BOSE V SEPARATES?

[admin_exported]

Hello, I have been looking for a home cinema / music system for the last 2 months. I have approx 2k to spend and have heard a few separate systems as well as a few 'in a box' systems (Pioneer and BOSE). I have to say, nothing so far has blown me away. The BOSE did sound the best of all I've heard, however, there appears to be a great deal of criticism of the sound quality for playing music - is this criticism justified? The separates I have tried were not particularly impressive (too many to mention). The system will be installed in a room which is approx 22 x 16 ft and I would welcome any expert recommendations on the best 'in a box' or 'separate' system to buy for home cinema and music use.

Thanks for any advice you can give

Keith

 

[JoelSim]

You need to give us a clue of which separates you have listened to, as they differ wildly.

 

[matthewpiano]

Bose shouldn't be able to compete with a properly matched seperates based system. TBH I think their stuff is cheaply made, over-priced and gives poor performance per pound.

However, like JoelSim wrote, we need an idea of at least SOME of the gear you've tried along with your musical tastes and the sort of sound you are after. That way we might be able to recommend some options for you. If you then still prefer the Bose then, despite what ANYONE says, that is the best system for you.

 

[Anonymous]

I am new to all this so I am on a continuous learning curve I can remember listening to the 300 pound onkyo amp with 3 different Kef speakers ranging from 300 TO 1000 pound in price with various subs also listened to BW bookshelf speakers and various others., also listened to Pionear LX01 in a box system and the Bose 38 and 48.

I dont have the time to fully investigate what's out there so I'm very much relying on recomendations.

 

[Anonymous]

Try Nad, marantz, and Cambridge. I'm not a fan of the Onkyo seperates.. the Pioneer stuff is okay. The speakers were all decent though. If you end up liking bose the most, go to the best ear doctor you can find....

 

[Anonymous]

thankyou for your reply, my musical tastes are very eclectic, Zepplin, beatles , Floyd, Sinatra, Jazz, classical, I do enjoy music DVDS , as stated, I have listened to KEF priced between 300 and a thousand, BW, and others that I cannot remember due to being a new boy in all this, oh and also onkyo and Yamaha Lower priced amps along with various priced subs

 

[JoelSim]

The problem is that none of the separates you have tried are music based, they are all AV based so you will never get proper hifi sound through them. Usually tinny and lacking in depth, then add a sub and get a tinny sound with big bass. Not ideal.

If I were you I would go to a Sevenoaks, or another reputable hifi shop and tell them that you want good music first and foremost but you also want a surround system, rather than the other way round.

 

[Anonymous]

you were right about the Tinny sound, thanks for your advice I shall act on it.

 

[JoelSim]

Good luck fella. I will have a look now and maybe make a suggestion for £2k

 

[JoelSim]

Try these links

For a DVD and home cinema amp that also works well with music. The DVD player will also play CDs to a good standard.

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/search.doSearch.cfm?search=ARCAM-HALF-PRICE-AV

And/or if you wanted a dedicated CD player, the brilliant Arcam CD192 is on offer all over the place at the moment as it's being replaced by a new model. Try Lintone Audio or Sevenoaks and you should be able to pick one up for about £400. Also try Superfi if you are interested in the package above as the more you buy the better the discount. Or if you don't want the DVD, then look at the AVR280 300 or 350 with the CD player I've mentioned.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=arcam+cd192

http://www.lintone.co.uk/offers.htm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Arcam-AVR300-AV-Receiver-Brand-New_W0QQitemZ380035807542QQihZ025QQcategoryZ72406QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

On to speakers, the Tannoy Mercury F1 retails at £800, but if you were to buy everything from the same place you would no doubt pick this up for less too. Or perhaps the Quad L-ite package at £1k but £500 off at Superfi. Or maybe the AE Aegis.

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/brands.category.cfm/id/64/category/85

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/brands.category.cfm/id/64/category/85

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/search.doSearch.cfm?search=speaker+system

To be honest there has never been a better time to buy an Arcam system and they are made with music and movies in mind - all the AV processing can be bypassed if you are listening to music.

 

[JoelSim]

The above post is all based on a 5.1 surround system.

The other option is just to buy 2 speakers and wire the DVD through a normal 2 channel hifi amp. This is what I do but of course this doesn't give surround sound, although movies still sound great.

 

[Anonymous]

I dont know how to explain but... try not buy BOSE, there's so many option out there