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The latest from Bose is the Lifestyle Ultra family, which includes a soundbar, a subwoofer, and a smart speaker, and I find the smart speaker to be the most interesting product in the lineup. Smart speakers for the home are increasing in popularity, and more consumers are interested in whole-home audio products with smart home features — Bose is right on time.
Also: Sonos Play review: This portable Wi-Fi speaker may be Sonos’ greatest hit yet
I spent a week with the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, and though it’s $50 to $100+ more than its counterparts from Apple, Sonos, and Amazon, it has one considerable boost over the rest. Let’s dive in.
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Out with the old, in with the new
The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is the smartest speaker in Bose’s current catalog, promising Wi-Fi streaming, Bluetooth connectivity, AirPlay and Google Cast compatibility, Alexa built-in, and stereo pairing, wrapped in a sleek, modern design.
As a true Wi-Fi smart speaker, the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker requires connection to a power source, so it’s not portable. With a three-speaker configuration, including two front-facing and one upfiring speaker, the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker gets plenty loud. The upfiring speaker isn’t a dedicated Atmos height channel, and a single speaker isn’t Atmos-compatible.
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Instead, the speaker uses Bose’s proprietary TrueSpatial technology for additional depth and space; I’m indifferent about it. Fortunately, TrueSpatial doesn’t sound as artificially upmixed as the company’s Immersive Audio in its headphones and earbuds, but a singular upfiring speaker isn’t enough for true immersion.
However, with an additional Lifestyle Ultra Speaker offering another upfiring speaker and the Soundbar offering two more, I’m confident you’d get a fuller height experience.
Still, even on its own as a single smart speaker, there’s deep, punchy bass and noticeable highs and mids. At higher volumes, the bass can get muddy, but a quick EQ adjustment in the Bose companion app is an easy fix. Overall, the sound profile is very similar to Sonos’s Era 100: an enjoyable, lively, warm sound with the V-shaped audio profile most people prefer.
Versatility for the win
The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker works great on its own, not solely for its enjoyable sound, but also for its ecosystem-agnostic design, which has always been one of Bose’s strengths. The company’s lack of an affinity for a single software ecosystem means its devices fit easily into your existing ecosystem. I consider that a major upside.
Alexa built-in, Google Cast, and Apple AirPlay are on deck, so if you have several Wi-Fi speakers with Android and/or Apple-friendly casting, you can group them together. While checking off tasks on my after-work chores list, I grouped my kitchen’s Sonos Era 100 and the Bose Lifestyle Ultra in my upstairs office for multi-room audio. It worked like a charm.
The Lifestyle Ultra also features a 3.5mm aux-in port for wired connectivity with analog devices, such as a turntable. In a pair, two of these speakers behave similarly to Sonos’s offerings; you can transform them from standalone smart speakers into rear speakers in a home theater configuration or use them as individual left- and right-channel audio sources. Or, you can place several around the house for multi-room audio.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Bose’s products are great for people who want something that will work well right out of the box, with an equal appreciation for simplicity and modern design. You can use nearly any brand of phone, laptop, or tablet with the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, and it will easily integrate into your home audio ecosystem, which is Bose’s greatest strength.
Also: Sony vs. Bose: My buying advice after listening to flagship headphones from both brands
The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is a solid smart speaker for people with mixed-device ecosystems, especially those who aren’t huge fans of voice assistants. Only Alexa and Alexa+ are available on the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker to US consumers. Though an Apple HomePod or a Sonos Era 100 is cheaper, these speakers have several hardware and software limitations and operate within closed ecosystems.
