Customer Ratings & Reviews

The sound is just incredible and its super easy to switch audio inputs to use this on multiple devices. The smart features are an added bonus and Ive been having fun listening to music and movies on this.

The connectivity was really easy via the bose app and pairs perfectly with the bose lifestyle ultra! It sounds amazing with games!

I am using a pair of these speakers with a LifeStyle Ultra sound bar. The setup replaces my old Samsung Q990F Atmos system. The new Bose are slightly small than the Samsungs but the number of internal drivers is the same. An attached picture shows the two sizes. Sound is very nice and clear.

The system is easy to set up, the sound is great. The app is the only downside of this whole processor otherwise overall great speakers.

Sound is insane. Love the surround sound would highly recommend this system.

It sounds clear and it has a really powerful base! Can get enough

Great for music or just for using it as a smart speaker (alexa)

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is a versatile compact speaker designed to be used either standalone, in a stereo pair, as part of a multi-room setup, or to provide surround sound in a home theater setup alongside the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar and Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer. I’m doing the latter, using two of the speakers as surrounds in my living room setup. Bose designed the speaker with a small woofer and tweeter alongside another small upward-firing speaker which allows it to fill the room in standalone mode or deliver Dolby Atmos effects in the home theater configuration. One thing I appreciate is how discreet they are. Traditional surround speakers can sometimes dominate a living room setup, but these are compact enough to blend into the background while still delivering impressive performance. They can also be wall mounted if you purchase a Bose LifeStyle wall bracket. The speakers connect wirelessly to the soundbar, which makes placement much easier than a traditional surround sound system. You still need power outlets nearby, but you don’t have to run long speaker wires. I placed mine directly to the left and right of my couch on the end tables and have had no issues with connection stability, lag, or audio dropouts. The top of the speaker has playback controls along with volume adjustment. In addition, there is a Bluetooth pairing button, an action button (for Alexa), and a microphone mute button. Unfortunately, when used in home theater mode, some of these controls become less useful. For example, turning off the mic on the speaker does NOT sync and disable the microphones on the other speaker or the soundbar. The play/pause and volume controls do work though, which is convenient since the speakers are right beside my couch. In the box is only the speaker, a small instruction sheet that directs you to the app, and the power cable. Like the other components in the system, setup is extremely straightforward through the Bose app. Once plugged in, the app immediately detected the speakers and guided me through pairing them with the soundbar. Firmware updates downloaded automatically, and shortly thereafter everything was fully connected and calibrated with Bose CustomTune, which uses your phone’s microphone to tune the entire setup for your specific room. Performance as surrounds is excellent. They instantly added a level of immersion to movies, TV shows, and games that I did not have before. With Bose’s TrueSpatial processing, the upward-firing speaker bounces convincing Dolby Atmos directional effects off my ceiling that make the entire system feel more cinematic. I immediately noticed the difference when watching an old favorite, The Truman Show. When Kristof talks to Truman, his voice echoed thunderously from directly above me as if he was in the heavens. Music playback also benefits from the surround setup. A lot of streaming services support spatial audio such as Apple Music. Playing a Dolby Atmos track brings the entire surround system to life and envelops you in the music. Bose has done an excellent job designing this entire line of products to work either individually or as a complete system. However, one downside is that the speaker is not compatible with anything other than the soundbar and subwoofer in the Lifestyle Ultra lineup. Those with older soundbars would need to upgrade. Pros: - Premium build quality - Compact design - Wireless and Bluetooth connectivity - AirPlay and Google Cast support - Multiroom functionality - Alexa and Alexa+ support - Easy setup through the Bose app - Excellent surround immersion - Works seamlessly with the companion soundbar and subwoofer - 3.5mm wired input Cons: - Only works as surrounds with the LifeStyle Ultra Soundbar Overall – The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is an excellent addition to the Bose home theater ecosystem. While the soundbar alone already sounds fantastic, adding the surround speakers makes movies, games, and music feel dramatically more immersive. I highly recommend a pair of speakers if you already have the soundbar.

