Home audio & video: BOSE good or bad?
I hooked them up to my $150 35watt/channel Pioneer
by jcrobso - 1/3/06 8:35 AM In reply to: Stewart, Please, NO MORE TEARS! by RoadRunner6The problem back then was that for B@SE you had to have the BIG$$$ B@SE amp and the BIG$$$$ B@SE active equlizer. You still do.
Speaker sensitivity/effenicy is a spec that gets overlooked many times.
B@SE are about 86~88db 1 watt at 1 meter, the Altec system is 99db 1 watt at 1 meter. The result is that it takes over 10watts of power input to the B@SE to get the same sound level (99db)as 1 watt will produce from the Altec system.
But lets go a little further, to increase the level to 102db (3db increase) for the Altec system will require the power to be doubled or 2 watts. For same db increase in the B@SE system again we will have to double the power to 20watts,,, OK lets take it up 3 more db to 105db, again the power to both speakers will have to be doubled,, 4watts to the Altec and 40watts to the B@SE speakers. This is why with a 35w per channel on your reciver you just never had enough power for the B@SE speakers. With the Altec speakers you could get about 112db on a 35w amp.
One of the problems with many HTIB is that the speakers are rather poor quality, My rule of thumb has been for a good HI-FI setup is 1/3 of the budget for the reciver and 2/3 for the speakers.
YES!! BASS takes most of the power!!!! The sub woffer tends to get short end of the stick many times. John
asking for assistance with my bose 1801
by now.n.then - 2/24/07 11:41 PM In reply to: What's wrong with 901's by gjwulffi just bought a bose 1801 amplifier. i am wondering if it is possible to use a receiver's main speaker outputs as input for the 1801's left and right input channels? or do they have to be from a pre-amp source? i purchased the 1801 used and the amplifier came without a user's manual. i am asking for your assistance. the choice is yours, of course.
Bose 4401 Preamp and 1801 Power Amplifier with Bose 901
by marvinfred - 12/10/09 7:33 AM In reply to: What's wrong with 901's by gjwulffI have owned and operated the following equipment for about 32 years now. Bose 4401 Preamp, 1801 Power Amplifier, and 901 series VI speakers (Which are the newest 901's). I make it a point to go listen to high-end equipment whenever I can find the time and I have not found anything out there to make me want to buy new equipment. I will take the covers off the preamp and poweramp and clean the contacts every couple of years, but beside that, I smile everytime I turn this system on. I have yet to hear anything as clear and open as this Bose equipment. For ever it is worth, you can not go wrong buying Bose equipment. I know for a fact that it will last and it is first rate Hi-end equipment. If anyone is interested in seeing a picture of my equipment, send an email to the following:
fmarvin@comcast.net
marvinf@comcast.net
Remember, no matter how much money you go out and pay for equipment, the bottom line is that you are paying for the sound produced, no matter how big or small the unit, sound is what matters.
Do You Own a Bose System?
by newtowngroup - 6/5/06 2:30 PM In reply to: BOSE BAD, BERRY, BERRY BAD! by RoadRunner6I can't help be wonder if all of these people who bash Bose Lifestyle systems actually own them? With their totally negative opinions I can only guess that they do not own the systems they are commenting on. I Purchased and lived with a Bose Lifestyle system in the late 1990's The system was refurbished and purchased at a Bose Factory store. The system was intended to be a gift for my younger brother but I couldn't help but set it up in my own home for an extended audition. Here's what I found.
The system was easy to set up especially if you follow the large poster size setup documentation. Bose Lifestyle systems are a proprietary system so if you are used to the typical system set up, setting up a lifestyle system could be a little irritating. There are a lot of very long cables and cords (it is a theater system after all!) so it looks daunting, but looks are deceiving.
The system was easy to use once set up, I'm not a big fan of the "use the remote for everything" systems, but once comfortable with the remote and the system works it was quite easy to use.
The system I purchased did not include a DVD player it was a sound system only (Bose doesn't make this type of lifestyle system any more - that's kind of a shame really) I had an arsenal of music ready for my audition. Before I get into my "sound" review I'll give you a little background. I love music and movies and I have a good ear for what I like. I'm not "Pro" Bose but I do like the "Bose Sound". Here's my first thought: Bose equipment is very sensative to speaker placement. (this is especially true for the Bass Module, but also important for the placement of the Dual Cube array's when used in a home theater environment - if placed poorly in relation to the screen the sound will seem "disconnected" from the picture) The Bass module can be Tuned according to how it's placed in the room, if you like a lot of bass, place the Bass module in a corner with the port facing a wall.
Second thought: Bose equipment tries to faithfully reproduce musical instruments so that the sound real, IMO Bose equipment tries to "disappear" so that when you close your eyes you can resonably imagine the real artists on stage in front of you. This is the reason many people say that Bose Equipment has no "highs" and "lows" in reality, Bose equipment simply tuned to be neutral and is very easy to listen to at very loud levels for extended periods of time. When part of a lifestyle system, Bose speakers can play exceptionally loud with little or no distortion (there are always exceptions of course - some times the material is just poorly recorded or not originally intended for "home" equipment (many movies have explosive Bass that is very hard on all home theatre equipment).
Bose equipment is very listenable especially in your own home. Many speakers or "over Bassed or over Trebled, but Bose stuff seem just about right, after listening to Bose equipment for a while you start to realize that Bose really is trying to do something different than most Loud speakers companies. I think Bose rely's less on "Specs" and more on how the music sounds to a human ear
Anyway, I listened to all types of music from jazz to dance and rock to country, the Lifestyle system made the music a joy and on many of the CD's it made it possible to hear subtlties that I hadn't heard on anything else. I was impressed, so impressed that I kept the system for well over 4 months before finally packing it back up and sending it own to my brother, who is still listening and enjoying it to this day.
I now own a lot of Bose equipment including a wonderful pair of Bose 701's. these speakers have 2 8 inch woofers burried somewhere inside each enclosure as well as 2 tweeters and a midrange, The woofers are not powered. The speakers can generate so much Bass that you can literally feel Bass in the air, this was something that I've never felt befor. Very cool.
Finally, most Bose products have the "Bose" sound, the 301, 701, Acoustimass 10 and the Tri-Port headphones all sound as if they were designed and build by the same person. Like any speaker or sound system you can only be sure you'll like it if you set it up in your own home. Ask the man or woman who owns the product and uses it daily, Judgements by anyone who doesn't own the stuff are mostly useless.
Did You Read These Posts?
by RoadRunner6 - 6/5/06 10:41 PM In reply to: Do You Own a Bose System? by newtowngroupIn my post I mentioned that I owned the 901's.
Many bash Bose here not to offend anyone who owns them and is satisifed with them. We are trying to discourage anyone considering buying them because as stated many times above we think they are the one single brand that is way, way, way overpriced.
Here is what some of the pros think of the 701's just to give you some idea of the problems with Bose.
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/faceoff1.php
If you go to audioreiview.com, you will fine the ratings scores on Bose versus other similar systems are dreadful. These are ratings from people who do own Bose.
RR6
I agree with RR6,,,
by jcrobso - 6/6/06 8:04 AM In reply to: Did You Read These Posts? by RoadRunner6The quality of Bo$e speakers today is NOT what is was 15 years ago.
I had to fix one of the stations Bo$e PA speakers they we use for remotes, I was under whelmed with what I found inside!!
I sitll do Pro sound work and sometimes have to deal with $20,000 sound systems that were installed using Bo$e speakers. In thies casses I setup our system that cost $5000 with EV pro speakers and blow the Bo$e house system away.
I don't like the sound of Bo$e speakers, there are thoes that do, one of our members has 5 Bo$e systems.
If you read the review at audioholies.com they open the speaker up and have a peak in side, when I read about the Bo$e 701 insides I KNOW exactly what they are talking about. john
Read your posts, don't think they are fair
by newtowngroup - 6/6/06 11:18 AM In reply to: Did You Read These Posts? by RoadRunner6I did read your posts, I stand by my original idea that MOST of the posts here are by non-owners, many people just regurgitating what they have read somewhere else.
The 701's in the review in your post were made for no more than a year or so and yes, that speaker was weak in design and quality, Bose recognized that rather quickly and took them off of the market. The previous generation 701 (the one I own) was built for eleven years or more and IMO was much better built and sounded a whole lot better too!
