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Bose

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mrj2010

100% Technics Fan!
When I was a kid the local music shop ALWAYS had Bose speakers hooked up and always cranked at high volume and to me they sounded great, when I was a lad I always thought Bose where the best of the best but nowadays I hear nothing but people saying how rubbish they are - I personally like Bose always thought they sounded nice.

What are Bose really like ? I've always looked at Bose spekears on auction sites on the net always wanting to buy some but for only really cheap.

So I'd appreciate some pionions on Bose - THe speakers they used to have at the music shop where quite old and they where white I think they where those Bi-Directional ones model 901 I think.
 
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I'm not sure how to give you a "pionion" on Bose. (Just joking, I know what you mean)

To me, Bose speakers sound like a trombone with a sock stuffed up its bell. What high range there is, is enough to shoot a nail through your ears. The midrange is nonexistent. The bass is actually alright, when you're listening nearfield.

However, if you're 30 feet away and the music is being played ambiently, Bose speakers sound very nice. Not intended for critical listening, that's for sure.
 
lol yeah sorry about the spelling - iffy keyboard.

Yeah in the Music shop they where mounted 8 feet in the air on brackets and sounded amazing, thanks for your response
 
You must like causing controversy. If you have done any lurking here surely you know what kind of firestorm you have ignited. I wonder how long it will be before a moderator closes this thread.

My opinion on Bose:
IMO, they are overpriced under performing less than mediocre speakers. In most instances a lot less money will buy equal or better overall performance. In other instances the same amount of money buys performance that is an order of magnitude better.

Friends don't let friends buy Bose.

Let the flames commence!
 
ok lol hadn't noticed anything on here about Bose, think I'll stay away though they do look to be expensive and cant find information on wattage etc.

Cheers for the replies
 
mrj2010 said:
ok lol hadn't noticed anything on here about Bose, think I'll stay away though they do look to be expensive and cant find information on wattage etc.

Cheers for the replies
Click to expand...

The reason you can't find any information is because Bose doesn't publish any. Bose doesn't want you to know how poor their speakers perform technically. That's also why in a B&M store that carries Bose and other products the Bose gear is always separated. It's set up so that you can't do a comparison between Bose and another manufacturer. In direct comparison even "Heller Keller" could hear how the Bose comes off second best.

There are a couple of obscure web sites that have published measurements on Bose gear. They show how poor the specs are. The major sites and the glossies (print Magazines) don't review Bose gear because Bose sues anyone who publishes a less than favorable review.
 
When I was a kid my neighbor had 301's and I remember them sounding amazing, now after owning a pair I realize it doesn't take much to impress a kid.
 
They sound OK on first listen, because of the emphasis on highs and lows. The mids are weak, and they tend to be a little tiring when you listen to them for extended periods.
 
i actually own several pairs of bose speakers. i will agree for the most part with what the previous guys have stated. i have a very old pair of 201's, and a 2nd gen pair of 301's, the overall sound and flatter response comes from the old 201's, the 301's have better bass response, but really lack definition and midrange, very shrill top end as well. i also have a pair of series 2 continental edition 901's...since they require a special eq for correction of the mis engineered speaker, and mine broke, i cant really say with any authority how they sound, but they sure do look good! haha.
they are good for the money if you get them cheap, but i wouldnt pay new money for them at all. i got all mine on ebay for cheap, i need some speakers to fill up a room, that was about it. i would agree that they are not for critical listening.
 
Do a search. Not everyone has bad things to say about Bose speakers, at least the vintage ones. Every speaker has it's limitations. Spend eome time listening to some in the proper configuration with an adequate amp and source, and you may be surprised. Or you may not be.

YMMV....
 
I don't pay much heed to opinions of people who prefer AR-3as; speakers which IMO sound like there are Hudson Bay blankets over the baffles and make singers sound like they're gargling.

Nor do I expect people to heed my opinions either which is why I'm not offering one on Bose other than to say listen to them and make up your own mind. Keep in mind that every speaker has it's detractors and fans; I'm aware of no speaker that everyone thinks is good.
 
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My opinion on Bose runs with MrHeadFirst...it all depends...the retail of Bose is way over priced.
However, I picked up 2 like new 301-III's for $30/pair, and 2 matching like new 201-III's for $20/pair. For $50 total, they make a reasonable (not incredible) sounding surround system for my son's tv,game console and ipod (through a Yamaha surround sound am).

I also have a set of Accoustimass speakers (sub and two swivel satellites). Again, I picked them up for like new for $75. Retail they were like $750. You can do a lot better for $750. For $75 they sound very pleasing through my vintage Marantz 1070 at modest (not earth shattering) volume levels (I kick up the treble and bass slider a notch, and leave the loudness button on.) True "audiophile quality"?? Maybe not, but very pleasing "midfi" to listen to vintage records.

My conclusion - friends don't let friends buy Bose new (retail), but so much Bose is available dirt cheap at thrifts and garage sales that a reasonably sounding system can be had for very little money.

My 2 cents.
 
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Bose "Interaudio" series actually were a decent tradisional made speaker. I also rather liked the 601 series as well. The 901's with out the matched, and even updated EQ, is hard to listen to.

Bose just took a differant sound approach to listening and then got great marketing people to reinforce the idea!
DC
 
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To the OP:
All of our opinions mean diddly. It's your ears that you have to please. You should listen to as many different speakers as you can. If at the end of that time you decide that Bose is for you, it's your choice.

If you listen to a bunch of different speakers and still think Bose is better I for one will be very surprised.
 
I have to say, I've never been disappointed in any Bose product. The quality is moderate. The price is sometimes an overshoot, but I've lived long enough to know that the price doesn't always ensure a product's quality. If it came down to it, I don't think I have the heart to sell my 901's. That, and they aren't really mine.

My mom was my inspiration into audio. She loved her listening experience. I would never be the way I am without her. It's her 901's I listen to. It's her hear that rests on those speakers. It's the only piece of equipment from here era that actually survived being shipped around the world 3 or 4 times. They seem pretty rugged for some veneered, overpriced speakers. But what can you expect, it's a Bose.

It's not just the spirit of those speakers to me that mattered. It's the sound. I've never used them in any large room, but when positioned correctly, they sound amazing. The highs can be tamed with the EQ, wich can be found almost anywhere. I paid $112 and I still had to repair mine, still worth it. The lows aren't real. The reflection technique transfers lower frequencies to the wall, thus making it the transducer for the bass. They produce better sound when angled into corners. I will enjoy the day that I live to pass these speakers on to my kids.

Enjoy. Let the spirit live on.
 
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