[animalchin]

Hi,

Im a newbie here and am looking to setup my tv/sound within a week or 2.

How does the BOSE systems compare to the one's listed here?

I'm looking at this unit:

Lifestyle® 35 Home Entertainment System


Anyone own it and care to comment on the sound and the integration into a new plasma?

 

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Bose gets some bad reviews around here. Not because they're bad units, but more because they're somewhat overpriced for the sound they deliver.


Having said that, I kinda like 'em! I think they sound pretty good, and they generally look nice and are easy to operate. You are overpaying for the name, but if you know that, and can afford it, go for it.


I don't know any specifics about the "Lifestyle 35 system", but I suspect its one of those systems with the itty-bitty surround cubes... I think it'd look great with a plasma.

 

[animalchin]

cool.

Thanks for the info.

Can you tell me how it matches up connection wise?

Like if I run out and get a cd changer can I easily plug it up to it?


THANK YOU AGAIN

 

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Like I said, I don't know any particulars about the unit. You can check it here:

http://www.bose.co.uk/home_audio/ht_systems/ls35/


There are PDFs (lower left side of page) that I imagine should explain all the connection options.


The picture of the unit dispalyed with a wall mounted Plasma TV looks sweet though.

 

[wdrazek]

Quote:

Originally posted by animalchin cool. Thanks for the info. Can you tell me how it matches up connection wise? Like if I run out and get a cd changer can I easily plug it up to it? THANK YOU AGAIN

It should not be a problem hooking up a CD changer to it.


Like the other guy said, a lot of people here may bash Bose. It's not the ultimate in the value or the latest feature sweepstakes. But, the stuff they make is easy to setup, easy to use, looks great, sounds good and the company backs them up. I bet many of them will be working fine 10 years from now.


I used to own the Lifestyle 28 which was similar to the 35 but had a cd changer instead of DVD built in.


Best,

Wayne

 

[Q of BanditZ]

Please, whatever you do, don't buy Bose.

 

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Buy the sytem you want to buy, for the reason(s) you want to buy it... even if the only reason is: you want it. It's the American way!!!


As stated above, Bose is not the best "bang for your buck". Bose is a well known maker. They make good products. I think they look fantastic. They seem to be easy to setup and use. They simply cost too much (for me). So, while I wouldn't buy one, I can certainly understand why many others do.

 

[ccallana]

I happen to own a Lifestyle 35 system. Yes, it is expensive... yes, its not for everyone or every situation. It fit my needs when I bought it.


The system works great for movies/tv/hdtv/etc.. Works well for most music, but if you are a hard core metal head, or lots of crunchy grunge - not so good.


Couple issues I have with the system currently

- lack of low-mid range in the center channel. Since it uses 5 of the same cube speakers, and is crossed-over in the sub, you can change anything or add different speakers. I've bumped up the compensation on the center, and that helped, but there is still a bit missing.

- lack of video inputs. if you need more inputs you're hosed. only has 1 input, and it has to be used in the same format as your output.

- no progressive scan DVD.

- DTS decoding, only will do DTS on DVDs played internally - not external sources. - minor

- limited to 4 audio inputs (only 1 optical) - minor


Besides those issues, I've had a great experience with it. In an age of super crappy customer service, they are outstanding! I bought mine before the AdaptIQ feature was added - they sent it to me free of charge. The send me regular firmware updates (2 or 3 in the last couple years). I've gotten 3 5.1 music DVD's from them showcasing some cool 5.1 recordings. When I did have a problem with my media unit, they shipped a new one out before I returned the current one.


It still amazes me how much sound they get out of those little speakers - even with some of the holes in coverage (very low, low mids) it sounds awesome when watching movies. The THX theme is very cool


I recommend it if you are willing to spend that much money. There are similar solutions that are cheaper - but you'd be hard pressed to find one as small, and with as good of customer service.

 

[gwlaw99]

It's not just that its not the best bang for your buck, its the WORST bang for your buck.


You can get $500 system that sounds as good as the$ 2700 Lifestyle® 35 Home Entertainment System.


