you know you should take these audiophiles with a pinch of salt when they are acceptable to such audio quality output from their own youtube videos! LOL.
yea, cuz this was clearly meant to be in 3d audio, for atmos! Guess you can only crack on them and not the content... maturity, shows such maturity. Go buy some Camden Audio set!~
@@KindredIndust Right on! I mean, who expects less than thx quality of video and audio in a TH-cam discussion video... I won't even put a question mark because it's evident. They must think they're pulling themselves up by tearing others down. 😒
Indeed, you'd think they would be the kind of folks who would be very interested in a nice TASCAM, Zoom, Olympus or Sony audio recorder paired with some nice lavalier microphones. :)
I got a Lifestyle home theater system over 20 years ago and it was such an improvement over the silly big-speaker stereo I had from May Co that I didn't care if the actual audio quality was not really there. I simply didn't want to become an audio expert; I just wanted one-stop, one-box surround sound. But shortly after, I began looking for better and was shocked by how much better I could do while spending less money.
Mike Covello if you are able to restore them, you have a really good system for larger rooms, you are able to get the Hifi for cheap. Buy 6x 501/901 and you have that 1978 Cinema class at home! Only needing a Yamaha A6A, only spending some money, $300 on the speakers. $ 3000 for the DAC/AMP? or the cheaper V6A? Make a less than $1000 Pro Setup.
I don't like them. I sold them. The 401s with weights in them and under $50 worth of drivers. The AM 5 with a hole in the midrange big enough to drive a bus through. In the end, we used them to showcase how much better the Axiom speakers we sold were for the money. There is a reason why we used to say "Bose, Better sound through marketing" A lot of people used to say "No highs, no lows, must be Bose", but we had a better saying: Better Off with Something Else
Todd, I inherited an Axiom system from my brother who was really into his music. Awesome speakers. [M60 floorstanding X 4, VP150 center, QS8 surround X 2, SVS sub] OTOH, my other brother has Bose speakers on his wall and swears they are the best. He would like the brag factor of the Axioms but sound-wise the Bose is just as good.
I hate it because I spend 15k on a Denon/Klipsch/SVS/Parasound setup running 7.2.4 and my brother-in-law asks, “How much better is Bose than your system.” That alone is enough of an insult to hate the brand. ;) I have their QC35 headphones, love them...other than that, they are just over priced electronics...
I remember when the 901's came out. I was in the service at the time and my roomate got a pair. I already had a pair of AR 3a speakers and a Marantz amp. I didn't get the 901 speakers because they would not work properly without their own EQ receiver and the receiver had no option to drive the 901s and a pair of conventional speakers. Later in physics, I learned why speakers should not be full range at higher volumes with a reasonable amount of bass. The cone movement with bass provides Doppler shift of the higher frequencies. Microphones do not have this issue as the microphone diaphragm does not move large distances. A single full range driver can only sound proper with low volume levels to keep Doppler shift low. Found the stereo image from Bose is reflected for a room filling sound, but poor stereo imaging and full of resonances peaks and valleys in response. This is fine for room filling background music and this is their target audience. Those with room sound treatments and want good stereo images should look elsewhere. I went to a CES show one year and while checking the exhibits in the hotel rooms, heard a grand piano in a room. Went in to see and there was a grand piano at the other end of the room, but nobody was playing it. A very good pair of 3 way acoustic suspension speakers were on the floor beside the piano. Very few speakers can pass themselves off as a live grand piano. Bose never has been able to do this. Most stereos sound like stereos or PA systems, not a live acoustic performance. The recording was produced earlier in the day on a DAT recorder on that piano.
i remember 20 yrs ago getting into a heated debate with my ex father in law old school navy seal in a department store over the fact that bose speakers are not all that...
Little known fact, doubt anyone will see this comment, but the 4.5" drivers that were put in all those old Bose cabinets, were actually manufactured, under contract, by Jensen in the Punxsutawney, PA speaker plant in the 60's and 70's. We used to buy them for 15 cents each (filled the trunk of a '74 Oldsmobile for $45) to reload those old cabinets--the 401, 802, 901 the whole shooting match.
yes well it was a clever marketing idea i guess - design something that used 15 cent drivers that could impress people on some level and make scads of cash
I have a good friend that bought a Bose, he loves coming over to watch movies or listen to music any chance he gets. And I have what I would call an entry level system, however I have taken the time to position my speakers right and also tweaked the room acoustics.
I had a BOSE Videowave 55 (lost it in the divorce) and really loved the surround effect. Always assumed it was using some Mid-Side decoding to accomplish that. A bit expensive at nearly $6k but sure impressed my friends who couldn't figure out where all the sound was coming from. Also had a great remote that could work anything with little effort. I like them.
Bose are fine if you are ok compromising sound quality for the convenience of compact size and brand name recognition. A lot of people don't care so long as it has some punch and detail. Especially today when they are used to everything being compressed through bluetooth and/or in ear headphones. I'm not much different, I stuck with stereo to avoid the clutter and have a couple of Marshall speakers hooked up to my computer via a presonus interface to split the channels. Since I got tired of the narrow soundstage of the drivers being too close together to give much stereo separation.
When I got married my wife forced me to put away my full size speakers because they were eyesores. She wanted to pick out the new speakers, so I let her. I told her anything but Bose, but she showed up with them anyway. I kept my mouth shut, but I knew they sounded terrible compared to my old system. Two weeks later we’re lying in bed and she randomly tells me the Bose sound like garbage. Fortunately I was able to convince the store to take them back. We compromised on some Polks, which were much better. We’ve moved on to higher end systems since then, but I’ll never forget the only time she admitted that I was right about something. Bose just don’t sound good.
I use to outsell Bose systems because I used the secret that made Bose sound good in the first place... The demo CD. The Demo CD was crafted to accent all the sounds so if I played the CD on any custom setup it would sound even better because the sound harmonics were better even on a cheap system.
How many of those cheap systems could play to 120dB all night like adequately powered 901s? Yes, yes, I know it's not just about high SPLs. But it definitely helps.
You guys pretty much hit the nail on the head for the most part about the acoustimass. I bought my acoustimass 10 (not lifestyle, just the speakers, paired with a good Onkyo receiver, I'm not completely daft) 12 years ago. I had just gotten back from a deployment and had money to blow and as a new SGT was being forced out of the barracks into a SMALL apartment. I simply wanted speakers in a 5.1 setup that were small, simple to set up, and sounded way better than the TV. I also didn't want to do a lot of research, I wanted something in that apartment, fully functional, and working that same day. While it is true that you can find a better sounding satellite system for $1000, it wasn't in THAT store. In THAT store, the acoustimass 10 was the best sounding full 5.1 surround at that price and with small speakers. It was THAT simple. So I bought them. Here I am, 12 years later and I am upgrading my living room finally. This time I wanted to get the garaunteed best sound for my still $1000 speaker budget but had more time, patience, and resources at my disposal. I found a sale on Definitive Technology products and purchased a Procinema 800 5.1 speaker set. They have dedicated aluminum dome tweeters, a self powered 8 inch true sub clear warm mids, and use passive radiators on the small speakers and the sub. Also comes with a beefed up center channel. This system was normally out of my price range at $1200 but I couldn't help but leap all over it like a drunk monkey when I found it on sale for the holidays at a mere $750! So in your audiophile wisdom, will these Definitive Tech speakers sound better than the acoustimass 10? (I just ordered them, they haven't even arrived yet) I moved my Bose speakers into my computer room to replace my Logitech z speakers who's amplifier had taken a dump, and frankly, regardless of anyone's opinion, I think they are the best damn computer desk speakers I have ever had, giving them a new lease on life. The cubes small size let's me easily fit one each on the left and right and a center turned sideways UNDERNEATH my monitor. No other computer speakers I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot, sounded as powerful. And being on my desk 3 feet or less from my face and powered by a Onkyo 100 watt per channel receiver in a small 12ft square room,turning the volume any higher than halfway would make my ears bleed and shake me out of my computer chair! This brings me to my only real contention with Bose critics. I fully understand the limitations of the acoustimass, but you still have to give Bose credit. Creating big sounds from small packages was started with the acoustimass. It was NEVER an audiophile aimed piece of tech. It was aimed at getting as big a sound as possible for people with very limited space or people that simply don't like the main item of decor in their house to be a set of speakers. When acoustimass came out, it was the ONLY thing like it on the market. This is why it sold so well and for so long. Bose threw in the towel with floor standing speakers, they just couldn't compete, but this is why the acoustimass is still around. It still has valid applications, like my small PC gaming room. The other thing that gets me is how people always bring up their build quality. There is nothing wrong with paper cones for speakers if done right. In fact, most speakers that have ever been made are of such material. To me, longevity speaks of quality. This acoustimass, with paper cones, has already lasted more than 12 years and I see no reason why I couldn't get 12 more out of them. That's a lot of listening for $1000. I've had two computer dedicated 5.1 systems go out on me during this time. One from Logitech that cost over $300, and one from Klipsch that was over $500. If I can get 24 years out of this Bose, they were well worth their price point over anything else I've put in that room. I would welcome feedback. Especially about the new Def Tech speaker choice as in comparison with my old Bose.
@@Asmogrim all speakers sound better with a good receiver. But I think the reasons my old Acoustimass sound better on the computer than they did in the living room is because of the smaller room size and the fact that my computer's creative labs sound card has excellent equalization and sound enhancement software that allows me to tweak the sound to my heart's content. Whereas my new Def techs sound great with little equalization, the acoustimass greatly benefit from it.
I'm 90% sure the DT system sounds significantly better than the Bose. I've listened to the Bose years ago but not the DT. The DT's satellite speakers are 2-way mid- tweeter units vs the Bose's mid/tweeters. On the plus side, the Bose has a integrated amp unit for it which maximizes the speaker/sub combo's sound and it has wood pulp satellites. Your DT/Onkyo setup relies heavily on the Onkyo for power (I own an Onkyo receiver too) which is fine amp, but the woofers look like they're made of plastic (in the website photos). BTW, regarding woofer material -- paper, plastic, aluminum, kevlar, etc. My friend, initials DT, talked directly to Dr. Bose years ago at a party and asked him his preferred woofer material. Dr. Bose said something very interesting. Dr. Bose said that objectively-speaking, plastic, aluminum, etc. should be superior to wood pulp because of higher rigidity. However, subjectively, wood-based cones sound better. Dr. Bose DIDN'T KNOW WHY. My friend DT was about to tell Dr. Bose why, but was interrupted and didn't get a chance to finish. DT told me of course. Drum roll please .. The reason why wood pulp-based woofers sound better than anything else is because: 1. Good wood fiber cones are much stiffer than people realize. Google "bulletproof paper". 2. A wood fiber woofer cone has RANDOM lengths of wood fibers, which results in sonic improvements over other materials, namely .. 3. Wood fiber woofer cones DON'T HAVE RESONANCE FREQUENCY problems like other materials. 4. Also, wood fiber woofer cones are very light (less mass), so are inherently FASTER. Mystery solved. You can sleep better now.
@@danielho5635, actually you didn't help my sleep at all lol. In one sentence you say that my DefTech should sound better than the Bose, (and they do in the living room. Also they are connected to an even better Onkyo receiver. My brother is an audiophile and for Christmas he gave me his 2004 $1600 (new) Onkyo receiver. Even used and 14 years old that thing is selling for $500. More than I would ever spend). But, in the next sentence you say the Bose paper woofer is better lol. But it is a known fact that the acoustimass base module is that systems high point. It isn't a true sub-woofer but the base it does produce is phenomenal. (BTW the Acoustimass doesn't have a built in amp, not even for the sub, just a custom crossover. All of its power comes from the receiver) I think what pushes the Def Techs beyond the Bose sound is that the Def Tech satellites are fully capable of real base all the way down to 57 hz and have dedicated tweets. I set the crossover to 80 hz. The manual that came with the speakers says to set crossover at 120hz but when I looked this up, professional audiophiles that reviewed this system said that recommendation was for ease of sounds quality for people who don't like to tweak. Plug and play people. If you run your speakers through the prosub 800, Def techs own circuitry uses a 75hz crossover. It made perfect sense and improved the sound because low mids and high base are directional. Setting the crossover lower to 80hz ensured better aural directional accuracy, and since the satellites can handle 57hz, 80hz is easy for them. Going back to your random fibres in wood pulp improving base quality point, perhaps that's why the passive radiators on the satellites and subwoofers are made of a rough textured material instead of smooth?
@@brianwhite9015 Sorry for the confusion. The "sleep better" part only refers to solving the ongoing debate about cone driver material. Any "rough texture" refers to what's "in" the cone driver, i.e. wood pulp fibers of various random lengths, and not the surface of the driver which may or may not be smooth. One thing I ought to mention, is my personal preference for a movie 2.0 setup, not 5.1. I lucked-out in getting real JBL 8330 movie theater speakers ($1600 each piece when new) cheap, used on Craigslist. These 20 yr old speakers totally kick ass -- fast, extended, lively. I personally think a good 2.0 setup is 10x better than a mediocre 5.1 setup -- which a majority of them are IMHO. FWIW, yes I agree that your DefTecs work well because of your Onkyo. Bose satellite/subs have deficiencies in FR which are masked by its active equalization and matched amp. It only gets exposed when playing AC/DC or some other high octane music. Your system should fare much better in subjective tests.
I designed, sold, and installed for Magnolia for 9 years. When people came in for Bose or asked about them I always showed them the Definitive Technologies Promonitor 700 set. It was $700 and mopped the floor with the Bose Lifestyle systems. In my first years with the company, we had a Bose system in the same demo room with the Def Tech system, and I don't recall a single person who thought the Bose sounded remotely comparable. By the time we got a decent AVR and TV they were finally matching the price of some of the Bose systems we carried. Soon after, we were required to remove them from the Magnolias (Home Theater box stores and Design Centers) and they became Best Buy products only. It felt like a victory in many ways to me at the time because I was able to still use the story when showing people other speakers to illustrate the point. For me listening to them I never felt immersed in the content. It always seemed like it was trying too hard to impress me while not giving me any substance. I preferred selling systems that would blend with the room which in many cases is a proper system. But I am not their target. They in many ways like Apple, are good at marketing and putting out solid products, but in reality are several years/product generations behind everyone else, and that is mostly by design.
I worked at Allison Acoustics back in the '80's. We were in Natick, Massachusetts. Bose built a factory and buried it to create an a hill. They are located in an industrial area on the West Side of Framingham, Massachusetts. I knew people with Bose branded recievers, amps,etc..In 1979 I was listening to a Bose car stereo installed into an employee's vehicle. A member of my congregation was sent to Ireland to setup an operation there. I really enjoyed working for Dr. Roy. We were a small company.30 people maybe. We made some really good speakers. I started out doing production and worked my way up to testing. We tested every component and every completed speaker. I would have to say my favorite Allison Acoustics speaker was the "Godzilla". The Model 1's. Empty cabinet was really heavy. Two woofers in a push/pull setup that eliminated a vacuum condition inside the the cabinet. Two dome mid ranges and two tweeters on each face. A remote that could adjust each face a small amount for best sound in your listening space. We had to build carpeted rolling tables to work on them. They didn't fit on the production line. We rebuilt two pairs for a famous audio products builder. We were sent the first pair for upgrades. Special cable was sent to replace the factory wire. I silver soldered the wiring connections inside the cabinet. Difficult to do with a micro torch. I had done silver soldering for industrial temperature sensors in a previous job. The customer recieved the units. Called up and ordered another pair built the same as the first. As soon as the check cleared the second pair was built. The outside recieved a spectacular paint job. Six coats of black laquer and six coats of clear. Engineers can design wonderful products but you need great workers to build them. Dr. Roy knew everyones name. Asked sbout any problems you were having. Like a concerned uncle. A tragedy to watch it die.
Its interesting how audiophilia refers to interest in wave reproduction quality, but doesnt necessarily mean a person has an affinity or interest for discerning the original waveform Conversely, a person who has a good ability to discern sound waveform ie a musician, isnt necessarily an audiophile.
My S.O. is a blind musician and has perfect pitch. She can hear details in songs that I can't. She also loves tube amps. She's always been happy with Bose, but has recently gotten into high-end headphones.
