There’s nothing better than snuggling down on the sofa to watch the latest blockbuster movie on your TV, remembering to slip in your earbuds and turn up your soundbar while you do so. Wait, what? Earbuds and a soundbar?
That’s right: Bose Personal Surround Sound wants you to pair your earbuds – or specifically your Bose Ultra Open Earbuds – with your soundbar – no, sorry, your Bose Smart Soundbar – to create a surround sound experience like nothing you’ve heard before.
That’s because normally you wouldn’t be sitting in front of your TV with your earbuds in because that’s just not that way that things are done. Well Bose is changing the script, with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds able to act as rear channels when paired with the Bose Smart Soundbar, meaning you don’t need separate rear speakers.
It’s pitched as a method of bringing surround sound to those who don’t have the space for the full setup, or don’t want to litter their room with speakers. On one hand, it’s a clever use of technology to open up the listening opportunities, on the other, it’s a bonkers idea requiring you to have two specific products from the Bose range – and watch TV using earbuds.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are fairly unique in that they let you hear the world around you while also being able to listen to whatever music you have playing. “Open” earbuds are something of a trend right now, popular with runners who want those beats (or pacing feedback), while still being able to hear things like traffic noise or the barking of that dog chasing them.
That’s why you’ll be able to use them as part of your personal surround sound system, because you can still hear your soundbar when wearing them.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have been available since February 2024 and are available for around £299 on Amazon.
IMAGE CREDIT: BOSE
Introducing the Bose Smart Soundbar
The Bose Smart Soundbar is a new addition to the family, an update of the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. That soundbar reviewed well so it’s good that the Bose Smart Soundbar keeps the same design and audio – while also introducing a new feature called AI Dialogue Mode.
Yes, AI is coming to soundbars, with machine learning able to adjust the balance of the sound to make the dialogue clearer. That will fix those problems when the speech can’t be heard because there’s too much happening in the scene. Sure, perhaps the director wanted to add an element of mystery to panic the audience, but that’s no longer your concern.
Otherwise, the Bose Smart Soundbar will offer Dolby Atmos audio, supports streaming functions like Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Google Cast, while it also has Alexa built-in.
The Bose Smart Soundbar will cost £499, with pre-orders open on Bose.co.uk.
IMAGE CREDIT: BOSE
A cheaper route to Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
Finally, if you’ve been deterred by the £299 asking price for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, then there’s good news for you: Bose is introducing a cheaper alternative. Dropping the “Ultra” label, the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer Bose’s legendary noise cancellation, while promising 8.5 hours of battery life.
They have a different design to the Ultra’s too – with a more rounded body that looks like it could make them popular as they are pretty compact. The IPX4 protection rating will mean they fend off sweat or rain, while they are customisable through the accompanying app too.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are £179 – the same price as the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation – and are available from today.
