Are you a BOSE hater/basher? why?

[G401fan]

An article about Bose speakers (and Amar Bose) by Michael Fremer:

Dr. Amar Bose Dead at 83 | Analog Planet

 

[mandeep]

@mandeep - You are right. There is some bias against Bose, but not all of it is wrong or even misplaced.

Personally I can live with and use Bose, upto a price point.

However, home theater and specifically Lifestyle series (especially) are overpriced,... even I'd be "biased" against Bose for those prices.

Would I buy Bose for my parents? I did get them a Acoustic Wave. Any of the SoundTouch or Wave systems would make perfect sense for them.

You said it right dear, BOSE systems do make sense to a buyer when available at discounted or low prices only. Similarly i would not have purchased AM6 if it was available at MRP of 48000/-, as BOSE showrooms seldom offer large discounts, i think i got lucky at my local JUMBO electronics store, where i got these for 38000/- only and hence the purchase.

 

[mandeep]

An article about Bose speakers (and Amar Bose) by Michael Fremer:

Dr. Amar Bose Dead at 83 | Analog Planet

More about Dr.AMAR BOSE

Bose donates majority of Bose Corp. stock to MIT - Apr. 29, 2011

MIT is new majority owner of Bose - The Boston Globe

Bose founder donates lion’s share to MIT - FT.com

 

[arun malur]

Having read a lot about Bose bashing on this and other forums, I have only one comment to make - buy it if you like it.

That said, having owned a Quad L2 fronts & centre with Wharfedale DFS series surrounds mated to Marantz SR 8002 AVR for a few years, I have completely switched over to Bose AM 10 and the effects are truly mesmerizing. Speaker placements are very crucial in Bose as they depend entirely on reflections.

I also have the Wave music system -Airplay enabled, Soundlink Mini BT speaker both of which are really good for music.

An owners experience matters a lot rather than on line reviews and toeing the same line on forums.

As far as the design, build quality, robustness, reliability.........nothing much to complain. Own it, experience it and then love it or hate it!

 

[edjamesx]

I own bose 5.1 with onkyo amp.

For me the system sounds good for movies.

The bose also need correct speaker placement and fine tuning in order to sound better. Initially it sounded horrible... with default factory LFE/Bass settings. The bass was boom..boom. I needed to put them in least position.
I also needed to move the front speakers in parallel/or little front to the subwoofer placement.
The center speaker also needed +2 db for better voice clarity.

What a difference.... the bose speaker sounded pretty good after these settings.

For the price range of 40 k, i think it's doing it job well. The music isn't that good.

I was using it them for 6 years. Now it's time to try different speakers ..

In between i auditioned some of paradigm speakers , did not like them ..as their tweeters were too loud.

 

[music4mhell]

Bose engineers are one of the smartest in industry
They know which Freq to boost up.

When you hear the Bose for first time, i bet no one will able to hate them, every one will be amazed by the sound.

But after some time, you realize that no matter what ever you play, let it be movies, music, TV, everywhere you heard more on Low end, More on High end also more on High-Mid end. Once you realize this, then you will start hating Bose hyeah:

 

[raghupb]

For 2-channel stereo music, look elsewhere.
For movies, I feel it is a good product for people who at stepping into AV world.
It is a complete solution with aesthetically designed speakers and easily available, thanks to marketing and reach.
These days there are a lot of companies putting out quality HT speakers in various form factors (cubes, eggs, flats, etc)
It is when one hears an alternative to Bose the nuances of HT light up.

One cannot argue with this though, Bose has fantastic brand value and visual appeal (sonic appeal, well ...)
I do not know if I am a Bose hater/basher, but definitely will not recommend it if someone is putting together a HT.

Cheers,
Raghu

 

[alpha1]

I know about the Lower end Bose stuff, so I will speak only about it.
If you are the person who likes EQed sound where you turn down the lower mids (200-800Hz) and turn up the higher mids (2000-6000 Hz).

You will prefer the Bose sound.