My dad was over visiting and I had a Klipsch Synergy system I got from Best Buy and had it for 10 years ....he saw it and said “Oh, it’s not bose.” For the week he was visiting he was listening to the speakers. About a year later we were talking on the phone and he said “ Your speaker’s sound really really good, as good as Bose.” Thought that was a great compliment. Now I have upgraded to the RF-7 IIs which is a huge upgrade, I wonder if he would say they are better than Bose lol
@@LiveMusicOntario Harley has more to it's credit than Bose. Unless the Harley came equipped with a Bose stereo. Replacing the Bose system in a Corvette is a PITA without gutting the whole system. Pretty much anything sounds better though and worth the time.
We have friends with the expensive Bose home theater system. They invited us to watch a movie in their living room. They had to turn it up to uncomfortable levels to be able to hear the dialog and even then it was hit or miss. A month later we invited them to watch a movie on our dedicated home theater with a 7.1 sound system and room treatments. They were astounded that the music and dialog was so clear at moderate volume. I had done some research. You should have seen their expression when I told them my audio system didn't cost that much more than what they paid for Bose.
Great and entertaining video! Something which I think is significant is that most Bose owners I know are very happy with the gear and keep it for a long time. Audiophiles I know who like boutique gear seem to buy new stuff on an almost ongoing basis and their gear rarely seems to enjoy more than a short honeymoon period. One thing that does make me laugh is people who will try and tell me that spending several hundred dollars on a power chord or per foot of speaker cable claiming that Bose is overpriced. I mean, really?
I work at a music store and can absolutely verify that different grades of cables exist for a reason. You get what you pay for. You buy an inexpensive cable, it's wrapped using thinner shielding, which will allow more electricity to escape, which = noisy output (a bit of white noise will constantly output from the speaker even with no music.) Studio-grade cables (The opposite extreme) are wrapped so well they are *virtually noiseless*, though they get pricey. Mogami, for example, (One of the best on the market right now) usually charges about $75 for a 15ft. Now noiseless cable REALLY matters if you are recording through it, since you don't want that white noise to show up in your recording. It doesn't really matter if you are just listening to music, But if you're an audiophile and you care about top quality, you will still prefer noiseless cables. I will also freely admit cables are easy moneymakers for retailers as they are sold at high margin. But this is to make up for the fact that most actual instruments and audio gear are sold at VERY LOW margin. (That's why you'll never see more than 15-20% off) Some brands (like *ahem* BOSE) are even "hard-minned." Meaning they NEVER discount their products, ever. These are usually just the most snobbish brands. Usually for me, Bose is there to help me sell more JBL, EV and QSC speakers (Lol) though even some of my coworkers feel different. (I'm a music producer who has worked in both studio and live sound venues, so I'm definitely more toward the "audiophile" end of the spectrum.) Of course it depends on the customer too, like the guys in the video mentioned. *Also, if I'm bundling a bunch of stuff for a customer, it's often very easy to discount or throw in a cable.*
Power cables don't really matter (except for the type) but audio-grade power conditioners are superior to ordinary power strips for audiophiles or studio musicians/producers. Furman power conditioners, for example, include all sorts of noise and ground-hum reducing features, as sometimes these come through your speakers for no reason other than something electrical that can't be helped. They also provide much higher spike protection than a power strip from Meijer, of course. 😉
I just also want to mention that, as a producer and audiophile, I like good quality speakers. But I don't spend a lot of time agonizing over gear. Some people do (we say they have GAS; Gear Acquisition Syndrome), but these are usually mediocre professionals who are good enough players to get regular gigs, but not smart enough to really understand deeper levels of things, so they often blame the gear for problems that really have to do with their skill or talent level. I just spend some time doing research on the best product for a price range I can manage, And then I pull the trigger when I'm good and ready. I haven't felt a need to change my speakers often, but that's also probably due to the fact that I have pretty well-tuned ears. I'm (by plenty of other people's accounts) very good at *mixing* music, as I know what to pay attention to in both live and studio settings and make adjustments using proper tools. So I also know what to listen for in a good speaker. I also know how to compensate for a mediocre speaker. In either case, I can manage. 😁 But I'm lucky compared to most ppl for sure.
Bose is also overpriced. You can buy a Bose L1 Pro or a JBL PRX ONE for the same price. (Actually, I take that back. The Pro16 is $1900 while the PRX ONE is $1700 rn) But the L1 Pro has a smaller frequency response range, has only 3 input channels (although you can get more by adding a Bose ToneMatch mixer, which will set you back another $700-1,000) 2-band EQ for each channel, and a boomy overcompensating subwoofer. The PRX ONE has SIX input channels, INTEGRATED Lexicon/DriveRack effects, PARAMETRIC EQ for each channel (controlled from the phone app) AND a naturally wider frequency range. One is optimal for professional use, and the other is a Bose. Plus, since Bose is hard-minned and JBL isn't, you might score a deal on the JBL. The Bose has much fewer knobs and frills though, which is less intimidating for someone who wants that kind of space-saving speaker without crazy amounts of features they won't use. It's just still more $ for less, which is the definition of "overpriced." Lol
You can drive yourself crazy and to the poor house listening to guy's like this. Audiophiles never think they have the best sound possible, and continue spending, upgrading , changing components, wires , amplifiers, speakers ect. But in the end still think they can do better, Pick a system and go with it. Sit down and enjoy the music, .
Some people.loke this stuff as a hobby. You dont have e a hobby because you need it you have it because you enjoy it. More power to people.dor whatever you are into.
Great comment, due your research on the set up you want. But you have to know that the technology keeps getting better. So youll never have the best product after 1 yr.
Sound from the original source, say a symphony orchestra, is hard to match if not impossible. So you keep trying to get that sound. Some people will not accept less than the closest possible match to the sound of real music being produced right in front of them. There is no substitute. A system should have as few weak points in it as possible. And you don't have to go to the poor house to do it. Best audio source is a Blu-Ray player with a well recorded sound track.
@Boston My Home Town . Just picked up an acoustimass 10 with the rectangular speakers, plus tall two stands, 9.5/10 condition, two years old. $350. Such a sweet sound! Shit yeah!
I've been saying this since the 70s, thought I was the only one! Bose is much the same as the Apple brand, mostly "salesmanship" (hype). I found that a lot of brand name speaker systems are over priced junk. The first time I saw and heard a set of 901s, I cracked up when I saw all those paper cone drivers and I was not surprised to hear that the bass reproduction was practically non-existent. After blowing up several sets of speakers with this Yamaha amp that I used to have, I finally just built my own speakers. Ironically, I borrowed the band pass tower design from a Bose ad that I saw in Stereo Review magazine. I sent off for the sales brochure, and used their cutaway drawing to produce a very similar design with some modifications to suit me. I built the enclosures to be very dense with a lot of damping, hand picked all the drivers made from high quality materials and those speakers have been blasting out rock since about 1992. I actually never finished those speakers. I was planning to test run them before putting some oak veneer, or even another 3/4" of oak to make them even thicker walled, but when I got them set up and tested them, I just laid back and enjoyed the music all night, never did get them covered with anything, but they still sound great! 😃
Favorite speakers? My Celestion 11s from the early 90s. I picked them for their stereo imaging - they have an uncanny knack for being able to place different instruments or vocals at different points in the sound field - assuming it's a decent recording of course. Klipsch speakers at the time had plenty of bass and highs - they couldn't help it - 18" woofer and a similarly sized horn. But you might as well have been at the ocean with your eyes closed - you couldn't tell the position of anything in the sound field - it was just a giant wall of sound. Bose of course likes to reflect everything off walls and ceilings before it gets to you. Interesting effect, but you lose the stereo imaging. The Celestions have a wonderful mid-range too. On Tori Amos' "Boys for Pele" album you can practically stare down her throat and check out her tonsils. I'm on my second Yamaha receiver with these. I didn't hear anything I liked better in the audio store when I needed to replace the old one. I found the acoustic guitar passages to be too harsh and metallic with at least one of the other receivers (I don't recall the brand) and it totally missed the warm resonance of the guitar body. I use Dire Straits "Private Investigations" from their "Love Over Gold" album as my reference for that - WONDERFULLY recorded guitar.
I loved selling a Bose lifestyle system when I worked at Circuit City!! The spiff was over $100 and the 5 year esp warranty was a guarantee sell. One weekend I sold 4!! That paycheck I treated myself to a dcm power sub. Lol, My teenage ears love that bass.
Ok, ok...........I see there are some Klipsch fans here too....(more on this down the paragraph) I will tell you, when we bought our new home 12 years ago, I wanted to have something that left the livingroom UNCLUTTERED by speakers and a rack of components, just a nice old fashioned place to have guests, enjoy our dinners and sit and chat in the living space. The Bose Wave System was perfect!, you hardly see where it is and yet, set on a corner shelf, it makes a rather big sound when needed. Fit our needs SO well, that I bought a second one for the kitchen which I just listened to THIS video through as it is hooked to my laptop. Jazz and Classical recordings usually heard while cooking and dining... The reason I wanted to add comment here is....... These little radios sound decent enough for what they do, and that is, take up a small space and have a pretty full sound for their size. With that all said, I also have two media rooms (I will mention only on of them). One with a beautiful pair of Klipshorns powered by a pair of restored Dynaco Mark 3's and a PAS-2 preamp, all dating to the mid 60ies in a large space, so I have good kit, but no, I don't hate Bose.. A buddy of mine has his own airplane with a pair of Bose AVIATION headphones and they are wonderful for what they do as well....Sorry, I can't hate on Bose.....
My cousin had a pair of 901's back in the early 80's. He turned on his stereo and I fell in love. In 1986 I was in Germany doing my tour of duty in the Army and I saw a pair of 301's at the PX, and they were in my price range. I bought a AMP that ran continuous at 75 watts and maxed out at 125, the same as my 301's. I took it back to the barracks and set it up. One of my friends helped me set the whole thing up. We cranked it up and it was amazing. One of the guys from down the hall came in to see where all that sound was coming from and about crapped himself. He had spent several thousands of dollars on a massive Pioneer system with two sets of speakers with 15" woofers and didn't sound half as good as mine. I still have those speakers today, they are Series ii. I also now have a set of Series V and I run them together. They sound pretty good but I wanted a little more bass so I just bought a Monoprice 12" sub for $93.00, it will be here on Friday. I am running this all on a Denon AVR-S910W Receiver. I have had chances to buy higher quality speakers, but couldn't do it.
6:13 ... The Sony Bravo TV line has a special setting for use in retail stores that enhance the picture for display in stores. There is a "normal" setting for use in the home.
I think beats is worse... I like my Bose ear buds. Bought them used for 25 bucks and they are amazing for what I use them for. Bought a new pair of beats... Uncomfortable and the sound wasn't as good either.
I think Bose at least tries to do something that may sound OK on on some sound spectrum. Beats is just a piece of Crap. Beats could be better than the free airplane headphones, and may be not all of them. I am sorry, but whenever I see a person wearing beats, I cannot help thinking "he was ripped-off, knows nothing of audio and..."
You know- I was kinda thinking the same thing! Tone down the lights a little, guys! You might even make William Shatner look a little less like a cardboard (foldable) cutout.
Most of the time people like the fact that it takes up less space rather than concentrate on the sound from Audiophile.... About 20 years Bose started with the surround sound and then 5.1.... I had the the 901s, 701s version ll, 401s, 301s, AM-5s, AM-7s, AM-10s and the AM-15s before switching to Klipsch in 2011...
Back in 1995 I was given a free BOSE home theater packagefrom a friend, as he knew I was Home Theater enthusiast. BOSE was toted as "The little speaker with the BIG sound". Even for free, I did not like them. After I got out of the Navy, I became a Service Technician for Cox Cable & Time Warner Cable and performed many Home Theater assemblies. Throughout all my professional (and personal) experiences, my opinion on BOSE only solidified. Just my humble opinion
Amar Bose had one good idea. Live music comes not only from the front, but also from walls, ceilings etc. He never got the ratio right, but he started research that better speakers exceeded.
I did visit some old Cinema, they did use un updated BOSE 1978 setup, basically just using many 501 speaker. They do the best room designs, now able to better use computer and algorithms to create that perfect atmosphere. hire them, or do it yourself, you never get the ratio right! hire them?
If size is the most important factor to you in a sound system, then go with Bose, sure. Their engineering style allows them to put more sound in to a smaller package. However, you can't achieve that with out a cost. The cost is bass, treble and price compared to the competition. For anyone for whom audio quality is the most important factor, that trade off just isn't close to worth it.
@@Thinwhiteduke1185My uncle got my 80yo grandmother a Bose wave radio years ago, was one of the best gifts ever because it was easy for her to use and fit snugly on a center counter. Even I was impressed by the 3D sound it radiated even if it makes distortion geeks cringe.
But seriously, Bose are well respected among audiophiles for some of their headphones and noise cancelling tech. But anti-Bose sentiment is well deserved for most of their mass market speakers and audio systems. Overpriced and underbuilt for the cost. Most of their well known mass marketed speakers and speaker "systems" have significant audiophile sound quality issues, like poor quality bass, mid range "hole", poor treble range. I give Bose credit for popularizing the cube/sub form factor with the Acoustimass series in the early 90s. Yes, I bought into the AM7 for my first 5.1 Pro Logic setup with a good quality Pioneer receiver of the early 90s. High WAF, but as my hearing became more audiophile attuned, the issues with the Acoustimass system became obvious and glaring. The bass "module" was not a real subwoofer, and produced puffy, one note-y poor quality bass. The cubes had a huge mid range hole, with tinny highs. These sound and form factor attributes make a big first impression in mass market stores and the Bose Store in Outlet malls of yore, but anyone wanting quality sound for music would laugh at them. On a positive note, due to Bose marketing efforts, it was easy to resell my AM7's to a (non audiophile) coworker for ~65% of the price I paid after ~6 years of ownership, very low depreciation for audio gear. I also owned Bose 301 S3's and a VCS10 center channel speaker, selling both at low depreciation- my first well known branded speakers from the early 90s. By 1999, I bought into PSB with their 800i's and matching center/surrounds, and now have PSB T2's
I'm hearing some of the old re-hashed assumptions, outdated and some incorrect info here (the latest 10" acoustimass sub is actually "upfiring", not down). At Eng/Electronics college 25 years ago I was building active speakers from circuit components up. I've since been a devoted "seperates only" HiFi guy searching out rare and weird HiFi to the point where my spare room used to be filled with amplifiers and speakers. I don't like the term audiophile as still hear so much subjective and nonsensical stuff being spouted by so called experts tagging themselves as such - not directed at this channel, but just a general comment, some visible in these comments. (Don't tell me your gold plated HDMI lead sounds better or that your 10 gauge cables on a 10ft run are making a difference). I used to buy into the old adage of BOSE = Bring Better Sound Equipment too, and would forever deride their "processed sound" to non-AV pros that would profess Bose as "the best". These days I'm lucky enough to be in a position that this year I'm half way through a half million dollar refit of installed audio across 2 main sites, including $30,000 on consumer grade stuff for some standalone areas needing just a simple 5.1 TV system or BT speaker. For our recent refit, senior management wanted to bring Bose in and I was VERY reluctant, and still bought into the traditional anti-BOSE stance, but also though "what the hell", and couldn't see the harm in giving them a shot (failure would only prove me right). The enthusiasm, and professionalism displayed by their factory engineers and the installer was way above what I've experienced from other brands, and the final product has blown all expectations out of the water, and frankly is levels above the comparable (output and coverage) old QSC Qsys installed PA. The latest Bose Pro kit is solid, and when the factory are sending out the their senior in house engineers to tune the installation and sign it off then you know they are making a strong bid for this market. The Showmatch sub is standout. In the couple of months since first half of the install, we've already had 1 A-list artist play through the main system, numerous DJs and other bands, and both they and their travelling sound engineers and other production professionals have all had their previous anti-Bose stance blown away, and coming away with a change of opinion on what they've seen and heard. At high or low volumes, definition, clarity, projection, and coverage are unreal (admittedly as much to do with a great system design and tuning). For the consumer stuff, yes we now there's a processed sound to their kit, if you're an absolute HiFi head and understand what they do to tune the sound to make it sound more "immersive" or "fuller" (I hate these subjective adjectives), then just accept that for what it is. The fact is, that 95% of people on the street will listen to a Bose consumer product, and prefer that sound to a true perfect flat response curve. And whatever anyone says, if you're running different branded amps and speakers which aren't perfectly matched from factory, then it's very unlikely you're getting flat response curve. That "lovely warmth" the What HiFi reviewer is banging on about with a certain amp/speaker combo is actually sound coloration no different to what Bose are doing, but just likely less intentional. Off the back of our recent purchase, I also ended up on the factory tour - and was gob smacked at what they get up to for both durability testing, and the whole facility itself. MIT as custodian of Bose really do have some of the brightest engineering brains available in there, and it shows. Their innovation in new consumer products benefits from them not just being a typical HiFi company. Their Pro demo room is something else (basically a mid size concert stage setup) and if you've previously written off their Pro install kit, I suggest a re-visit of their latest kit, particularly the IP rated outdoor kit and the column line arrays which have phenomenal projection. Don't get me wrong - my home HiFi is still separates, and I still think Bose is very expensive on the upper end of their consumer lines for what they are (Lifestyle etc). But of my 10+ portable BT speakers (including Riva and Sonos) my go to now for work is a now pair of the tiny Soundlink Micros, as can in 20 secs set up a great little (obviously not hifi) stereo sound by using the rubber straps to place them anywhere and direct them correctly to my working position. The baby S1 battery PA is whilst being a little overly bassy, also the only portable speaker you'll ever need for crownds of 20 - 30 fo you BBQing ion the beach or plugging a guitar and mic in. The very latest soundbars and Lifestyle systems, coupled with the AdaptIQ tuning system get very impressive room tuning results in a minute and gorgeous form factor, that most people couldn't achieve with placement only. Fact is the 95% of people on the street they provide a slick design, and a sound they actually prefer for their needs/tastes. Finally, we are based on a leeward shore, in a high humidity tropical location, where all the kit gets blasted with salt water laden breeze and weather 24-7. Despite an absolute hammering, the ancient 251s used for one of our Beach bars lasted 8 years, and only 1 failed from 8 (main reason management loved Bose so much) - for toughness, they do last.
