1.they sound horrible?that bad a spk. 2.way too over-priced for their spks. 3.people can't afford them, so just brag about them as horrible sounding spks. 4.one could get a far better sounding spk for that money. 5.just another average spk, heard better for that kinda price.. 6.bose ain't good at all..
I'd say they're all valid. I'll voice my opinion I guess.
1. Well they don't sound THAT bad, it's more max SPL and frequency response all mids, no highs or lows (inherent of a full range driver perhaps?).
2. That's true, a bit high on price. Either they put a lot of work in the design or just want to make a lot of profit.
3.WHAT???? The're ok for the size.
4.Fo Sho. You could shake your house down with 2000w and 2 18" subs for $1000. You could buy a lot of stuff for that much money compared to Bose. Some of Bose's stuff is actually not that bad for the price considering what it is.
5. It's not quite average. It has a few design goals which run the price up. Yes I've heard better for the price.
6. Err I dunno about that. 601's, 701's, 901's? Their wave radio is pretty good in using TL and psychoacoustics to keep size down. The headsets can be pretty good and be useful. Computer speaks keep intrusion down.
All in all, prices could use a little lowering without quality loss. In professional applications they've made some dents.
1. To me they do not sound horrible. Just lacking. 2. They are not value speakers. 3. Most people who criticize them already have more expensive setups. 4. Better, yeah. If you know what you want. 5. Thats how I would define it. 6. Not good, but have seen worse.
These are probably aimed at casual listeners not bothered about soundstage or frequency response. I think the debate is futile though. If you like how it sounds, get it! Why did I even type out all of this?!
To be fair to Bose, they do make one or two good speakers. Their sub/sat systems were remarkable quality considering the solution when they were introduced years ago. Bose have expanded the range to include cheap solutions. Price for price, Bose speakers tend to offer style over substance. They are quite limited at frequency extremes (since they don't have dedicated treble units and their subs are all quite compromised one way or another). Other brands are building a bit more quality into similar solutions, although it must be said that the Bose solutions are still fairly unique with their doppleganger bounce-off-the-walls satellites.
i don't see anything wrong in postin them, u can tell from the response.. nor do I and the others find them pointless.. unless ur paying for space and bandwidth or ur contribution towards it.. shoot myself... over a thread.. get real man.. can u get anymore dumber.. than u r... if u find them boring or of no use.. very simple don't bother voicing ur opinion..
I don't hate Bose personally. They certainly have their niche: people who want adequate sound in a small, convenient package. I just don't fall into that category.
Do they sound horrible? I wouldn't be driven out of a friends house who has a Bose system because it was so grating on my sensitive ears, if that is what you mean.
Are they overpriced? Not really. Price is dictated by the market, not by Bose. If they were truly overpriced, they wouldn't sell. Obviously, that is not the case. Are they a good value for an audiophile, well thats a different question.
People can't afford them? They aren't *that* expensive. If we were talking Wilson Audio pricing, then maybe.
Could you get a better sounding speaker for the money? Absolutely. The Onix X-LS system from AV-123 will annihilate any Acoustimass system for less cost. Of course, they use larger speakers as well.
Is it an average speaker? It depends on what you want in a speaker.
Bose ain't good at all? Again, it depends on what you want in a speaker.
Don't even get me started on watches. Rolex, yes they make their own movements which is to be applauded, but have also made a name for themselves above other superior watches because of marketing and media. Try Patek Phillipe for a quality watch.
When I was in college, I bought my first stereo system and, not knowing anything about hi-fi, bought a Bose Acoustimass system and absolutely loved it. Now, of course, I know a lot more and know that there are better choices out there. However, to the Bose bashing, I have just one point to add.
And that is that yes, Bose does not spend a huge portion of its profits on design and enginerring now...BUT, the speakers came to be as the result of a whole lot of design and engineering, together with a single brilliant idea...all from a graduate student at MIT in the 1950's, Amar Bose. He founded the speaker company 8 years after he started his acoustic research. So my point is that bashing them now for not changing much or spending much on new engineering is a misguided approach. You have to remember that all the research and design was up front, and also that it really was a brilliant and revolutionary idea when it was first hatched in the 1950's...
That said, I myself find their speakers a bit lacking and don't buy them anymore, but I certainly respect what Bose has brought to the industry...