Reviewed as a system I've either owned or had experience (through friends/family) with many Bose products over the years. This started with a pair of 901's back in the 70's when I admired but could not afford such an extravagance. Luckily I had a friend with spendable cash. When the original Lifestyle surround system came on the market; I was working steadily, and that became my Christmas present to myself. What followed was CD Clock/Radio; outdoor speakers, smart soundbars, and headphones, both bud & noise cancelling styles. The new LS Ultra Soundbar follows in their tradition of beautifully designed and well engineered products. Upon unboxing, I was immediately impressed with the smooth plate glass top of the soundbar piece. The body of the unit is sleek, elegant, and at about 42" long, definitely not unassuming. A statement piece to be sure. The subwoofer for the LS is also topped with a thick slab of plate glass, and quite heavy relative to its size. By its heft alone, one could imagine the thunderous bass its body could produce. Rear satellite speakers also quite hefty for their size. If you'd be looking to wall shelve the set, I wouldn't be cheaping out on a drywall bracket. Mounting screw hole is provided on the bottom. Upon setup, I was prepared for an adventure with the Bose app. With my previously owned Smart Soundbar 600, I could never get the app to cooperate with the unit. Once I finally got it connected, it ended up dropping it, and wouldn't reconnect. I finally gave up and became satisfied using the remote. With the new LS Ultra, the experience was quite different. The app guided me through the process, first connecting the main soundbar, then subwoofer, and finally, the satellites. I'm sure many of you have had adventures making the TV connection - will it be recognized & configure properly? No adventure for me this time. Hooked the provided HDMI cable into the ARC input on the tv, and all was good. Both units turned on/off properly in sync with each other. The app also contains a function for self tuning/configuration to your room. A series of tones are emitted from the main unit, you take your phone to your favored seating position, and the unit calibrates. The first time around, it gave me a "didn't quite get that"; which was probably because I was holding the phone at the wrong angle. A second go-through went through with no issue. It then asked for a secondary seat position, and went through the process again; however, I don't see anything in the app that would allow you to select a primary/secondary function. The end result produced a beautifully rich and all encompassing sound. The imaging and soundstage are dead-on perfect. I did play with the app's adjustment sliders for bass/mid/treble, left/right, front/back, but came back to neutral, as it seemed the "tuning" function of the app had done its job. I do own other high end audio equipment, my vinyl record collection spans decades and several thousand records. Subjectively, I've always felt that Bose products had their own "color" or "flavor." As such, when listening to vinyl, I strive to keep things as neutral as possible to preserve the original intention of the artist and/or recording process. I've always chose amplifiers & speakers with those qualities, consequently, Bose has not been my choice in that situation. However, video applications are different. If you've ever heard soundtracks to shows or movies, they do have a different sound than if you were playing the tracks on your CD or vinyl system. They're tuned that way. This Bose LS system portrays the audio/video experience perfectly. The streaming I've seen on Netflix, Apple & especially Disney are the best I've experienced. My personal wishlist - I do wish they had included a remote with the system. For one thing, the glass top of the system is a dust collector, and the embedded controls are super sensitive. If my wife comes by to Swiffer the dust, the controls respond, I'd like to be able to have a remote button to control at least on/off. Yes, I do know we have Alexa/Google to control our lives, but I'm an old school guy. I miss buttons!

Verdict: The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Wireless Speaker is impressive in its versatility, quality, and capability, especially given its small size. The wireless integration essentially allows for endless configurations of multiple of these speakers within a room or across your house. They also seamlessly integrate with other Bose Lifestyle speakers to create a home theater system. I tested two of these speakers together. Background. This review is only for the Lifestyle Ultra speakers, but we installed several pieces to build a Bose home theater system. Initial impressions. These speakers are fairly small, they look great, and I love the touch controls on the top. They also have a mount connector under the speaker. Setup. After I plugged the speakers in and placed at an optimal location, installation through the Bose app was smooth. You can use these speakers with just one speaker, multiple speakers for full surround, or as part of a home theater system with a soundbar and subwoofer. The handy “bell” icon in the app will generate a sound on the corresponding speaker so that you can identify which speaker is which. Essentially, these are as plug-and-play as it gets. Performance. The Lifestyle Ultra speakers provide balanced, clean, and powerful sound. I have been quite impressed with the bass they generate, punching above their weight. Of note, they pair really nicely with the soundbar to perfectly complement spatial sound. The touch controls work well and they are very handy. These are so cool… I have a lot of ideas on how/where I could put a few more of these speakers around the house. Features. The Ultra Speaker can operate on its own and connect through WiFi, Bluetooth, AUX, Google Cast, and Airplay. It also comes with Alexa connectivity. You can control them from the Bose App or the touch controls. Things I love: - Small but powerful - Clean and crisp sound, with impressive bass - Super versatile connectivity, with endless configurations - Seamless integration with other Bose units to build an epic home theater system that you can grow over time Things I don’t love: - Nothing… These are perfect! Overall, these are remarkable speakers in their quality, versatility, and power. They can integrate with other "like" speakers, or with other Lifestyle Ultra units such as a soundbar and subwoofer to create an amazing home theater. I most highly recommend these Bose speakers.