Bose has come a long way over the past several years. I’d say Bose’d only truly overpriced products they currently sell are their Lifestyle systems, which while have improved since Bose has finally figured out to make a real subwoofer, still can be easily outperformed by systems costing less than half the price.
@@lunam7249 lol, re-reading my post 5 years later! I must have been up late and getting triggered by the comments to write that essay. No I dont work for Bose. Independent integrator. I pick the most suitable kit for the job, and the manufacturer that best supports me, and I even buy through another distro, not Bose direct. I also work a fair amount with QSC, K-Array, Technomad, and Sonos/Sonance for residential stuff. QSys is nicer to program and has more integration. Their latest CX-Q and similar amps, where we are at least, do not put up with the same level of abuse (coastal environment, bad power), that the numerous Bose PM series I've deployed over the same ime have, and their warranty support is pitiful in comparison when called upon. I've had to leave clients without amps for several months whilst I return CX-Q series stuff that's under year old back for warranty repair, and QSC have argued all the way. The only issue I've seen with the PM was due to a batch which had a faulty cap. All were replaced directly (new one sent straight out), before even receiving the old one for assessment. Night and day difference for the customer.
Bose has the best noise cancelling on headphones so far as well. Build quality is spot on. The sound is sweet for me, and I don't listen to music, I listen to audiobooks and political debates. Bose is very good for that - very clear on the voice.
Just for information, original Bose 901 drivers cost less than $4.00 each. I know this because my buddy worked at Bose when it occupied a half dozen houses in Natick, Massachusetts. He was one of two techs that tested and repaired the equalizers. The drivers were made by CTS in Kentucky. I bought a couple of the drivers which I still have. The surrounds are still intact and that's from 1968. The surrounds were not the self destructing foam used now. They are made from , I think, silicone impregnated cloth, same as AR's speakers. Met Dr. Bose too. And believe it or not, my dad helped to build "The Mountain" in Farmington. Which in reality is a huge pile of rubble, from the blasting during construction of the Mass Turnpike, which goes right by the mountain. Why go thru a mountain when you can blow it up? Employee cost for a 901 system was $250, half of retail. And no I didn't buy one. I had AR's. Bought from the AR store in Boston. Good times back then.
@@lbamusic Bose, no highs, no lows, Bose. Haha! I still have the AR's too, but primary speakers are Klipsch RF-7 towers, with real wood veneer. I worked at a high end shop as a service tech, got a great deal on B stock, $700 for the pair. Along with a couple Sony XBR large screen TVs at the time very expensive, but not for employees.
@@rpk5568 yep, manufactured by the JENSEN corporation new york 😳😳, inflation adjusted prolly $3 each in 2024, delco prolly can make a similar speaker in 2024 for $1 each drop shiped by the pallet..its realy a piece of crap, i do this for a living...Post Ph.D. E.E., P.E.
A good friend of mine gave me his entire stereo system that he bought when he came back from Vietnam. A pair of Bose 901's & 301's, Bose amp and preamp and several other components including equalizer, turntable, tuner plus a few other odds and ends. Granted the specs are not comparable to modern speaker specs but they still sound pretty decent. On the other hand, whenever I purchase audio equipment I start with the specs and work my way to a selection as I go.
wow, 20 minutes of you guys saying absolutely nothing, and did not even answer the question you put in the title.... You nailed it at the end when you said - "Where is this video going?"
You have to either have ADD or just not be very bright to not pick up on the arguments in this video and how perception trumps quality for the brand in question.
That's exactly what I thought these dumbasses don't know shit all they did is talk bad about Bose the whole time and didn't say what was better cuz they know Bose is good shit they just can't afford it
@@madscientist6869 If you know what they were saying, they're not dumbasses. And you would think people listening to "Audioholics" would know about audio. They said it: we (audiophiles) hate Bose mostly because of the value. But also because so many non-audiophiles think Bose is the greatest ever because of marketing, not because they've actually heard Bose against other speakers for the same price. And I have a 65" LG OLED and Def Tech 7.2.2 Dolby Atmos Surround Sound System that costs way more than a Bose system, just in case you were going to claim I can't afford it.
@@seriosmusic okay what do you recommend I replace my piece of shit Boston Acoustic Tower speakers that I wasted $500 each on that a pair of $300 Bose will sound better than
Years ago I visited a Circuit City and this young couple were listening to the Bose Acoustimass system in awe. I approached them, and suggested they have the sales rep switch to the Polk satellite system, and to play Pink Floyd Time in a A/B comparison. They could no believe the difference in the extended frequencies. The bells, and chimes had a nice, airy, natural sound, and the bass had good definition, with good vibrato you could hear, and feel. They were very grateful, and even offered to by me lunch. True story...
Notice how many times they said "allegedly". That was an offhand reference to Bose's litigious nature. Bose are known for their marketing prowess, noise cancelling headphones, poor sound otherwise, high price for what you get, and love for litigation. Bose systems in a box sound way better than the sound coming from a tv, and way worse than you can do if you take the time to learn something about audio reproduction. Like the guys said, Bose markets to the people who know nothing about high end audio.
You touched lightly on it at the end. But the biggest reason I hate Bose is because I was fooled by them in the very beginning of my dip into audio. In the mid 90's had 301's, then added model 100's, then sold them both and bought Acoustimass 10. But the traditional big box speakers my friends owned always had more punch than my Bose. It's a pretty simple concept that a speaker moves air, and if you have tiny speakers made from the worst materials, they will not move air like better products can. I believe Bose now offers a real sub and is moving toward more exotic drivers because crappy $300 HTIB's caught up to Bose in sound quality and visceral impact. The point of diminishing returns has dropped to an amazingly low price point.
Every product has that designer type brand that has the name, charges many times more for that name but doesn’t provide a product that reflects the price. Bose and Beats are the top 2 for speakers and headphones. Way overrated. Not bad but definitely not worth the price. For the uninitiated, they’re the best. Not for any technical reason but because of brand recognition. Commercials and celebrity endorsers who are paid to wear them in public. Those people don’t care about build quality and accurate sound. Just that brand recognition so they can impress other people and feel like they have something good. Most of the time, those people can’t be helped. I’ve used Klipsch for many years now and am really satisfied with the way they reproduce sound in music and movies. From 3 different series of bookshelf speakers, subwoofers and their Pro Media computer speakers, I’ve found them to be well built, accurate and very affordable. I believe they belong in every short list of best bang for your buck speakers.
My father opened up the original Radio Shack's first branch store in 1951. Growing up, I had the opportunity to listen, mono to stereo etc. I had met an been to seminars with Dr. Bose. What you're missing here is very simple, when you walked perpendicular to a stereo high frequencies had a sweet spot. High frequency response is directional. When you got away from the sweet spot the mid-high frequencies fell off. His concept was to aim speakers in such a manner so you wouldn't have a sweet spot. Everyone, especially large music venues use this dispersion method for that reason. The Bose radio improved upon the KLH 21 design. Those are the facts. The original 901's were the first effort at providing you with that, (even), listening technology. That's why there were 4 drivers on 2 sides in the back. You could also modify the frequency response by moving the location of the speakers. Audio is subjective. No 2 people hear the same thing. Dr. Bose was an innovator, whether you care for his products or not, his contributions to audio are significant. He was great at demonstrating and explaining these concepts in layman's terms.
Tracy Ripple but you do agree with sound being subjective, correct? if so, why do folk make such videos? apparently, if someone prefers Bose, they can afford it, and they enjoy what they sound like, why do folk waste their time, energy, and resources in efforts to sway the consumer? i’m just curious...wouldn’t it just make sense to say, “Hey, you like what you like and i like what i like.” it’s called, ‘choice’...and, no matter what one’s opinion is in regards to another’s choice, all that technical stuff is simply dismissed...i have a home full of Bose and i’m VERY satisfied...every product has pros and cons...however, as long as the product caters to the one who made the choice to experience such, all this is a waste of time
Tracy Ripple i agree...Bose does what every other company does which is claim a superior product...ultimately, the consumer decides...every company has a bag of tricks and create an illusion to lure us in...however, at the end of the day, none of us like to think we’ve made a poor decision...that’s just the nature of the ego...can you imagine how much flack i get from people just because i like Acura over Cadillac, lol...i would have to treat u to lunch in efforts to share all those stories...🤷🏽♂️
I bought my first and only set of Bose 601 gen 3 in 1985 while I was in the military. I listened to many different brands. Most of the other brands seemed louder. We called them distortion drivers. I wasn’t a fan of the 901’s sound. But the clarity of the 4 tweeters and 2 8inch woofers in the 601 sounded really good. As far as I was concerned they were the best bang for the buck and I’m still pushing them today. That’s 35 years of everyday use and they never needed any repairs.
Ditto! Fantastic speakers at the time and probably what made the name. Bose declined in company with their Japanese competition brands. Their speakers were always better and stand up just as well today. It's hard to blow 100 watts RMS and nobody needs more than that. These guys are wankers, too.
And CONVENIENCE definitely has VALUE (to most people). So if people are PAYING the high price, it inherently is WORTH that price. Also, Bose doesn't advertise "the best".... they only advertise "better".... and that's true compared to most audio sources out there in Gadgetland.
An analogy from an audio enthusiast’s perspective is a $3000-$4000 Bose Lifestyle system with the tiny cube speakers is like a Smart Fortwo sold for an Audi A4 price. A Smart isn’t necessarily a “bad car”, and is indeed very small and very simple, but it would be a bad car for an Audi A4 price, as an Audi is bigger, built better, and performs better. Likewise, a Bose Lifestyle system doesn’t necessarily sound “bad”, and is very small and very easy to use, but for $3000-$4000, you could get a 5.1 surround system from brands like Paradigm, Martin Logan, Bowers and Wilkins, Focal, Goldenear, Definitive Technology, SVS, and many others that have much bigger speakers that are better-built, and words cannot even begin to describe how much better those systems would sound than any Bose Lifestyle system. Again, it’d be like comparing a Smart Fortwo to an Audi A4 in terms of performance. Now of course people who want Bose likely don’t want big speakers, just like people who’d want a Smart wouldn’t want a 4-door sedan like an Audi A4. But just like a car enthusiast would see no reason to spend $40,000 on a $15,000 Smart Fortwo, audio enthusiasts see no reason to spend $4000 on a tiny speaker system that has the sound quality of a home theater in a box costing less than $1000. And even if you want small speakers, all of those aforementioned brands also make speakers similar in size and price to Bose that obliterate Bose. And if you feel like you need to buy Bose for the “prestige” so you can “keep up with the Jone’s”, forget Bose and buy a higher-end system from one of those aforementioned brands, which you could easily drop $10,000 to over a $100,000 on. Then you’d REALLY have something to brag about.
Before I was married and started a family back in the 80s, sure, I had BIG audio systems with high end components and the music sounded fantastic. One of the first things that my new wife "encouraged" me to do was to get rid of my big bulky audio system equipment and go to a compact "Bose like" system for the superior interior ascetics. So, with the constrain that my audio system had to be very small...I moved down to Yamaha components...still too large...I finally ended up with Bose! Sure, it doesn't have the best sound, but the sound is good, and it is very small, and my wife loves our Bose 600 soundbar with Bose Bass Module 500 (700 too big) for our TV watching and music listening. We also have Bose Wave radios in our bedrooms, because it's the only audio system that "fits" in our bedrooms and it has a clock! So, I love Bose because if they didn't exist, I would be listening to music on a phone and watching TV with its built-in speakers!! God bless Bose!
Yes and it's definitely not the same market although like for everything there may some overlap. Buying a Rolex Daytona (new or used), or any fully or near fully depreciated (it's easy to see on a price curve) Submariner or Sea-dweller you're buying an appreciating asset. I bought a used Submariner 5 years ago and ofc it went up in value. I'm on the waiting list since more than one year to get a Daytona 116500 LN: if the dealer ever calls me to say they received some and I was next on the list, I'll either turn 13 000 USD (approx, I'm in Europe) into 19 000 USD in two phone calls or I'll wear one of the most beautiful mechanical chronograph in the world for a few years and then sell it for even more.
@@CedricMartin1 And yet . . . they are 100% exactly correct about Rolex. And I say that as someone who owns a Rolex Datejust and a Rolex GMT. I view them as male jewelry, and wear them as such. There are better timepieces (and if you are really just after super-accurate timekeeping, MUCH better options - a $150 Bulova Precisionist is accurate to within less than 10 seconds a year).
Bose makes amazing mobile products, you should mention that. I consider myself an audiophile but when it comes to great headphones under $400 Bose is near or at the top
Considering that my home stereo system in the 1980's was based on a Sansui 881 with 6 speakers of various origins, including a couple of old car speakers, I am probably watching the wrong channel. :)
I'm also a "72 model and had the same kind of system at that time My subs were Kicker 10's in a truck box powered by a 300 watts off brand amp hooked to a motorcycle battery and portable battery charger :)
I'm not saying Bose make the best speakers. But SOME of their speakers are damn good. I have the 601's and they really kick ass with my Denon receiver.
I still have my JBL TLX 500 I bought about 18 years ago and I still love them. Since it's an old model, I'll add for clarity that it's a pair of 175 W 3-way speakers.
I agree that this video is about 15 minutes too long - what would have been useful would be a technical comparison with "conventional" speakers such as TLS
Bose are great for headphones, or noise cancellation headphones more accurately. Never heard of them having a good reputation outside of that. As for audiophiles saying they are trash - of course. Any brand name is likely trash to them. They are basically art students. Only fun thing about them is watching them react when you tell them the Beatles are terrible.
I don't hate BOSE, I hate people who think they know audio because the instant a conversation about home systems or car audio begins, they start throwing the name around and feel all smug that either they know of it, or that they own one (and they get really upset if you tell them it's got mediocre sound for the price).
KuronoXD Lol this always gets me. Many Bose fans think they own the best shit ever and say things like “you don’t like Bose because you can’t afford it.” I always want to reply “bitch my Paradigm/Anthem/Velodyne system costs the same as your $4000 Bose Lifestyle system and would wipe its ass with it, as would my 10 year old $1600 Paradigm Cinema system with speakers not much bigger than your Bose speakers.” And if they want to tell me how much better their Bose car system is, I could tell them I own a set of Hertz Mille Legend car speakers that for just 2 tweeters, 2 woofers, and 2 crossovers cost more than their entire Bose car system package.
