Bose’s £1,099 soundbar delivers powerful bass without a subwoofer
Bose’s Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar delivers powerful bass and immersive TV audio without requiring a separate subwoofer, making it a strong standalone home theatre option. That is notable at its £1,099-equivalent US price of $1,099, since adding a subwoofer would raise the cost further.
The soundbar has nine drivers, including up-firing and PhaseGuide units, and uses a phone microphone with Bose’s CustomTune feature to adjust audio to the room. Its fabric grille, glass top and touch controls distinguish the design, while a single HDMI eARC input means there is no HDMI 2.0 passthrough for devices such as game consoles. The reviewer found the sound especially effective for bass and spatial effects, with smaller and medium-sized rooms unlikely to need an added subwoofer.
- Strong bass makes a separate subwoofer optional for many rooms.
- Nine drivers create an immersive soundstage for TV and music.
- One HDMI eARC input, with no HDMI 2.0 passthrough.
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A soundbar is a speaker device designed to enhance the audio from modern televisions beyond their built-in speakers. Rather than installing a complicated multi-speaker system, a soundbar sits beneath or in front of your TV and delivers broader, fuller sound from a single unit.
Most soundbars still require a separate subwoofer—a specialised bass speaker—to deliver convincing deep bass sounds, which significantly increases the overall cost. Bose's new Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar claims to produce powerful bass internally, avoiding the need for additional equipment and the extra expense that would bring.
Premium soundbars appeal to people who want to improve their TV audio without installing extensive wiring throughout their home. At £1,099, it is an expensive purchase, though initial testing found the audio effective in smaller and medium-sized rooms, potentially removing the need for an additional subwoofer.
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Originally published by Engadget as “Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar review: A great home theater option all by itself”.