Incidentally, I think this is why it works good for the movies - speech clarity resides in boosting the 2000-6000 Hz range.
And typically 200-800 Hz in speech makes it sound boomy, honky and unclear.

 

[viper08]

I heard Bose lifestyle 48 many times at my friend's place. Since he wanted a smaller form factor of the speakers, and never heard brands beyond Bose (and could afford), he opted it. I could hardly feel the difference between this and higher end computer speakers like Logitech Z906 or creative Gigaworks S750.

If the source is good, Bose and all other upmarket systems sound good, if its bad, best of the best system sounds bad. Period!

 

[afj]

as quite a few have said

pros
brand value amongst non audiophiles
looks good
small

cons
can get better sq at the same value
not great for stereo

in saying that, not really true across the range. their entry level stuff has good value. the 301s at their price point is very good. and again, AM series as well. pretty easy to drive. their signature stereo speakers - 901's are a huge let down. their lifestyle series is also pretty good esp considering the form factor - its almost invisible to the eye. but expensive.

what totally didnt make sense was in their manual for 901 speakers, they instructed that it can be hung by a chain from the ceiling. not rigid - design makes it free to move around in the air. im not an engineer but i can tell you that it would affect sound throw

 

[saikatbiswas82]

I'm no audiophile. I'm very far from it BTW.
One thing is for sure - Bose has some brand value.
Recently I put up my el cheapo home theater photos in FB. Most of my friends ended up asking - "dada egulo ki bose?" (Are those Bose?). I had to reply - As I couldn't afford Bose, I got myself some cheap setup.
I think people treat Bose systems with respect. IMHO.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[regeHA]

For 2-channel stereo music, look elsewhere.

Not entirely true.

Bose actually can get folks to enjoy music and forget everything else.

What would folks rather be?

Simple folks who listen to and enjoy music?

Audiophiles who listen to cables, floor noise, black levels, and always thinking of tweaking and improving?

I walked in on my wife and she was humming to Macklemore. On the Sonos Play 5 (which I don't like very much and regret buying).

I used to be like that grooving to Eric B. & Rakim on a low end system.

Sometimes I think audiophilia is giant disruptor to the actual enjoyment of music.

Bose may or may not be expensive, but it does achieve the goal of eliminating all distractions because of its design philosophy.

PS: I don't mean you and me personally, we've been introduced to the special 300s, but don't you sometimes wonder when all the tweaking will end and the actual enjoyment of music will begin and become the main thing.

 

[mandeep]

Bose engineers are one of the smartest in industry
They know which Freq to boost up.

When you hear the Bose for first time, i bet no one will able to hate them, every one will be amazed by the sound.

But after some time, you realize that no matter what ever you play, let it be movies, music, TV, everywhere you heard more on Low end, More on High end also more on High-Mid end. Once you realize this, then you will start hating Bose hyeah:

These words ''When you hear the Bose for first time, i bet no one will able to hate them, every one will be amazed by the sound'' can be like a great accomplishment to an innovator, that he can make in the audio world.

Now hating the sound signature of speakers after some time is a very common phenomenon. It's not limited to BOSE only. I have friends (including myself) who begin to hate or dislike even their high end stuff after some time.

A wise audiophile Once Said ''Sometimes, a bit of colour and character in an audio product isn't a bad thing. Sometimes, neutrality and accuracy aren't the solution. Sometimes, I like a little bit of exaggerated bass thump. There are plenty of audio products out there that have varying sonic signatures, and you're sure to find one that suits you and your listening preferences. But the important thing is to learn to enjoy your music, without worrying about whether you can hear individual (and pointless) details.''

 

[mandeep]

Sometimes I think audiophilia is giant disruptor to the actual enjoyment of music.

PS: .... but don't you sometimes wonder when all the tweaking will end and the actual enjoyment of music will begin and become the main thing.

Exactly, regeHA, your words above, are of greater value than ton's of gold :clapping::beer:

 

[MaSh]

Why is this only about Bose? They are just another brand of speakers. Some like it, some don't, just like any other brand of speakers, amps, cables, etc. Its not that people hate Bose and are willing to buy any speaker from rest of the brands available out there. Don't we audition the speakers and reject the ones we don't like? Does that mean we start hating that brand all together? If it was that bad, it would have been extinct long ago.