@@falkenlaser Exactly I have hertze Mille in my car along with hybrid audio and JL audio amp although I think JL is a little like Bose good stuff but can get just as good for less money. They don't know any better it's not the price keeping me from buying Bose it's wanting quality stuff and getting the most for your money that keeps me from buying it.
Travis Evans I actually have a pair of Hertz Mille co-axials (the Legends aren’t installed as of now) powered by an old JL Audio A2150 amp. While the Mille co-axials aren’t near as good as the Mille Legends, they still sound amazing; almost as good as my Paradigm Monitor 9’s. But unfortunately one of the channels on my A2150 is cutting out, making the other channel louder, so I often have to move the balance towards the bad channel to even out the sound. But once I get a new car (I’m trying to get my 1998 Camry to 400,000 miles before I even start looking for a new car), I plan on installing the Mille Legends in the front, the co-axials in the back, maybe my JL Audio 12 in. W3v3 (the Mille Legends have such good bass I could live without a sub), all powered by an Audison 8-channel Prima amp. That would sound fucking amazing. Speaking of JL, their products are often considered overpriced, however what people often overlook is they’ve always focused on sound quality, which car audio people often don’t care about, as they just want to get “loud”, which costs less than sounding good. But JL’s home subwoofers are regarded by many audiophiles to be the best subs you can get for the money, which is amazing considering they compete with lots of brands that audiophiles buy for “prestige.” But they’re so good audiophiles have forced themselves to look past the name and acknowledge their quality. It’d be like Subaru making a luxury car that sells for a Mercedes E-class price but has the luxury and performance of a Bentley. You really couldn’t ignore that.
@@falkenlaser I have always liked JL subwoofers for there sound quality not so much for getting loud although they do get loud I like there amps to but I do think there is cheaper ones that can compete with them. I have my hertze mille components installed in the kick panels and the Hybrid audio 5 x 7 coaxial in the rear my amp is the JL hd600/4 it's a class D amp but I didn't have room for a big class AB amp if I had room I wood add a bit one and use class AB amp.
After many years of trying different audio products and listening to Bose haters, I finally cleared out my old Yamaha, Boston Acoustics speaker systems and settled on Bose. While I read lots of Bose hate(mostly repeated arguments) I found the sound and features pleasing to me. I presently own two ST30’s a ST130 sound bar and sub (no rears) a couple newer smart home series speakers, QC45 and a couple Solo TV speakers. I have had some of this gear for onwards of ten years. I like the sound,(warm, detailed and just plain pleasing. The build quality and functionality of the Bose products is very good. I cant help but notice that the Bose haters and Audiophiles seem to echo the reasons they don’t like the Bose products. Mostly parroting each other. Not much in the way of original thinking. My only hope is that Bose will continue to make good products.
Its perfectly natural to hear every breath a singer takes, their S and Ts so loud, non sibilant sharp and clean they cut paper, every last nuance of nails on strings etc etc etc....or is it? Liked it as much as anybody for decades, but to call that 'high fidelity' is logical fallacy. The average person doesn't chase audio because beyond a certain point the human brain is innately satisfied with what it can naturally perceive unaided, and focuses more on emotional response. -Former 'audiophile'
Going to a Bose store years ago when I was a teen and hearing the demo got me interested in home theater, but I could not afford their speakers so I tried stacking two sets of floor standing speakers on top of each other to make my own multi directional sound, hahaha!
I used the Bose 2.1, hooked it up with an optical cable, bass module was easy to set up, sound was shaking the floor. 2 years later I switched to surround sound- Definitive towers BP-9040, CS9060, SR9040 with Denon. My whole house shakes when I keep full volume. Bose was easy to set up without hassle and the best out of the box product till date. I am definitely not an audiophile, but I know about sounds and Bose won't fail you if you are thinking about it.
I just stumbled into this 5/1/21. Close to twenty years ago when I'd moved and left the 901s and everything else behiind, my 20-something kid had come down to help me pick out a new 5.1 system to do double duty for hifi audio and video. We'd first gone to a Bose store and listened to whatever it was, then found not far from my house an independent shop. Dedicated high end stereo room, a few surround rooms, and.a pile of stuff I'd never heard of before. We told the owner what we were up to and where we'd been. He smiled and shook his head sadly and sez "C'mere, stick your heads in here." We were dumbstruck. Went home that day long ago with a 5.1 and a receiver for less that what I would have spent at Bose that started me on my addicition. Now, old and two decades later, I've topped out at around $12-13k in a system including vinyl that is just heaven.
@@marklowe7431 Depends what you define as "audiophile". I consider brands like Revel, Paradigm and PSB "audiophile" and yet they all have anechoic chambers and publish detailed measurements and specs. Even smaller "audiophile" companies like Salk Sound and Philharmonic publish full specs and measurements. Bose does NOT.
Audiophile definition: A man who spends more on his stereo equipment than his car because his car will not get him laid. Personally I buy Bose because I do not have speaker envy. Being a AudioSNOB means more to you than it does to me. YES YOU ARE SNOBS. I also have Sennheiser headphones and they suck. BOSE are quieter. BOSE provides a product that works very well for what you want it to do AND for a reasonable price. And they sound good. BOSE Sounddock Portable is THE BEST SOUNDING portable speaker system. As well as the Sounddock Mini. I travel and I bought several small portable speakers and was disappointed. In 2009 I bought a Sounddock portable at the Embassy PX in Baghdad and schlepped that speaker all over the world. I still have it. BOSE also makes a very high quality product. That; takes use very well. All I hear from you is WHINING. And you disagree on your whining. And you do not PROVE what you say. Basically audiophiles hate BOSE because SNOBS do not buy BOSE. I just want it to work well.
Bose products are so well made... I don't understand the hate... Some snobs are bitching about the price or the sound quality... But they are not expensive for what they offer... And the sound quality is not the best out there, but still pretty decent... I understand if people look for other priorities in their audio gadgets, but most "audiophiles"are just bitching and criticizing dumb shit
What's funny is these guys buy $5000 speakers and thousands on equipment to make their $5000 speakers sound good. I've got a receiver, an amp and an EQ, and my $1000 CERWIN-VEGA! SL15's sound great at all levels. Admittedly I listen to mostly metal and rock, but classical, jazz, everything sounds good. For under $2000.
I had the same feeling about Bose , I bought nearly every product but than listen to Grado headphone, focal headphones and than realised I was listening to shit from Bose it’s overpowering bass and sacrifices detail in sound that’s for sure
Hey Gene, I have to say that their Aviation headsets are really the best, as you mention. It’s a pretty small market so there isn’t a lot of innovation. The Bose A20 noise cancelling headset is the best on the market. They’re solidly built and I don’t worry about breaking them. Also, they add in Bluetooth and music capabilities which is nice on a long flight. Agree with you on their stereo equipment but the aviation section is pretty dang good.
This video has been hanging around in my recommendations for weeks now, like a shady drug dealer at the school gate trying to sell me cocaine that's mixed with baby formula. Kind of like Bose themselves. Is that ironic?
I have several older high end speaker and amp setups in my house currently.. I'm bit of an audio hobbyist and a pack rat I admit.. because every piece of audio equipment I have since high school.. is still in great shape.. but the Bose 901 series V model system I have paired with a robust 90s Yamaha AX-930 integrated amp rocks the house; it's specs are 130 per channel @ 8 ohms--217 @ 4 ohms, high dynamic output with a damping factor of 500, total harmonic distortion of 0.005%. When you crank this thing up connected to the Bose 901 pairing, put on a great recording... I don't care if you're directly in the room or outside the house.. you would think the band was literally live; you'll find yourself tempted to go find the musicians because it is that astonishing. You may spend more an exorbitant amount on brand new high tech equipment, but anything would do well to compete with this 1989-1991 amp paired with the 901 series V Bose system.
Problem is Bose doesn't play Hillbilly music to any great standard which maybe why you are coming to this conclusion. They exceed expectation with Jazz and Electronic music - Had them for 20 years coupled with a Sugden amp - Still making me happy
For me the thing I always liked about Bose was how you could bring out a specific instrument when playing songs which I no longer find since all audio went digital. But most speakers tend to be generic bass speakers and don't bring out other parts of the audio. Which Bose focuses on which is the best part of those speakers and are not for blasting music which one gets from amps used in concerts.
Bose, the classy way of buying something elegant, well engineered with amazing customer service for you and your family to enjoy. Audiophiles, the guys with a huge knowledge base but no motor trend friends to share it with.
Brian Roberts I loved my little 8” REL T3 until the amp took a dump though recently. Had it paired with some B&W 600 series bookshelf powered by a Yamaha A-S700 amp. Amazing sound for a small package even in a large open floor plan room.
I really appreciate this video, now I know I'm not insane. I got a lifestyle surround sound set from the late 90s, probably the exact model you showed at 5:13, and at first I thought it sounded great because I was 15 and had a 5.1 system in my room, but when I went to college I bought a soundbar to hook my turntable up to (cringe) and convinced myself it didn't sound better. Even $140 audiotechnica headphones sound A LOT better. So any recommendations for bookshelf/ tower speakers specific models or brands to go with my turntable? Are newer speakers much better than older/ vintage ones or does it not matter?
BOSE is for people who want a name to show off to their friends. Not particularly great. Buy an Audiolab Amp and Monitor Audio silver 300 speakers and you'll understand why we hate BOSE
I used to be one of these suckers thinking nothing was better than Bose until I built a theater room but didn't have enough money to buy another LifeStyle 650 as it was 4k so I bought a Klipsch R-820F 7.1 system for 2500 and was blown away by the quality, the range of the sound and the room shaking bass I was getting. Needless to say I gave the Lifestyle to my daughter when I saved up some money and replaced it with another Klipsch R-820F 7.1 system in my living room.
I started with BOSE Companion 2.0 speakers with my laptop as a school student - got them free after winning a contest. I was pretty stoked with the quality at the time for such small speakers. Now 10+ years later - I still have 'em and they still work, though the missis uses them with her laptop. I've since upgraded to an Edifier S730D 2.1 system (that subwoofer is amazing!), then a pair of PreSonus Eris E8 studio monitors with a PreSonus Temblor T10 studio subwoofer. My home cinema/vinyl setup is currently a pair of Cambridge Audio SX60s with a Denon AVR, but I'll upgrade to something better as the time goes on. Headphones of choice - the ever-popular Audio Technica ATH-M50x :)
Bose made me recognize that I had an ear for sound reproduction! In the late 90's, I was not new to audio, but I was still very much a novice. I was at my uncle's house, and I was very excited when I found out he had a Bose surround system. The family sat down to watch a movie, and within the first few minutes I wanted to get up and walk out of the room - the sound was uneven - one of my ears felt like it had cotton in it. I would find out a year or so later that the Bose bass module plays signals up to ~200Hz, well above the generally accepted 80Hz non-directional threshold. Since the bass module was on the LEFT side of the room, I was hearing the bottom-end of men's voices, etc, from only one side, causing the imbalanced sound stage. I have been a huge fan of audio since 1991, but that experience with a Bose system taught me that PHYSICS is an integral part of sound reproduction, and companies like Bose ignore the physics problems and instead cater to a customer who essentially wants gourmet fast food: "I have a lot of money, and I want an all-in-one solution that is very small, easy to set up, and people will be able to recognize what brand it is (and thus, how much I paid for it) as soon as they walk into the room".
![[#2024MAMA] BIGBANG (빅뱅) - 뱅뱅뱅 (BANG BANG BANG) + FANTASTIC BABY | Mnet 241123 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EQsYfiPR9uM/mqdefault.jpg)
Wish they had the same passion for microphone quality
you know you should take these audiophiles with a pinch of salt when they are acceptable to such audio quality output from their own youtube videos! LOL.
yea, cuz this was clearly meant to be in 3d audio, for atmos! Guess you can only crack on them and not the content... maturity, shows such maturity. Go buy some Camden Audio set!~
@@KindredIndust
Right on! I mean, who expects less than thx quality of video and audio in a TH-cam discussion video... I won't even put a question mark because it's evident. They must think they're pulling themselves up by tearing others down. 😒
Indeed, you'd think they would be the kind of folks who would be very interested in a nice TASCAM, Zoom, Olympus or Sony audio recorder paired with some nice lavalier microphones. :)
Lol
I got a Lifestyle home theater system over 20 years ago and it was such an improvement over the silly big-speaker stereo I had from May Co that I didn't care if the actual audio quality was not really there. I simply didn't want to become an audio expert; I just wanted one-stop, one-box surround sound. But shortly after, I began looking for better and was shocked by how much better I could do while spending less money.
robert my friend, you have seen the light!
I have a pair of 901s that I got for a hundred bucks on craigslist. They aren't perfect, but but they're clean, loud and look like nothing else.
Mike Covello
if you are able to restore them, you have a really good system for larger rooms, you are able to get the Hifi for cheap.
Buy 6x 501/901 and you have that 1978 Cinema class at home! Only needing a Yamaha A6A, only spending some money, $300 on the speakers.
$ 3000 for the DAC/AMP? or the cheaper V6A? Make a less than $1000 Pro Setup.
If you like them, doesnt matter what some angry guys on the internet think. Why are Audiophile's so angry?
This video reminds me of "Dr. Sheldon Cooper's Fun With Flags"
OMG YES!
Captain Kirk! :)
I don't like them. I sold them. The 401s with weights in them and under $50 worth of drivers. The AM 5 with a hole in the midrange big enough to drive a bus through. In the end, we used them to showcase how much better the Axiom speakers we sold were for the money.
There is a reason why we used to say "Bose, Better sound through marketing"
A lot of people used to say "No highs, no lows, must be Bose", but we had a better saying:
Better
Off with
Something
Else
Todd, I inherited an Axiom system from my brother who was really into his music. Awesome speakers. [M60 floorstanding X 4, VP150 center, QS8 surround X 2, SVS sub]
OTOH, my other brother has Bose speakers on his wall and swears they are the best. He would like the brag factor of the Axioms but sound-wise the Bose is just as good.
I hate it because I spend 15k on a Denon/Klipsch/SVS/Parasound setup running 7.2.4 and my brother-in-law asks, “How much better is Bose than your system.”
That alone is enough of an insult to hate the brand. ;)
I have their QC35 headphones, love them...other than that, they are just over priced electronics...
That would have physically hurt me to hear lol.
Hogre0knifenut Especially from an in-law. ;)
I had something similar happen. I run Adcom, Rotel, Kef and M&K. I wrote it off, there's no pill for stupid.
punch him in the face.
Lol if you haven’t already, invite him over to watch an action movie, and when it’s over ask him how much better he thinks your system is than Bose.
I remember when the 901's came out. I was in the service at the time and my roomate got a pair. I already had a pair of AR 3a speakers and a Marantz amp. I didn't get the 901 speakers because they would not work properly without their own EQ receiver and the receiver had no option to drive the 901s and a pair of conventional speakers. Later in physics, I learned why speakers should not be full range at higher volumes with a reasonable amount of bass. The cone movement with bass provides Doppler shift of the higher frequencies. Microphones do not have this issue as the microphone diaphragm does not move large distances. A single full range driver can only sound proper with low volume levels to keep Doppler shift low. Found the stereo image from Bose is reflected for a room filling sound, but poor stereo imaging and full of resonances peaks and valleys in response. This is fine for room filling background music and this is their target audience. Those with room sound treatments and want good stereo images should look elsewhere.
I went to a CES show one year and while checking the exhibits in the hotel rooms, heard a grand piano in a room. Went in to see and there was a grand piano at the other end of the room, but nobody was playing it. A very good pair of 3 way acoustic suspension speakers were on the floor beside the piano. Very few speakers can pass themselves off as a live grand piano. Bose never has been able to do this. Most stereos sound like stereos or PA systems, not a live acoustic performance. The recording was produced earlier in the day on a DAT recorder on that piano.
i remember 20 yrs ago getting into a heated debate with my ex father in law old school navy seal in a department store over the fact that bose speakers are not all that...