PROS + Excellent sounding out of the box, with minimal tuning required + Can be used standalone, in a stereo pair, in a multi-room set-up, or as rear speakers in a home theater setup with the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar + 3.5mm Aux input for devices like turntables + Supports Alexa+ for a better Alexa assistant experience + Bose app is largely consistent and easy to use + EQ controls in the app available to help dial speakers in + Work really well as rear speakers to complete a 7.1.4 set-up + Supports Airplay, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect CONS - No Dolby Atmos music support when used on their own, despite having an upward firing driver - Could use more low-end extension OTHER THINGS OF NOTE * Tidal Connect is not currently supported but should be coming later with a firmware update * Design kind of reminds me of a coffee mug when looking at them in person * Really benefits from adding the optional wireless subwoofer * Height effects and vertical spatialness doesn't extend all the way to my ceiling in my spaces, but still adds solid 3-dimensionality to the soundstage THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT If you are looking for high-quality wireless speakers to round out a home theater or just for standalone listening, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speakers are a very strong contender that mostly hit the mark. They sound excellent right out of the box with a neutral profile that requires very little tuning, though you do have solid EQ controls in the app if you want to dial them in. I really appreciate the flexibility they offer; you can use them as a stereo pair, in a multi-room setup, or as rear channels to complete a full 7.1.4 Atmos system, which is how I primarily used them. They also include a 3.5mm aux input for turntables and support for AirPlay, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect, making them very versatile for modern setups. They compete well in the space, with Tidal Connect being the one bigger omission for me as a Tidal user, although it should be coming with a firmware update in the future. The Bose app remains consistent and responsive, and having Alexa+ support built-in is a nice touch for a better voice assistant experience, which is a big deal as I don’t think I have seen any other devices, beyond 1st-party amazon speakers, which support Alexa+, and is a game changer if you use Alexa in your house. Expanding on the sound quality a bit, I think the speakers sound largely flat from a tuning perspective, with a bit of a peak in the treble. You can EQ then, but vocal clarity in the mid-range was excellent, especially when used as a stereo pair. As a pair of rear speakers, which is how they were mostly used in my house, they were excellent, and provided a necessary addition to really fill out the Dolby Atmos bubble in my home. Excellent sound all around and definitely competitive in the space. However, there are a few quirks that keep these from being perfect. The most glaring omission is the lack of Dolby Atmos music support when the speakers are used standalone, which is strange given they have upward-firing drivers. You can use them as part of the home theater set-up which means Atmos music from a device like an Apply TV will play Atmos to the rear speakers, but you can’t decode Atmos on the speakers directly, which is a bit of an omission in my opinion, even if Atmos music isn’t always my preferred way of listening to tracks. Also, the only mark I would make on sound quality is that, on their own, they could also use a bit more low-end extension, though adding the optional wireless subwoofer solves this and really helps them sing. You can only do so much with how relatively compact they are. On the design front, I can’t help but feel they look a bit like a coffee mug in person, which isn’t bad, but once you see it, it is just kinda funny. It has to do with the textured cover only stretching the first half of the speaker, with the rear being uncovered, like the handle of a mug. On top of the speakers you get touch controls, which are nice if you don’t want to go into the app to mess with the audio settings for the speakers. Overall, these are great speakers that deliver a premium experience, and while they have a couple of limitations and a unique look, they are easy to recommend for anyone already in or looking to join the Bose ecosystem. If you have the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, then I would go so far as to say they are a must add for a full Atmos experience.

This pair tops off the Bose Ultra Lifestyle system. These two satellite speakers work in tandem with the Bose Lifestyle soundbar and and the subwoofer. These connect via wifi or bluetooth and provide an incredible surround system bringing it to a full 7.1.4 surround experience. These upward and forward firing speakers are amazing. They connect fully wirelessly and everything is pulled together with the Bose app. These speakers can be used individually if needed, but partnered with the subwoofer and soundbar is where they were designed to be at their best. These speakers combine a compact bookshelf design with advanced acoustic engineering to deliver an immersive, room-filling sound. Contained within is a 3 Driver system consisting of two front-facing drivers and an up-firing height driver, which work in tandem with proprietary Direct/Reflecting Technology to bounce sound waves off walls and ceilings. Sound levels can be controlled from the Bose app and set to your individual preferences. Again while you can use these individually, nothing sounds better than combining it with the Ultra soundbar and subwoofer which are sold separately, but absolutely worth the investment. Highly recommended.

