Since when did BOSE make turntables?

[H2s04]

Hello all,

I thought this might interest a few of you guys (and gals). I picked this unit up the other day at the RDF, basically marveling about its maker; since when did Bose make turntables?

Although the belt needs to be replaced, it plays, and to my surprise, it actually sounds pretty nice. The tone arm is well balanced, as well as very solid. However, the TT's bottom plate is made of masonite, and the arm skips if you look at it strangely. Meh. Bose.

Still, I've got to say its performance is surprising given the company's reputation. Could this be a possible sleeper?

 

[stereofisher]

Looks Japanesse--which is not bad

Looks a lot like a Pioneer,Sansui, and Kenwood in the 70's. While not bad they are not the greatest. It wont hurt your LPs. I would keep it. Not too many around. Eric

 

[outlawmws]

Looks a lot like a Pioneer,Sansui, and Kenwood in the 70's. While not bad they are not the greatest. It wont hurt your LPs. I would keep it. Not too many around. Eric

I agree, might even be a re-badge. it looks very familiar. I know I've seen that tonearm on other TT's.

Therfore, It's probably not Blose at all...

 

[jt1stcav]

Reminds me of a newer, German-made Elac Miracord 40A that was sold under RadioShack's Realistic brand back in the '70s. Maybe Bose enlisted Miracord to make their 'tables...I dunno, they kinda look similar to me. :scratch2:

 

[jkman76]

Hello all,

I thought this might interest a few of you guys (and gals). I picked this unit up the other day at the RDF, basically marveling about its maker; since when did Bose make turntables?

Although the belt needs to be replaced, it plays, and to my surprise, it actually sounds pretty nice. The tone arm is well balanced, as well as very solid. However, the TT's bottom plate is made of masonite, and the arm skips if you look at it strangely. Meh. Bose.

Still, I've got to say its performance is surprising given the company's reputation. Could this be a possible sleeper?

That looks very Pioneer PL-12/15ish to me.

 

[H2s04]

at first, I actually ran towards it thinking it was a highish-end sony turntable (from the back, it looks VERY similar to one) and sort of sighed after seeing the name plate. The owners left off a "Direct/Reflecting system" receiver with it too, which I also took, and forgot to mention in the earlier post. I'll take some pics of it later and maybe post about it on the general audio forum. Its sort of an odd receiver, as it weighs next to nothing, and feels very cheap, but with grado SR-60's, it sounds like a pretty decent performer. Strange.

I'll try taking off the bottom plate tomorrow and report back.

 

[mhardy6647]

Definitely Japanese OEM (as were their receivers of the era). Does look an awful lot like the Pioneer PL-12.

 

[Sansui Louie]

I was in a band with a guy who had a massive Bose power amp, too. Lots of red led flashies on it, weighed about 2 million pounds... might have been made as a 'match' for the power-sponge 901's?

 

[B3Nut]

The big Bose amps were indeed made for the 901's, especially the "professional" models intended for PA use. A tech I knew back in the 80's told me they were notorious for spectacular failures. I've only heard the Bose 801 PA speakers driven by Crown amps, so I've no idea how well their amps worked. I wasn't impressed with the 801's...a decent JBL or EV cab mopped the floor with them.

Have you heard Bose's "Personal Amplification" cheap-speakers-on-a-stick contraption? What an overpriced dog...tried it...made an electric bass sounds like a weasel fart! And they want guitar players to play a Pod through it...yuck! Banjo Depot hawks those things...cheesy build and nasty sound, for a hyperinflated price. Gotta love Bose! Now your band can sound as awful as your Bose home theater!

Todd in Beerbratistan