Bose Double Cubes - Terrible?

Bathtub Gin

Bathtub Gin

New Member
Hey folks,

I'm running a Pioneer SX-1050 with two JBL L830's. I'm interested in getting some surround sound speakers. A buddy of mine will sell me three Bose Redline Double Cubes for a good price, $120.
Is it even worth it though? I don't have a sub for them as of now, either. Although I do plan on getting one if I put in satellites.

Any advice is much appreciated. I haven't ever really listened to a Bose sound system, so I don't know why everyone dislikes them yet. Thank you!

Edit: I just realized that this topic would probably be better suited here http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=128. Sorry!
 
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Bass module is necessary as it has x-overs in it for the cubes.
When I sold Bose, we always had people wanting to buy the bass module to match some stolen cubes they got at a garage sale/flea market etc.

They're not terrible, just not the Hi-Fi that they are advertised as.

You can probably find an old stereo AM (AcoustimMass) system for less than $120 with diligent shopping, or go with a small bookshelf speaker (a 'la Realistic Minimus 7 for about $40/pair or less).
 
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Bathtub Gin said:
Hey folks,

I'm running a Pioneer SX-1050 with two JBL L830's. I'm interested in getting some surround sound speakers. A buddy of mine will sell me three Bose Redline Double Cubes for a good price, $120.
Is it even worth it though? I don't have a sub for them as of now, either. Although I do plan on getting one if I put in satellites.

Any advice is much appreciated. I haven't ever really listened to a Bose sound system, so I don't know why everyone dislikes them yet. Thank you!

Edit: I just realized that this topic would probably be better suited here http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=128. Sorry!
Click to expand...

no, avoid bose unless space is some sort of premium where you can only get 5 inch high speakers and even then probably best avoiding bose. Also do you have a surround sound receiver? that sx-1050 won't do surround sound.

If you want to know why people advise against bose this makes a nice read, essentially Bose doesn't reproduce many parts of the frequency range.

http://nyet.org/bose/
 
Thanks a lot for the reply. I'm not going to buy a sub for these specific speakers. I think I'm going to pass on these ones, then.
 
matteos said:
no, avoid bose unless space is some sort of premium where you can only get 5 inch high speakers and even then probably best avoiding bose. Also do you have a surround sound receiver? that sx-1050 won't do surround sound.

If you want to know why people advise against bose this makes a nice read, essentially Bose doesn't reproduce many parts of the frequency range.

http://nyet.org/bose/
Click to expand...

I can't believe I didn't realize that earlier.
I'm still new to all of this!

Thank you!
 
Though I've never used the Double Cubes, I have used the Bose 901's, and though I like them, they do seem to miss a lot of treble and lower bass. I've heard that most Bose systems are like that, so I wouldn't take them unless they were free.
 
You have to have the cube drivers crossed over. I think the crossover is in the sub module.
 
I reckon one could use Bose cubes with subs other than Bose. Every once in awhile I'm tempted to buy a used Bose cube system, many are available cheap on Craigslist. I wouldn't be surprised if they sound very coherant.

But as apartment dwellers my wife and I have rules of aquisition and one is that when something new comes in something else goes out and I'm not so curious about Bose as to get rid of my Monitor Audios.
 
crazy-in-az said:
Though I've never used the Double Cubes, I have used the Bose 901's, and though I like them, they do seem to miss a lot of treble and lower bass. I've heard that most Bose systems are like that, so I wouldn't take them unless they were free.
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No, I think even then... :no:

When this many people tell you to run away... :scratch2: you might want to think it over...
 
I believe the Bose cubes combined with the bass module were a system. And really, depending on your expectations, it sounded pretty good! Kinda like a $1200 set of computer speakers.

But I don't think the cheap drivers in those cubes were ever meant to be used with anything but the amplifier in the bass module. Bose is very good at making a bunch of cheap parts sound "better than they should" using tricks like external eq, waveguides, etc. etc.
 
I heard a set at a Bose store. Sounded good. Had some mid range scoop out but made movies kinda exciting. Would not consider it for music. Would never pay anywhere close to $1200 but $120 might be OK.
 
I would pay someone to take them from my home if I somehow wound up owning them. I never even liked them in their own customized displays.
 
willyrover said:
I believe the Bose cubes combined with the bass module were a system. And really, depending on your expectations, it sounded pretty good! Kinda like a $1200 set of computer speakers.

But I don't think the cheap drivers in those cubes were ever meant to be used with anything but the amplifier in the bass module. Bose is very good at making a bunch of cheap parts sound "better than they should" using tricks like external eq, waveguides, etc. etc.
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Good points. I think actually some Bose systems would make good PC speakers. But not for more than $100
 
crazy-in-az said:
Though I've never used the Double Cubes, I have used the Bose 901's, and though I like them, they do seem to miss a lot of treble and lower bass. I've heard that most Bose systems are like that, so I wouldn't take them unless they were free.
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Actually, the cubes/bass module is kind of the opposite. The bass module produces sound below 200 hz, the cubes produce sound above 280 hz. So there's a gap in between.

bs
 
Gotta realize, Bose is really a late night infomercial product, with a high mark up. If you're thinking of the mini cubes, without the bass module, bad idea. This is really a woofer module, that in no way plays low enough to be a sub. I put together an HT in the other room, using Parts Express 6-1/2" two way flush mount surrounds in the ceiling, and work very well. The set up includes a nice powered 12" sub though, and will keep you at the edge of your seat, on movies.
 
bshorey said:
Actually, the cubes/bass module is kind of the opposite. The bass module produces sound below 200 hz, the cubes produce sound above 280 hz. So there's a gap in between.

bs
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You're right, but I believe they still don't have deep bass or extended highs.
Either way, they still aren't good.
 
I admit I have System V version of these in my living room. In my case, I paid $50 for them almost new, they are the best $50 speaker I've heard :-).

No way I would pay much more than the $50 I have invested in mine.

They also require equalization. Using equalization I get pleasant (not terrific) sound - they won't rock the house, nor are they truly audiophile. They can however, provide pleasant, background listening level music. They are also more suited to jazz and baroque classical than most rock or heavy classical.

For the MSRP or street price of new, I agree you can do much better.
 
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Even at $50 they can be beat. Not long ago, I bought a pair of Paradigm 3se speakers listed on CL for $45. I think most here would find them far preferable. However, if you really need something that small, $50 for the entire set is outstanding - most people list Bose speakers too high, IMO, but they do have their fans, and some models do sound much better than the AcoustaMess.
 
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