I switched to a Bose-Sonos hybrid setup for my home audio - and it worked harmoniously

Source: ZDNet

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—two front‑facing drivers and one up‑firing driver—the speaker gets plenty loud. The up‑firing driver isn’t a dedicated Atmos height channel, and a single speaker isn’t Atmos‑compatible.

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 up‑mixed as the company’s Immersive Audio in its headphones and earbuds, but a singular up‑firing driver isn’t enough for true immersion. Adding another Lifestyle Ultra Speaker (providing a second up‑firing driver) and the Soundbar (adding two more) would give a fuller height experience.

Even as a single smart speaker, it delivers 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 fixes it easily. 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 only for its enjoyable sound but also for its ecosystem‑agnostic design—one of Bose’s long‑standing strengths. The lack of a lock‑in to a single software ecosystem means the device fits easily into existing setups.

Alexa built‑in, Google Cast, and Apple AirPlay are all supported, 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, and it worked like a charm.

The speaker also features a 3.5 mm 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 sources. Or, you can place several around the house for multi‑room audio.

[Image: Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker in Black]
Photo credit: Jada Jones/ZDNET

ZDNET’s buying advice

Bose’s products are great for people who want something that works 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—Bose’s greatest strength.

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+) is available on the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker for U.S. consumers. Though an Apple HomePod or a Sonos Era 100 is cheaper, those speakers have several hardware and software limitations and operate within closed ecosystems.