Bose is combining the strengths of its soundbars and clip-on Ultra Open Earbuds for a new home theater feature that can trick your ears (and your brain) into thinking you have real rear surround sound speakers, simply by playing audio through the headphones.
Since the $299 Ultra Open Earbuds don't obstruct your ears, you'll still hear the audio coming out of the soundbar clearly, while the headphones will focus on the rear surround effects. The company says this feature, called Bose Personal Surround Sound, creates “an unparalleled listening experience of sound all around you” without requiring space or investment in proper rear speakers.
In January, during a visit to Bose headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts, I got a first-hand look at the experience while it was still in development. And I was impressed with how convincing it was. Bose doesn't go overboard with the gimmick, but it does add a nice dimensionality to the sound.
“Not everyone wants to invest thousands of dollars in rear speakers, surround speakers, and all that,” Raza Haider, Bose’s director of product and supply chain, told me. “And so the team found a way to deliver a home theater-like experience without any of the speakers, save for a sound bar.” He called it “a simple example of something we think open-ear audio helps solve.”
Bose personal surround sound will first be available on a new smart soundbar the company announced today for $499. The Dolby Atmos soundbar comes equipped with five drivers, features an ai-powered dialogue mode, and has a variety of music playback options including Wi-Fi, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Apple’s AirPlay 2. Personal surround sound will be coming to the company’s flagship Smart Ultra soundbar later this fall.
At the very least, the Ultra Open Earbuds now have a unique selling point within the Bose lineup, as only Personal surround sound headphones; they can't be used with any of the company's over-ear headphones or the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, as they have a closed-back design and would make it difficult to hear the audio emanating from the soundbar. The Ultra Open Earbuds are also comfortable enough to wear for long periods of the day, so they won't cause any discomfort or distract you while you're watching something.
A controlled demo is one thing, but I need to test it out more thoroughly to get all the details on how exactly Bose Personal Surround Sound works, what quality of audio is sent to the headphones, and so on. Regardless, it's refreshing to see tech companies thinking of new ideas when it comes to how we experience home theater.
