Sorry to be the thorn in your guys side but...... BOSE IS GARBAGE!

If you were to actually look at what they use to make ther product you would be disgusted. If you have those little cube things, open one up. You won't like what you see.

Bose is all about marketing. (and they are very good at marketing!!)

Every person on this discussion board could build a system, that includes Left, center, and right fronts, and 2 surround speakers, and at a minimum, a 12 inch powered sub for less about $1000.00. And it would sound a gajillion times better (Like that word!!?) than that crap Blose puts out!!
Mattsbox99, do you work for Bose?

I'm sorry, rant over......

reever

 

No I don't work for Bose.

I have spent a lot of time playing with the bose speakers at best buy, and they are best sounding speakers out there.

Yes you could build a system, and I have my own setup, consisting of Blaupunkt speakers.

 

im gonna have to jump on the bandwagon here, i know a lot of people that have ripped the "bose" stereos out of their cars and installed much nicer systems for less money. people who say bose is the best, have never heard a real stereo system. im not saying bose sucks, they are just WAY over-priced. $550 for a desk-top cd player? PLEASE. there much nicer equipment out there for the same price or less, than bose.

 

I've had Bose stuff apart, and I will saytheir home stuff sounds better than it looks. their car stuff on the other hand is a little system for alot of money

those desktop things IMHO are stupid, for that price I could do much better.

 

I have to take a step back. If I came on strong, please accept my appology.
I think Bose does sound Ok. My problem with them is that the product is way overpriced for what you are actually getting. If Bose would spend half as much on the product that they do on MARKETING.....no one would be able to touch them. As far as I'm concerned, they are on the same playing field as Microsoft. Just a big bully on the playground.

 

my $.02 for a nice mid-tier sysem:

Yamaha Receiver

Bose or Infinity speakers

There are MANY quality options available out there. Let your wallet and your ears be your guide. Sure, the input of others is of value. But it is YOUR money and YOUR system. Buy good quality that YOU like.

 

i have to go with the infinity home speakers. MAN those things are sweet. yeah for surely before you buy, go to the store and listen to the setup, most of those guys are more than happy to let you, some stores even have dedicated "sound rooms" where they let you blast anything before you buy it.

 

Guys,

BOSE has taken quite a bit of money from me too in the past. But that was before I stepped into a high-end audio specialty shop. They carried BOSE for two reasons:

1. Some people can't be persuaded that they suck. BOSE has the best marketing campaign in audio, probably of all consumer goods. They are cheap to make and spend all the money on consumer ad's. That's also why automobile companys put a lot of them in thier cars/trucks. Free marketing and low cost.

2. For side by side comparisons.

I first compared them to a brand called Paradigm. After that day, I knew the BOSE I was currently using would soon be in the garage. The speakers I have today are handmade in NC by a company called Soliloquy. Yea, I know you never heard of them.

Bose has this going for it... size, marketing, and an uniformed consumer base. That's it.

But don't take my word for it. If you were going to buy a truck, would listen to one guy on an audio website tell you which one to buy? NO! You would come here to FTE, get some knowledgable opinions and then check them out yourself. So go to audiogon or audioreview, do some research on BOSE and then do a trial at a real audio store (not Best Buy, etc). Trust me when I say you will be so pissed off that you were duped for so long. I was.

I don't mean to offend people when I say they "suck". But compared to other speakers available in the same price range, I can't think of any other adjective that fits.

 

In the GM cars that had the BOSE sound system the speaker were the stock GM 6x9s and 3.5" or 6.5" rounds. The speakers make the sound, the better quality the speakers are the better it will sound even with a middle of the road amp. Bose makes a great product, while yes it's very expensive it does indeed produce TRUE sound, the balance across the audible sound range is incredible.

 

Reever, I don't think Bose is junk, but there is a very muddy line between their low and mid frequencies. The seperation is not that good, and for most folks it's fine. Just sit some of them next to JBL or Boston and you'll hear the difference. As far as amps, with modern electronics, most of them will be similar, just features as the difference. Any good reputable brand will do. How about McIntosh? $$$$

 

Bose is junk.

Didn't know it till I ended up with a pair of Bose and a pair on Audio Acustic speakers that were about the same size.

Hooked all up to my stereo and clicked the A + B speaker buttons to compare them.

Despite their image- the Bose speakers were muddy and lacked base.

I would think my experience could be duplicated by anyone that does a side by side- it's that obvious.

 

To get back on topic. I have the whole Sony setup. I spent about 350-400 on it, speakers, dvd/cd, amp, sub. It works for what I need it to. I added a couple Technics tower speakers, but the sound quality for the volume I listen to is just fine.

 

You can get a nice little sony stereo receiver (model 185) at best buy or circuit city for $150. Wait until January and it'll be $99. 100x2, 0.09%THD.

For the best deals, simply go to a pawn shop near a university around the end of the semester...

Bob

 

As a CCPI II Installer, I would reccommend this:

You need a BASIC receiver. Wattage, THD, etc have NO bearing on your needs whatsoever.

Go to a local electronics store. Listen to the options available. Pick one you like, write down the model number, buy it online (its probably cheaper somewhere). Peoples opinions as to what they reccommend may not work for you....
Go to the store.......................

I would still look into repairing the Onkyo.......

 

Wattage and THD have SOME bearing on his needs though no where near what they used to. Especially if you went through some of the distorted advertising claims of the 60s about stereo output power. Which is why the FTC initiated standardization of these terms. Ever see a 500 watt "dynamic" output stereo for sale for only $49.99? Fine print: at 10% THD at 1khz or some such nonsense.

I had to look up the CCPI II (cedia) installer certification. Pretty neat - betcha get to play with some nice toys

Bob