As I also stated, I own more than one Bose product, so I'm not judging the brand based upon one product, but rather several products.
My goal is to ENCOURAGE people who like the Bose sound to purchase the speakers and try them out in their own homes, after all, they have a 30 day money back policy so there is little risk here.
I also stated that Bose has a concept they are working on. This concept is why Bose product sound like they do.
What many people (including reviewers) consider "better" sound is actually artificial (in the Bose theory) and many of the speakers that many review as better do exhibit this artificial sound, especially in the highs. Over time, the more neutral and less bright treble from most Bose products actually sounds pretty darn good!
I guess we just have to agree to disagree 
I somehow agree with you to certain extent
by anirban747 - 3/17/09 10:30 AM In reply to: Read your posts, don't think they are fair by newtowngroupI read many of the negative reviews about bose here also on other forums.Yet i bought a bose 3.2.1 gs III series yesterday after having waited for nearly 8 years to have enuf money for it.
I was not impressed with the initial sound and upon increasing the bass and treble, it sounded little better.
Still i have not been able to get that satisfying sound that i always expected from bose.
I still have 30 days to make a decision on this product.
At the same time, i also found when i compaed it with my earlier yamaha HTIB, that bose exhibited better richness in its sound production.In the sense,sound closer to reality.
I am still trying to find the sweet spots for the sat's and sub.
I strongly hope i dont have to return this product.
Room Acoustics, etc., more important
by GoodTimeCharlie - 12/24/05 10:24 PM In reply to: BOSE good or bad? by aloha84No speakers, etc., sound good in a bad set-up/room.
If you are sitting in an 'off-balance' position (not centered between speakers or if speakers are not properly positioned) the sound ''perception'' will be less than acceptable/desired ... use good headphones when you cannot 'fix' the room.
Additionally, a stereo system must be syncronized ... ie: frequency range of CD/DVD player (input device), of amplifier/receiver (processor), and that of the speakers (output devices) ... to produce a really sweet sound. Too much or too little of any one item and the result isn't what you want. Wattage does not help if the frequency range is bad/mis-matched.
Bose and most other manufacturers 'match' the components in their 'systems'. If you buy the individual parts yourself, you must know how to match the pieces up.
Buying a "system"? Most major manufactures of quality systems produce an excellent system at a price that beats Bose.
Goodluck (& Merry Christmas).
Bose systems are simply amazing...
by DukeW - 12/24/05 11:14 PM In reply to: BOSE good or bad? by aloha84There are folks talking about value, and others talking about performance in home theater settings. Let me fill you in on how they respond in a real theater setting. I work for a science center in southern California, and Bose was kind enough to loan us a Lifestyle 28 system as part of their music education program. Our center has a 50 by 30 foot theater with about 150 seats we use for 3D laser shows and presentations. As we have some seriously high-end commercial speaker stacks in there, I was a bit amused at the idea these five tiny speaker cubes and a subwoofer the size of a minitower PC could fill that space with enough sound to make for an enjoyable show. I'm here to tell you that system filled the space completely, with no dead spots, up to sound levels well past the point of causing pain in our more sensitive visitors. Clear, clean, crisp sound in every seat. I'm sold. Bose systems work spectacularly well, even in settings for which they were never designed. Their equipment is pricy, but you will never be disappointed in their performance or quality.
Bose systems are simply amazing...?????????????
by jcrobso - 12/30/05 8:52 AM In reply to: Bose systems are simply amazing... by DukeWYou said that Bose provided the system,,,,,
I have heard a lot of Bose stuff. The only time it sounded close to good was at a CES show is a special demo room that had been carefully preped and tuned and with bose speakers. Thet were demoing the "new" bass cannon, a 15" in diamter by 12' long round sub woofer, everyone has room for one of them in thier house.
I still do some pro sound reinforcement for a friend of mine who does concerts in Churches. At one Church the music pastor told us we didn't need to bring our speakers since they had a brand new $20,000 sound system with Bose speakers,,,, I told him we would bring our sound system, Two big EV pro speakers with 2-15" woffers and horns, a 500w per channel amp mixing bord and monitors. Cost about $3000.
We blew the $20,000 house system AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel the church got a $4000 sound system and $16,000 worth of rip off.
