You won’t feel the need to immediately add a subwoofer to this one.

When Bose proclaimed that the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar was its "loudest, deepest and most immersive" model yet, I still assumed it would need a subwoofer." Yet when I first connected the company's latest soundbar to my TV, I quickly realized it didn't need the extra bass boost. The combination of CleanBass tech and QuietPort acoustics provide enough low-end tone that you aren't likely to crave an additional, pricey sub. Since the soundbar alone is already $1,099, that was a welcome surprise.

I get it: There's not a ton of room for innovation when it comes to the design of soundbars. They all have to be elongated and rectangular to be able to contain a collection of drivers without blocking your TV. But there is room for improvement when it comes to the general look of soundbars, and that's where Bose stepped up its game on the Lifestyle Ultra.

The speaker is short and wide, just like you'd expect, but the textured, knit-fabric grille elevates the overall aesthetic. This is more apparent on the white colorway than the black, and luckily the lighter color is exactly what was sent to me for review. Bose also opted for a glass top where the competition typically uses a plastic panel or just buttons. The glass portion doesn't extend all the way to the edges though, so there's room for the up-firing drivers to do their thing.

Source link