I'm currently using these Bose LS Ultra Speakers as part of the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Home Theater set. I have them configured as my rear surround speakers. While the Bose LS Ultra soundbar does a very good job of simulating virtual surround sound on its own, these are absolute game changers once added to the system. I was initially surprised to discover that, in such a small form-factor, Bose managed to design a speaker with a three-driver array: two front-facing drivers and one up-firing driver. They also feature a rear-port designed to optimize bass response. Once I discovered this, it made sense how even a single one of these speakers was able to produce big sound! While I won’t be using these much for 2-channel stereo listening, I was pretty impressed by the clear mids, highs, and surprisingly strong low-frequency output they produced when I temporarily removed them from my home theater configuration and paired them in a stereo setup for music listening. The bass was surprisingly punchy for it's size. Where I really had a ton of fun with these, though, was while listening to Dolby Atmos music when they were configured as rear surrounds as part of the full Bose LS Ultra home theater system. Talk about an immersive 360-degree audio experience! When listening to "California Magic - Doey Joey Remix" by "Goose" in Dolby Atmos, I could hear different instruments and effects coming from all around the room. Listening to Dolby Atmos music with these LS Ultra Speakers as surrounds is something that has to be experienced in person, as words can't quite capture it. Where these LS Speakers truly shine is when they're part of the full Bose LS Ultra home theater system. Watching the initial climbing scene in Netflix's new movie "Apex", as the weather turned brutal, was like being on the mountain with the characters. I could hear rocks falling from every which way. Gusts of wind darted above me and then quickly changed direction from left to right in my living room. It truly felt like I was in the theater! A customization option that I love on the Bose app is the ability to increase or decrease the volume of the surrounds. Based on my unique setup in my living room, I've had to place one of my rear surrounds about 10 feet away and the other one about 15 feet away; not ideal, but it's what I have to work with. However, because Bose gives me the ability to turn up the volume of the surround speakers even when paired to the system, I'm able to compensate for their distance and still get the same level of performance as if they were a lot closer. This made a world of a difference for my particular setup! I found that for most movies or shows, I like to leave them at around +7 to make up for some of that distance. Lastly, I was extremely pleased to see Bose do away with the large power adapters on their surround speakers. In the past, some of Bose's "wireless" speaker solutions (such as the Bose Surround 700 series) still required speaker wires running from the back of each speaker to a bulky wireless receiver/power module. Thankfully, this is no longer the case with the Bose LS Ultra speakers. All that's required is a standard AC power cable, which makes them that much easier to blend into your living room. If you're thinking of picking up the LS Ultra soundbar and subwoofer, or simply want a small form-factor multi-room stereo music solution, I highly recommend these speakers!