At this time I have one the Stations remote Bose 802 seriesIII made in Mexico speakers in the shop. Thies retail for about $600 ea. Remember the made in Mexico part. One of the speakon connectors came loose, OK our road remote people then the realy rough on gear. I was appaled at what I saw inside just very poor quality. I have had to work on other speakers and they were soooo much better inside and didn't cost $600 ea.
I heard the first Bose speakers when they came out and to this day have yet to hear a instaltion where they sound good. John
More than just sound
by FJR speedster - 1/1/06 12:33 PM In reply to: Bose systems are simply amazing... by DukeWOver several decades I have owned most products Bose makes from the direct reflecting speakers, to acoustimass to the waveradio and the noise cancelling earphones. You can get good sound for less money although Bose has fantastic sound. Service is something else - when I blew a subwoofer they replaced it instantly and recently when I destroyed the headband on my very expensive earphones two years after purchase and well out of warranty they replaced them without even a question. Who else would do that? You get what you pay for.
More than just sound
by realmacoi - 1/31/06 12:48 AM In reply to: More than just sound by FJR speedsterThat comment is well deemed correct. I owned those same expensive and bulky headpones which was bought in Australia. I often travel thus having a noise cancelling headphone with me is a bblessing. On one of my trip in Bahrain, the headphone accidentaly got tangled in the aircraft seat as I was about to stand. I did not notice it till the time I was packing the bulky headphone back to its carry bag. The strain has caused a crack on the left slide arm. Knowing that this is well to expensive to break, I took a portion of my time in Bahrain to have it checked in theri local dealer. I showed them the unit and even tried to trick them that it is still in warranty though it has already lapsed. They took the serial number, also my assumed date of purchase and country of purchase. The sales guy took the headphone and then came back with a new headphone. To my amazement, he gave me that as a replacement of the borken headphone and ask for his apologies for such instance.
Bose is not just speakers... It's more of the experienced feeling of being special. I still am an owner of Bose...
Ah! That Special Feeling
by RoadRunner6 - 1/31/06 10:18 AM In reply to: More than just sound by realmacoiMany Bose owners also have that special feeling when they plop down $500 big ones for a radio that is worth $300 at the most, you know, the "sonic marvel". The extra $200 is for all the adds. Bose puts a much higher percentage of their manufacturing costs into marketing than any other electonics company. Unfortunately, their sales figures prove that their business model works. They have the most overpriced and mediocre products in their class but sell a ton of them.
I have been into audio/video since the late 60's and early 70's when I owned the original Bose 901's, so I am very familiar with their marketing scheme. I have also owned over the years many top quality pairs of heaphones including Grado, Sony, Sennheiser, Koss and Beyer. I have never paid even close to the $300 for a pair of headphones that Bose gets for their most overpriced product, their NC headphones.
I recently bought the JVC HA-NC100 noise cancelling headphones at Buy.com for $39.99. They list for $90 and usually sell online in the $45-$70 range. They are beautiful looking and come with a nice carry bag. They have a retractable cable with rewind button and fold into a very compact size. They have an airline adaptor, weigh only 11.8 ounces and come with a one year warranty. All the reviews on them are very complimentary.
I look forward to using them on my next plane ride this spring. Meanwhile every time I look at them I get that special feeling. The feeling that I will be able to put the $260 I saved towards a new subwoofer for my living room.
If these headphones should fail after the warranty runs out, then I'll simply Chuck (pun intended) them and buy another pair. Unfortunately, I'll only be about $220 ahead then. Pity.
RR6 (Chuck)
higher percentage of their manufacturing costs into marketin
by jcrobso - 6/6/06 10:30 AM In reply to: Ah! That Special Feeling by RoadRunner6Yes tihis is true!!! They run Bo$e adds on the staion where in work,,uch!
Just for example lets consider a different company,,, I like JBL speakers so lets have a look.
JBL has been one of the top selling speaker brands in the world since the early 1950's. Does JBL advetise,, YES, are thier ads nausating??? NO. Nice ads in consumer and Pro magazines. OK they now have a well know name, but so does BO$E,,, if the name is well know why Sooooo much advertising????? If you can't dazzle them with brilance baffle them with Bovine fecial droppings. John
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