Bose Acousticwave?

[Zeke]

Are these things worth the money? Are there other compact systems that do the job as well or nearly as well?

One more thing, anyone looking to sell something like this? (contact me offline thru my email, please) My wife is wanting to play some Christmas CD's in the house and I've removed all the old, outdated stereo systems and put them in the garage. I don't even listen to them that much, but they are ugly, cumbersome and don't work all that well. None of them play MP3s.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

overhyped junk

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Jared Fenton

overhyped junk

+1

[austin552]

Originally Posted by kach22i

+1

+2

[Zeke]

OK, tell me how you really feel.

What does work in a compact system? If I go to Best Buy, aren't I going to see just the same stuff as Walmart?

[t951]

BOSE = Proof that when properly marketed, a company can sell people junk for a pretty penny.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I have the "wave radio" at work. It's a very nice unit and makes terrific sound for the size. My only complaint is that the external antenna for improved radio reception is a 1/8" jack whereas most of the commercially available ones have the 300-ohm style connectors that you screw down onto, requiring you to cut & splice stuff in order to make one.

It's probably a tad overpriced (you're paying for the name) but it's a good unit and I'm sure I'll be keeping it a long time. It certainly isn't "junk" as some here have said. Build quality is pretty good.

[cairns]

For God's sakes don't buy anything that says Bose on it. The only decent product they ever produced was the 901- some 35 years old now.

There's a reason they don't post their specifications and feature endorsements from newspapers (like their hometown and very paid off Boston Globe) instead of audio experts. There's also a reason they put money in a huge advertising budget rather than product.

If you're interested in something that costs about the same but offers far higher quality try a site like Audio Advisor (on the web) or your local stereo retailer. Don't go to Best Buy or Circuit City.

As a specific example, look at the products from Tivoli Audio, they are much higher in quality, offer different and more practical features (computer input, ipod connectivity, subwoofers, upfiring speakers), cost roughly the same (or less) and will sound much, much better for years to come.

My wife volunteers at a thrift store- they get a lot of Bose products that have broken or whose cheap paper cones have disintegrated. The last wave they had went for $150. It sounded like *****, the plastic was a dirty brown color and they couldn't clean the little lines which collected dust and goop.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by cairns

As a specific example, look at the products from Tivoli Audio, they offer different and more practical features (computer input, ipod connectivity, subwoofers, upfiring speakers) cost roughly the same (or less) and will sound much, much better for years to come.

I posted a thread on Tivoli back in August. Listening to it in my office right now. Cost about $100 at Target or you can order it direct. They also make a matching CD component if you want. I think Target also sells those. Sound quality and reception is truly unbelievable.

[Zeke]

Jeez, those Tivoli units are as much as the Bose. I bet I don't need that much quality. If I want to listen to something critically, I have an old, but good system in my office that plays vinyl, tapes and CD's all from separate components. It's what I will use to rip my music, so it stays in the office. I even had a stand alone equalizer, but it died.

I just need a table top CD/radio and I don't even want the radio. I don't want anything that isn't compact and I hate sub woofers. They distort the music in a bias that wasn't intended if the recording is more than 20 years old. Most Christmas music is in that genre.

[id10t]

Have the smallest/cheapest Bose AM system (AM3 - 2 little cubes and a bass unit) and very happy with them.

Of course, I'm only driving them with an amp that puts out half their rated wattage, so I'll never blow them, but I like them.... bought them in '90 or '91...

[rammstein]

My father has a lot of Bose equipment. I personally really don't like the sound of any of it. The worst part is that it is not cheap. You can take that money and do a LOT better.

I haven't heard the Tivoli stuff- maybe you should give that a listen.

Honestly- go ahead and order the Bose unit from Bose, and I think they give you a 30 day refund option. Also, buy something comparably priced from somewhere else that you can return to. Put them both in your home and listen to each and see what you like.

If it turns out that you like the Bose, then keep it. Audio is all in the ear of the beholder- if you like it, keep it. Just do an honest comparison like I suggested, to be fair to yourself.

[cairns]

Tivoli at $399:

http://www.tivoliaudio.com/product.php?productid=196&cat=267&page=1

Bose Wave at $499

http://www.bose.com/controller?event=DTC_LINKS_TARGET_EVENT&DTCLinkID=2570&perfsourceid=k15318&src=k15318

It's your money- if you don't want to spend $100 less for better quality don't. But why ask for advice you don't seem to appreciate?

[Rot 911]

And you don't even need the second speaker! Just get the radio and the cd player. The one speaker just sounds amazing.

[Palum6o]

i'm not crazy about the accoustic wave, but I did get a pair of those noise cancelling headphones (2nd gen.)a few years ago and they are worth every penny. Together with an MP3 player = awesome.

[motion]

I have a JVC system with of all things, sake-soaked wood speakers. Hey, I'm serious. But the best part: sound is amazing! Excellent bass from such small speakers. I paid $500 a year or two ago, but I think you can find them for $400 now.

[rammstein]

I have heard the JVC system of which you speak, and it is pretty damn nice. Very nice, flat response from the speakers.

Milt- check out the system that Motion is suggesting. It is nice, and as a bonus it looks nice too.

[motion]

Here it is:

http://www.jvc.com/presentations/exa1

[Zeke]

I'd like to spend around 200. Maybe I'll take a run to Costco. Or, I could get an iPod dock dedicated to bookshelf speakers. I can rip all that Xmas music and download it into the pod.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I have had the Bose alarm clock for almost 15 years - I use it everyday and it still works fine. I also take it with me as a speaker for my ipod at outdoor events. Sounds very nice for an alarm clock sized unit.