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Bose, why the hate?

7K views 39 replies 29 participants last post by  Chazman1946 
#1 ·
Been looking to pick up the 2.1 Cinemate 2 (399.00) or the Cinemate 15 (599.00) from Bose. Had the Sony Dream ssytem but did not want the wire clutter.
The reviews from users are very good on sites like Amazon and best Buy but on the audio video forums they seem to hate Bose.
Anyone have any imput? I have a small tv room and do not need a huge system.
 
#2 ·
We've had a small Bose system in the dining room for 14 years and it works a treat, expanded it to do the outdoors a year or so later and the utdoor speakers still sound sweet

No complaints from me. For a small room and the price, I think they are good value
 
#4 ·
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my noise cancelling Bose headphones for when I travel each week. The music sound is incredible and they literally block out all sounds. Sometimes I don't even know we have landed lol.

I have been a Bose fan for a while. No issues with me.
 
#5 ·
Probably snobbery causes a lot of it. Like on some watch forums where if you don't own 10 rolex, an IWC and a omega as a minimum, then you can't be a collector of watches, particularly if you buy a homage of any kind.
 
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#9 ·
I've had a Bose Acoustic Wave for, geez, I don't even remember when I got it, probably close to 10 years now. It survived a cross country move and still sounds great.
They are expensive, but at that time I had the dough.
 
#12 ·
You want to talk about snobby folks go to some of the high end tube audio sites. You want to hear some people bloviate go get yourself in some of those discussions. At the end of the day, just like watches, buy what makes you happy. it's your money after all.

John

Forgot to add your gonna need to get your whole house re-wired so you have "clean" power going to all of the components anyways;)
 
#14 ·
Ditto with the Noise concelling headphones - forgot about those...

As to full systems...

If you are able to, go to a store where you can listen to them in comparison to larger, traditional styles.

I think they are way better than the mass market all in one ideas, but not as good as separate components

But they are great value for money IMHO

Let your ears decide

Oh, the RF remote is also handy - walls, head, people, chairs - not a problem it all just works
 
#16 ·
My observations:

The highs are too brassy and bright making the noise more fatiguing to the ears over extended listening periods.

I like the simplicity and "clean" set up of the Bose speaker cubes, but you can't beat speakers that have better quality enclosures and components.

I've had Definitive Technology for my movie surround set up, but left them behind when we sold our house in 2007. They were excellent for movies, but lacked in detail and clarity I am used to with regards to Classical and Jazz music.

Now I have Boston Acoustics VRM60s(3 for L, C, R channels), VRM50s(6 for surrounds), and PV1000 subs(2 for R and L subs), for my "theater" set up. I listen to Classical and Jazz music which is the main reason I purchased these speakers. Incredible staging, clarity, sound quality.

Very warm and natural sounds, especially with acoustic instruments especially if mated with the right receiver. Speakers are connected to my Denon AVR 5805, which is a behemoth if a receiver, lol.

In the end, you are the one who will be listening to music, movies, etc., so your ears should be happy irregardless of what brand speakers they are.
 
#18 ·
As a real deal audio engineer, for live and recording, I have been exposed to some of the best speakers ever made. There are industry standards and then there are preferred brands, and then there are people that will swear by only one brand. I have also seen million dollar systems installed incorrectly and sound like a trash can.
As for the Bose systems, I believe the older products a better than the new ones. The technology has changed not only in the consumer world, but in the way music is recorded. I have three different music systems. Each is for a different format, reel to reel/records, surround/digital/records, tape/digital/radio. Many of the materials being used are more synthetic. I like the "vintage" sound so I look for fiber cones versus the plastic/coated cones.
I do get many people asking who makes the best. My response to them, is to find an authorized or very respectable dealer, have some of your favorite tunes/movies, and spend time listening. Take into account of how the system is set up. Look around the space to see if there is any accoustical treatment. Go with what you like, 'cause its your money and you should get what you like!
 
#20 ·
Stan stole my quote :p .

I have dabbled in mid to high end audio and while I find the Bose systems are good at some things, they tend to fall short in others. Try listening to a piano on a Bose system and you will likely feel it lacks the ability to accurately reproduce such sounds.

That being said I have been a member of one of the better audio forums on the web for a while:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/

It is to audio what Watchfreeks is to timepieces. These folks put out data driven reviews, tend to stay away from the "I can hear it" type of evaluations, and have an entire subforum set up to help people build systems and offer and receive advice. Most of the discussion centers on budget type systems and bang for the buck. You may find it interesting to do some searching on Bose systems within this forum ;) .
 
#21 ·
My favorite in audio components is Denon... I do believe how you hear music in one room is different unless you are in adjoining recording studios... most of don't go that far but for the broadest range of sounds... Denon components are pricey but the sound quality is amazing for digital media from your computer... CEOL piccolo



The sound is just really broad and clear in living rooms or basement rec rooms ...


