Bose has unveiled its new Lifestyle Collection, directly challenging Sonos in the premium audio market. The lineup includes the $299 Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, the $1,099 Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, and the $899 Ultra Subwoofer, all available now from Bose and retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
Lifestyle Ultra Speaker: A Smart Contender
Priced at $299, the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is Bose's answer to the Sonos Era 100. It comes in black or white from most retailers, with a beige variant exclusive to Bose for $349. This smart speaker features a front-firing woofer and tweeter, plus an up-firing driver—a notable addition absent in the Era 100. According to colleague John Higgins, the speaker delivers impressive volume and crisp vocal clarity for its size. It supports Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and Google Cast, allowing multi-room grouping with compatible non-Bose speakers. Importantly, it is the first third-party speaker to integrate Amazon's generative AI-powered Alexa Plus.
Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar and Subwoofer
The Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, priced at $1,099, supports Dolby Atmos and provides clear dialogue and a wide soundstage, though its low end may be lacking alone. To address this, Bose offers the Ultra Subwoofer at $899, which pairs seamlessly with the soundbar to deliver fuller, more balanced bass. Both devices are available in black and white from major retailers.
For a detailed hands-on review, check out our impressions of the Bose Lifestyle collection.