Little known fact, doubt anyone will see this comment, but the 4.5" drivers that were put in all those old Bose cabinets, were actually manufactured, under contract, by Jensen in the Punxsutawney, PA speaker plant in the 60's and 70's. We used to buy them for 15 cents each (filled the trunk of a '74 Oldsmobile for $45) to reload those old cabinets--the 401, 802, 901 the whole shooting match.
Knew someone many yrs ago who built himself 901's using those speakers.
yes well it was a clever marketing idea i guess - design something that used 15 cent drivers that could impress people on some level and make scads of cash
...And nobody seems today to remember what high praised was the 901 model by "audiophile" reviews in their days.
A pity memories are so volatile.
❤, your life is in danger, and walk away from anyone who asks what your name is or is holding a polaroid camera
I have a good friend that bought a Bose, he loves coming over to watch movies or listen to music any chance he gets. And I have what I would call an entry level system, however I have taken the time to position my speakers right and also tweaked the room acoustics.
I had a BOSE Videowave 55 (lost it in the divorce) and really loved the surround effect. Always assumed it was using some Mid-Side decoding to accomplish that. A bit expensive at nearly $6k but sure impressed my friends who couldn't figure out where all the sound was coming from. Also had a great remote that could work anything with little effort. I like them.
Bose are fine if you are ok compromising sound quality for the convenience of compact size and brand name recognition. A lot of people don't care so long as it has some punch and detail. Especially today when they are used to everything being compressed through bluetooth and/or in ear headphones. I'm not much different, I stuck with stereo to avoid the clutter and have a couple of Marshall speakers hooked up to my computer via a presonus interface to split the channels. Since I got tired of the narrow soundstage of the drivers being too close together to give much stereo separation.
When I got married my wife forced me to put away my full size speakers because they were eyesores. She wanted to pick out the new speakers, so I let her. I told her anything but Bose, but she showed up with them anyway. I kept my mouth shut, but I knew they sounded terrible compared to my old system. Two weeks later we’re lying in bed and she randomly tells me the Bose sound like garbage. Fortunately I was able to convince the store to take them back. We compromised on some Polks, which were much better. We’ve moved on to higher end systems since then, but I’ll never forget the only time she admitted that I was right about something. Bose just don’t sound good.
your testosterone levels have been stabilized. congrats :)
She could say the Bose sound was garbage because she had heard your full range speakers earlier. Otherwise she would have felt the Bose sounded great
Me allso 😂
Nothing wrong with Polk, there Lsim speakers sound great, and there from Baltimore!
Most women won't even let you get Bose. They usually want you to use a sound bar and headphones.
I use to outsell Bose systems because I used the secret that made Bose sound good in the first place... The demo CD.
The Demo CD was crafted to accent all the sounds so if I played the CD on any custom setup it would sound even better because the sound harmonics were better even on a cheap system.
Gerald Alpine Perry well thank you for sharing that so look out for stuff like that.
so you helped customers buy better equipment than bose.. using bose cheating tactics... i give you a round of applause, sir!!
How many of those cheap systems could play to 120dB all night like adequately powered 901s? Yes, yes, I know it's not just about high SPLs. But it definitely helps.
@@revokdaryl1 a lot I'm sure. That's more in the amp than the speaker
You guys pretty much hit the nail on the head for the most part about the acoustimass. I bought my acoustimass 10 (not lifestyle, just the speakers, paired with a good Onkyo receiver, I'm not completely daft) 12 years ago. I had just gotten back from a deployment and had money to blow and as a new SGT was being forced out of the barracks into a SMALL apartment. I simply wanted speakers in a 5.1 setup that were small, simple to set up, and sounded way better than the TV. I also didn't want to do a lot of research, I wanted something in that apartment, fully functional, and working that same day. While it is true that you can find a better sounding satellite system for $1000, it wasn't in THAT store. In THAT store, the acoustimass 10 was the best sounding full 5.1 surround at that price and with small speakers. It was THAT simple. So I bought them. Here I am, 12 years later and I am upgrading my living room finally. This time I wanted to get the garaunteed best sound for my still $1000 speaker budget but had more time, patience, and resources at my disposal. I found a sale on Definitive Technology products and purchased a Procinema 800 5.1 speaker set. They have dedicated aluminum dome tweeters, a self powered 8 inch true sub clear warm mids, and use passive radiators on the small speakers and the sub. Also comes with a beefed up center channel. This system was normally out of my price range at $1200 but I couldn't help but leap all over it like a drunk monkey when I found it on sale for the holidays at a mere $750! So in your audiophile wisdom, will these Definitive Tech speakers sound better than the acoustimass 10? (I just ordered them, they haven't even arrived yet)
I moved my Bose speakers into my computer room to replace my Logitech z speakers who's amplifier had taken a dump, and frankly, regardless of anyone's opinion, I think they are the best damn computer desk speakers I have ever had, giving them a new lease on life. The cubes small size let's me easily fit one each on the left and right and a center turned sideways UNDERNEATH my monitor. No other computer speakers I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot, sounded as powerful. And being on my desk 3 feet or less from my face and powered by a Onkyo 100 watt per channel receiver in a small 12ft square room,turning the volume any higher than halfway would make my ears bleed and shake me out of my computer chair!
This brings me to my only real contention with Bose critics. I fully understand the limitations of the acoustimass, but you still have to give Bose credit. Creating big sounds from small packages was started with the acoustimass. It was NEVER an audiophile aimed piece of tech. It was aimed at getting as big a sound as possible for people with very limited space or people that simply don't like the main item of decor in their house to be a set of speakers. When acoustimass came out, it was the ONLY thing like it on the market. This is why it sold so well and for so long. Bose threw in the towel with floor standing speakers, they just couldn't compete, but this is why the acoustimass is still around. It still has valid applications, like my small PC gaming room. The other thing that gets me is how people always bring up their build quality. There is nothing wrong with paper cones for speakers if done right. In fact, most speakers that have ever been made are of such material. To me, longevity speaks of quality. This acoustimass, with paper cones, has already lasted more than 12 years and I see no reason why I couldn't get 12 more out of them. That's a lot of listening for $1000. I've had two computer dedicated 5.1 systems go out on me during this time. One from Logitech that cost over $300, and one from Klipsch that was over $500. If I can get 24 years out of this Bose, they were well worth their price point over anything else I've put in that room.
I would welcome feedback. Especially about the new Def Tech speaker choice as in comparison with my old Bose.
I'd say it was probably your Onkyo receiver that made the Bose speakers sound so good.
@@Asmogrim all speakers sound better with a good receiver. But I think the reasons my old Acoustimass sound better on the computer than they did in the living room is because of the smaller room size and the fact that my computer's creative labs sound card has excellent equalization and sound enhancement software that allows me to tweak the sound to my heart's content. Whereas my new Def techs sound great with little equalization, the acoustimass greatly benefit from it.
I'm 90% sure the DT system sounds significantly better than the Bose. I've listened to the Bose years ago but not the DT. The DT's satellite speakers are 2-way mid- tweeter units vs the Bose's mid/tweeters. On the plus side, the Bose has a integrated amp unit for it which maximizes the speaker/sub combo's sound and it has wood pulp satellites. Your DT/Onkyo setup relies heavily on the Onkyo for power (I own an Onkyo receiver too) which is fine amp, but the woofers look like they're made of plastic (in the website photos).
BTW, regarding woofer material -- paper, plastic, aluminum, kevlar, etc. My friend, initials DT, talked directly to Dr. Bose years ago at a party and asked him his preferred woofer material. Dr. Bose said something very interesting. Dr. Bose said that objectively-speaking, plastic, aluminum, etc. should be superior to wood pulp because of higher rigidity. However, subjectively, wood-based cones sound better. Dr. Bose DIDN'T KNOW WHY. My friend DT was about to tell Dr. Bose why, but was interrupted and didn't get a chance to finish. DT told me of course.
Drum roll please ..
The reason why wood pulp-based woofers sound better than anything else is because:
1. Good wood fiber cones are much stiffer than people realize. Google "bulletproof paper".
2. A wood fiber woofer cone has RANDOM lengths of wood fibers, which results in sonic improvements over other materials, namely ..
3. Wood fiber woofer cones DON'T HAVE RESONANCE FREQUENCY problems like other materials.
4. Also, wood fiber woofer cones are very light (less mass), so are inherently FASTER.
Mystery solved. You can sleep better now.
@@danielho5635, actually you didn't help my sleep at all lol. In one sentence you say that my DefTech should sound better than the Bose, (and they do in the living room. Also they are connected to an even better Onkyo receiver. My brother is an audiophile and for Christmas he gave me his 2004 $1600 (new) Onkyo receiver. Even used and 14 years old that thing is selling for $500. More than I would ever spend). But, in the next sentence you say the Bose paper woofer is better lol. But it is a known fact that the acoustimass base module is that systems high point. It isn't a true sub-woofer but the base it does produce is phenomenal. (BTW the Acoustimass doesn't have a built in amp, not even for the sub, just a custom crossover. All of its power comes from the receiver) I think what pushes the Def Techs beyond the Bose sound is that the Def Tech satellites are fully capable of real base all the way down to 57 hz and have dedicated tweets. I set the crossover to 80 hz. The manual that came with the speakers says to set crossover at 120hz but when I looked this up, professional audiophiles that reviewed this system said that recommendation was for ease of sounds quality for people who don't like to tweak. Plug and play people. If you run your speakers through the prosub 800, Def techs own circuitry uses a 75hz crossover. It made perfect sense and improved the sound because low mids and high base are directional. Setting the crossover lower to 80hz ensured better aural directional accuracy, and since the satellites can handle 57hz, 80hz is easy for them.
Going back to your random fibres in wood pulp improving base quality point, perhaps that's why the passive radiators on the satellites and subwoofers are made of a rough textured material instead of smooth?
@@brianwhite9015 Sorry for the confusion. The "sleep better" part only refers to solving the ongoing debate about cone driver material. Any "rough texture" refers to what's "in" the cone driver, i.e. wood pulp fibers of various random lengths, and not the surface of the driver which may or may not be smooth.
One thing I ought to mention, is my personal preference for a movie 2.0 setup, not 5.1. I lucked-out in getting real JBL 8330 movie theater speakers ($1600 each piece when new) cheap, used on Craigslist. These 20 yr old speakers totally kick ass -- fast, extended, lively.
I personally think a good 2.0 setup is 10x better than a mediocre 5.1 setup -- which a majority of them are IMHO.
FWIW, yes I agree that your DefTecs work well because of your Onkyo. Bose satellite/subs have deficiencies in FR which are masked by its active equalization and matched amp. It only gets exposed when playing AC/DC or some other high octane music. Your system should fare much better in subjective tests.
I designed, sold, and installed for Magnolia for 9 years. When people came in for Bose or asked about them I always showed them the Definitive Technologies Promonitor 700 set. It was $700 and mopped the floor with the Bose Lifestyle systems. In my first years with the company, we had a Bose system in the same demo room with the Def Tech system, and I don't recall a single person who thought the Bose sounded remotely comparable. By the time we got a decent AVR and TV they were finally matching the price of some of the Bose systems we carried. Soon after, we were required to remove them from the Magnolias (Home Theater box stores and Design Centers) and they became Best Buy products only. It felt like a victory in many ways to me at the time because I was able to still use the story when showing people other speakers to illustrate the point.
For me listening to them I never felt immersed in the content. It always seemed like it was trying too hard to impress me while not giving me any substance. I preferred selling systems that would blend with the room which in many cases is a proper system. But I am not their target. They in many ways like Apple, are good at marketing and putting out solid products, but in reality are several years/product generations behind everyone else, and that is mostly by design.
I worked at Allison Acoustics back in the '80's. We were in Natick, Massachusetts. Bose built a factory and buried it to create an a hill. They are located in an industrial area on the West Side of Framingham, Massachusetts. I knew people with Bose branded recievers, amps,etc..In 1979 I was listening to a Bose car stereo installed into an employee's vehicle. A member of my congregation was sent to Ireland to setup an operation there. I really enjoyed working for Dr. Roy. We were a small company.30 people maybe. We made some really good speakers. I started out doing production and worked my way up to testing. We tested every component and every completed speaker. I would have to say my favorite Allison Acoustics speaker was the "Godzilla". The Model 1's. Empty cabinet was really heavy. Two woofers in a push/pull setup that eliminated a vacuum condition inside the the cabinet. Two dome mid ranges and two tweeters on each face. A remote that could adjust each face a small amount for best sound in your listening space. We had to build carpeted rolling tables to work on them. They didn't fit on the production line. We rebuilt two pairs for a famous audio products builder. We were sent the first pair for upgrades. Special cable was sent to replace the factory wire. I silver soldered the wiring connections inside the cabinet. Difficult to do with a micro torch. I had done silver soldering for industrial temperature sensors in a previous job. The customer recieved the units. Called up and ordered another pair built the same as the first. As soon as the check cleared the second pair was built. The outside recieved a spectacular paint job. Six coats of black laquer and six coats of clear. Engineers can design wonderful products but you need great workers to build them. Dr. Roy knew everyones name. Asked sbout any problems you were having. Like a concerned uncle. A tragedy to watch it die.
Its interesting how audiophilia refers to interest in wave reproduction quality, but doesnt necessarily mean a person has an affinity or interest for discerning the original waveform
Conversely, a person who has a good ability to discern sound waveform ie a musician, isnt necessarily an audiophile.
My S.O. is a blind musician and has perfect pitch. She can hear details in songs that I can't. She also loves tube amps. She's always been happy with Bose, but has recently gotten into high-end headphones.
My dad was over visiting and I had a Klipsch Synergy system I got from Best Buy and had it for 10 years ....he saw it and said “Oh, it’s not bose.” For the week he was visiting he was listening to the speakers. About a year later we were talking on the phone and he said “ Your speaker’s sound really really good, as good as Bose.” Thought that was a great compliment. Now I have upgraded to the RF-7 IIs which is a huge upgrade, I wonder if he would say they are better than Bose lol
I would have been insulted.
I get the same reaction to my motorcycle, "Oh, it's not a Harley." No it's not, Cletus - no it's not.
@@LiveMusicOntario Harley has more to it's credit than Bose. Unless the Harley came equipped with a Bose stereo.
Replacing the Bose system in a Corvette is a PITA without gutting the whole system. Pretty much anything sounds better though and worth the time.
We have friends with the expensive Bose home theater system. They invited us to watch a movie in their living room. They had to turn it up to uncomfortable levels to be able to hear the dialog and even then it was hit or miss.
A month later we invited them to watch a movie on our dedicated home theater with a 7.1 sound system and room treatments. They were astounded that the music and dialog was so clear at moderate volume. I had done some research. You should have seen their expression when I told them my audio system didn't cost that much more than what they paid for Bose.
Great and entertaining video! Something which I think is significant is that most Bose owners I know are very happy with the gear and keep it for a long time. Audiophiles I know who like boutique gear seem to buy new stuff on an almost ongoing basis and their gear rarely seems to enjoy more than a short honeymoon period. One thing that does make me laugh is people who will try and tell me that spending several hundred dollars on a power chord or per foot of speaker cable claiming that Bose is overpriced. I mean, really?
I work at a music store and can absolutely verify that different grades of cables exist for a reason.
You get what you pay for. You buy an inexpensive cable, it's wrapped using thinner shielding, which will allow more electricity to escape, which = noisy output (a bit of white noise will constantly output from the speaker even with no music.)
Studio-grade cables (The opposite extreme) are wrapped so well they are *virtually noiseless*, though they get pricey. Mogami, for example, (One of the best on the market right now) usually charges about $75 for a 15ft.
Now noiseless cable REALLY matters if you are recording through it, since you don't want that white noise to show up in your recording. It doesn't really matter if you are just listening to music, But if you're an audiophile and you care about top quality, you will still prefer noiseless cables.
I will also freely admit cables are easy moneymakers for retailers as they are sold at high margin. But this is to make up for the fact that most actual instruments and audio gear are sold at VERY LOW margin. (That's why you'll never see more than 15-20% off)
Some brands (like *ahem* BOSE) are even "hard-minned." Meaning they NEVER discount their products, ever. These are usually just the most snobbish brands.
