[yazzidragon]

Please forgive my ignorance, this is not meant as a flame thread but rather to increase the content of my grey matter.


I have a Lifestyle 28 series for a while here, just to try her out and see. I have heard from every audiophile I know that "BOSE SUCKS". You know, "No Highs... No Lows.... It must be Bose", that whole thing. I must say, my experience has been quite different and I want to understand why every audiophile I know hates Bose so much.


Long and short of it, I decided to do just a basic pink noise test just to see how bad it really was. To my astonishment, not only was my graph REALLY good, it was almost dead on, flat across the board. I understand that you may want to color your bass or treble a bit in a home theater, but isn't this an excellent starting point?


What am I missing? Is it a narrow depth of field, is it a certain compenent, price? When I set up my full home theatre (some time next year I hope), why should I not go with Bose for simplicity and sound quality (at least, it sounds good to me)? What should I go with, and how much will it cost (I can cable and install myself).


For the record, I am a video geek that designs broadcast studios for a living... I work on the switcher/DDR/CG/SS side of things, we have other engineers that do audio. This is not my area of expertice, so if you don't mind dumbing it down just a hair I would appreciate it. I understand technology, but some audio acronyms may be beyond me.


Thanks guys, hope this spawn some insightful conversation, and help me to build a killer home system (you should see the HD setup and lighting... it's going to be cool!)

 

[Ratman]

Oh no! Not again...

 

[BasementBob]

 The Bose FAQ

 

[klipsch]

awesome BasmentBob...simply priceless...

 

[yazzidragon]

That was exactly what I was looking for. For the record, I did search the forum for a bit and did not see an answer to my question.


I was trying to avoid this, but it sounds like (no pun intended) I'll have to set up a few systems, blindfold myself, and have my wife run tests at different levels. Run each test a few times in different orders so I'm sure I know the sounds I want... What a pain in the butt!


I will say though, I am actually more impressed with the Bose system than I thoght I would be. I'm not going to like having to give them back at the end of my trial.


Thanks for your help, that's a great FAQ.

 

[Version]

If you like it that's all that matters.


(Just don't listen to anything else after you buy it )

 

[cmont]

Quote:

Originally posted by yazzidragon I have heard from every audiophile I know that "BOSE SUCKS". You know, "No Highs... No Lows.... It must be Bose", that whole thing.

Do not forget the other clever catch phrases...


Box Only Stereo Extra

Buy Other Stereo Equipment

Better Off Somewhere Else

 

[DMF]

It's not the experience itself that is bad. Someone that knows what good systems sound like can spot the deficiencies, but the average listener probably can't. You could live with a half-assed Bose system and be happy.


What grates on people who know is two things:


* the *price* they charge for their cheapo gear.

* the marketing that convinces people that Bose is actually better than other gear.


You could spend the same amount of money and get a much better system. But it's your money; no skin off my nose.


The second point, otoh, is a direct insult to my system and that of every audiophile. *That's* what really gets us worked up.

 

[sdurani]

Quote:

Originally posted by yazzidragon I am actually more impressed with the Bose system than I thoght I would be. I'm not going to like having to give them back at the end of my trial.

Why would you give them back if you like them so much?


Sanjay

 

[Ratman]

Quote:

Originally posted by DMF What grates on people who know is two things: * the *price* they charge for their cheapo gear. * the marketing that convinces people that Bose is actually better than other gear.

Sounds similar to Terk and Mon$ter... IMO.

 

[colinsm]

Mod,

Can we not create a sticky of the Bose FAQ?

 

[TrojanHorse]

Quote:

Originally posted by DMF What grates on people who know is two things: * the *price* they charge for their cheapo gear. * the marketing that convinces people that Bose is actually better than other gear.

Don't forget, they don't publish specs and prefer to believe in the "psychoacoustic" characteristics of their speakers. It's not science, it's religion.


They're clever about their Bose Stores... with a dedicated room carefully set up to promote their speakers. Everybody else could learn a thing or two from that.

 

[DMF]

About what, how to con people?

 

[yazzidragon]

Quote:

Originally posted by sdurani Why would you give them back if you like them so much? Sanjay

Because I don't have a choice. If I want to keep it, I have to buy a different one, so this makes a great opportunity for me to try out some gear and see what I like/dislike.

 

[Version]

Don't worry - everyone suggests listening to a system in home before buying if possible. That's a solid move.

 

[Stryf3]

Quote:

Originally posted by DMF About what, how to con people?

I'm not a fan of BOSE, but this goes a little far. They create value to their target consumer. Ask any Joe Sixpack off the street which speakers are best, he'll say Bose. They've done a great all around job of design (visual), demonstration to get people to believ their product is superior, and marketing. They're not different than any other company. Someone brought up Monster a little bit ago. This is a company that also built a reputation as the best cables, power products, etc available. Wether you believe in it or not, a lot of technology goes into their product, and they use that to create value with consumers.

 

[DMF]

Quote:

Originally posted by Stryf3 Ask any Joe Sixpack off the street which speakers are best, he'll say Bose.

Exactly! But they're not the best, are they? Not even with arguing distance. Then Bose has succeeded in convincing the consumer of an untruth. Here in the South we call that a "lie".


Your idea of "value" to the consumer is to mislead him.


That's my idea of a con.


Quote:

They're not different than any other company.

All corporations lie to their customer? What are you, Democrat?


Or a marketer?

 

[Stryf3]

"The Best" is very very subjective. To some the Bose sound and look is the best. Some people don't want a flat true sound. That's just a fact. How many people have their home or car stereo bass and treble settings cranked all the way up. You and I know that in almost all cases this gives you a pretty messed up sound, but it's the sound many like. Another aspect of Bose is the easy hook up. Most people want to plug it in and enjoy, not figure out how to make it work and what connections they need and finally calibrate everything to get the truest sound.


I think if you look at all companies who market something, the core strategy is to accentuate their strengths, and show consumers why you deserve thier business. That's not a lie, people do it all the time in their day to day lives. Most don't like to think of themselves as sales people, but a the center of most interactions we have with others, that's exactly what we are.


No company on the face of the planet is going to tell you why they are inferior to their competition.


And as far as their product being overpriced, to you and me and most others here, for our needs, they are. However a thing is worth what most people are willing to pay for it, and Bose customers have spoken with their wallets.

 

[Stryf3]

and for the record, I'm neither a Democrat nor a Marketer I don't own, or plan to own Bose, and I do not sell Bose products.

 

[REWJR]

"I was trying to avoid this, but it sounds like (no pun intended) I'll have to set up a few systems, blindfold myself, and have my wife run tests at different levels. Run each test a few times in different orders so I'm sure I know the sounds I want... What a pain in the butt! "


You need to do a double blind test can not know which speakers are being listened to as well as all levels must be balanced same as the louder speaker always gets chosen as better psychologicaly .


Then there is room acoustic effects on speakers depending on placement .


Also limit glass of wine intake .


My personal feeling is BOSE is all about marketing so consider some good Canadian bookshelf models Axiom, Paradigm, Energy and PSB to name a few to try in your tests .


These speaker brands are owned by many on the forum and all have real world listening test reviews as well as measured anechoic results . The more neutral a speaker sounds the more accurate it is and BOSE is not in considered in this catagory . IMHO .