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Bose - why the bad press?

S

stevec67

pfm Member
Bose stuff gets a hard time on here. I've not listened to any of it, but a mate who has came away very impressed, and another mate who's into his hifi and music had the 1970s great big collection of speakers system and reported it to be excellent until it went bang and was returned to the shop under guarantee.

So why the bad press? Is it all rubbish?
 
It's mostly neat and sounds passable but very expensive for what it is and, in the case of the Wave radio thingy, very flimsy and plasticky.

Remember, B.O.S.E. - "Better Off with Something Else"!
 
In May, I listened to the "Lifestyle 48" 5.1 system in a snazzy hotel suite.

Appalling. Horrid tinny screech from the roof mounted mini speakers, with a dull thudding coming from behind the TV.
 
I have to say that I think it's very cheaply built for the price they ask and I don't think the sound quality holds up either. I imagine that few of those who are experienced in listening to 'quality' sound reproduction would find it satisfying.
 
Their PA equipment is better than the Wave Radios, etc. Mind you, the prof. audio guys go along with 'No highs, no lows, that's Bose' . In the hands of an inexperienced operator it can still sound reasonable even if they don't understand EQ, etc. Martyn .
 
Very cheaply built, over pricesd, over marketed - but does make clever use of psychoacoustics.
 
Bose is very appealing to people who would actually prefer to buy a Bush radiogram, but are frustrated by the fact they are no longer made. Bose, although inferior, is the next thing down the chain.
 
I think it depends on your perspective. For most ordinary (non nerdy ;-)) folk they sound much better than the usual stuff they purchase, and the BOSE marketing machine is awesome. It also has good WAF

The issue that most hi fi people have is -when you compare to most specialist hi fi brands it sounds overpriced. It tends to be a bit plasticy and whilst does give a room filling sound it’s not very hi fi.

I'm not sure they really purport to be hi fi any more they are “Lifestyle Systems” which to me means “looks better than it sounds”.

As regards to your mate and the 70’s I understand the were where a more traditional big speaker manufacturer then, and their speakers were fairly well regarded as such.
 
I have one major objection to Bose. In their adverts, as in the Radio Times, they bang on endlessly about how good their systems are. Absolutely nowhere, however, will you see a price mentioned, just the information that easy terms are available. A good, honest trader will give you all the facts up front, including the price. Apart from that, it's dumbed-down audio for those who can't be bothered with the technicalities. The sort of people who used to join record clubs and buy Reader's Digest box sets of mood music.
 
I once wandered into the Bose store at Bicester Village retail park, where they had a "proper" listening room and were demonstrating one of their lifestyle systems (active sub and satellite speakers on the back of some kind of all-in-one cd/dvd/tuner/amp). Sounded awful - boomy bass, splashy treble and nothing in between.

I know various people who have the stuff at home (one who ditched a vintage Leak/Rogers system for it on the grounds of looks and convenience) and it's not unpleasant for background music but it doesn't bear "serious" listening.
 
ClaraBannister said:
I have one major objection to Bose. In their adverts, as in the Radio Times, they bang on endlessly about how good their systems are. Absolutely nowhere, however, will you see a price mentioned, just the information that easy terms are available. A good, honest trader will give you all the facts up front, including the price. Apart from that, it's dumbed-down audio for those who can't be bothered with the technicalities. The sort of people who used to join record clubs and buy Reader's Digest box sets of mood music.
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I believe that the price charged depends on postcode. If you live in Chelsea, the price is higher than if you live in somewhere less affluent.
 
I just read today that Bose are making a big push into pro audio again and they have the muscle to succeed. Their mini AV type systems are often bought for their looks and small size (apart from the sub). In many cases, SWMBO will often accept them but nothing bigger (doesn't apply here thank god!) Their hifi speakers from the 70's were really good!
 
I'm not keen on Bang and Olufsen, but I've been using a pair of their speakers for testing equipment I'm working on. Then I saw a pair listed on Ebay at £100. They've sounded a lot better ever since. Is there any rational explanation for this?
 
They're notorious in the industry for the amount they spend on marketing - money that presumably has to come from R&D, and/or parts quality.
 
I have a pair of 901's bought new in 1975/76. Bloody good party speakers they just go louder and louder until your eardrums burst. They have been in the loft for 30 years, I must get them down and have a play. They have the cloth surrounds on the individual speakers so still should be ok. I remember being well impressed that they can handle 270 rms per channel. Oh the bliss of knowing nothing when younger.
 
The same thing happened when peeps had music centres:D. They could sound very good some of them. Lots of them met the DIN hifi standard.

They were still frowned upon by Quad 33/303 Thorens TD150 sme v/15 Spendor BC1 owners..........nowts changed:D


Buying Bose:
It's like guys becoming Carpenters without serving their time first :D

Get a Bose system..........it will go with the Trampoline in back garden!:p
 
canonman said:
I just read today that Bose are making a big push into pro audio again
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People who buy real pro audio are interested in thing like coverage and max SPL before audible distortion (and require the EASE data). Big problems for BOSE on both counts.
Bose is basically very poor for anything other than background installs - and even then it's far from great.
 
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