Usually for me, Bose is there to help me sell more JBL, EV and QSC speakers (Lol) though even some of my coworkers feel different. (I'm a music producer who has worked in both studio and live sound venues, so I'm definitely more toward the "audiophile" end of the spectrum.) Of course it depends on the customer too, like the guys in the video mentioned.
*Also, if I'm bundling a bunch of stuff for a customer, it's often very easy to discount or throw in a cable.*
Power cables don't really matter (except for the type) but audio-grade power conditioners are superior to ordinary power strips for audiophiles or studio musicians/producers.
Furman power conditioners, for example, include all sorts of noise and ground-hum reducing features, as sometimes these come through your speakers for no reason other than something electrical that can't be helped.
They also provide much higher spike protection than a power strip from Meijer, of course. 😉
I just also want to mention that, as a producer and audiophile, I like good quality speakers. But I don't spend a lot of time agonizing over gear. Some people do (we say they have GAS; Gear Acquisition Syndrome), but these are usually mediocre professionals who are good enough players to get regular gigs, but not smart enough to really understand deeper levels of things, so they often blame the gear for problems that really have to do with their skill or talent level.
I just spend some time doing research on the best product for a price range I can manage, And then I pull the trigger when I'm good and ready. I haven't felt a need to change my speakers often, but that's also probably due to the fact that I have pretty well-tuned ears.
I'm (by plenty of other people's accounts) very good at *mixing* music, as I know what to pay attention to in both live and studio settings and make adjustments using proper tools.
So I also know what to listen for in a good speaker. I also know how to compensate for a mediocre speaker. In either case, I can manage. 😁
But I'm lucky compared to most ppl for sure.
Bose is also overpriced.
You can buy a Bose L1 Pro or a JBL PRX ONE for the same price. (Actually, I take that back. The Pro16 is $1900 while the PRX ONE is $1700 rn)
But the L1 Pro has a smaller frequency response range, has only 3 input channels (although you can get more by adding a Bose ToneMatch mixer, which will set you back another $700-1,000) 2-band EQ for each channel, and a boomy overcompensating subwoofer.
The PRX ONE has SIX input channels, INTEGRATED Lexicon/DriveRack effects, PARAMETRIC EQ for each channel (controlled from the phone app) AND a naturally wider frequency range.
One is optimal for professional use, and the other is a Bose. Plus, since Bose is hard-minned and JBL isn't, you might score a deal on the JBL.
The Bose has much fewer knobs and frills though, which is less intimidating for someone who wants that kind of space-saving speaker without crazy amounts of features they won't use. It's just still more $ for less, which is the definition of "overpriced." Lol
You can drive yourself crazy and to the poor house listening to guy's like this. Audiophiles never think they have the best sound possible, and continue spending, upgrading , changing components, wires , amplifiers, speakers ect. But in the end still think they can do better, Pick a system and go with it. Sit down and enjoy the music,
.
Like an addict seeking the next high. I just purchased the Bose soundbar 700 and it's fucking great....
Some people.loke this stuff as a hobby. You dont have e a hobby because you need it you have it because you enjoy it. More power to people.dor whatever you are into.
Great comment, due your research on the set up you want. But you have to know that the technology keeps getting better. So youll never have the best product after 1 yr.
Sound from the original source, say a symphony orchestra, is hard to match if not impossible. So you keep trying to get that sound. Some people will not accept less than the closest possible match to the sound of real music being produced right in front of them. There is no substitute. A system should have as few weak points in it as possible. And you don't have to go to the poor house to do it. Best audio source is a Blu-Ray player with a well recorded sound track.
@@Commanderson7 , I know, cause I'm one of those guys.
Pause video don’t bother watching and scroll down for some in-depth knowledge on audio.
@Boston My Home Town . Just picked up an acoustimass 10 with the rectangular speakers, plus tall two stands, 9.5/10 condition, two years old. $350. Such a sweet sound! Shit yeah!
I've been saying this since the 70s, thought I was the only one! Bose is much the same as the Apple brand, mostly "salesmanship" (hype). I found that a lot of brand name speaker systems are over priced junk. The first time I saw and heard a set of 901s, I cracked up when I saw all those paper cone drivers and I was not surprised to hear that the bass reproduction was practically non-existent. After blowing up several sets of speakers with this Yamaha amp that I used to have, I finally just built my own speakers. Ironically, I borrowed the band pass tower design from a Bose ad that I saw in Stereo Review magazine. I sent off for the sales brochure, and used their cutaway drawing to produce a very similar design with some modifications to suit me. I built the enclosures to be very dense with a lot of damping, hand picked all the drivers made from high quality materials and those speakers have been blasting out rock since about 1992. I actually never finished those speakers. I was planning to test run them before putting some oak veneer, or even another 3/4" of oak to make them even thicker walled, but when I got them set up and tested them, I just laid back and enjoyed the music all night, never did get them covered with anything, but they still sound great! 😃
Favorite speakers? My Celestion 11s from the early 90s. I picked them for their stereo imaging - they have an uncanny knack for being able to place different instruments or vocals at different points in the sound field - assuming it's a decent recording of course. Klipsch speakers at the time had plenty of bass and highs - they couldn't help it - 18" woofer and a similarly sized horn. But you might as well have been at the ocean with your eyes closed - you couldn't tell the position of anything in the sound field - it was just a giant wall of sound. Bose of course likes to reflect everything off walls and ceilings before it gets to you. Interesting effect, but you lose the stereo imaging.
The Celestions have a wonderful mid-range too. On Tori Amos' "Boys for Pele" album you can practically stare down her throat and check out her tonsils. I'm on my second Yamaha receiver with these. I didn't hear anything I liked better in the audio store when I needed to replace the old one. I found the acoustic guitar passages to be too harsh and metallic with at least one of the other receivers (I don't recall the brand) and it totally missed the warm resonance of the guitar body. I use Dire Straits "Private Investigations" from their "Love Over Gold" album as my reference for that - WONDERFULLY recorded guitar.
I loved selling a Bose lifestyle system when I worked at Circuit City!! The spiff was over $100 and the 5 year esp warranty was a guarantee sell. One weekend I sold 4!! That paycheck I treated myself to a dcm power sub. Lol, My teenage ears love that bass.
Long winded video that barely addressed the title question.
Because they think their shitty speakers sound the best and just bash Bose to get views. Audiophiles are fucking morons.
PlatinumEagleStudio's At least audiophiles can articulate a thought without using the F bomb.
@@voiceofreason9238 So are you saying that audiophile's are, indeed, "fucking morons"? Because your comment does not address anything said.
You clearly weren't listening. Typical Brainiac!
Idiotic video.
Ok, ok...........I see there are some Klipsch fans here too....(more on this down the paragraph) I will tell you, when we bought our new home 12 years ago, I wanted to have something that left the livingroom UNCLUTTERED by speakers and a rack of components, just a nice old fashioned place to have guests, enjoy our dinners and sit and chat in the living space. The Bose Wave System was perfect!, you hardly see where it is and yet, set on a corner shelf, it makes a rather big sound when needed. Fit our needs SO well, that I bought a second one for the kitchen which I just listened to THIS video through as it is hooked to my laptop. Jazz and Classical recordings usually heard while cooking and dining...
The reason I wanted to add comment here is....... These little radios sound decent enough for what they do, and that is, take up a small space and have a pretty full sound for their size.
With that all said, I also have two media rooms (I will mention only on of them). One with a beautiful pair of Klipshorns powered by a pair of restored Dynaco Mark 3's and a PAS-2 preamp, all dating to the mid 60ies in a large space, so I have good kit, but no, I don't hate Bose.. A buddy of mine has his own airplane with a pair of Bose AVIATION headphones and they are wonderful for what they do as well....Sorry, I can't hate on Bose.....
☺
My cousin had a pair of 901's back in the early 80's. He turned on his stereo and I fell in love. In 1986 I was in Germany doing my tour of duty in the Army and I saw a pair of 301's at the PX, and they were in my price range. I bought a AMP that ran continuous at 75 watts and maxed out at 125, the same as my 301's. I took it back to the barracks and set it up. One of my friends helped me set the whole thing up. We cranked it up and it was amazing. One of the guys from down the hall came in to see where all that sound was coming from and about crapped himself. He had spent several thousands of dollars on a massive Pioneer system with two sets of speakers with 15" woofers and didn't sound half as good as mine. I still have those speakers today, they are Series ii. I also now have a set of Series V and I run them together. They sound pretty good but I wanted a little more bass so I just bought a Monoprice 12" sub for $93.00, it will be here on Friday. I am running this all on a Denon AVR-S910W Receiver. I have had chances to buy higher quality speakers, but couldn't do it.
6:13 ... The Sony Bravo TV line has a special setting for use in retail stores that enhance the picture for display in stores. There is a "normal" setting for use in the home.
...you mean Johnny Bravo!...
Beats is the Bose of headphones
Yep. Agree
I think beats is worse... I like my Bose ear buds. Bought them used for 25 bucks and they are amazing for what I use them for. Bought a new pair of beats... Uncomfortable and the sound wasn't as good either.
99.9999999% BASSSSSS!!!!!!
Of the plastic sounding variety at that
I think Bose at least tries to do something that may sound OK on on some sound spectrum. Beats is just a piece of Crap. Beats could be better than the free airplane headphones, and may be not all of them. I am sorry, but whenever I see a person wearing beats, I cannot help thinking "he was ripped-off, knows nothing of audio and..."
@@cesaralfredom Yes, I most definitely agree with you. Bose for example has some decent headphones. Beats is just marketing BS.
Nothing says audiophile like a poorly lit video with bad sound.
Put some more EQ on your BOSE system, it will sound better. :)
@@rodx5571 Oh that was a good one. Got a good lol from it.
You know- I was kinda thinking the same thing! Tone down the lights a little, guys! You might even make William Shatner look a little less like a cardboard (foldable) cutout.
Points out video in audiophile comment...
😄😄
Most of the time people like the fact that it takes up less space rather than concentrate on the sound from Audiophile....
About 20 years Bose started with the surround sound and then 5.1....
I had the the 901s, 701s version ll, 401s, 301s, AM-5s, AM-7s, AM-10s and the AM-15s before switching to Klipsch in 2011...
Back in 1995 I was given a free BOSE home theater packagefrom a friend, as he knew I was Home Theater enthusiast. BOSE was toted as "The little speaker with the BIG sound". Even for free, I did not like them. After I got out of the Navy, I became a Service Technician for Cox Cable & Time Warner Cable and performed many Home Theater assemblies. Throughout all my professional (and personal) experiences, my opinion on BOSE only solidified. Just my humble opinion
What is the speaker/receiver setup that you recommend?
Amar Bose had one good idea. Live music comes not only from the front, but also from walls, ceilings etc. He never got the ratio right, but he started research that better speakers exceeded.
I did visit some old Cinema, they did use un updated BOSE 1978 setup, basically just using many 501 speaker.
They do the best room designs, now able to better use computer and algorithms to create that perfect atmosphere.
hire them, or do it yourself, you never get the ratio right! hire them?
My wife is still not happy that I spent money on B&W, Klipsch rather than going for bose lol 😂
You're my Hero! lol
She is still not Happy? Both those companies kick the crap out of bose products.
I love how ALL these audio experts talk down the Bose Wave radio but, not ONE can tell you of a better sounding radio of the same size.
If size is the most important factor to you in a sound system, then go with Bose, sure. Their engineering style allows them to put more sound in to a smaller package. However, you can't achieve that with out a cost. The cost is bass, treble and price compared to the competition. For anyone for whom audio quality is the most important factor, that trade off just isn't close to worth it.
Pfft a JBL Flip sounds better than that pos.
Bose Wave has outstanding sound
@@Thinwhiteduke1185My uncle got my 80yo grandmother a Bose wave radio years ago, was one of the best gifts ever because it was easy for her to use and fit snugly on a center counter. Even I was impressed by the 3D sound it radiated even if it makes distortion geeks cringe.
But seriously, Bose are well respected among audiophiles for some of their headphones and noise cancelling tech.
But anti-Bose sentiment is well deserved for most of their mass market speakers and audio systems.
Overpriced and underbuilt for the cost.
Most of their well known mass marketed speakers and speaker "systems" have significant audiophile sound quality issues, like poor quality bass, mid range "hole", poor treble range.
I give Bose credit for popularizing the cube/sub form factor with the Acoustimass series in the early 90s. Yes, I bought into the AM7 for my first 5.1 Pro Logic setup with a good quality Pioneer receiver of the early 90s. High WAF, but as my hearing became more audiophile attuned, the issues with the Acoustimass system became obvious and glaring.
The bass "module" was not a real subwoofer, and produced puffy, one note-y poor quality bass.
The cubes had a huge mid range hole, with tinny highs.
These sound and form factor attributes make a big first impression in mass market stores and the Bose Store in Outlet malls of yore, but anyone wanting quality sound for music would laugh at them.
On a positive note, due to Bose marketing efforts, it was easy to resell my AM7's to a (non audiophile) coworker for ~65% of the price I paid after ~6 years of ownership, very low depreciation for audio gear.
I also owned Bose 301 S3's and a VCS10 center channel speaker, selling both at low depreciation- my first well known branded speakers from the early 90s.
By 1999, I bought into PSB with their 800i's and matching center/surrounds, and now have PSB T2's
I have those now for about 1 1/2 years and love them, they replaced my Image T55 which my son has now.
I'm hearing some of the old re-hashed assumptions, outdated and some incorrect info here (the latest 10" acoustimass sub is actually "upfiring", not down). At Eng/Electronics college 25 years ago I was building active speakers from circuit components up. I've since been a devoted "seperates only" HiFi guy searching out rare and weird HiFi to the point where my spare room used to be filled with amplifiers and speakers. I don't like the term audiophile as still hear so much subjective and nonsensical stuff being spouted by so called experts tagging themselves as such - not directed at this channel, but just a general comment, some visible in these comments. (Don't tell me your gold plated HDMI lead sounds better or that your 10 gauge cables on a 10ft run are making a difference). I used to buy into the old adage of BOSE = Bring Better Sound Equipment too, and would forever deride their "processed sound" to non-AV pros that would profess Bose as "the best".
These days I'm lucky enough to be in a position that this year I'm half way through a half million dollar refit of installed audio across 2 main sites, including $30,000 on consumer grade stuff for some standalone areas needing just a simple 5.1 TV system or BT speaker. For our recent refit, senior management wanted to bring Bose in and I was VERY reluctant, and still bought into the traditional anti-BOSE stance, but also though "what the hell", and couldn't see the harm in giving them a shot (failure would only prove me right). The enthusiasm, and professionalism displayed by their factory engineers and the installer was way above what I've experienced from other brands, and the final product has blown all expectations out of the water, and frankly is levels above the comparable (output and coverage) old QSC Qsys installed PA. The latest Bose Pro kit is solid, and when the factory are sending out the their senior in house engineers to tune the installation and sign it off then you know they are making a strong bid for this market. The Showmatch sub is standout. In the couple of months since first half of the install, we've already had 1 A-list artist play through the main system, numerous DJs and other bands, and both they and their travelling sound engineers and other production professionals have all had their previous anti-Bose stance blown away, and coming away with a change of opinion on what they've seen and heard. At high or low volumes, definition, clarity, projection, and coverage are unreal (admittedly as much to do with a great system design and tuning).
For the consumer stuff, yes we now there's a processed sound to their kit, if you're an absolute HiFi head and understand what they do to tune the sound to make it sound more "immersive" or "fuller" (I hate these subjective adjectives), then just accept that for what it is. The fact is, that 95% of people on the street will listen to a Bose consumer product, and prefer that sound to a true perfect flat response curve. And whatever anyone says, if you're running different branded amps and speakers which aren't perfectly matched from factory, then it's very unlikely you're getting flat response curve. That "lovely warmth" the What HiFi reviewer is banging on about with a certain amp/speaker combo is actually sound coloration no different to what Bose are doing, but just likely less intentional.
