Sony is expanding its range of portable speakers with the Field 1, a €139 model which promises robustness and audio performance in a compact format. Certified IP67, this speaker is suitable for outdoor use but omits a mobile charging function. My opinion after two weeks of use (in the rain).
Sony still has its fan base, even if it is smaller than before. The Japanese, the most innovative and one of the most premium manufacturers in the 20th century, has often had difficulty countering the arrival of new Asian players in recent years. Released onto the market for smartphones, tablets and laptops, Sony remains a benchmark for video games (PlayStation), photography (Alpha series) and audio. Latest release: the products ULT, wireless headphones and speakers with finally simplified names, aimed at a young and nomadic audience. I tested the small Field 1 speaker, sold 139€. And she doesn’t really have any flaws…
Big bass, if you position it well
Year after year, I am amazed at the capacity of unpretentious speakers, in a limited format, to send heavy stuff. Sony’s Field 1 is a good example of this trend. Despite a wasp size (20 x 7 cm) and a reasonable weight (650 grams), the Field 1, as long as ULT mode is active (it is by default, but you can deactivate it by pressing this button ), proves capable of properly soundproofing a small room. And it works even better as the sound goes in all directions, we’re talking about a 360° speaker, because you don’t have to worry about how you position it.
Except for this (big) detail, however: as is more and more often the case, the small woofer which sends the bass, located at the bottom (and on the top, see photo above) of the Field 1 , reveals its full potential if you place it ‘upright’ on a wooden surface. The bass will then resonate (via the furniture, the table, the bench, etc.) and the result will be really interesting. I listened to the music and if the amplitude and spatialization are limited (logical with such a format and such a price), it remains very surprisingly powerful and satisfying for the general public.
Waterproof, durable and well constructed
Sony is known for taking care of the finish of its devices, and the Field 1 is no exception to this Japanese rule. Covered in resistant nylon, protected by discreet thick rubber ends, IP67 certified (brief immersion in 1 meter of water, not very useful, but will withstand the Belgian spring), equipped with a solid, slightly elastic and adjustable wrist strap (for hang anywhere): this new Bluetooth speaker from Sony ticks all the transportability boxes.
Add to this a autonomy of around 12 hours (use any USB-C charger), and you have one of the master purchases of the year. However, the competition is plentiful, and there is something for all tastes and all budgets in the small world of Bluetooth speakers. Trusting a reputable brand like Sony is often wise, if your budget is 139€. A logical price, ultimately: the only fault I found with the Field 1 is the impossibility of making it a backup battery to charge your phone, an option offered by other manufacturers. A lesser evil…
And the buttons?
The Field 1 is satisfied with the essentials: ON/OFF, volume, Bluetooth pairing, ULT (to activate or deactivate the bass boost), and play/pause. There is therefore no possibility of moving to the next song, which is nevertheless possible with the latest Bluetooth standards. We can console ourselves with the small telephone icon, it means that there is a microphone integrated into the Field 1 and that you can therefore answer and have a telephone conversation without picking up your telephone:
Mathieu’s tests portable speaker bluetooth speaker sony Field 1 Sony Field 1 test
