Short answer: the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker. It ranks #14 of 28 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $299. The Klipsch The Three Plus ranks #24, rated 3.4/5, at $248, $51 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is the better-sounding choice. 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 streams over Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, which the Klipsch The Three Plus cannot. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Klipsch The Three Plus 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.
Why pick the Klipsch The Three Plus: A 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) tabletop speaker with a turntable-ready phono input and 120W of biamplification that plays far louder than its size suggests. Watch for: The tuning leans heavily on bass: TechRadar called it on the warm side of neutral with the treble only just holding its own, and HomeTheaterHifi found the treble turned sharp and piercing at higher volumes.
Buy the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $51 with the Klipsch The Three Plus does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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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.
Amazon $299.00 eBay
A 4.8 kg tabletop speaker with a turntable-ready phono input and 120W of biamplification that plays far louder than its size suggests.
Amazon $248.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 17, 2026 at 6:04 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker | Klipsch The Three Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 each | $248.00 each |
| Ranked | #14 of 28 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #24 of 28 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No (RCA line input) |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose app multi-room, AirPlay 2, Google Cast) | - |
| Power Input | AC power cord | - |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
| App | Yes (Bose) | Yes (Klipsch Connect) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) | No |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + up-firing driver level) | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Bose app) | - |
| Drivers | 3in woofer, 1in tweeter, 1.5in up-firing mid/high driver | 2x 2.25” full-range drivers, 5.25” long-throw woofer, 2x 5.25” passive radiators |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux | Bluetooth, Optical, Phono/RCA, USB-C |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes (3.5mm) | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes (24-bit/96kHz) |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 4.8” x 6.6” (184 x 121 x 167 mm) (H x W x D) | 7”H x 14”W x 8.4”D (178 x 356 x 213 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | None |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect | - |
| Amplifier Power | - | 120W total |
| Frequency Response | - | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 106dB |
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