[centerchannel68]

K, I think more people need to read this. I hate pointing this out when people tell me that they have a really good bose system, that sounds 'sweet'.

http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

Summary: It's total horse ****. It sounds like crap, is completely MISSING some frequencies, and you're paying a ton of money for very cheap junk (less than $5 PAPER drivers, the subwoofers use FOAM surrounds, horrible response, etc.).

Please pass this on to your friends.

[Mastrap]

And this is news how?

My parents just fell for the Bose advertising and bought the Bose radio and CD player as a kitchen radio. I didn't have the heart to tell them that they could have had better sound for less money elsewhere.

[Gossamer]

I'm curious as to where you're finding the 'less than $5' number. Do you have a source for that? The article claimed the Bose system had $35 drivers, but I didn't see a $5 number anywhere.

[centerchannel68]

Bose, in it's cubes, uses a 2.75" driver, which is shielded, and extended range (meaning it 'attempts' to do high frequencies and midrange frequncies). It is also PAPER, which does not last, is not accurate, and is very very very cheap to produce.

Now look at prices here, which do not have 'bose' names associated with them:

Search Results Page

In comparison, for my center channel, I purchased some 3", shielded, extended range drivers that have a butyl rubber surround, and aluminum alloy cone construction. They were $8.

So if drivers that are superior in every aspect cost only $8 or so.... how much do you think Bose is spending on paper ones with foam surrounds and horrible response curves? Answer?

Less than $8. Considering parts express marks stuff up to make money, it's probably even lower.

[smacintush]

They made $1.8 B in 2005.

From a business standpoint they have a great product: low cost, high profit junk with a great (though undeserved) reputation in some circles.

[the_glassman]

If it has no highs and no lows it must be Bose! Easily the most over rated brand of all time IMHO.

[keekeeree]

At one point in my life I worked as a home electronics salesman. The Bose motto:

"No highs, no lows, must be Bose!"

[JohnM15141]

I traded my Bose system away and replaced it with an Onkyo system. The big wooden speakers of my Onkyo sound incredibly better than the Bose system I had.

I gotta hand it to Bose, they give "good" sound in a small elegant package, small speakers augmented by a large subwoofer can fool ya into thinking it sounds great.

For you to get fuller rich sound you need the large cabinet speakers like my Onkyo came with...

[SeSawaya]

this is my Bose "iPod docking station". Kicks major butt for it's size. I love it.

[PB2K]

I LOVE MY 901's

[iLikebeer]

I stopped wearing my David Clark H10-13S headset when my parents surprised me for xmas and got me the Bose ANR ones. I thought I'd wear my DCs forever, but Bose makes great headsets. I have the ANR headphones too for wearing on trips. Lightweight, sound good, and get rid of screaming babies and other ambient noises. They really cut down on fatigue.

[RAILhead]

We yes a Wave Radio in our family room. It sits perfectly in the little slot we have in our ent. center, and it freakin sounds great. No complaints. And yes, I'm picky.

[Troll]

Originally Posted by SeSawaya 

this is my Bose "iPod docking station". Kicks major butt for it's size. I love it.

Drool! I want one of those!

[Y3a]

I haven't heard better headphones than the old Koss pro 4aa's from the 1970's. Not even electrostatic designs, lightweights, buds, or so-called digital headphones.

As far a Bose901's, they have been over-hyped junk since they were introduced. They've always had problems sounding 'real' in a room. They tend to make a flute sound 10 feet wide, and the deepest base 'doubles' when played thru the cheap distorting EQ box they have you put between your source material and the power amp that boosts the bass and treble while adding distortion. It makes your Bose 901's sound even more harsh and unrealistic.

Give me anything but Bose or Klipsch.
Well not JUST anything.
I like my KEF 104aB's and new ClearAudio phono cart too!

[jasonsRX7]

Whenever a brand becomes popular with the masses, the 'elite' have to quit liking that brand, and find something more obscure to consider elite.

[centerchannel68]

Jason, you don't understand. Read the link. It's total garbage. There's even a range of frequencies that bose home theater systems just TOTALLY IGNORE. Like, they just don't reproduce certain frequencies.... the sub goes from 30-220hz, and the satellites go from 300hz-20k or so. The point? There is a gap of frequencies that simply does not get heard with a bose system, EVER, which is totally ****ing ridiculous.

NO bose system has EVER been THX certified. Why? Because they wouldn't pass. Read the article instead of just staking your ignorance.

Here's the frequency response from a bose home theater system:



What you want is a flat response, a system that reproduces all frequencies at a pretty even amplitude, with MAYBE a slight dip around 2-3khz, since our ears are most sensative to those frequencies..... this is just awful.

[Y3a]

Originally Posted by jasonsRX7 

Whenever a brand becomes popular with the masses, the 'elite' have to quit liking that brand, and find something more obscure to consider elite.

So, we aren't supposed to compare various similar devices (Speakers) and pick the one that sound smost like 'real'?

