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Bose Lifestyle Ultra: Premium Sound, But Does It Deliver?
15 May
Summary
- Bose's new soundbar offers refined midrange and clear dialogue.
- Bass response is weak, requiring an optional subwoofer add-on.
- It excels as a smart speaker but lacks immersive movie audio.
Bose aims to re-establish its presence in the home theater market with the new Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar. This premium offering features a nine-driver array, including upfiring speakers, and boasts an improved AI-powered speech enhancement algorithm and room-correction capabilities.
The soundbar excels in its midrange reproduction and handles dialogue exceptionally well, with its AI enhancement sounding natural. However, the device's bass response is underwhelming, making the accompanying Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer a near-essential addition for a satisfying cinematic experience. Without the subwoofer, intense movie scenes can lead to rattling sounds from the soundbar itself.
While the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar matches the $1,099 price point of competitors like the Sonos Arc Ultra, its bass performance lags behind. The system does offer multi-room audio support via Google Cast and Apple AirPlay, but it lacks backward compatibility with older Bose home theater products.
Ultimately, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar is a solid choice for those seeking a high-quality smart speaker that doubles as a soundbar, particularly for music playback. For users prioritizing an immersive movie-watching experience, competitors may offer superior bass and overall theatrical sound.
