Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar vs Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar
The Sonos Arc Ultra is the stronger soundbar for most people: a true 9.1.4 array with 13 drivers, HDMI eARC and Dolby Atmos, and its price has barely moved, sitting at $1,093.47 as of October 30 against a high of $1,099.00 on October 29. The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar is the pick if you want the lower price and the widest input set, at $899.00 as of November 5 versus a high of $1,090.98 on October 29. The roughly $194 gap buys the Sonos more drivers, more channels and eARC; the Bose buys you USB, AUX, RCA and Ethernet.
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Choose the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar if you want the lower price, a display screen, and wired inputs like USB, AUX and RCA alongside Alexa.
- About $194 cheaper at the latest low price.
- Display screen shows status without opening an app.
- USB, AUX and RCA inputs take older TVs, turntables and disc players.
- Ethernet port for a wired network.
- Available in black, white and white smoke.
What separates them
| Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar | Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar | |
|---|---|---|
| Channel configuration | Surround sound capable, channel count not stated | 9.1.4-channel |
| Driver count | Not stated | Seven tweeters and six midwoofers, 15 amps |
| Wired inputs | HDMI, USB, Ethernet, AUX, RCA | HDMI eARC and Ethernet only |
| Voice assistants | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control |
| On-device display | Display screen | Touch controls, no screen |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Wall mounting | Wall mount style | Wall mountable, metal, matte finish |
| Latest price |
Price history
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar: lowest $899.00 on Nov 5 at Amazon.
- Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar: lowest $1,093.47 on Oct 30 at Amazon; $1,099.00 on Nov 3.
Prices at every store
Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar
- Best BuyCheck price at Best Buy
- Micro CenterCheck price at Micro Center
- Sam's ClubCheck price at Sam's Club
Specs compared
| Spec | Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar | Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Wall Mount | Matte finish |
| Assistant Support | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control |
| Smart Functions | Display Screen, Voice Control | Voice control |
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| With Surround Sound | Yes | — |
| Color | Black, White, White Smoke | — |
| Special Purpose | Soundbar | — |
| Dolby Atmos Enabled | Yes | — |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, HDMI, Ethernet, AUX, RCA | — |
| Outdoor | — | No |
What reviewers say
Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar
Owners of Bose's premium bars generally praise the room-filling sound, clear dialogue and easy app setup, while some find the price steep and the bass short of a separate subwoofer.
- Sound qualityPraisedOwners say dialogue is clear and the bar fills a mid-size room.
- BassMixedSome find bass adequate for TV, others want the separate bass module.
- SetupPraisedThe Bose app guides pairing and calibration without much fuss.
- Voice controlPraisedAlexa responds reliably for music, volume and input changes.
Questions and answers
- Which is better for Dolby Atmos?
- The Sonos Arc Ultra. It is a published 9.1.4 system with up-firing drivers, seven tweeters and six midwoofers, and it connects over HDMI eARC. The Bose supports Dolby Atmos but does not publish its channel or driver layout.
- Is the Sonos worth the extra money?
- At the latest lows, the Sonos costs $1,093.47 as of October 30 and the Bose $899.00 as of November 5, a gap of about $194. You pay that for more drivers, a defined 9.1.4 layout and eARC. If you mainly want a screen and legacy inputs, the Bose covers that for less.
- Which has more connections?
- The Bose. It lists HDMI, USB, Ethernet, AUX and RCA plus Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The Sonos lists HDMI eARC, Ethernet, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so older analog gear needs an adapter.
- Which one works with Alexa?
- Both do. The Sonos also adds Sonos Voice Control, which handles playback commands locally.
- Which has a display?
- Only the Bose lists a display screen. The Sonos uses touch controls and shows status through its app.
- Did either price change much recently?
- The Bose did. Its lowest daily price moved from a $1,090.98 high on October 29 to $899.00 on November 5. The Sonos stayed between $1,093.47 and $1,099.00.