Home Audio Selection. Looking for opinions on Bose

[stevenaa]

I'm looking to buy a home audio surround system. Looking for opinions/info on Speaker Systems. Listening to various systems in Big box stores and Bose seems to have the best sound. Any thoughts/experiences appreciated.

[Barney B]

More than a few years ago, I had a friend who had an expensive set of Bose speakers set up in his living room. He knew I'd built some speaker systems for fun, so he wanted to impress me with how good his stereo sounded. As we sat there drinking lots of beer and watching soccer (with the sound off and the stereo on), I thought, "Hell, these speakers aren't bad, you could do a lot worse."

It may have been the beer.

Later on, after he brought the set to me to repair (he'd blown the woofers playing some Motorhead album at the appropriate volume), I took the sub apart, and was even more impressed. "How in the world" I thought (but didn't say out loud), "could they make something that sounds fairly decent out of such crappy-ass components?" I'm not kidding: the stereo speakers he'd spent over $1200 dollars for were composed of some $5 drivers and some chintzy-ass pressboard - glued together, no doubt, by a bunch of suffering old ladies in a sweatshop in some pollution-choked city in China. You could've built the whole rig yourself for less than $50.

While their shortcomings are well-known to audiophiles (such as a big hole in the mid-bass response and a crossover point that's unforgivably high, so you can tell where the subwoofer is located as soon as you walk in the room), the general public only gets to see the marketing/markup colossus that is Bose, and has no clue that - at any given price point - they can do much better. When my buddy decided to get a new system to replace his exploded 2-channel Bose fartophones, I pointed him in the direction of brands like PSB, NHT and Vandersteen.

You, on the other hand, I'll just point in the direction of hi-fi stores like this one http://www.tweeter.com/aboutus/storelocator.asp and information sources like this http://www.sensiblesound.com/index.htm and this: http://www.theaudiocritic.com/cwo/Web_Zine/, with the advice to take your time, listen and learn.

Good luck! :cheers:

[Ingtar]

I know a lot of internet forums that will tell you to not touch Bose. I don't like them much, especially considering the price point and the lack of quality for what you pay. I personally bought a pre-pro and amp and some Aperion speakers (www.aperion.com)

[Isifhan]

May want to check out orb audio, was looking at that for my speakers.

http://www.orbaudio.com/

AVS forums are always a plethora of information: http://www.avsforum.com/

[Monte51Coleman]

Some reference: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=109

[SkinsOrlando]

My father has bose, yamaha amplifier, unbelievably kick ass but if you reallt wanna do it buy klipsch, there **** is straight butter right now.

[RememberOsaka]

I listened to everything out there and settle on Klipsch for my surround sound, and billiard room in my basement. I also installed a pair of Klipsch outdoor speakers on my patio that are ****ing amazing.

[RememberOsaka]

duplicate post :doh:

[Toe Jam]

I listened to everything out there and settled on Klipsch for my surround sound, and billiard room in my basement. I also installed a pair of Klipsch outdoor speakers on my patio that are ****ing amazing.

In fact, it was so amazing that you had to post about it twice.

:silly:

[Monte51Coleman]

Speaker preference is one of the most individually subjective decisions that I can think of. What sounds great to me might sound flat to you. You really need to do some homework and then go listen to several setups to determine which pleases your ear.

[DButz65]

All highs, no lows, must be bose, sorry i had to say it :D

When bose first came out, thats what people referrred to them as, they are better now a days but i still dont think they are all that. Its all marketing, you hear the bose name ALOT, just like you hear about ADT alot, but their systems suck quite honestly.

[DeanCollins]

Speaker preference is one of the most individually subjective decisions that I can think of. What sounds great to me might sound flat to you. You really need to do some homework and then go listen to several setups to determine which pleases your ear.

this is true. Klipsch does make great speakers but they tend to be on the bright side sonically using horns for mids and highs ofter. It's a good place to start. I'm old school so I'd recomend large sealed enclosures vs. ported.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

I echo the Klipsch endorsements. These are the speakers I'm currently using.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7372513&type=product&id=1122654018549

[Fergasun]

You didn't give any more information in your post besides you were looking at speakers. What size room? What is your budget, etc... anyways if you spend time on the links people have posted you should be able to find the right set of speakers for you.

Personally I wanted to get good quality but I'm not an audiophile and ended up picking a set of JBL Northridge's (these were popular "budget" recommendations 5 years ago). I'm happy with the choice, I know my ear's can't tell too much difference. I also ended up getting the BIC 100 subwoofer which is no doubt more than I need right now in an apartment. Paired it all with a Panasonic Digital Receiver and I feel like I'm pretty set for the short and long run.

[Monte51Coleman]

Listening to various systems in Big box stores and Bose seems to have the best sound.

Btw- If you've listened to quality options in your price range and the Bose product sounded best to you then that is all that matters.

Personally, I compared about 7-8 systems with my music and my favorite dvd scenes and ended up with Definitive Technologies. They are what sounded best to my ears and I love them as much or more today than when I got them two years ago. :2cents:

[zoony]

Btw- If you've listened to quality options in your price range and the Bose product sounded best to you then that is all that matters.

Personally, I compared about 7-8 systems with my music and my favorite dvd scenes and ended up with Definitive Technologies. They are what sounded best to my ears and I love them as much or more today than when I got them two years ago. :2cents:


I think this is great advice, best in the thread.

Audiophiles have traditionally not liked Bose for several reasons... mostly because from a technical level it just doesn't add up. I've heard it all... technical specifications, materials, and :blahblah:

Now that all might be well and good, but Bose continues to sell systems because lots of folks are blown away by how they sound.