You are confusing the trap of corporate lies from companies like Bose with discriminating tastes etc.

I'm not saying that the ONLY superb High Fidelity stereo system would have a
Mark Levinson Preamp,
DB Systems power amps,
spectra cables,
ClearAudio Phono cart in a Transcriptor turntable with Grace arm, and a
Crown CX-800 Reel-to-Reel,
and a Marantz 10b FM tuner.

[macintologist]

Ok Rob, instead of a Bose, which home audio brand should I buy instead?

[fhoubi]

Originally Posted by macintologist 

Ok Rob, instead of a Bose, which home audio brand should I buy instead?

For a "system", Red Rose's smallest Spirit is stunning, something to expect from Mark Levinson. Affordable.

Although (or just because) an audio freak, I suspect most high-ends. This blowed me away.

[Timo]

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

And this is news how?

My parents just fell for the Bose advertising and bought the Bose radio and CD player as a kitchen radio. I didn't have the heart to tell them that they could have had better sound for less money elsewhere.

My mother also wanted a small form-factor radio and CD player -- the Bose size and simplicity was the one to beat. I tried very hard to find e.g., a Tivoli player, but everywhere I went such was discontinued. Otherwise, everything else we saw was too large or too many buttons or both. We ended up getting the lady what she wants.

[centerchannel68]

Brand doesn't matter. A decent amplifier, and a decent set of speakers will out perform the bose. You could out perform the bose system for as little as $150 if you wanted to. Just snag a used home theater receiver for $50-75, and blow the rest on 'studio monitors' from the 70s and 80s for the surrounds, and maybe a used sub for the lows.

Again, brand isn't important. Frequency response IS. Avoid speakers with thin cabinets that are not braced well. They should NOT be plastic*, particle board, or loose chip board. They should be made of MDF, or void free plywood. The speakers should NOT have foam surrounds, and should not have tiny paper cones. Generally speaking, shitty drivers mounted in a GOOD cabinet will sound better than expensive drivers mounted poorly. Generally speaking, it's better to get a powerful amplifier (not expensive, just good and powerful) and speakers that are not rated as high as your amplifiers output. Why? If you have speakers rated at 300 watts RMS, and you only have a 50 watt amp, you're going to have to push your amp really hard to get decent volume, and pushing an amp hard can cause distortion and clipping, both of which kill speakers and blow them out.

Again, brand doesn't matter. Any simple amp will work, along with tons of different speakers... but bose's do not. They are pretty much some of the WORST performing speakers out there.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by Timo 

My mother also wanted a small form-factor radio and CD player -- the Bose size and simplicity was the one to beat. I tried very hard to find e.g., a Tivoli player, but everywhere I went such was discontinued. Otherwise, everything else we saw was too large or too many buttons or both. We ended up getting the lady what she wants.

I think the wave radio is OKAY. It's not accurate, but it DOES reproduce a fairly large sound from a small system. That's impressive, and it's because of the folded horn technology it's using to increase the low end frequencies. If you just want a kitchen radio or something, I can see why you'd choose this system. But for listening to music and rocking out, or watching a movie, one can put together a 'good will' system that will kill that thing.... but it will be much bigger in size.

[Timo]

Yep, size was the rub. Had to be small and simple. It was definitely not a purchase I wanted to make, but my mother's happy, so that's that.

[centerchannel68]

Yeah, and for her needs, I think the wave radio is fine. This thread isn't really bitching about their headphones (which i've not been impressed with, but they're not awful either), or the wave radio, it's about their uber expensive home theater systems...

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by RAILhead 

We yes a Wave Radio in our family room. It sits perfectly in the little slot we have in our ent. center, and it freakin sounds great. No complaints. And yes, I'm picky.

Same here, except in the bedroom. Also have the Bose Sounddock for the iPod in the kitchen. I'd never buy Bose surround speakers but the Wave Radio and Sound Dock do their job and sound great for the size.

[centerchannel68]

Yeah, they are impressive sounding for how big they are. That said, I'm sure if you graphed the frequency response it'd be all over the place.

[G4ME]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Again, brand isn't important. Frequency response IS. Avoid speakers with thin cabinets that are not braced well. They should NOT be plastic*, particle board, or loose chip board. They should be made of MDF, or void free plywood. The speakers should NOT have foam surrounds, and should not have tiny paper cones. Generally speaking, shitty drivers mounted in a GOOD cabinet will sound better than expensive drivers mounted poorly. Generally speaking, it's better to get a powerful amplifier (not expensive, just good and powerful) and speakers that are not rated as high as your amplifiers output. Why? If you have speakers rated at 300 watts RMS, and you only have a 50 watt amp, you're going to have to push your amp really hard to get decent volume, and pushing an amp hard can cause distortion and clipping, both of which kill speakers and blow them out.

Personally i would rather have a system with a higher sensitivity with a 50 watt amp then a 300 watt amp and shitty speakers.

learn some more about speakers, it takes double the power to achive a gain of 3dB, so if my system is 12dB more effiecent then yours, then I need would need 1/8th the power you would need to achive the same levels.