If you want tiny satelite speakers, get these http://www.hsustore.com/vt12.html



Match it up with a Panasonic SA-XR45S slim digital receiver and you have a great package for 1/3 the cost.

and this subwoofer
http://www.hsustore.com/stf2.html


They will sound at least as good as the bose and probably much better for a fraction of the cost.


This is another excellent micro speaker package

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/micra6SystemSpeakers.htm

 

[Paul Bigelow]

Some Bose systems seem to be component-output-challenged. If one is looking for typical features desired by videophiles there are more feature-ladden choices than the Bose. What the Bose does well is provide an easy-to-hookup package with simple, appealing styling.


Panasonic has some "lifestyle" offerings that have some bank-for-buck.

 

[ccallana]

The component hook up on the lifestyle 35 is a bit odd - they offer S-Video directly, and Composite. Then they give you a funky Y-adapter to plug into both of those to make them Component. Makes sense, but is a little kludgy.

 

[wdrazek]

Quote:

Originally posted by gwlaw99 It's not just that its not the best bang for your buck, its the WORST bang for your buck. You can get $500 system that sounds as good as the$ 2700 Lifestyle® 35 Home Entertainment System. They will sound at least as good as the bose and probably much better for a fraction of the cost. This is another excellent micro speaker package http://www.athenaspeakers.com/micra6SystemSpeakers.htm

First, there is no $500 HTIB that I would put in the same room as a Lifestyle 35. My $1200 HTIB is closer in quality to it but there are advantages to the Bose that make it a strong offering. Things like integration, ease of use, ease of setup, good looks, customer support, value on resale, etc etc etc.


There is more to the equatoion than piecing one good sounding inexpensive component with another....


Best,

Wayne

 

[CWC]

Buying a Bose is a HUGE mistake. WAY overpriced and inferior to standard A/V Receivers and speakers. Very FEW inputs to allow Video switching and at least some of their tiny speakers use paper woofers. For a lot less money you'll have better sound and ease of use.

 

[Tom_Bombadil]

Actually one can buy a set of speakers for around $500-$600 that would easily best a Lifestyle 35 system. The speakers that Bose uses in the Lifestyle satellite cubes cost them less than $5 each to manufacture (And I'm quite serious about this). They are simple little one-way speakers that cannot adequately handle high frequencies or the lower mid-range. What the speaker can do is handle power well. Because they can do this, Bose equalizes the heck out of them, in an attempt to compensate for the inadequacies of the drivers. Because they are overdriven, the speakers "beam" and thus have very poor off-axis response. Bose then compensates for this by putting two of the inexpensive speakers in a box, so you can twist them into different directions.


There are positives to the overall system. As noted by others, they are easy to setup, have good warranties, are nice & small to fit into a room decor, can play fairly loud, and service, even years later, is excellent. All of this has a value.


What they don't do is give you good sound quality for the price. They have several serious audio deficiencies. Most of which their owners don't seem to notice. If the bass module were exactly the same as it is now but was being sold under a more common name, like say Kenwood, it would likely carry a price of around $150-$175. It rolls off at around 50Hz and produces rather high distortion levels (you expected more from a low-powered, inexpensive 5.25" driver/amp?). Any Lifestyle system would be significantly improved by the addition of a subwoofer.


Another weakness is that the cubes start to roll off in the 250Hz-280Hz range, which means that sounds intended to be played in the front L&R speakers or center speaker must be rerouted to the bass module. This is a problem because the ear can perceive the directionality of sound above 120-150Hz. So instruments, voices, and sound effects that were mixed to be coming from other speakers will instead move to wherever the bass module is located, thus breaking down the surround sound field in the lower frequencies.


I could go on as there are more inherent audio shortcomings, but you get the picture.


Nevertheless they more than meet the expectations of many buyers. And if someone is happy with them, that is all that matters. However I would never recommend them to a friend.

 

[wdrazek]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom_Bombadil ...The speakers that Bose uses in the Lifestyle satellite cubes cost them less than $5 each to manufacture.... They have several serious audio deficiencies. Most of which their owners don't seem to notice... I could go on as there are more inherent audio shortcomings, but you get the picture. ...If anyone is happy with them, that is all that matters. However I would never recommend them to a friend.