Does anyone remember that Bose makes bookshelf and floorstanding speakers anymore?
Unfortunatly, the acoustimass series are taking over. The new 201 and 301 speakers are much better for the same price. They actually have midrange and a tweeter.
No longer does Bose use foam on the 201. When I had mine back in 2001, the surround was cloth.
We have moved on a bit since the '50s. Amar Bose's designs have moved on too. The Acoustimass designs were - as i said earlier - quite brilliant and started the whole sub/sat revolution. However, Bose's best Acoustimass systems have been eclipsed by others. M&K (sadly now no more) had far superior sub/sat systems for similar money. KEF have better systems at similar money in the form of the 2005 and 3005. AE have a great little system which annihilates the Acoustimass 3 for similar money (designed by the same chap who designed the Acoustimass systems). Same goes for ELAC and Energy. Bose are trading on the name and haven't pushed forward their performance parameters. Even the satellites are beginning to look a bit big now!
As to Bose's full-size speakers, they're good but they certainly aren't taking over the world. The 601 and 901 were groundbreaking and good sound, but the rest of world quickly caught up and shot past. From purely a performance perspective, Bose is the Ford of the world and its products are rapidly becoming Model-Ts. It's a shame, because a lot of people are buying Bose for the brand name, assuming that it offers good value for money when in fact it's not.
I fully agree with you, Frank. I think they are way behind now. I was just trying to give them a little credit for what they brought to the industry. It's too bad they haven't stayed true to that original research process...
I've noticed recently that I tend to stay away from any hi-fi brand that I could find at a Best Buy. Bose I stay away from for the reason that I don't really think they make a quality product- but I find myself not even wanting to listen to any Klipsch or Infinity equipment as well. The weird thing is that I'm sure they make quality products, but the fact that I can find them at the big box stores makes them less appealing for me. Like their not "exotic" enough for consideration. I know this is wrong of me, but even if they did make product that was superior to something lesser known, I don't know if I would purchase. Is it vanity? Stupidity? Or is it the fact that I gain comfort in knowing that I have something more unique. Take for example cars: While a Cadillac's engineering, fit and finish, performance has now reached the level that used to be owned by the imports, I can't see myself buying one. Maybe I am a neophyte audio snob in the making! Who knows? Anyone here share these thoughts?
They suck because they're junk. Its always about light opra music with them, never loud rock and roll. I blew out my speakers about 4 times before the warranty expired. Then I junked them in the landfill.
joe, unfortunately your point is moot. regardless of past "sucesses" they are still horrible. HK revolutionized audio components with their introduction of the first real reciever, which is just as pointless a fact to bring up if you want to make them sound like a better company. notice your past tense in like everything about bose. bose is no longer a good company. get over it.
homeboy, if you had read my post carefully, as well as my response to Frank, you'd understand that we are in agreement. I wouldn't buy anything from Bose today, and I wasn't trying to make them sound like a good company now. I was just giving them the only bit of credit that they deserve, which is for bringing great things to the industry in the past. If more people just took it at that and left it, they wouldn't get so worked up about it, as you appear to be.
___________________________________ Quote Christopher Lee shane, can you stop with the pointless threads. it wastes server space and bandwidth. if no, please shoot yourself. Quote __________________________________
Bollocks does it waste bandwidth no more or less then the frequency range of Bose loudspeaker!
joe, i just want us to get over all these bose sucks threads simply because it is old news and really useless like i said before. to be honest, you did seem like you were making a defense for bose, which to me adds more to this useless thread. thank god shane has brightened up and is asking some real questions.
I remember end of 2005 on my holiday to Florida there was a Bose 2.1 system in the villa(acoustimass i think). I was like wow! Then I played something on it and was really dissapointed. Their marketing certainly counts for something. I'll admit they went pretty loud but there was a lot of bass flappering from the subwoofer. Theres no magic in that system.
I'll admit I quite liked some headphones I tried in store once. And the bose sound dock is pretty good for its size.
What would be cool, is if bose took that slogan and used it realising how poor most of their systems are. Imagine an advert, with that at the *end*, followed by a new plan and confession to enter a new market. Problem is thinking of one.
'better sound through research' (just like most real audio companies do) is an appauling slogan.