You are not going to get enjoyment out of your system by what 400 geeks over at AVS forums tell you that you SHOULD like. You're going to get enjoyment out of what sounds best to you. For many, Bose simply sounds the best... my advice is to not let people tell you in technical terms why you shouldn't end up with what you want.

Now if you listen to the Bose and you don't like them, then hey, you're certainly entitled to your opinion.

[stevenaa]

You didn't give any more information in your post besides you were looking at speakers. What size room? What is your budget, etc... anyways if you spend time on the links people have posted you should be able to find the right set of speakers for you.

Personally I wanted to get good quality but I'm not an audiophile and ended up picking a set of JBL Northridge's (these were popular "budget" recommendations 5 years ago). I'm happy with the choice, I know my ear's can't tell too much difference. I also ended up getting the BIC 100 subwoofer which is no doubt more than I need right now in an apartment. Paired it all with a Panasonic Digital Receiver and I feel like I'm pretty set for the short and long run.



Good questions. Medium sized room, 16x16 with TV in corner set back. Unfortunately I went with the largest TV, 60", I could fit in the setback. I say unfortunately because there isn't much room on either side for floor stand speakers. Leaves me with satelite speaker size for the fronts and I need similar size for rears, which is why the Bose appeals.

I'm no audiophile either, but like to buy quality that will last so I don't have to do this again for a long time. I checked out the Aperion site and like what I saw. Good reviews and 10 yr. Warranty. Can't hear them before buying, but they give 30 refund with paid shipping back.

Budget will be around $1000 for the speakers, give or take a little depending on what I decide I want.

[stevenaa]

I think this is great advice, best in the thread.

Audiophiles have traditionally not liked Bose for several reasons... mostly because from a technical level it just doesn't add up. I've heard it all... technical specifications, materials, and :blahblah:

Now that all might be well and good, but Bose continues to sell systems because lots of folks are blown away by how they sound.

You are not going to get enjoyment out of your system by what 400 geeks over at AVS forums tell you that you SHOULD like. You're going to get enjoyment out of what sounds best to you. For many, Bose simply sounds the best... my advice is to not let people tell you in technical terms why you shouldn't end up with what you want.

Now if you listen to the Bose and you don't like them, then hey, you're certainly entitled to your opinion.


Good point by you and Monte. I can only compare the Bose, at $1000.00, to other systems that are 1/2 that because that's all the box stores have. I'm going to spend some time at some Home Theater stores listening systems at that price point to compare.

[Fergasun]

I really just went with what the audiophiles recommend. Since most of them didn't like Bose, I kind've took that as an expert opinion... especially since Bose is way more expensive. I ended up installing some Ikea shelving on my walls to hold the speakers that I have, but my room is probably something like 12x8 with an open kitchen in the back... really small.

[SUSkinsFan]

I echo the Klipsch endorsements. These are the speakers I'm currently using.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7372513&type=product&id=1122654018549Those are what I have and I love them.

[Fergasun]

The price from Best Buy seems expensive. I'd recommend looking at some of the online discount sites. Vanns.com and Jr.com were some sites I looked at (I bought from jr.com). Also hometheaterforum.com was a good resource as well... I think you'll easily be able to find what you are looking for and be happier than you would if you go with Bose...

[HighPlainsDrifter]

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=0

[Raub]

I love the anti-Bose people. It's like they pile on just because all the cool kids hate Bose.

Buy what sounds good to you.

I'll say this for Bose: they are durable as hell. I have a set of Bose 401s and a set of 301s. I bought them in Germany in 1990. They've since been moved from Germany to California to Seattle to Pennsylvania to Texas to Hawaii to Oklahoma to Pennsylvania....and they still sound as good as when I bought them. That's 18 years and probably about 100,000 miles. I've used them hard and blown out 3 amplifiers through them and they haven't me down. I'd say I got my money's worth.

[DeanCollins]

I love the anti-Bose people. It's like they pile on just because all the cool kids hate Bose.

Buy what sounds good to you.

I'll say this for Bose: they are durable as hell. I have a set of Bose 401s and a set of 301s. I bought them in Germany in 1990. They've since been moved from Germany to California to Seattle to Pennsylvania to Texas to Hawaii to Oklahoma to Pennsylvania....and they still sound as good as when I bought them. That's 18 years and probably about 100,000 miles. I've used them hard and blown out 3 amplifiers through them and they haven't me down. I'd say I got my money's worth.

Good speakers should last 20-40 years. I have 3 pairs of Altec Lansings 401, 501, 510 and a couple pair JBL's and a pair of Boston accoustics.
All are late '80's to early '90's requiring only the foam surrounds beings replaced on a few. With that said I wouldn't be affraid to look at quality used speakers for your mains (front) and buy a surround sound set new to go with. Matching the center channell speaker to the fronts is somewhat crucial but I wouldn't worry about the rest of the surround system being the same brand, series....

I wasn't happy with listening to music or vinyl on the LR movie system so I
put together an old school tube amp set up in my office for my old Dual 721. You still can't beat the sound of separates no matter how good the receivers are these days, and unfortunately the quality is probably lower with all the work the 7 chanell amp has to do and the signal processing etc...

[Mufumonk]

Check out the Cinema line from Paradigm:
http://www.paradigm.com/en/paradigm/rec-systems-13-1-4-2.paradigm#

[stevenaa]

Listened to several speakers today. Bowers & Wilkins has 5.1 package that sounds quite a bit better than the Bose at the same 1k price point and size. Much more fuller sound, particularly in the midrange. Also listened to Monitor Audio speakers. You buy them individually. They have FCR's that fit my space and sound fantabulous. Their woofer is also very tight and precise. I like this one very much. A bit more than I had planned to spend, but since their individual components, I can build a very nice system spread out over a few months. Anyone have experience with Monitor?