 is IP67-rated waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and rustproof. I took a bathe with the speaker sitting on the ledge of the bathtub, and it was completely unaffected by water spraying throughout it. The sound nonetheless got here out nice and the speaker itself was unhurt.

I can see this being a extremely nice speaker for out of doors events, pool days, hikes, or tenting. It’s robust sufficient to resist any accidents which may occur with dropping or spillage.

Sony Sound Join app

Sony used to have separate apps for headphones and audio system, however now they’re all mixed underneath the Sony Sound Join app. That is the place you may customise your 7-band EQ for the ULT Discipline 3 or join the speaker with different Sony audio system. It’s also possible to see the speaker’s battery life and swap between different Sony units within the app. I did have hassle getting the speaker to hook up with the app, after which I wasn’t capable of join my ULT Discipline 1, so I could not check out the Occasion Join between the 2 audio system. I am hoping that was only a fluke that may get sorted out.

The app additionally has DJ Management, the place you may isolate audio or add in DJ sound results like an air horn or file scratch. I discovered this function to be very humorous and never one thing I might ever significantly use, however possibly an aspiring DJ who’s extra well-versed within the results would discover it extra helpful.

The place the ULT Discipline 3 falls within the Sony ULT lineup

When the Sony ULT lineup launched in 2024, it began with the ULT Put on headphones, ULT Discipline 1 small moveable speaker, ULT Discipline 7 giant moveable speaker, and ULT Tower 10 giant tower speaker. The 2025 launch consists of the ULT Discipline 3, ULT Discipline 5, and ULT Tower 9.

The ULT Discipline 3 sits towards the smaller finish of the lineup, bigger than the ultra-portable ULT Discipline 1 however smaller than the ULT Discipline 5 or 7, that are technically moveable however can be higher for extra stationary makes use of like home events. The Discipline 3 additionally will get considerably louder than the ULT Discipline 1. Nonetheless, it doesn’t have the enjoyable celebration lights of the ULT Discipline 5 or Discipline 7.

Is the Sony ULT Discipline 3 price it?

The Sony ULT Discipline 3 speaker is price it for somebody who loves to listen to the bass of their music and wishes a speaker to fill a big house — or somebody who listens to music outside typically, like on the seashore or on a hike.

It’s a decently priced mid-size speaker from one in every of our favourite audio manufacturers, so I don’t assume anybody would remorse buying it. It has nice audio high quality (so long as you’re not proper subsequent to the speaker), an excellent battery life, and may face up to robust circumstances.