Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker Evaluation: A Pair Is the Option to Go

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker

Pros

• Attractively designed compact good speaker with glorious sound for its measurement
• Supports Google Cast for multiroom audio, Apple AirPlay and Bluetooth
• Amazon Alexa help
• Touch controls on the speaker
• Can be linked as a stereo pair or used as rear audio system when mixed with the Lifestyle Soundbar

Cons

• More costly than Sonos Era 100
• Not backward appropriate with earlier Bose Wi-Fi audio system
• Doesn’t natively help high-res 24-bit/192kHz audio at launch

Over the years, Bose has made numerous stabs at multiroom wi-fi audio techniques to compete with Sonos’ choices. Its new Lifestyle Collection, which incorporates the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ($299) I’m reviewing right here, the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar ($1,099) and the Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer ($899), takes a unique method. Instead of being tethered to the Bose app for setup and use, the audio system use Google Cast or Apple AirPlay, to allow them to intermingle with different Google Cast-capable wi-fi audio system you would possibly have already got in your house.

Read extra: Best Wi-Fi Wireless Speakers of 2026

Enlarge Image

Alas, the brand new Lifestyle Ultra audio system usually are not backward-compatible with the corporate’s earlier Wi-Fi speakers, but the shift toward a more open ecosystem is the right move, and the Alexa-enabled Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is an appealing option for those looking for an attractively designed, compact wireless bookshelf speaker that plays big for its small stature. That said, I’d strongly suggest buying two if you can afford it because they sound significantly more impressive as a stereo pair (and you do get $70 off when buying a stereo set). 

Multiple use-case eventualities   

I examined the Ultra Speaker as a standalone speaker and as a part of a stereo pair, although not with the Ultra Subwoofer or Ultra Soundbar. Measuring 7.3 by 4.8 by 6.6 inches and weighing 3.7 kilos, this can be a single-channel speaker with a top driver that makes use of the corporate’s “direct reflecting” expertise so as to add presence, although it is not an Atmos top channel by itself. However, when you use the Ultra Speaker as a rear speaker with the Ultra Soundbar, the peak driver will act as an Atmos channel.

Along with Wi-Fi, it additionally helps Bluetooth, nevertheless it have to be plugged in, so it is not a conveyable speaker. It’s additionally geared up with a 3.5mm enter so you possibly can join it to a supply element like a turntable. 

Enlarge Image

Easy setup

I initially arrange the Ultra as a standalone speaker on my Wi-Fi community and later added a second Ultra to create a stereo pair. This was all accomplished by means of the Bose app (for iOS and Android) and was easy. Initially, you are requested whether or not the speaker will probably be used as a part of a multiroom audio system, as a stereo pair or as rear-channel audio system. The solely challenge I encountered was a reasonably lengthy wait time for every speaker to be up to date with the most recent software program. It took about 10 minutes per speaker. 

Enlarge Image

Enlarge Image

A whole lot of reviewers have been evaluating the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker to the Sonos Era 100 SL ($189), a “speechless” model of the usual Era 100 ($219), which has a microphone and supports Amazon’s Alexa assistant like this Bose speaker. Personally, the Ultra sounds a little better than the Era 100. The Era 100 is a little warmer-sounding speaker that serves up a heavier dose of bass at its default setting, while the Bose’s bass is a little tighter, punchier and more defined. 

The Bose has a slightly wider and taller soundstage (thanks to the height driver), even though the Era 100 has two angled, side-firing tweeters to create a more expansive “stereo” soundstage. Both speakers have options for tweaking the bass, treble and midrange settings through equalizer controls in the app.  

As with a lot of wireless speakers, you’ll get some fluctuation in sound quality, depending on the track you’re listening to (based on the material and how well the track is recorded). There were moments when I thought, “Wow, that sounds really good,” and other moments when I found myself lowering the volume or just moving on from a track. Vocals do sound clear and natural with a nice tonal balance overall (the midrange is neither too forward nor recessed). 

You’re not going to get quite the same level of clarity that you’d get with a good wired bookshelf in this price range, and some folks may be a tad disappointed that the Ultra doesn’t natively support Hi-Res 24-bit/192kHz audio like the Wiim Sound speaker (though it does stream 16-bit/44.1kHz CD-quality audio). But Bose wireless speakers and headphones are designed to deliver nicely detailed, well-balanced audio that’s pleasant to listen to across a variety of music genres — and the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker does just that. 

I also compared the Bose to the more expensive Sonos Era 300 ($479). As a standalone speaker, the Era 300 is clearly superior, delivering bigger bass, more volume and a more expansive soundstage. While the Era 300 can fill a medium-to-large room with sound, I’d still be tempted to opt for two Lifestyle Ultra Speakers at $529 for true stereo (or two Era 100 speakers), particularly if I’m setting up a sound system for a small living room. It’s hard to beat real stereo separation. 

Enlarge Image

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker final thoughts

The sound quality of premium compact Wi-Fi smart speakers, whether from Bose, Sonos, Apple, Amazon, Wiim and others, continues to improve with time. The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is clearly a step up from earlier Bose Wi-Fi speakers, including the Home Speaker 300 and Home Speaker 500, offering richer, more refined sound with punchy, well-defined bass. Yes, you can get better-sounding powered bookshelf speakers for the money with Bluetooth connectivity. (I’ve always liked Edifier, Audioengine and Fluance powered speaker options.) But they aren’t “smart” speakers with voice assistants, and they don’t support a multiroom audio setup. 

Compared with the breadth of speaker options that Sonos offers, Bose’s new Lifestyle speaker line is somewhat restricted at launch. Presumably, that can change with time, however the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is an interesting different to the Sonos Era 100, although it’s $80 costlier. (The value hole narrows once you purchase a pair of them on Amazon for $530, and we must always see some extra gross sales as we head into the vacation shopping for season.)

The Bose sounds a little bit higher than the Era 100 and is as enticing, if no more so. Ultimately, nonetheless, its aggressive benefit could also be that it would not have a proprietary management app and as an alternative lets you use Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect or Google Cast and group Google Cast-enabled non-Bose audio system in a multiroom setup.

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is a prime mannequin within the compact good speaker class, however as I’ve already mentioned a couple of instances, get a pair when you can afford it.