Off the back of our recent purchase, I also ended up on the factory tour - and was gob smacked at what they get up to for both durability testing, and the whole facility itself. MIT as custodian of Bose really do have some of the brightest engineering brains available in there, and it shows. Their innovation in new consumer products benefits from them not just being a typical HiFi company. Their Pro demo room is something else (basically a mid size concert stage setup) and if you've previously written off their Pro install kit, I suggest a re-visit of their latest kit, particularly the IP rated outdoor kit and the column line arrays which have phenomenal projection.
Don't get me wrong - my home HiFi is still separates, and I still think Bose is very expensive on the upper end of their consumer lines for what they are (Lifestyle etc). But of my 10+ portable BT speakers (including Riva and Sonos) my go to now for work is a now pair of the tiny Soundlink Micros, as can in 20 secs set up a great little (obviously not hifi) stereo sound by using the rubber straps to place them anywhere and direct them correctly to my working position. The baby S1 battery PA is whilst being a little overly bassy, also the only portable speaker you'll ever need for crownds of 20 - 30 fo you BBQing ion the beach or plugging a guitar and mic in. The very latest soundbars and Lifestyle systems, coupled with the AdaptIQ tuning system get very impressive room tuning results in a minute and gorgeous form factor, that most people couldn't achieve with placement only.
Fact is the 95% of people on the street they provide a slick design, and a sound they actually prefer for their needs/tastes.
Finally, we are based on a leeward shore, in a high humidity tropical location, where all the kit gets blasted with salt water laden breeze and weather 24-7. Despite an absolute hammering, the ancient 251s used for one of our Beach bars lasted 8 years, and only 1 failed from 8 (main reason management loved Bose so much) - for toughness, they do last.
NOW THAT'S A REVIEW
Bose has come a long way over the past several years. I’d say Bose’d only truly overpriced products they currently sell are their Lifestyle systems, which while have improved since Bose has finally figured out to make a real subwoofer, still can be easily outperformed by systems costing less than half the price.
you lie and you work for BOSE.. NO ONE EVER EVER EVER IN PRO AUDIO USES BOSE....EVER!! }
@@lunam7249 lol, re-reading my post 5 years later! I must have been up late and getting triggered by the comments to write that essay.
No I dont work for Bose. Independent integrator. I pick the most suitable kit for the job, and the manufacturer that best supports me, and I even buy through another distro, not Bose direct. I also work a fair amount with QSC, K-Array, Technomad, and Sonos/Sonance for residential stuff. QSys is nicer to program and has more integration. Their latest CX-Q and similar amps, where we are at least, do not put up with the same level of abuse (coastal environment, bad power), that the numerous Bose PM series I've deployed over the same ime have, and their warranty support is pitiful in comparison when called upon. I've had to leave clients without amps for several months whilst I return CX-Q series stuff that's under year old back for warranty repair, and QSC have argued all the way. The only issue I've seen with the PM was due to a batch which had a faulty cap. All were replaced directly (new one sent straight out), before even receiving the old one for assessment. Night and day difference for the customer.
Bose has the best noise cancelling on headphones so far as well. Build quality is spot on. The sound is sweet for me, and I don't listen to music, I listen to audiobooks and political debates. Bose is very good for that - very clear on the voice.
isinox
shure make better headphone
Try some Bowers & Wilkins PX7’s
@Johnny Mack not for me, I love Bose, that sound pattern works for me.
Sony xm3 or xm4 are far better imo
@@ayourmum8521 well sound quality is a preference so i get it...
Just for information, original Bose 901 drivers cost less than $4.00 each. I know this because my buddy worked at Bose when it occupied a half dozen houses in Natick, Massachusetts. He was one of two techs that tested and repaired the equalizers. The drivers were made by CTS in Kentucky. I bought a couple of the drivers which I still have. The surrounds are still intact and that's from 1968. The surrounds were not the self destructing foam used now. They are made from , I think, silicone impregnated cloth, same as AR's speakers. Met Dr. Bose too. And believe it or not, my dad helped to build "The Mountain" in Farmington. Which in reality is a huge pile of rubble, from the blasting during construction of the Mass Turnpike, which goes right by the mountain. Why go thru a mountain when you can blow it up? Employee cost for a 901 system was $250, half of retail. And no I didn't buy one. I had AR's. Bought from the AR store in Boston. Good times back then.
ARs sounded far better than Bose 901s
@@lbamusic Bose, no highs, no lows, Bose. Haha! I still have the AR's too, but primary speakers are Klipsch RF-7 towers, with real wood veneer. I worked at a high end shop as a service tech, got a great deal on B stock, $700 for the pair. Along with a couple Sony XBR large screen TVs at the time very expensive, but not for employees.
$0.15 each, made by jensen factory
@@lunam7249 i doubt the 15 cents per speaker in a 901
@@rpk5568 yep, manufactured by the JENSEN corporation new york 😳😳, inflation adjusted prolly $3 each in 2024, delco prolly can make a similar speaker in 2024 for $1 each drop shiped by the pallet..its realy a piece of crap, i do this for a living...Post Ph.D. E.E., P.E.
A good friend of mine gave me his entire stereo system that he bought when he came back from Vietnam. A pair of Bose 901's & 301's, Bose amp and preamp and several other components including equalizer, turntable, tuner plus a few other odds and ends. Granted the specs are not comparable to modern speaker specs but they still sound pretty decent. On the other hand, whenever I purchase audio equipment I start with the specs and work my way to a selection as I go.
I disregard specs and output and try to come as close to 'LIVE' as possible. specs don't mean as much as a good ear.
@@trallfraz In the end how it sounds to your personal ear is all that matters.
I start with my ears
wow, 20 minutes of you guys saying absolutely nothing, and did not even answer the question you put in the title....
You nailed it at the end when you said - "Where is this video going?"
You have to either have ADD or just not be very bright to not pick up on the arguments in this video and how perception trumps quality for the brand in question.
That's exactly what I thought these dumbasses don't know shit all they did is talk bad about Bose the whole time and didn't say what was better cuz they know Bose is good shit they just can't afford it
@@madscientist6869 congratulations, you win the Darwin of the Year Award.
@@madscientist6869 If you know what they were saying, they're not dumbasses. And you would think people listening to "Audioholics" would know about audio. They said it: we (audiophiles) hate Bose mostly because of the value. But also because so many non-audiophiles think Bose is the greatest ever because of marketing, not because they've actually heard Bose against other speakers for the same price. And I have a 65" LG OLED and Def Tech 7.2.2 Dolby Atmos Surround Sound System that costs way more than a Bose system, just in case you were going to claim I can't afford it.
@@seriosmusic okay what do you recommend I replace my piece of shit Boston Acoustic Tower speakers that I wasted $500 each on that a pair of $300 Bose will sound better than
Yea, everyone’s 2 favorite classic BOSE catch phrases.
1) No highs, no lows, it must be BOSE!
&
2) BOSE - Better Sales through marketing!
Bose, rhymes with Blows
Bose - buy other sound equipment
There is only highs & lows must be bose...
better off suicide ending.....
Love how this video is shot today but seems like it was done in the 80s of 90s
Audio Fun it comes off really genuine. I liked it, no bs.
@@alexk1682 Yee I love their videos, mine wasn't meant as an insult :) ps I. Love the 80s and 90s
Late 60’s according to William Shatner and Lenard Nimoy.
True
Audio Fun and who’s the third guy?
Biggest crime to me is their abuse of proprietary cables and connectors
Years ago I visited a Circuit City and this young couple were listening to the Bose Acoustimass system in awe. I approached them, and suggested they have the sales rep switch to the Polk satellite system, and to play Pink Floyd Time in a A/B comparison. They could no believe the difference in the extended frequencies. The bells, and chimes had a nice, airy, natural sound, and the bass had good definition, with good vibrato you could hear, and feel. They were very grateful, and even offered to by me lunch. True story...
Well, say what you want, but I’ve been through a lot of speakers until I settled in on a pair of 601’s. They actually sound really good.
Didn't Bose sue a hi-fi magazine back in the 1970s (Stereophile?) for giving them a bad review?
One reviewer said the 901's weren't really HI-FI.
Notice how many times they said "allegedly". That was an offhand reference to Bose's litigious nature. Bose are known for their marketing prowess, noise cancelling headphones, poor sound otherwise, high price for what you get, and love for litigation. Bose systems in a box sound way better than the sound coming from a tv, and way worse than you can do if you take the time to learn something about audio reproduction. Like the guys said, Bose markets to the people who know nothing about high end audio.
You touched lightly on it at the end. But the biggest reason I hate Bose is because I was fooled by them in the very beginning of my dip into audio. In the mid 90's had 301's, then added model 100's, then sold them both and bought Acoustimass 10. But the traditional big box speakers my friends owned always had more punch than my Bose. It's a pretty simple concept that a speaker moves air, and if you have tiny speakers made from the worst materials, they will not move air like better products can. I believe Bose now offers a real sub and is moving toward more exotic drivers because crappy $300 HTIB's caught up to Bose in sound quality and visceral impact. The point of diminishing returns has dropped to an amazingly low price point.
Every product has that designer type brand that has the name, charges many times more for that name but doesn’t provide a product that reflects the price. Bose and Beats are the top 2 for speakers and headphones. Way overrated. Not bad but definitely not worth the price. For the uninitiated, they’re the best. Not for any technical reason but because of brand recognition. Commercials and celebrity endorsers who are paid to wear them in public. Those people don’t care about build quality and accurate sound. Just that brand recognition so they can impress other people and feel like they have something good. Most of the time, those people can’t be helped.
I’ve used Klipsch for many years now and am really satisfied with the way they reproduce sound in music and movies. From 3 different series of bookshelf speakers, subwoofers and their Pro Media computer speakers, I’ve found them to be well built, accurate and very affordable. I believe they belong in every short list of best bang for your buck speakers.
Agreed with you, Bose is a good products and sound.
My father opened up the original Radio Shack's first branch store in 1951. Growing up, I had the opportunity to listen, mono to stereo etc. I had met an been to seminars with Dr. Bose. What you're missing here is very simple, when you walked perpendicular to a stereo high frequencies had a sweet spot. High frequency response is directional. When you got away from the sweet spot the mid-high frequencies fell off. His concept was to aim speakers in such a manner so you wouldn't have a sweet spot. Everyone, especially large music venues use this dispersion method for that reason.
The Bose radio improved upon the KLH 21 design. Those are the facts. The original 901's were the first effort at providing you with that, (even), listening technology. That's why there were 4 drivers on 2 sides in the back.
You could also modify the frequency response by moving the location of the speakers.
Audio is subjective. No 2 people hear the same thing.
Dr. Bose was an innovator, whether you care for his products or not, his contributions to audio are significant. He was great at demonstrating and explaining these concepts in layman's terms.
Tracy Ripple but you do agree with sound being subjective, correct? if so, why do folk make such videos? apparently, if someone prefers Bose, they can afford it, and they enjoy what they sound like, why do folk waste their time, energy, and resources in efforts to sway the consumer? i’m just curious...wouldn’t it just make sense to say, “Hey, you like what you like and i like what i like.” it’s called, ‘choice’...and, no matter what one’s opinion is in regards to another’s choice, all that technical stuff is simply dismissed...i have a home full of Bose and i’m VERY satisfied...every product has pros and cons...however, as long as the product caters to the one who made the choice to experience such, all this is a waste of time
Tracy Ripple i agree...Bose does what every other company does which is claim a superior product...ultimately, the consumer decides...every company has a bag of tricks and create an illusion to lure us in...however, at the end of the day, none of us like to think we’ve made a poor decision...that’s just the nature of the ego...can you imagine how much flack i get from people just because i like Acura over Cadillac, lol...i would have to treat u to lunch in efforts to share all those stories...🤷🏽♂️
I miss RS!...I learned so much about electronics and circuitry at RS and i was battery club memeber!...memories!
Actually, you're wrong about the 901. It was the 801 that was the original.
I bought my first and only set of Bose 601 gen 3 in 1985 while I was in the military. I listened to many different brands. Most of the other brands seemed louder. We called them distortion drivers. I wasn’t a fan of the 901’s sound. But the clarity of the 4 tweeters and 2 8inch woofers in the 601 sounded really good. As far as I was concerned they were the best bang for the buck and I’m still pushing them today. That’s 35 years of everyday use and they never needed any repairs.
Ditto! Fantastic speakers at the time and probably what made the name. Bose declined in company with their Japanese competition brands. Their speakers were always better and stand up just as well today. It's hard to blow 100 watts RMS and nobody needs more than that. These guys are wankers, too.
Bose targets mainstream people with convenience and marketing. Simple as that. That's the classic formula for success.
And CONVENIENCE definitely has VALUE (to most people). So if people are PAYING the high price, it inherently is WORTH that price. Also, Bose doesn't advertise "the best".... they only advertise "better".... and that's true compared to most audio sources out there in Gadgetland.
A lot of doctors and dentists buy them to put in their waiting rooms. They have the money to spend and a superficial understanding of quality sound.
An analogy from an audio enthusiast’s perspective is a $3000-$4000 Bose Lifestyle system with the tiny cube speakers is like a Smart Fortwo sold for an Audi A4 price. A Smart isn’t necessarily a “bad car”, and is indeed very small and very simple, but it would be a bad car for an Audi A4 price, as an Audi is bigger, built better, and performs better. Likewise, a Bose Lifestyle system doesn’t necessarily sound “bad”, and is very small and very easy to use, but for $3000-$4000, you could get a 5.1 surround system from brands like Paradigm, Martin Logan, Bowers and Wilkins, Focal, Goldenear, Definitive Technology, SVS, and many others that have much bigger speakers that are better-built, and words cannot even begin to describe how much better those systems would sound than any Bose Lifestyle system. Again, it’d be like comparing a Smart Fortwo to an Audi A4 in terms of performance.
Now of course people who want Bose likely don’t want big speakers, just like people who’d want a Smart wouldn’t want a 4-door sedan like an Audi A4. But just like a car enthusiast would see no reason to spend $40,000 on a $15,000 Smart Fortwo, audio enthusiasts see no reason to spend $4000 on a tiny speaker system that has the sound quality of a home theater in a box costing less than $1000. And even if you want small speakers, all of those aforementioned brands also make speakers similar in size and price to Bose that obliterate Bose.
And if you feel like you need to buy Bose for the “prestige” so you can “keep up with the Jone’s”, forget Bose and buy a higher-end system from one of those aforementioned brands, which you could easily drop $10,000 to over a $100,000 on. Then you’d REALLY have something to brag about.
Like the words you says, I do really respect your thoughts and honest reply. but I do really love Bose.Because of its technologies and simplicity.
Before I was married and started a family back in the 80s, sure, I had BIG audio systems with high end components and the music sounded fantastic. One of the first things that my new wife "encouraged" me to do was to get rid of my big bulky audio system equipment and go to a compact "Bose like" system for the superior interior ascetics. So, with the constrain that my audio system had to be very small...I moved down to Yamaha components...still too large...I finally ended up with Bose! Sure, it doesn't have the best sound, but the sound is good, and it is very small, and my wife loves our Bose 600 soundbar with Bose Bass Module 500 (700 too big) for our TV watching and music listening. We also have Bose Wave radios in our bedrooms, because it's the only audio system that "fits" in our bedrooms and it has a clock! So, I love Bose because if they didn't exist, I would be listening to music on a phone and watching TV with its built-in speakers!! God bless Bose!
As a musician I can say Bose Makes some amazing small footprint live sound systems. I have never owned a Bose home system of any kind.
Don needs to calm himself, he wouldn't let Gene finish a sentence without butting in most of the time.
I've always been a JBL or Yamaha guy. Any problem with those?
I love my soundtouch 300 best soundbar I've ever had and the sub is awesome on it.
Lol.
Good points about Rolex and Bose.
Both companies know exactly who their market is.
Yes and it's definitely not the same market although like for everything there may some overlap. Buying a Rolex Daytona (new or used), or any fully or near fully depreciated (it's easy to see on a price curve) Submariner or Sea-dweller you're buying an appreciating asset. I bought a used Submariner 5 years ago and ofc it went up in value. I'm on the waiting list since more than one year to get a Daytona 116500 LN: if the dealer ever calls me to say they received some and I was next on the list, I'll either turn 13 000 USD (approx, I'm in Europe) into 19 000 USD in two phone calls or I'll wear one of the most beautiful mechanical chronograph in the world for a few years and then sell it for even more.