I bought a new premium TV last year and had a pretty good home theatre system but I wanted to go premium with the sound as well and BOSE has a big reputation, and I wanted to go big and see if the hype was justified. I have the Quite comfort headphones and a stand alone speaker for road trips and they hit way above their wight class. I was hoping the same for the Home theater. Got the LIfesytle Ultra Soundbar, The Ultra Subwoofer and two Ultra speakers for the rear fight and left. Un boxing was easy and simple. I love that the only chords you need was a power chord for each of the units and an eArc/ARC cable…that’s it. The app makes the actual set up the easiest home theater set up I have ever done…NOTE: Your tv must be e/Arc because you have to control the Bose Ultras from your tv remote or app or by actually touching the sound bar. Set up was a few clicks and all the magic just happens. Power chords are the only chord and cable wrangling needed. The sound bar is beautiful and a little heavy. About 15 pounds. That’s something to consider because I plan to hang it under my Mantle mount pull down tv arm. My new tv was lighter than my old one and then I upgraded on the mantle mount to hold more weight but I might need to adjust tension on the pull down hydraulics. I got on BOSE website and ordered the wall mounting brackets and I will have to figure out the right combination of hanging accessories to make it work. The sound bar is clearly designed to be sitting on a shelf but I don’t want it that way so I must innovate a bit. Also if you plan to use a generic wall mount BOSE has a grove on the underneath so that must be taken into consideration as a generic one may not work. If I can hang it on a wall though… I should be able to mount it on my tv arm….We’ll see. So back to being designed for a shelf primarily… the unit has volume control and pause and play on a physical button on the top of the unit. Yes you actually can walk up to it and spin the virtual volume wheel to the left or right to turn up the sound or down. I like that…I think… but it seems very retro and I doubt I will use that very often if ever…. Who wants to walk up to their sound bar and push buttons in 2026??? The unit doesn’t even come with a remote….I know sound bar remotes seem archaic and sit in the sofa storage box 95% of the time but for a premium system… give us a bone and throw in a basic remote. It would be nice at a party if I could have that in my pocket and mute quickly…. To be fair, The BOSE app is very nice, quick and responsive and is better than a remote in so far as how easy it is and more functional that a remote…but I want both options. The subwoofer is heavy, well built and looks really good in my Livingroom. The base is so amazingly clean and balanced and powerful…You truly do feel it… even at scale…. Even when the volume is not high…you can still feel the base and it is proportional to the other sound profiles and just amazing! The Sub Looks like a small coffee table instead of some big open woofer. I like that. The rear speakers are larger than my other rears on my old system and that’s because BOSE has done something really unique and versatile with the Ultra speaker …. They can be a stand alone speaker unto themselves…. Really interesting and very cool. I absolutely love the concept of being able to just unplug my speaker and take it with me on a trip or better yet buy two more and have whole home audio. The Ultra speakers being a stand alone unit with stand alone audio features (mid’s, highs and base) bring a whole lot to the home theater experience. They hit so much harder than traditional supplemental rear speakers in other systems I have had. I was watching a show and charter walked in stage right and slammed a door on the screen, I jumped because I swore my main door of my house just slammed behind me….amazing….It literally tricked my brain with just how realist the sound profile was. So realistic and immersive… and that brings me to the overall sound quality. Bose is an investment in experiences for me and my spouse… from movies with the spouse, to concert quality sound from my streams …Apple, Spotifiy, Youtube, Netflix, HULU, Paramount…ect ect…My spouse and I are so busy that we only have a couple of hours to escape and relax and get lost in music or shows….BOSE delivers that experience on a silver plater with style and elegance. I don’t know how they are able to have such clear dialogue while still maintaining the lush and vibrant and sometimes loud audio soundscape of some of the movies and shows out there and the Base…BOSE knows BASE. The app has a dialog boost setting… 1, 2, and 3. I tired all three and I actually prefer and can hear quite fine the native setting of the system (No subtitles needed ever again!). You can easily use the app to increase base and mid ect…but I found that the sound profile out of the box is spot on….It uses your cell phone to gage and analyses the room!!! You actually set you phone on the unit and run a calibration.. then you sit in your spot on the couch and run the calibration again and do that two more times in sperate places you sit at and it generates the best sound for those location…insanely smart… and I could hear the difference…. The sound in so enveloping…It’s like it is everywhere all at once…You have to experience it to really have an appreciation of just how smart the tech is. It comes preloaded with the Alexa assistant …bummer… I hate Alexa. I wish it had a Google Gemini option but if you’re an Alexa family you good to go out of the gate. Also Gamers…. Amazing!!! I play mostly first person shooters (or at least till GTA 6 comes out)… but the bullets and music are next level. Despite the very minor gripes about no remote and Alexa…. Bose Ultra Lifestyle lives up to the hype for me. If you love sound…Sound loves BOSE and it shows! Can’t go wrong!

