The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar is designed for immediate plug-and-play convenience. After connecting it to power and a television, users should promptly download the Bose app to run CustomTune audio calibration, which tailors sound output to the specific acoustics of the room. This calibration process must be repeated if the system is later expanded with the Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer or Ultra Speakers.
Once configured, the soundbar significantly enhances TV audio through its up-firing and PhaseGuide drivers, creating a sense of dimension and immersion. Reviews of programs such as “Drive to Survive” and “Masters of the Air” highlight this effect. However, the most notable feature is its powerful low-end performance. The bass output is robust enough that listeners in small to medium-sized rooms may not feel the need to purchase a separate subwoofer. Even after extended testing, the low-frequency response remains impressive during sound effects that demand deep bass.
This bass capability extends to music playback as well. Tracks like Sylvan Esso’s “Flood Season” deliver clear bass guitar riffs and kick drum hits, while denser songs like Russian Circles’ “Empath” retain tonal depth without becoming muddy. The central tweeter also ensures vocals remain distinct and clear above the mix, making albums such as Hayley Williams’ “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party” particularly enjoyable to listen to.
Bose offers expansion options through the Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer and Ultra Speakers. For those in smaller spaces or who do not require the additional immersion provided by rear speakers, these add-ons are not essential. Individual speakers cost $349 each, and the subwoofer is priced at $899. Savings are available through the Home Theater Set or Surround Sound Set bundles, though no discount is offered for the Extra Bass Set, which pairs the soundbar with the subwoofer.
During testing, the subwoofer was added first, providing even deeper bass that may appeal to users intending to use the system as their primary music setup. However, the soundbar alone remained sufficient for musical enjoyment even in an open-concept living area. Subsequently, two Ultra Speakers were added as rear units, which proved to be the preferred method for enhancing performance. Because the soundbar handles bass well, the main gap in its performance is directional audio; adding rear speakers addresses this weakness. Disabling the subwoofer in this configuration resulted in minimal loss of overall output, with noticeable improvements mainly in scenes featuring booming effects.
For streaming, the soundbar supports AirPlay, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect, offering convenient ways to send audio from phones or laptops. Bluetooth is also available for those who prefer wireless pairing over these options.
Does CustomTune require a restart if I move the subwoofer later? Just want to avoid messing up the calibration.
Wait, the individual speakers are $349 each? That pricing feels a bit steep for add-ons when bundles exist.
Finally, a soundbar that doesn’t make me feel like I need another subwoofer. The bass is genuinely impressive on its own!