Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar
By Bose · Soundbars · Desk & Streaming Setup · More from Bose
- 9 drivers including center tweeter
- Dolby Atmos support
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
- 43.5 x 2.6 x 4.96 inches
- CustomTune room calibration
Price not listed
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Summary
A 9-driver Dolby Atmos soundbar for buyers who want clarity, music replay and Bose ecosystem integration in one bar. Check your room and expectations before buying: bass is limited without the optional subwoofer, and there is no DTS, HDMI input or physical remote.
Strengths
- Speech clarity and music replay drew praise from all three independent testers.
- CustomTune room calibration runs from a phone and needs no special mic.
- Connectivity covers AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth 5.3 and Alexa.
- Exceptionally low audio latency in RTINGS testing.
- Premium design with glass top, fabric wrap and compact height.
- Expandable with the Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer and surrounds when needed.
Weaknesses
- Bass is limited without the optional $899 subwoofer.
- No DTS support in any form.
- Single HDMI eARC port: no HDMI input or video passthrough.
- No physical remote; relies on the TV remote via CEC.
- Bose app and ecosystem lag Sonos in maturity.
- Channel count labeling is inconsistent (5.1.2 vs 5.0.2).
Verified specifications
| Channels | 5.1.2 per Bose and RTINGS; PCMag’s tested unit is 5.0.2. |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 9 total — 1-inch center tweeter, two 8-inch PhaseGuide drivers, two 2.5-inch up-firing drivers, four 3.1-inch racetrack transducers. |
| Audio formats | Dolby Atmos decoding plus TrueSpatial upmixing for non-Atmos content; no DTS in any form. |
| Connectivity | HDMI eARC/ARC with CEC, Ethernet, subwoofer (bass) output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 plus Bluetooth Low Energy, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect; Alexa built in and ready for Alexa+ in the US. |
| Streaming in the Bose app | Amazon, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn; additional services via Alexa; no native Apple Music in the app. |
| Room calibration | Bose CustomTune, built on ADAPTiQ, works with most iOS and Android devices. |
| Voice | Amazon Alexa built in, with a mic mute button and status light. |
| Updates | automatic overnight download and install when connected to a network. |
| Expandability | works with the Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer (wireless or wired) and Lifestyle Ultra Speakers; not with prior-generation Bose surround speakers or Bose Surround Speakers 700. A wired Bose Bass Module 700 is an alternative. |
| Multiroom | Bose app grouping plus AirPlay/Google Cast grouping. |
| Wall mounting | Bose Soundbar Wall Bracket sold separately; leave at least 4 in (10 cm) between bar and TV; not recommended above the TV. |
| Not rated for outdoor use. | |
| Auracast | capable but not yet activated; Bose says a future firmware update will enable it. |
| Materials | plastic (PC-ABS), fabric, glass top, rubber. |
| Power | AC mains via the included power cord; no wattage or standby figure published. |
| In the box | soundbar, power cord, high-speed HDMI cable (ARC/eARC), quick-start guide; no IR remote. |
| Colors | Black and White Smoke. |
| Dimensions | 43.283 × 3.632 × 4.922 in system / 43.283 × 2.648 × 4.922 in bar only; 14.758 lb / 14.330 lb. |
| Warranty | 1-year Bose limited warranty; BoseCare Protection Plan (2 years after the warranty) and BoseCare Accident Protection Plan (3 years, including accidental damage) available. |
Full research notes and sources
Sound, clarity and music
RTINGS scored it 7.4/10, CNET 8.3/10, and PCMag rated it 4.0 (Excellent). All three praise speech clarity and music replay. RTINGS notes exceptionally low audio latency and loudness for medium rooms, but flags little speech dynamic range (whispered and loud dialogue at similar levels) and shouty SpeechClarity at the medium setting. CNET calls CustomTune calibration easy and praises connectivity. PCMag calls it well-tuned and stylish but says bass could be better. Bass needs the subwoofer for deep tracks, and height and surround effects rely on virtualization that benefits from reflective surfaces. Rear channels require the optional Lifestyle Ultra Speakers.
Bass and expandability
The bar’s 9 drivers include up-firing and PhaseGuide units, but independent testers agree low-bass rumble is limited. Adding the Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer ($899, or less in bundles) is recommended for deep bass and action content. A wired Bose Bass Module 700 is an alternative. The full system kit is $2,696 versus $2,956 for the comparable Sonos Arc Ultra kit.
Connectivity, app and updates
HDMI eARC only, with CEC so the TV remote handles volume and power. The bar supports Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 and Low Energy, AirPlay 2, Google Cast and Spotify Connect, with Alexa built in. The Bose app streams Amazon, Pandora, Spotify and TuneIn, with more via Alexa, but no native Apple Music. Auracast is advertised but not yet active; Bose says a future firmware update will enable it. Updates download and install automatically overnight when connected. No 3.5 mm aux input, no private listening or headphone pairing, and no IR remote is in the box.
Is it worth it?
At $1,099 the bar is justified mainly by design, clarity and Bose-ecosystem fit; standalone bass and immersion trail the Sonos Arc Ultra per PCMag and CNET. For smaller rooms or tighter budgets, CNET suggests more compact bars such as the Marshall Heston 60. Accessories add up: the wall bracket is $49, the subwoofer $899, surrounds $299, and BoseCare plans run $119.95 (2 years) or $189.95 (3 years, accidental). The predecessor Smart Ultra Soundbar launched at $899 and was discounted to $699 at the time of the CNET review. Recurring costs are none unless you count streaming subscriptions.
Which model this is
This page covers the 2026 Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, internal model ID LSULT-SOUNDBAR, sold in Black and White Smoke. The Amazon listing for this bar is ASIN B0GLHDQ1FX. It is not the prior Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar or other Bose bars. Hardware revisions are not documented in the sources read.
Sources
Manufacturer:
Independent reviews:
Owner reports:
- No Reddit or AVSForum owner threads for this exact model were located in search.