I got this Bose Lifestyle sound bar along with a full package of Lifestyle, Ultra Subwoofer, and Lifestyle Ultra Surround Speaker; therefore, I am describing this as a full setup, not as an individual sound bar or subwoofer or the Lifestyle speaker. Unpacking Everything comes in recyclable packaging, and the products are well packed because of the weight of the subwoofer, which is very heavy. The box was opened on one side, but otherwise, everything was OK. No damage. I hope Bose should put more sturdy packaging. The sound bar comes with an HDMI cable, and a Power Cable , Subwoofer comes with only Power Cable. The Lifestyle Surround Speakers comes with Power cables. Build Quality The soundbar has a glass top and instead of metal mash. It has a woven soft fabric. this is my personal preference- I like the metal mesh more than the fabric, just because I feel like the metal is more sturdy and gets a more premium look than the fabric. The fabric also attracts more dust and over time It will get dirty while the metal mesh you can simply wipe with a soft damp cloth and it again shines. on the right side of the sound bar. There is a volume button and a play/ pause button, all are touch buttons. The upward firing Dolby Atoms speaker is also at the end of the sound bar. I like the previous version of the Sound Bar Ultra, but this is my personal preference. Other people might like this. Overall, it does give a premium feel. The subwoofer and the small speakers also follow the same woven mesh cloth aesthetics and look the same and easily blend with any room decor. Setup I have other Bose products, soundbar ultra and also quite comfort headphones, and I own the Bose product since the SoundTouch series which I still love. So, as always, the set up is based on the app, you have to download the Bose app, and then everything is just on a screen prompt, and you have to follow the set up. For this particular product, there was a little bit of a hiccup in the beginning. Sometimes the subwoofer was not recognizing, sometimes one of the small speakers was not recognized, and I think that it was as soon as I turned on the speakers. They were downloading a software update or firmware update. That issue went away after some time when things became installed and restarted. They just pair up with each other and kind of become a home theater system. I set up so that the sound bar is in front of my TV and the subwoofer is on the right side of the sound bar, and two surround speakers are on the back of the room on the left and right sides. Connection are wireless, that means everything is just a need to be connected in power, and then it’s just a breeze. The small speakers can be set up in a different way. Can we use them as individual speakers or in a stereo speaker in a different room so that it gives different options. And that’s really good to have. More speakers can be added at a later time point, or if someone wants to have a 7.1 experience, they can buy more speakers and add them to experience a truly immersive sound. Sound output, dialogue clarity, and bass The sound output is really crisp and clean. Their is in a toggle button in the app that you can turn on the dialogue or spoken dialogue clarity you can choose from low, medium, and high. Even without turning that on, the dialogues are very clear, and I really like this feature on the Bose speakers. During the setup The app automatically asks to connect the sound bar to Wi-Fi and find speakers and subwoofer on the network, and once everything is set up, it asks whether we want to tune the sound or surround experience based on our room. That is a good thing because as we have furniture and other stuff in the room, so it can tune up at the place where you sit and adjust the surround experience based on that. These days, everything is becoming up-based and phone-based, and I really do not like that because now I have to, let’s suppose if I have to change the volume or any other settings. I have to pick up my phone. It would have been very good if Bose included a remote with this product, and I still miss the universal remote with my SoundTouch sound bar. It is kind of becoming a personal music system, not for a family or shared one, so everyone has to have an app and use the phone to change basic things. That’s one down point; a remote could have been much better so that if I want to increase the bass, I can simply press the button on the remote or enable the spoken dialogue clarity button. The app has different controls in the volume and tribble and surround, which can be adjusted individually from -10 to +10. The midway is zero; even at the midway, that is zero value, the sound output is really loud and very clear; it does not break if you increase the volume. The subwoofer is really very deep bass. I am living on the first floor in an apartment building and even at zero mid value I was watching a movie and the whole floor was filled with the deep bass that was really a thrilling experience, and the surround system really built up on that and it is really a movie hall kind of experience. Overall, I really like the Lifestyle Ultra series sound bar and speaker system in my personal feeling. I felt that the series is missing a universal remote, and it would have been great if instead of the fabric, it should have a premium metal mash like their previous soundbars. I do recommend this anyone want to have a home theater experience

I got two of these new Bose Ultra Lifestyle Speakers as part of a package of speakers to make a complete Bose home theater that includes the Ultra Lifestyle Soundbar and their new Lifestyle Subwoofer. If you buy each piece separately as funds allow or just buy the all speakers at once at Best Buy. The sound is extremely good. Plus, most of the setup is pretty straight forward and only requires an outlet and phone app. The Ultra Speakers can be purchased separately and placed almost anywhere for room filling audio in addition to being part of a Bose home theater setup. Bose looks to have made these speakers far more versatile than the older rear satellites you could buy. Each speaker has convienant controls for easy play, pause, mute, track, and volume right on top. Setup: Simply unbox, plug in and add to the Bose app. You can use them as is as for Bluetooth audio and place them around your house for room filling high-end audio. Or like I did. Add two speakers and assign them a left or right designation, they include a tone and light to help identify each speaker. Then add them to a home theater group, run CustomTune and you are ready to hear your movies and music in a very immersive way. It does seem that once grouped for home theater, they can't be used independently as single Bluetooth speakers until ungrouped. And their top mounted controls when grouped, are deactivated as the soundbar becomes main control. Each of these speakers have very big rubber pads for shelf placement or 1/4" thread for speaker bracket wall mounts. Small mounts will work well as speakers are not too heavy. Just try to hit a wall stud for secure sturdy shelf's or brackets. Audio: I did not spend too much time using these Ultra Lifestyle Speakers as solo or as paired speakers. I imagine a few may buy one and be perfectly happy as these seem to act like a small multi driver speaker with a height up firing Atmos like speaker. A single speaker can get very loud with no distortion. I paired them up and ran them in the home theater speaker group with the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar and Subwoofer. In that configuration they sound awesome carrying the rear surround channel audio for movies and spatial audio for music. Movies sound great with these behind me. To showcase the speakers more. I ran lossless music through them and then you see that Bose signature clarity and it sounds fantastic at any volume. The spatial upmix is very good. It can be tailored to your preference in the app. While I had hoped to hear back about how many of these speakers can be connected at once and in what configurations are allowed (only 5.1, 5.2?, 7.1?, 7.2?). I didn't hear back from Bose before writing this review. I am sure the Bose site will mention that soon. All I know for sure is these speakers and the rest of the new Ultra Lifestyle speakers sound amazing from low ambient to full throttle rattle the walls home theater. Yes, Top Gun 1 and 2 sound amazing.