Tom,


Thanks so much for your unbiased report on the Bose system. Obviously, you are very familiar with them first hand. Too bad so many of us here are misled by all the marketing hype. Maybe it's time to retire my SonyES/ARC/Spendor/MIT system as it is obviously falling on deaf ears.


Wayne

 

[Tom_Bombadil]

Quote:

Originally posted by wdrazek Tom, Thanks so much for your unbiased report on the Bose system. Obviously, you are very familiar with them first hand.

This statement is very true. I have had many occasions to put Bose systems through extensive listening tests and comparisons over the years. I know engineers and quality control people who work at Bose, who have shared inside information about the company with me. I own some of their speaker drivers. I've disassembled their speakers. I have had the opportunity to observe Bose speakers being benchtested by a major speaker parts supplier.


Besides, many of their deficiencies are shared by other small cube/satellite speaker systems. If a system employs 2" drivers in tiny cube enclosures, handling the full 250Hz-20KHz, and uses a single box containing two 5.25" drivers driven by a low power amp to cover the 50Hz-250Hz range, then it is simply going to have problems on high frequencies, in the lower midrange, and on deep bass. There is no way around it. You can try to improve the overall sound by using much more complex/expensive drivers, but Bose does not tread this path.


Many of the small cube systems will make somewhat larger cubes to house two-way speakers, as say a 3.5" midrange and 1" tweeter. While this will still have shortcomings, it is a far better solution than using full-range 2" drivers.


I see that Hsu Research is addressing the lower midrange / directionality issues by using a larger box on top of the TV to handle the 80-250Hz range. Not a perfect solution but it makes a lot of sense and they are offering it in a $500 bundle with a larger, more powerful subwoofer than the Bose Base Module. Haven't heard this one yet, but the design is definitely more advanced than what Bose offers in their Lifestyle packages.


In looking around the net today, I noticed that CNET has reviewed both the new Hsu system and the Bose Lifestyle. Here are the links:

http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/Hsu_Re...0.html?tag=dir

http://reviews.cnet.com/Bose_Lifesty...7-9871210.html

 

[ccallana]

I've been playing with the DVE disk and ran thru some of the audio tests on my LS35. On the bass frequency sweep, I noticed something very interesting - it starts at 15Hz and goes to 250... I heard nothing until about 30Hz, 35 sounded better, but then it disappeared until around 50Hz - so there is a 10-15 Hz hole... not sure why...


I don't disagree with any of the comments made here about the issues that Bose systems have. In my everyday viewing/listening it hasn't been a problem. I only notice it when I'm trying to notice it although with the recent addition of HD to my system I have run across several 5.1 programs that I can't get enough center channel out of. Not sure why at this point as I have my center compensated up +7. May need to re-run AdaptIQ.


Thanks for your information Tom

 

[wdrazek]

Tom,


With all due respect I think you are missing the point. By using better design and engineering techniques you can get more linear frequency response, better sound dispersion, probably better phase coherency and superior upper and lower frequency extension. Nobody argues that this is the greatest sound for the money, not even Bose.


But, does it really matter? This is positioned in the marketplace as a luxury item that delivers room filling sound on music and movies with convenience, ease of setup and superior aesthetics. Given those parameters, it succeeds as evidenced by the marketplace. Want further proof? What other boom box sells for $1100 and fetches 60-70% of list price used on Ebay?


Wayne

 

[wdrazek]

Quote:

Originally posted by ccallana I've been playing with the DVE disk and ran thru some of the audio tests on my LS35. On the bass frequency sweep, I noticed something very interesting - it starts at 15Hz and goes to 250... I heard nothing until about 30Hz, 35 sounded better, but then it disappeared until around 50Hz - so there is a 10-15 Hz hole... not sure why... Thanks for your information Tom

What you are measuring may be the way the woofer loads into the room. Have you tried different placement and listening positions? A hole of 15Hz is nearly 1/2 octave at those frequencies and you should not have a hole this big.


Best,

Wayne

 

[gwlaw99]

"This is positioned in the marketplace as a luxury item that delivers room filling sound on music and movies with convenience, ease of setup and superior aesthetics."


In other words you are paying 3-4x its worth for a name.