Short answer: the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker. It ranks #14 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $279; the Klipsch The Three Plus ranks #25, rated 3.4/5, at $274.99. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is the better-sounding choice. A compact smart speaker with an up firing driver for taller sound, built in Alexa, AirPlay 2, Google Cast and an aux input. 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 retro tabletop speaker with a built in phono input for a turntable, plenty of volume and optical and USB-C inputs. 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 $4.01 with the Klipsch The Three Plus does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker | Klipsch The Three Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 each | $274.99 each |
| Ranked | #14 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #25 of 29 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 |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker: reviews by TechRadar, SoundGuys and RTINGS.
- Klipsch The Three Plus: reviews by TechRadar, Trusted and HomeTheaterHifi.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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