Short answer: the Audio Pro C5 MkII. It ranks #1 of 20 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $325. The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ranks #13, rated 3.7/5, at $299, $26 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Audio Pro C5 MkII is the better-sounding pick. Ac-powered operation and limited-stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use.
Why pick the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker: Three drivers (a 3in woofer and 1in tweeter facing forward, plus a 1.5in driver firing upward) give it a noticeably taller sound than most compact home speakers. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Audio Pro C5 MkII lacks. The tradeoff: RTINGS lists sub-par directivity as its main weakness, and reviewers agree a single unit sounds narrow from side to side, so it works best as a stereo pair.
Buy the Audio Pro C5 MkII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $26 saving on the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio Pro C5 MkII | Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $325 each | $299.00 each |
| Ranked | #1 of 20 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #13 of 20 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Wifi, RCA | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Outputs | Subwoofer line out | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) | Yes (Bose app multi-room, AirPlay 2, Google Cast) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC power cord |
| Stereo | Partially | No |
| Drivers | 4” woofer, 2x 0.75” tweeters | 3in woofer, 1in tweeter, 1.5in up-firing mid/high driver |
| TWS | No | Yes (stereo pairing via Bose app) |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)) | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bose) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.8” x 5.1” x 5.9” (250 x 130 x 150 mm) | 7.2” x 4.8” x 6.6” (184 x 121 x 167 mm) (H x W x D) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + up-firing driver level) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Streaming Services | Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect |
| Amplifier Power | 41W (2x8W + 25W) | - |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Audio Pro C5 MkII:
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Woburn III
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Woburn II
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Edifier D12
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Audio Pro C5 MkII: $325 each Amazon eBay
Pros: At 2.4 kg, Audio Pro C5 MkII combines 4” woofer, 2x 0.75” tweeters with Bluetooth, Wifi, RCA. Ac-powered operation and limited-stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Reviews find the sound fairly neutral.
Cons: Bass is limited by its 50Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification. There is no battery, so it needs mains power.
Full Audio Pro C5 MkII review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 41W (2x8W + 25W) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.8” x 5.1” x 5.9” (250 x 130 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” woofer, 2x 0.75” tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Wifi, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | Subwoofer line out |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially |
| Streaming Services | Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Woburn III
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Woburn II
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Apple HomePod 2nd Gen
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Edifier D12
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Stanmore IV
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs JBL Authentics 200
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Acton III
- See all 15 comparisons
Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker: $299.00 each Amazon eBay
Pros: Three drivers (a 3in woofer and 1in tweeter facing forward, plus a 1.5in driver firing upward) give it a noticeably taller sound than most compact home speakers. Stuff gave it the edge over the Sonos Era 100, and TechRadar called its tonal balance fairly neutral, with tight bass control and high detail. Alexa, including Alexa+, is built in, and RTINGS found its microphones picked up commands easily from across a noisy room. It streams over AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth 5.3, keeps a 3.5mm aux input that the Era 100 lacks, and two units can be stereo paired or used as rear surrounds with the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar.
Cons: RTINGS lists sub-par directivity as its main weakness, and reviewers agree a single unit sounds narrow from side to side, so it works best as a stereo pair. Deep bass is limited: Engadget found the low end restrained and preferred the Denon Home 200’s sound, Stuff noted it can’t separate sub-bass from the bassline and that DSP pulls bass back at maximum volume, and TechRadar heard a slight toothiness in the treble that needed EQ to calm. The EQ is only bass, mid and treble with no automatic room calibration. Bose warns the aux and Bluetooth inputs add lip sync delay for TV use, it has no battery or IP rating, and both SoundGuys and Engadget needed several restarts to get stereo pairing working.
Full Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Bose) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 4.8” x 6.6” (184 x 121 x 167 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 3in woofer, 1in tweeter, 1.5in up-firing mid/high driver |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + up-firing driver level) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose app multi-room, AirPlay 2, Google Cast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect |
| TRS Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Bose app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker vs Denon Home 250
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker vs Sonos Era 100
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker vs Marshall Acton III
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker vs Marshall Acton II
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker vs JBL Authentics 200
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker vs Marshall Stanmore IV
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker vs Klipsch The Three II
- See all 41 comparisons