Just because a speaker says its rated at 300W doesn't mean it won't be as loud, most of the time those upper limmits are very very extream ends, points where the VC melts or you bottom out the driver.

Granted to have a system with this sentivity you will need some pro drivers, which are a bit different then your tang bang 10 buck drivers.


AS for Bose, let the people spend their money, if they like it why should anyone tell them other wise.

[grayware]

Yup, they sure can get their money's worth out of a cheap 4" cone driver! Having been a longtime art director for a pro-audio manufacturer I certainly loved the "No highs, no lows…" quip but one we used to poke fun with was Bose's own tag, altered: Better Sound Through Marketing.

That said, what they do in such a hostile environment for automotive audio is fantastic. And has anyone seen Bose's linear electromagnetic suspension system for cars?! Incredible.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by G4ME 

Personally i would rather have a system with a higher sensitivity with a 50 watt amp then a 300 watt amp and shitty speakers.

You're entitled to your opinion. For the record, my quadraphonic receiver puts only 26 watts per channel in quad (80 in stereo), and my technics 2 channel amps are only like 40-50 watts per channel. So yeah, I agree, but in terms of general sony new stuff, it's better to get a higher wattage amp so you don't overdrive it.

[Y3a]

Are you talking sensitivity, or speaker efficiency?

[centerchannel68]

Who? And I have no idea. I just know that it's okay to drive speakers rated for 70 watts peak with a 300 watt amplifier as long as you don't crank them up and blow them.

[neverskatewsandles]

I have got a set of bose 201's amd 301's and they sound great better than anything else i have ever heard!

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by grayware 

And has anyone seen Bose's linear electromagnetic suspension system for cars?! Incredible.

Yep

[legionare]

Am I the only one expecting a work-related rant on "Boss sucks ass"?

[the_glassman]

[macfantn]

all highs no lows must be bose

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by keekeeree 

At one point in my life I worked as a home electronics salesman. The Bose motto:

"No highs, no lows, must be Bose!"

Originally Posted by macfantn 

all highs no lows must be bose

Earth shattering info there macfantn.

[iCol]

TUBES!

I never quite understood why people spend a fortune on those little Bose things, when it is so much cheaper, and with such better results, if you just buy some low end seperates and do it yourself. My mother was going to get one of those Bose CD/radion all in ones for her living room, as she didn't have any kind of stereo - but I persuaded her to get herself a cheapish amp, and a pair of bookshelf speakers, and then I gave her my old Marantz CD deck that I didn't use anymore. She loves it, and she has it hooked up to her TV now, which she seems to like.

Saying that, if the people who are stupid enough to buy them generally like them - so, if it's doing what they wanted and expected it to do - then what's the problem? I will laugh at someone if they buy a PC over a Mac, but that's just because I know the Mac is better, it's still their choice to buy the PC.

Col

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by iCol 

Saying that, if the people who are stupid enough to buy them generally like them - so, if it's doing what they wanted and expected it to do - then what's the problem? I will laugh at someone if they buy a PC over a Mac, but that's just because I know the Mac is better, it's still their choice to buy the PC.

I don't think I'd laugh at someone buying a PC over a Mac because "better" is subjective. For example;

- "Titanium" was supposed to be "better" (I'm guessing better than plastic), but somehow the hinges on my Tibook were not only unqualified for NASA, they were unqualified for opening and closing, occassionally over two years.

- Dead iMac within 4 years.
- Tibook with handicapped hinges now sitting idle with dead logic board
- G5 harddrive replacement within two years

To be clear, I still happen to think Macs are better, but I can certainly understand where someone who owns PCs exclusively may chuckle at my next Mac purchase. I don't defend 'em, I just like owning 'em. Why? Because better is subjective.

*on topic; I use an old Kenwood stereo that's all lows and highs, but no mids. Oh well. If I was that picky with my TV viewing (otherwise I use my JBL Eons) I'd slap an EQ on those old dogs and call 'em good.

[IceBreaker]

I never understood why anyone would like the awful tinny bassless sound of a Bose radio.... I think unfortunately after people spend a mint for those cheap @ss speakers they "have" to like them for being embarrassed into falling for the marketing gimic of flashy advertising/ultra cheap speakers.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by IceBreaker 

I never understood why anyone would like the awful tinny bassless sound of a Bose radio.... I think unfortunately after people spend a mint for those cheap @ss speakers they "have" to like them for being embarrassed into falling for the marketing gimic of flashy advertising/ultra cheap speakers.

Ding ding ding ding! Again, it's one thing to say they suck, it's another to read the article I linked to originally, which basically does the frequency response of the bose HT system, and takes them apart to discover what's actually inside them. It's junk.

[macfantn]

Originally Posted by Gossamer 

Earth shattering info there macfantn.

sorry didn't read the other post, just the title that is what immediatlely popped in my head. bose is overrated crap.