One thing both markets have in common...lots of people with disposable income. They buy brand names not necessarily high end.
@@CedricMartin1 And yet . . . they are 100% exactly correct about Rolex. And I say that as someone who owns a Rolex Datejust and a Rolex GMT. I view them as male jewelry, and wear them as such. There are better timepieces (and if you are really just after super-accurate timekeeping, MUCH better options - a $150 Bulova Precisionist is accurate to within less than 10 seconds a year).
Bose makes amazing mobile products, you should mention that. I consider myself an audiophile but when it comes to great headphones under $400 Bose is near or at the top
They did
Considering that my home stereo system in the 1980's was based on a Sansui 881 with 6 speakers of various origins, including a couple of old car speakers, I am probably watching the wrong channel. :)
I'm also a "72 model and had the same kind of system at that time My subs were Kicker 10's in a truck box powered by a 300 watts off brand amp hooked to a motorcycle battery and portable battery charger :)
I'm not saying Bose make the best speakers. But SOME of their speakers are damn good. I have the 601's and they really kick ass with my Denon receiver.
Fun fact. The 601's have a housebrick glued On the inside of the Cabinet.
The best thing Bose ever did was that radio frequency remote! That is brilliant! Why can’t anybody else make remotes like that?!
B&O did
I still have my JBL TLX 500 I bought about 18 years ago and I still love them. Since it's an old model, I'll add for clarity that it's a pair of 175 W 3-way speakers.
I agree that this video is about 15 minutes too long - what would have been useful would be a technical comparison with "conventional" speakers such as TLS
Bose are great for headphones, or noise cancellation headphones more accurately. Never heard of them having a good reputation outside of that.
As for audiophiles saying they are trash - of course. Any brand name is likely trash to them. They are basically art students. Only fun thing about them is watching them react when you tell them the Beatles are terrible.
7:21 "ten thousand kilohertz" = ten million hertz #metricsarehard
I don't hate BOSE, I hate people who think they know audio because the instant a conversation about home systems or car audio begins, they start throwing the name around and feel all smug that either they know of it, or that they own one (and they get really upset if you tell them it's got mediocre sound for the price).
KuronoXD Lol this always gets me. Many Bose fans think they own the best shit ever and say things like “you don’t like Bose because you can’t afford it.” I always want to reply “bitch my Paradigm/Anthem/Velodyne system costs the same as your $4000 Bose Lifestyle system and would wipe its ass with it, as would my 10 year old $1600 Paradigm Cinema system with speakers not much bigger than your Bose speakers.”
And if they want to tell me how much better their Bose car system is, I could tell them I own a set of Hertz Mille Legend car speakers that for just 2 tweeters, 2 woofers, and 2 crossovers cost more than their entire Bose car system package.
@@falkenlaser Exactly I have hertze Mille in my car along with hybrid audio and JL audio amp although I think JL is a little like Bose good stuff but can get just as good for less money. They don't know any better it's not the price keeping me from buying Bose it's wanting quality stuff and getting the most for your money that keeps me from buying it.
Travis Evans I actually have a pair of Hertz Mille co-axials (the Legends aren’t installed as of now) powered by an old JL Audio A2150 amp. While the Mille co-axials aren’t near as good as the Mille Legends, they still sound amazing; almost as good as my Paradigm Monitor 9’s. But unfortunately one of the channels on my A2150 is cutting out, making the other channel louder, so I often have to move the balance towards the bad channel to even out the sound. But once I get a new car (I’m trying to get my 1998 Camry to 400,000 miles before I even start looking for a new car), I plan on installing the Mille Legends in the front, the co-axials in the back, maybe my JL Audio 12 in. W3v3 (the Mille Legends have such good bass I could live without a sub), all powered by an Audison 8-channel Prima amp. That would sound fucking amazing.
Speaking of JL, their products are often considered overpriced, however what people often overlook is they’ve always focused on sound quality, which car audio people often don’t care about, as they just want to get “loud”, which costs less than sounding good. But JL’s home subwoofers are regarded by many audiophiles to be the best subs you can get for the money, which is amazing considering they compete with lots of brands that audiophiles buy for “prestige.” But they’re so good audiophiles have forced themselves to look past the name and acknowledge their quality. It’d be like Subaru making a luxury car that sells for a Mercedes E-class price but has the luxury and performance of a Bentley. You really couldn’t ignore that.
@@falkenlaser I have always liked JL subwoofers for there sound quality not so much for getting loud although they do get loud I like there amps to but I do think there is cheaper ones that can compete with them. I have my hertze mille components installed in the kick panels and the Hybrid audio 5 x 7 coaxial in the rear my amp is the JL hd600/4 it's a class D amp but I didn't have room for a big class AB amp if I had room I wood add a bit one and use class AB amp.
I get that from my Dad about Paradigms because bought Klipsch lol.
After many years of trying different audio products and listening to Bose haters, I finally cleared out my old Yamaha, Boston Acoustics speaker systems and settled on Bose. While I read lots of Bose hate(mostly repeated arguments) I found the sound and features pleasing to me. I presently own two ST30’s a ST130 sound bar and sub (no rears) a couple newer smart home series speakers, QC45 and a couple Solo TV speakers. I have had some of this gear for onwards of ten years. I like the sound,(warm, detailed and just plain pleasing. The build quality and functionality of the Bose products is very good.
I cant help but notice that the Bose haters and Audiophiles seem to echo the reasons they don’t like the Bose products. Mostly parroting each other. Not much in the way of original thinking.
My only hope is that Bose will continue to make good products.
Its perfectly natural to hear every breath a singer takes, their S and Ts so loud, non sibilant sharp and clean they cut paper, every last nuance of nails on strings etc etc etc....or is it?
Liked it as much as anybody for decades, but to call that 'high fidelity' is logical fallacy.
The average person doesn't chase audio because beyond a certain point the human brain is innately satisfied with what it can naturally perceive unaided, and focuses more on emotional response.
-Former 'audiophile'
Ask you photography friends to help you with the lighting.
The alarm clock radio you were thinking of wasn't Boston Acoustics. It was Cambridge Soundworks ... probably one of the models by Henry Kloss.
Going to a Bose store years ago when I was a teen and hearing the demo got me interested in home theater, but I could not afford their speakers so I tried stacking two sets of floor standing speakers on top of each other to make my own multi directional sound, hahaha!
I love Bose audio products and yet love these guys...win-win...
I used the Bose 2.1, hooked it up with an optical cable, bass module was easy to set up, sound was shaking the floor. 2 years later I switched to surround sound- Definitive towers BP-9040, CS9060, SR9040 with Denon. My whole house shakes when I keep full volume. Bose was easy to set up without hassle and the best out of the box product till date. I am definitely not an audiophile, but I know about sounds and Bose won't fail you if you are thinking about it.
Monitor Audio is my preferred brand for speakers.
x2
Yes they are indeed much better than Bose
I'm shocked at how concise this presentation is. Amazing.
Sarcasm level: infinity. I love it. :)
I just stumbled into this 5/1/21. Close to twenty years ago when I'd moved and left the 901s and everything else behiind, my 20-something kid had come down to help me pick out a new 5.1 system to do double duty for hifi audio and video. We'd first gone to a Bose store and listened to whatever it was, then found not far from my house an independent shop. Dedicated high end stereo room, a few surround rooms, and.a pile of stuff I'd never heard of before. We told the owner what we were up to and where we'd been. He smiled and shook his head sadly and sez "C'mere, stick your heads in here." We were dumbstruck. Went home that day long ago with a 5.1 and a receiver for less that what I would have spent at Bose that started me on my addicition. Now, old and two decades later, I've topped out at around $12-13k in a system including vinyl that is just heaven.
Real speaker manufacturers publish their gears specs. Bose doesn’t.
the people Bose are marketing to, don't care.
No audiophool gear posts their specs. Then they can't be held to account.
@@marklowe7431 Depends what you define as "audiophile". I consider brands like Revel, Paradigm and PSB "audiophile" and yet they all have anechoic chambers and publish detailed measurements and specs. Even smaller "audiophile" companies like Salk Sound and Philharmonic publish full specs and measurements. Bose does NOT.
I was i shock, I thought I had a mistake on the site and checked other ones.
@@Audioholics agree, it's usually the ones that make claims they can't support.
Audiophile definition: A man who spends more on his stereo equipment than his car because his car will not get him laid.
Personally I buy Bose because I do not have speaker envy.
Being a AudioSNOB means more to you than it does to me. YES YOU ARE SNOBS. I also have Sennheiser headphones and they suck. BOSE are quieter.
BOSE provides a product that works very well for what you want it to do AND for a reasonable price. And they sound good.
BOSE Sounddock Portable is THE BEST SOUNDING portable speaker system. As well as the Sounddock Mini. I travel and I bought several small portable speakers and was disappointed. In 2009 I bought a Sounddock portable at the Embassy PX in Baghdad and schlepped that speaker all over the world. I still have it.
BOSE also makes a very high quality product. That; takes use very well.
All I hear from you is WHINING. And you disagree on your whining. And you do not PROVE what you say.
Basically audiophiles hate BOSE because SNOBS do not buy BOSE. I just want it to work well.
Bose products are so well made... I don't understand the hate... Some snobs are bitching about the price or the sound quality... But they are not expensive for what they offer... And the sound quality is not the best out there, but still pretty decent... I understand if people look for other priorities in their audio gadgets, but most "audiophiles"are just bitching and criticizing dumb shit
What's funny is these guys buy $5000 speakers and thousands on equipment to make their $5000 speakers sound good. I've got a receiver, an amp and an EQ, and my $1000 CERWIN-VEGA! SL15's sound great at all levels. Admittedly I listen to mostly metal and rock, but classical, jazz, everything sounds good. For under $2000.
I had the same feeling about Bose , I bought nearly every product but than listen to Grado headphone, focal headphones and than realised I was listening to shit from Bose it’s overpowering bass and sacrifices detail in sound that’s for sure
Hey Gene, I have to say that their Aviation headsets are really the best, as you mention. It’s a pretty small market so there isn’t a lot of innovation. The Bose A20 noise cancelling headset is the best on the market. They’re solidly built and I don’t worry about breaking them. Also, they add in Bluetooth and music capabilities which is nice on a long flight. Agree with you on their stereo equipment but the aviation section is pretty dang good.
This video has been hanging around in my recommendations for weeks now, like a shady drug dealer at the school gate trying to sell me cocaine that's mixed with baby formula. Kind of like Bose themselves. Is that ironic?
Holy Jebus every joke fell as flat as the sound quality of this video. Almost cringeworthy.
I freaking loved it lmaooo these guys can be too boring sometimes
I have several older high end speaker and amp setups in my house currently.. I'm bit of an audio hobbyist and a pack rat I admit.. because every piece of audio equipment I have since high school.. is still in great shape.. but the Bose 901 series V model system I have paired with a robust 90s Yamaha AX-930 integrated amp rocks the house; it's specs are 130 per channel @ 8 ohms--217 @ 4 ohms, high dynamic output with a damping factor of 500, total harmonic distortion of 0.005%. When you crank this thing up connected to the Bose 901 pairing, put on a great recording... I don't care if you're directly in the room or outside the house.. you would think the band was literally live; you'll find yourself tempted to go find the musicians because it is that astonishing. You may spend more an exorbitant amount on brand new high tech equipment, but anything would do well to compete with this 1989-1991 amp paired with the 901 series V Bose system.
I took Genes advice and paired my 901s Series VI to a 3490 HK receiver at 125w/c and agree with you 100%.
Problem is Bose doesn't play Hillbilly music to any great standard which maybe why you are coming to this conclusion. They exceed expectation with Jazz and Electronic music - Had them for 20 years coupled with a Sugden amp - Still making me happy
I love Hillbilly music! And so does my Sister/Wife.
@Harry Fishnuts - No they just have higher hills.
Bloody
Orrible
Sounding
Ear-Worms
This guy interrupts alot!! I miss the Latin Lou Ferrigno
me too! the latin Lou Ferrigno rules haha
For me the thing I always liked about Bose was how you could bring out a specific instrument when playing songs which I no longer find since all audio went digital. But most speakers tend to be generic bass speakers and don't bring out other parts of the audio. Which Bose focuses on which is the best part of those speakers and are not for blasting music which one gets from amps used in concerts.
It always tickles me when audio guys tell people who like something, that they don't know anything and they're stupid for liking it.
There trying to get people the best for the there money. With bose, your really paying for the research of making crap speakers sound good.
My definition of "Audiophiles" = Stereo music. "Home theater" multi channels is just that "Home theater sounds" ; not Audiophiles
What are some of the best 2.1 pc speakers in the market? Not big sized ones.. Tks!
Bose, the classy way of buying something elegant, well engineered with amazing customer service for you and your family to enjoy. Audiophiles, the guys with a huge knowledge base but no motor trend friends to share it with.
I run KEF Q Series full surround speakers, with a REL subwoofer
Brian Roberts I loved my little 8” REL T3 until the amp took a dump though recently. Had it paired with some B&W 600 series bookshelf powered by a Yamaha A-S700 amp. Amazing sound for a small package even in a large open floor plan room.
My pair of KEFs bookshelf speakers are my favourite speakers.
I really appreciate this video, now I know I'm not insane. I got a lifestyle surround sound set from the late 90s, probably the exact model you showed at 5:13, and at first I thought it sounded great because I was 15 and had a 5.1 system in my room, but when I went to college I bought a soundbar to hook my turntable up to (cringe) and convinced myself it didn't sound better. Even $140 audiotechnica headphones sound A LOT better. So any recommendations for bookshelf/ tower speakers specific models or brands to go with my turntable? Are newer speakers much better than older/ vintage ones or does it not matter?
BOSE is for people who want a name to show off to their friends. Not particularly great. Buy an Audiolab Amp and Monitor Audio silver 300 speakers and you'll understand why we hate BOSE
Ha! Yea maybe if you have shitty friends who are deaf.
I loved my lil klipsch 4.1 speakers back in the day. Now Iv got 2 pairs of Klipsch rf-82 to make my 7.1 and i love them!!!!!
I used to be one of these suckers thinking nothing was better than Bose until I built a theater room but didn't have enough money to buy another LifeStyle 650 as it was 4k so I bought a Klipsch R-820F 7.1 system for 2500 and was blown away by the quality, the range of the sound and the room shaking bass I was getting.
Needless to say I gave the Lifestyle to my daughter when I saved up some money and replaced it with another Klipsch R-820F 7.1 system in my living room.
I started with BOSE Companion 2.0 speakers with my laptop as a school student - got them free after winning a contest. I was pretty stoked with the quality at the time for such small speakers. Now 10+ years later - I still have 'em and they still work, though the missis uses them with her laptop. I've since upgraded to an Edifier S730D 2.1 system (that subwoofer is amazing!), then a pair of PreSonus Eris E8 studio monitors with a PreSonus Temblor T10 studio subwoofer. My home cinema/vinyl setup is currently a pair of Cambridge Audio SX60s with a Denon AVR, but I'll upgrade to something better as the time goes on. Headphones of choice - the ever-popular Audio Technica ATH-M50x :)
Bose made me recognize that I had an ear for sound reproduction!
In the late 90's, I was not new to audio, but I was still very much a novice. I was at my uncle's house, and I was very excited when I found out he had a Bose surround system. The family sat down to watch a movie, and within the first few minutes I wanted to get up and walk out of the room - the sound was uneven - one of my ears felt like it had cotton in it. I would find out a year or so later that the Bose bass module plays signals up to ~200Hz, well above the generally accepted 80Hz non-directional threshold. Since the bass module was on the LEFT side of the room, I was hearing the bottom-end of men's voices, etc, from only one side, causing the imbalanced sound stage.
I have been a huge fan of audio since 1991, but that experience with a Bose system taught me that PHYSICS is an integral part of sound reproduction, and companies like Bose ignore the physics problems and instead cater to a customer who essentially wants gourmet fast food: "I have a lot of money, and I want an all-in-one solution that is very small, easy to set up, and people will be able to recognize what brand it is (and thus, how much I paid for it) as soon as they walk into the room".
Hiss in the audio - not great. At least run it through an audacity denoiser, you "audiophiles" :)
The audacity of these guys