I just recently upgraded my home theater set up in my living room to the Bose lifestyle ultra soundbar and wanted the full home theater experience with my 98 inch tv like most movie lovers do. And in order to really get that room filling sound, you have to get a set of speakers for the left and right rear. Bose offers that with these speakers that can be used individually or as a pair connected through the Bose app. Easy to do if that’s what you plan. In my case that’s all I need them for. And man do they do it very well. When adding surround, they are either great or just so so. These are great for the surround effect while play Dolby atmos or other 5.1 sound formats. The drivers in the speakers are bigger and more robust than typical rear speakers and that why they sound more realistic like a movie theater and the way the director intended. Separate drivers help to separate sound even further and up firing speakers work well enough, tho hard to say with up firing speakers are concerned since they are not actually above your head. But that’s par for the course and not a big deal. Listening to music is nice in conjunction with the soundbar and sub. The design imo is beautiful. Not boxie but with a nice oval shape with a very nice mesh type speaker cover. Top mounted controls for Bluetooth, alexa and volume controls. Though again I didn’t use those as these are mainly for surrounds. Over all worth the upgrade to add probably the best surround speakers I’ve tried thus far aside from dedicated wired speakers. But whose using those any more. This is the best route to take to if you want a real at home theater experience. Just pair it with the Bose lifestyle ultra sound bar and new or older Bose subs even. You will love the overall sound experience.

Included- Bose wireless speaker, power cord Installation was a breeze. The soundbar, speakers and sub were all packed very well but were still simple to unpack. The two rear speakers just needed a power cord connected and plugged into an outlet. I already had the Bose app on my phone, so I went in and added the product to my list and connected it to my wi-fi. The app prompted me to walk through the set up after the system updated. Then you can customize your system. It calibrates the speakers, subwoofer and soundbar for the optimal experience. It will adjust the sound to your space and locations for all the speakers for optimal performance. It only took a few minutes from start to finish which I appreciate.  This is my third Bose soundbar system and this is the first one that did not include a remote. You have to control the speakers by touch, voice control or through the app. I don't want to have to get up and touch buttons to control the settings or volume so I'm forced to usually use the app because the voice control can only help with basic functions, nothing like the EQ. I think it would be nice to have at least a simple remote with basic functions if my phone is not available. The speakers also have AUX inputs so you can connect things like a CD player or turntable if you aren't able to wirelessly via Bluetooth. The rear speakers, a left and a right are set up in in the back of my living room. I have one on the floor in the back corner and  another is on a kitchen counter. It's close to my living room with my open concept house and that way it can be in the back and on the other side of the room to get the full effect of surround sound. They are a small but mighy speakers at only about three and a half pounds and 7"x 5"x 6". As far as sound quality, I think the Lifestyle Ultra Collections is the best one from Bose yet. I think Bose is the best on the market and my personal favorite. The sound quality is always amazing thanks to the three speakers inside, two front facing and one facing up. it really projects the sound around you. It also has Cleanbass technology to provide depth to all of your music. The sound, especially set up with the Lifestyle Soundbar and Subwoofer, create a enjoyable and immersive listening experience.  I enjoy using the Lifestyle system when I'm watching TV or a movie and want a surround system experience because I have bundled the subwoofer and rear speakers with the soundbar. I also love streaming my playlist or satellite radio via Bluetooth when I want some background music on. Bose premium sound will provide endless hours of entertainment.

Want a clear, deep, bold-sounding speaker? You will not find a better one than the new Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker. It seamlessly works with the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar to create a surround-sound configuration in stereo mode or as a multiroom sound system. The overall design is sleek, rounded, and made of PC-ABS plastic, fabric, and Rubber. It is 7.279” H x 4.767” W x 6.594” D, and it only weighs 2.660 lbs. The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker works seamlessly with the app. The Bose App immediately recognized both speakers as I added them. At the same time, I could add each serial number, and the products were registered with no hassle. Once the app found a speaker, it prompted a firmware update, but then it immediately worked with the sound bar, since that was the configuration that I chose during setup. It could have just as easily been set up as a standalone speaker or in stereo mode as a pair. Just like the soundbar, the 5.3 Bluetooth supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth Low Energy and is designed for wireless Wi-Fi connectivity. The speakers also have a touch control on the top of each for volume adjustment, or you can adjust the volume in the app. The speaker comes in white, black, and a driftwood sand color. Both white and black are available options for the soundbar and complete home theater system. The packaging includes a power cord, but the technology in this system is so dynamic that there is no need for many extras. Bose does sell an optional floor stand for mounting the speaker, which would be a great option in the right situation, but it is not necessarily needed. The speakers, when paired with the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, deliver unmatched, rich, full surround sound that is really hard to beat. It is definitely a premium audio system!

