Bose: Really as bad as people say?

[admin_exported]

Yes, I know, this is a very common topic, now I have a pretty decent system, here is the link to photos of it (B&W PV1 coming late july!) http://www.flickr.com/photos/thechoice33/

Ok, you probably don't care about my system, anyway, I have heard Bose speakers, and they are not as terrible as people say in my opinion, anyway, the point I want to get across is why do all people say they are bad? I never find any good reason to be honest, not many people actually describe what they sound like, people usually go on about specs, rather than actual SQ.

Please give your opinion, that would be great!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Is Bose really as bad as people say?

In a word, no. In several words, it does make some very good products, with which their owners are very happy indeed.

 

[Anonymous]

It's because they're so expensive. You could get something equally as good for a fraction of the price in most cases. They have reported 400% profit margains and are apparently using the same tech they did in the 1970s. They also employ tactics that involve selling to the uninformed and telling them it's the best. That's why people hate Bose.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree, Bose doesn't look as bad as people say. I find it hypocritical of people who say people who buy Bose are arrogant, isn't it arrogant to tell someone there stuff is rubbish!

Let more opinions roll!

 

[Anonymous]

Taking money out of it, are there products actually 'bad'?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Ci4N:It's because they're so expensive. You could get something equally as good for a fraction of the price in most cases. They have reported 400% profit margains and are apparently using the same tech they did in the 1970s. They also employ tactics that involve selling to the uninformed and telling them it's the best. That's why people hate Bose.

There's an awful lot of unsubstantiated 'information' in that post...

 

[Andrew Everard]

ajharris:Taking money out of it, are there products actually 'bad'?

Only if you've never, ever tried any of them.

 

[Anonymous]

One of my relatives has got a Bose 5.1 set up (think its a acoustimass 10 may have got the name wrong) doesn't sound bad at all and they absolutely love it, but whenever i have watched a film with them i do notice a lot of turning up the volume in quiet bits and turning down in loud explosions etc it was all set up properly by the place they bought it from but the sub does seem to rumble away a lot. Considering the price and size i think its alright.

 

[Anonymous]

I heard some in store, and at a villa I rented for a holiday. Even though some details of the music were not there, I found them quite exciting and entertaining.

 

[Anonymous]

flairdj:One of my relatives has got a Bose 5.1 set up (think its a acoustimass 10 may have got the name wrong) doesn't sound bad at all and they absolutely love it, but whenever i have watched a film with them i do notice a lot of turning up the volume in quiet bits and turning down in loud explosions etc it was all set up properly by the place they bought it from but the sub does seem to rumble away a lot. Considering the price and size i think its alright.

Actually, I agree strongly with that point, I used to have the Pioneer LX01 before I got my B&W's. And they suffered from that a lot, in the film 'Dark Knight' It got really annoying.

 

[John Duncan]

The four domestic hifi products I've heard in people's homes (as opposed to in Bentalls, which isn't fair to comment on) have not made me want to buy them, irrespective of how much they cost (and entirely IMO).

The two sets of professional PA speakers I've heard have been fantastic (though over budget, dunno if they were good value).

 

[Anonymous]

I've been quite impressed in their demo rooms, and in shops i think they sounded reasonable, but not compared them to any other brands.

i'd like one of their little wave cd/radio players though.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree, in the shops they sound great! Why do people always say they make bad speakers? I think there not to bad!

 

[idc]

Ci4N:It's because they're so expensive............. They also employ tactics that involve selling to the uninformed and telling them it's the best. That's why people hate Bose.

Bose may be more expensive than other kit, but not outrageously so. The comment about telling the uniformed that there stuff is the best covers most companies and their advertising strategies!

I like the Bose sound. As the OP states it is exciting and I like my music that way. The Accoustiwave radio and a lifestyle setup with the tiny cube speakers (can't remember the model) both sounded excellent to me, as does the Sounddock.

 

[Anonymous]

I also agree with that, there cubes don't sound too bad to my ears. Also, there systems go very loud for the size.

 

[idc]

ajharris:I agree, in the shops they sound great!.....

But aj I will now disagree with you. Their in shop speakers, to me, invariably sound rubbish. Most recently a Kids Gap shop with the small speakers that look as if they are on their side and have a bass port at the front that is as big as the speaker.

 

[Anonymous]

Also, what actually sounds so bad about them?

 

[idc]

The in shop speakers do tend to suffer because they are mounted near the ceiling (though maybe that is where they are supposed to go). The last lot I listened to had no bass and splashy treble. For me the best thing about Bose is the deep, deep bass and how it does not distort, well with my music anyway, Massive Attack's track 'Angel' has an opening bass line that has distorted with every single set up I have played it on, except the Sounddock.

 

[Anonymous]

There bass is certainly good!

 

[idc]

Bose are a marmite brand and very much go their own way. Good for them I say.

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:
Is Bose really as bad as people say?

In a word, no. In several words, it does make some very good products, with which their owners are very happy indeed.

The BOSE speakers at 'Browns' are really good.....I enjoy them almost as much as the entertainment everytime I visit

 

[JoelSim]

idc:
Ci4N:It's because they're so expensive.............ÿ They also employ tactics that involve selling to the uninformed and telling them it's the best. That's why people hate Bose.

Bose may be more expensive than other kit, but not outrageously so. The comment about telling the uniformed that there stuff is the best covers most companies and their advertising strategies!

I like the Bose sound. As the OP states it is exciting and I like my music that way. The Accoustiwave radio and a lifestyle setup with the tiny cube speakers (can't remember the model) both sounded excellent to me, as does the Sounddock.

I can't agree with you on the Sounddock, it's decidedly average. I have one in my cupboard that's just about to be sold.

ÿ

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

There's not alot wrong with Bose when you compare it like for like! Its as good as any other sub/sat system out there imo ive not heard anything from the likes of sony ect thats any better! Although saying that if your happy with full sized system then you can can get better sound for your money.

 

[Anonymous]

My mum has one of those Cd clock radio things. Sounds good, but only compared to other clock radios.

Stupidly expensive IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

I have one of the original Wave CD/Radios which I got reduced from their outlet store in Portsmouth. Love it! Sits in my bedroom and is great for Sunday mornings!

Not sure if I'd buy one again from new if this one went wrong, but before I changed my Denon DM30 over for my current Arcam Solo I took the Bose into the lounge to see how it compared. Just sitting it on a table I was very impressed (again) with how it sounded and how it filled the room - if you didn't have much space or liked simplicity I could see how you could happily get by using one of these.

I also have to say that when I did get a problem with it - even though it had been a reconditioned model and was well over it's warranty period (by about 2 years), Bose took it back, fixed it, fitted new parts and returned it all free of charge!