I did not anticipate Bose’s new way of life speaker to coexist with my Sonos Era 100 like this

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The newest from Bose is the Lifestyle Ultra household, which features a soundbar, a subwoofer, and a sensible speaker, and I discover the sensible speaker to be probably the most fascinating product within the lineup. Smart audio system for the house are growing in reputation, and extra customers are interested by whole-home audio merchandise with sensible dwelling options — Bose is true on time.

Also: Sonos Play assessment: This moveable Wi-Fi speaker could also be Sonos’ best hit but

I spent every week with the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, and although it is $50 to $100+ greater than its counterparts from Apple, Sonos, and Amazon, it has one appreciable enhance over the remaining. Let’s dive in.

Out with the previous, in with the brand new

The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is the neatest speaker in Bose’s present catalog, promising Wi-Fi streaming, Bluetooth connectivity, AirPlay and Google Cast compatibility, Alexa built-in, and stereo pairing, wrapped in a smooth, trendy design.

As a real Wi-Fi sensible speaker, the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker requires connection to an influence supply, so it isn’t moveable. With a three-speaker configuration, together with two front-facing and one upfiring speaker, the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker will get loads loud. The upfiring speaker is not a devoted Atmos top channel, and a single speaker is not Atmos-compatible. 

Also: 15+ finest Alexa instructions to make your private home work smarter (Prime not required)

Instead, the speaker makes use of Bose’s proprietary TrueSpatial expertise for added depth and house; I’m detached about it. Fortunately, TrueSpatial would not sound as artificially upmixed as the corporate’s Immersive Audio in its headphones and earbuds, however a singular upfiring speaker is not sufficient for true immersion. 

However, with a further Lifestyle Ultra Speaker providing one other upfiring speaker and the Soundbar providing two extra, I’m assured you’d get a fuller top expertise.

Still, even by itself as a single sensible speaker, there’s deep, punchy bass and noticeable highs and mids. At larger volumes, the bass can get muddy, however a fast EQ adjustment within the Bose companion app is a simple repair. Overall, the sound profile is similar to Sonos’s Era 100: an satisfying, vigorous, heat sound with the V-shaped audio profile most individuals want. 

Versatility for the win

The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker works nice by itself, not solely for its satisfying sound, but additionally for its ecosystem-agnostic design, which has at all times been one in every of Bose’s strengths. The firm’s lack of an affinity for a single software program ecosystem means its gadgets match simply into your present ecosystem. I take into account {that a} main upside.

Alexa built-in, Google Cast, and Apple AirPlay are on deck, so in case you have a number of Wi-Fi audio system with Android and/or Apple-friendly casting, you’ll be able to group them collectively. While checking off duties on my after-work chores checklist, I grouped my kitchen’s Sonos Era 100 and the Bose Lifestyle Ultra in my upstairs workplace for multi-room audio. It labored like a allure.

The Lifestyle Ultra additionally includes a 3.5mm aux-in port for wired connectivity with analog gadgets, resembling a turntable. In a pair, two of those audio system behave equally to Sonos’s choices; you’ll be able to remodel them from standalone sensible audio system into rear audio system in a house theater configuration or use them as particular person left- and right-channel audio sources. Or, you’ll be able to place a number of round the home for multi-room audio.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

Bose’s merchandise are nice for individuals who need one thing that may work nicely proper out of the field, with an equal appreciation for simplicity and trendy design. You can use almost any model of telephone, laptop computer, or pill with the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, and it’ll simply combine into your private home audio ecosystem, which is Bose’s best energy.

Also: Sony vs. Bose: My shopping for recommendation after listening to flagship headphones from each manufacturers

The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is a strong sensible speaker for individuals with mixed-device ecosystems, particularly those that aren’t large followers of voice assistants. Only Alexa and Alexa+ can be found on the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker to US customers. Though an Apple HomePod or a Sonos Era 100 is cheaper, these audio system have a number of {hardware} and software program limitations and function inside closed ecosystems.