I’ve had the Bose TV Speaker and the Smart Soundbar in use under my TV before, as well as the Soundlink Mini & Micro bluetooth speakers around the home - but I’ve never had one of their subs - so overall, I can say I have a grasp for the Bose sound quality. With the new Lifestyle Ultras, they are taking on one of my favorite audio companies head on and it’s a fun comparison. This needs to differ from my normal Good/Meh/Bad overview and I’ll be calling out things I like, don’t like or are problematic (**) or am indifferent/critical on (*), given the following categories: —- The App —- Stereo Pair Ultras —- Ultras as Standalone Speakers —- Streaming The App: Wow, it can be a pain Full disclosure: I started using the system before it was released to the retail community, so the App did pose some challenges but I found a handful of uninstall/reinstalls on my Galaxy S26 Ultra got me to complete the setup. I have two of the Lifestyle Ultras and during setup, only one of the two Lifestyle speakers were found. Then one speaker got caught in a weird state where it was unresponsive. A remove/re-install of the App and a few factory resets of the Lifestyle Ultras got everything connected and updated. These speakers are said to be close to rivals speakers - allowing for individual speaker use, or putting them together in a pair - or added to your existing Lifestyle Soundbar/Subwoofer pair (see my reviews on them)! —- Entertainment Setup: I added them to my entertainment combo first and boy, these speakers are crazy good as rears. I was hearing things I don’t even remember hearing when I was running an Onkyo Receiver & hard-wired rears. While this Bose Lifestyle 5.1 setup may not last long in its complete configuration, I did run it through the ringer with my favorite movies like: The Fast and The Furious (OG), Sin City, Pulp Fiction, Fear & Loathing and even Star Wars. Any those will get you cars, explosions, guns, background talking, and all the things that make up a good movie experience. *Critique - since they’re ‘smart’ enabled, there’s a microphone and that microphone can be muted which is great, however there’s no way to turn off the RED led on the top of the speakers. —- Stereo Pair configuration: I then broke them away from the Entertainment config and set up the Lifestyle Ultras in a Stereo Pair in my office. **Issue: I found when building a pair, they won’t work well as a pair until they’ve been power cycled, post pair formation. I had this happen on numerous occasions as I’ve created & broken the pairs for various usage around the house. *Critique - no changes with the RED mute LED in this configuration - it can’t be turned off even in this configuration - so it seems this isn’t doable yet. In a pair, they don’t quite overtake my existing <competitor’s> 300s, but the sound is also quite different. A wider sound again, for these in a pair and technically they’re not a direct competition for those but they ended up being pretty close! As a pair on a covered lanai countertop, the speakers are clear and no noticeable bluetooth lag when compared to other speakers in the same ‘outdoor’ setting with the same TV on a talking-dominated show (say, Golf). Flipping to music brings about a booming of the bass which absolutely caught me off guard and rocked the patio. These are absolutely my new party speakers! It was simple to create the pair and even “pair” them (as a single speaker) to my TV as all it took was toggling the source to be Bluetooth on the App and then scanning for the speaker. — Lifestyle Ultras as stand-alone smart speakers: I liked these in a pair and felt that the combination of both speakers’ bass responses were a great match to each other. By themselves, the sound continues to be good and tuning the bass with proper positioning is key. The power cord's length is sufficient and I found the both ends of the connections to be snug and I’d be totally comfortable putting them up on the top of my cabinets, or in an alcove on the counter top to add some sound to the kitchen without fear of an accidental disconnect. —- Streaming: Streaming to these devices is easy with Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and Google Cast. Once enabled, Cast from YouTube Music - and if using Spotify, just select the Speaker / Pair, etc that’s been configured and walk away, as there’s a transfer of the song to the device, it’s not tied to your phone like when connected via Bluetooth. When using Bluetooth, say from a TV - it’s still easy, make an input mode App change and you’re off to send whatever to the speakers after pairing. *Caveat - but I think it’s more of a non-Bose App issue to be aware of. If you cast to “speaker 1” and then pair it with another Ultra speaker and call it “pair” - then try to stream to pair - there’s a cache of sorts that makes the streaming not work to both speakers, or they echo. Waiting enough time and/or power cycling the speakers will broadcast the new proper speaker name & streams will be working without issue (or so it did for me). Wow, these are fun - highly recommended and if you can - pick up the Lifestyle Soundbar & Subwoofers to turn your living room into a powerhouse movie center!