Check this out ... it is really amazing ... using USB from your computer makes is easy to use plus a easy to understand set up guide ...


-WW
 
#23 ·
Late to the discussion, but I'm a bit of an audio enthusiast*, so I thought I'd chime in. Sorry in advance for being long-winded.

I think where many enthusiasts take issue with Bose either falls into an issue with 1) questionable technical specs or 2) a (perceived) poor price/performance ratio.

Both are obviously complex. #1 isn't cut and dry, even though it pertains to concrete quantification of audio properties. Amar Bose famously focused on psychoacoustics versus typical audio measurements. The original 901s and 501s were pretty amazing achievements (although others were dabbling in reflected sound in the late '60s/early '70s).

Bose historically didn't publish technical specs on their equipment. When owners have tested systems like the Acoustimass series, they found that the frequency response is atrocious on paper, as the subwoofer (or bass module) produces sound from 46Hz to 200Hz at +or- 10.5dB and the chinzy paper cone cube satellites play from 280Hz to 13.3kHz at +or- 10.5dB. So you have a glaring frequency gap from 200 to 280Hz and poor coverage of the lowest lows and highest highs.

Classic home theater theory suggests a subwoofer shouldn't play frequencies as high as 200Hz, as that allows you to locate the sub's location in the room and is inefficient for a LFE speaker. That also means that your bass module is responsible for a significant chunk of dialog frequencies...that's a no-no.

Bose enthusiasts would keenly point out that much of the extreme ends aren't perceived well by human hearing (especially the high end) and that purely qualitatively the systems "sound good." As for the aforementioned Acoustimass systems, the tiny speakers also get universally high marks on WAF (wife acceptance factor).

This segues into #2, in that countless brands sell cheaper speakers made from "better" materials and with "better" quantified audio properties. Does that mean they automatically sound better to everyone? I doubt it. But charging $1k for a few $10 tiny paper-cone speakers you've made forever does take some nerve.

That said, Bose does make some amazing products. I'm a believer in their noise canceling headphones (although I'd rather have Audio-Technicas or Grados if I don't need NC). Their automotive offerings are a mixed bag and more of a marketing campaign versus a focus on acoustics. Many aren't even made up of all Bose components. (I've owned four cars with Bose, one was great, one decent and two were awful and improved with bargain-priced aftermarket replacements).

It's hard to quantify the audio experience for others, though, and relentless marketing has made Bose a household name - and some of that has been properly earned and some stems from legendary legacy products. As for me, I'd rather put together systems from Definitive Technology, Axiom, Polk, Yamaha, Energy, Klipsch or Ascend.

*By audio enthusiast, I mean someone who enjoys hi-fi as a hobby, but who also believes physics still applies. I don't get into power conditioning, boutique cables, wire risers or any other mystical audio nonsense.
 
#25 ·
Owned a Lifestyle 12 since I purchased new in 1995'ish and just sold on Craig's List for $500 how many electronic investments will give you that much enjoyment and still put some cash back in your pocket twenty years later...

No complaints here sounded fine and gave me plenty hours of enjoyment. I am no audio expert just my aging ears to be the judge. Only sold because I got tired of all the wires and have a smaller media room now.
 
#26 ·
No hate here; never heard of Bose hate before even. I went with James' recommendation and picked up some Bose noise-cancelling headphones last week and could not be happier. Just yesterday, I was sitting directly under the speaker at Starbucks and listening to my own tunes with total clarity and at a fairly reasonable volume. Insanely good, I think.
 
#27 ·
I have the exact same ones - the Boise noise cancelling ear buds and they are INCREDIBLE. I wear them every week when traveling on the planes for work and can't hear the plane at all with perfectly clear music. I LOVE them and the other Bose products I have owned.
 
#28 ·
I am not familar with the systems but as far as Best Buy and Amazon reviews go I have found their reviews and pretty much useless. They do not require proof that the reviewer ever actually owns the product or not! IMO an online reveiw means nothing unless they can prover the person making it has the product and is just not trying to make it look good or bad. I never use online reviews as a base to buy or not to buy a product.
 
#31 ·
I have a Bose Wave Radio, and a Bose sound bar/station for my wide screen TV, my only complaint with Bose is, they are a little late to the table with wireless connections to remote speakers and other devices.
 
#32 ·
I just bought a Bose Soundtouch 130 system. Sounds good for movies and video games. I'm holding onto my ADS loudspeakers and definitive home theater speakers. Not sure what I'll do with them, but for now, this system is making the wife happy.

We're at the stage in our marriage, where if she lets me put the ADS loudspeakers in our bedroom, she'll make me happy in the bedroom! :D
 
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