This debate it just like any other debate between Apple and Android. :indifferent14:

PS: Just my honest opinion.

MaSh

 

[Eddierockks]

I had my personal Devialet Phantoms for 2ch Stereo.

OT what is your take on the Devialet Phantoms? I'm looking for every possible detail about them these days. TIA.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[skdas]

It seems to be the most active post since last 2 days. BOSE Yes or No or both ....hehe.

 

[music4mhell]

These words ''When you hear the Bose for first time, i bet no one will able to hate them, every one will be amazed by the sound'' can be like a great accomplishment to an innovator, that he can make in the audio world.

Now hating the sound signature of speakers after some time is a very common phenomenon. It's not limited to BOSE only. I have friends (including myself) who begin to hate or dislike even their high end stuff after some time.

A wise audiophile Once Said ''Sometimes, a bit of colour and character in an audio product isn't a bad thing. Sometimes, neutrality and accuracy aren't the solution. Sometimes, I like a little bit of exaggerated bass thump. There are plenty of audio products out there that have varying sonic signatures, and you're sure to find one that suits you and your listening preferences. But the important thing is to learn to enjoy your music, without worrying about whether you can hear individual (and pointless) details.''

Little bit of coloring is fine, but you are changing the whole sound signature, IMHO "that's unacceptable"

I bought soundsport earbud from tokyo some months back, but when i started listening to some good earbuds, i am not able to hear again from bose.
On top of that they won't disclose the specs, why is that ?
Customers are uneducated ? "No ulllu banaying"

It may be too early, but BOSE on the same path of NOKIA, they are taking customers for granted, and when they will realize their mistake, that will be too late.

I can give you many economical reasons, how BOSE will fall eventually, but that's for another topic. hyeah:

 

[mandeep]

Little bit of coloring is fine, but you are changing the whole sound signature, IMHO "that's unacceptable"

I bought soundsport earbud from tokyo some months back, but when i started listening to some good earbuds, i am not able to hear again from bose.
On top of that they won't disclose the specs, why is that ?
Customers are uneducated ? "No ulllu banaying"

It may be too early, but BOSE on the same path of NOKIA, they are taking customers for granted, and when they will realize their mistake, that will be too late.

I can give you many economical reasons, how BOSE will fall eventually, but that's for another topic. hyeah:

Thanks for sharing your views, i hope they will of great benefit to someone.

Everyone have their own opinion and this forum allows it to be able to voice it. No matter what it is.As has been said earlier many times in this forum and this thread, buying speakers is a matter of taste and liking, depending on what sound's good to one's ears.

Please shed some more light on ''changing the whole sound signature'', in detail, sounds interesting.

Regarding Specifications please read what Late Dr. Bose said here

''BOSE on the same path of NOKIA/I can give you many economical reasons, how BOSE will fall eventually'' , IMHO members (including me) will be delighted to read your view/theory about that, thanks in advance.

 

[music4mhell]

Thanks for sharing your views, i hope they will of great benefit to someone.

Everyone have their own opinion and this forum allows it to be able to voice it. No matter what it is.As has been said earlier many times in this forum and this thread, buying speakers is a matter of taste and liking, depending on what sound's good to one's ears.

Please shed some more light on ''changing the whole sound signature'', in detail, sounds interesting.

Regarding Specifications please read what Late Dr. Bose said here

''BOSE on the same path of NOKIA/I can give you many economical reasons, how BOSE will fall eventually'' , IMHO members (including me) will be delighted to read your view/theory about that, thanks in advance.

Th article was published in 2007.
9 years passed, those philosophy doesn't hold anymore.

On the part "changing the whole sound signature", if you can share your audio system details then i can explain it in much better way.

On this ''BOSE on the same path of NOKIA/I can give you many economical reasons, how BOSE will fall eventually'' part, why do i feel some sarcasm here hyeah: