Bose table stereo v. others?
 

Did the search and found one thread where several bashed the Bose table system as expensive and not that good. Then there were the positive comments, but that didn't help the price any.

Dottore mention Tivoli. Looked at them and they're ugly. But if they're the kind, I'll get one.

Here's what I want:
Compact
Good sound, fill at least one room
Nice design, not to boxy if I can help it, color options would be nice
CD, maybe changer
Remote
A dock or at least a port for the iPhone
Yeah, maybe a USB port for all kinds of devices
Radio, meh, take it or leave it

What else is out there?
And, what classification are these? "Tabletop" is not helping me.

http://shop.panasonic.com/dotAsset/0...8a831f9d8e.jpg

This seems kinda cool.

you are going to have to listen to them in YOUR room using YOUR program material

Dr. Amar Bose is a genius and the inventor of many psycho-acoustic "tricks" to make cheap crap sound better.

I like Tivoli - designed by another genius... KLH ring any bells?

When it comes to audio I'm old school "bigger is better" kinda guy (5.1 Pioneer in the living room... and gigantic stereo in my garage that is bigger/badder/ louder than what most people have in their house)

However my inner tech/geek/gadgetboy finds that very VERY cool!

Tivoli is better than the Bose (almost anything is) Do you want just Ipod or CD and FM?

I bought a B&W Zeppelin and was amazed. Cambridge Soundworks, Boston Acoustics and Polk Audio also make systems that I'm sure would provide better sound and value than the Bose. The Bose really is a paper coned over priced gimmick.

Henry Kloss. I bought a Tivoli Model One for my art studio about 10 yrs ago; had a KLH system in grad school, still have the KLH Model 5 speakers in my LR, acoustic suspension still good after decades of use (never re-coned). Great equipment.

I thought the list covered about everything.

OK, this looks fancy, but why no stereo?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...rL._SS500_.jpg


Oh wait, no CD.

Then I found this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...5L._AA300_.jpg

Never heard of Sangean: Sangean DDR-63 All-in-One Table Top with WiFi Internet, FM-RDS/Aux In/ CD/USB/iPod Cradle in Acoustically Designed Wooden Cabinet

I have a Tivoli PAL radio... it sounds great for what it is, a little portable mono radio...

The internal battery can power it for a a days worth of use... I often bring it to the track and sit it on the step of my trailer and listen to tunes during off time..

It accepts an auxiliary input whether it is from a droid, cd player, iphone etc...

Small form factor, big sounds.. not audiophile snob quality of course..

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340756650.jpg

Tivoli makes a cd player

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340756760.jpg

Then of course you can get all sorts of Tivoli goodness all wrapped up in one nice looking package

Tivoli Platinum music system


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340757029.jpg

I'll bet that Tivoli in the 3rd pic is awesome. But I'd have to cover that with a bag, it's so ugly. What century are those guys living in design wise? Don't say mid century because the bauhaus crowd would puke.

That thing is a 70's Viet Nam era nightmare in design. I actually like some of that stuff, too.

Sorry, that's not coming to my house. I do have some aesthetic principles. ;):D

geez zeke you said i was on the rag today. c'mon you asked we answered.

while i agree beauty is in the eye of the beholder what you're after should appeal to your ears and your wallet first, right? Personally I (and a lot of others who are in to this stuff) find the bose wave to be 70s chic hard plastic and the tivoli to be a lot more bauhaus than out house. but listen to the thing before you dismiss it on looks. it's a singer next to a mazda.

the tivoli (and many of the others recommended) sounds better and it will hold up.

just a suggestion.....

couple more to consider, 1 from Target and 1 from Sam's Club: Sonos Play:5 Wireless HiFi Player and Soundfreaq Sound Step Bluetooth Wireless Audio System - Sam's Club

I have 3 of the portable Tivoli radios, and 1 AC unit - Mono is fine for most things, and they are very high quality.

Maybe Ian knows of something higher quality in this genre - you could pm him if he doesn't check in and spot this thread.

Another option is to wire up an Alpine car stereo for use on AC. Alpine is pretty high quality and has its own D > A decoder so you don't have to use the one in an ipHone.

I like the Boston Acustics Duo.

J

This is cool stuff but not cheap.

Symbol Audio | TABLETOP HIFI

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340768020.jpg

Do you still play vinyl? You can also see the table top hifi in the back ground.
(although I'd question the need for tubes when playing vinyl)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340768112.jpg

Another view.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340768400.jpg

We have some Bose radio /CD without the iPod dock in another room but rarely used. Have no idea how it got there... wifey CC and never told of the cost?? Sounds good for the small size. I named it the Bozo system after plugging a bluetooth receiver into a rear aux and send streaming audio from a tablet or one of the PC's.

Listening way too much to talk AM these days... thats whacked and I need help. One of these days I feel like dragging all my old Marantz, Pioneer 70's 80's big stuff out, play some Ted Nugent scratchy LP's and lighting up the neighborhood.

I am very suspicious of companies that put crap on the market, and "crap" is the only way to describe the sound of the Bose system in my 997. It sounds like the drive- thru speaker at McDonalds. Stay away from Bose.

BTW the retro look of the Tivoli is deliberate. I read the designer wanted the look to hark back to the days of quality hi-fi equipment. We have a rosewood Tivoli set that looks incredibly elegant. The Tivoli is of course no substitute for a real stereo. But it is great for basements, kitchens, spare rooms, man caves etc.

B&O do some good small system stuff. Worth a look.

Back in grad school I bought this KLH Model 27 stereo AM/FM tuner/amp and KLH Model 5 acoustic suspension speakers. KLH, I believe, invented the acoustic suspension system: KLH Twenty-Seven Stereo Receiver

From the link:

"FM-AM receiver, all transistor; AM/FM vernier dial tuner. Designed by Henry Kloss in the mid 1960s.

Power output was rated at 30 watts RMS per channel.

A 1970 ad from Audio Lab in Cambridge has this unit on sale at $252,
Kist price was $325."

The measly 30w/channel drove the highly efficient Model 5 speakers, producing BIG sound from a unit less than half the size and weight of it's bells and whistles laden competitors.

I still have the speakers in my LR, original cones/acoustic suspension rings.

Edit: re the speakers, "The acoustic suspension woofer is a type of loudspeaker that reduces bass distortion caused by non-linear, stiff mechanical suspensions in conventional loudspeakers. It was invented in 1954 by Edgar Villchur, and brought to commercial production by Villchur and Henry Kloss with the founding of Acoustic Research in Cambridge Mass."

Another vote for the Sonos. Although I don't have the above mentioned piece I have 6 of there wireless amps and love them

Depends on room and budget...

MacIntosh make the best "ols school" tube amps, but you have to sell your 911 to afford one :)

I use Rotel amp for surround sound for home theater and the audio is really good, but it's running through B&W speakers, so again room and budget

Not an all-in-one system... but compact, good sound, cd player, remote, optional dock, and would fill a room with musical goodness.

NAD 715
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340824203.jpg

Quad Lite Sats and Sub
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340824438.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340824466.jpg

I used to sell Bang & Olufsen gear in the 70's-80's. Wonderful looking "plug & play" gear. Check out the BeoSound4

BeoSound 4 - Bang & Olufsen

My good friend works for Sonos and I got to tour his office in Santa Barbara...very cool stuff and they are coming out with even better stuff later this year.

BTW, they are hiring like gangbusters if anyone is interested. Being wireless, IT background is a must

Check out Klipsch.
I have experience in the company many times over. Even had 'cornerhorns'.
One of the top efficient speaker makers in the world! Cornerhorns, from what I can remember were -1 watt = 106 db.
A great speaker at a great price.

i thought my JBL L-300's are/were the best until i listened to the sonos. they don't look as good but sure sound good. Don't know the model but they were thin and tall.

Do you know the price on the record player?

I have tivoli products and agree they are well built. I love their styling and am a Bauhaus and mid-century style lover so I'm not sure why you made that comment but I understand taste is subjective and if u don't like how it looks then u shouldn't have to live with it. I love b&w stuff as well. Had b&w speakers for years and couldn't be happier with their products

I don't like Bose but it could be all you'll u need

No idea on price... I would email them.

info@symbolaudio.com

It very well could be all I need. It's not for me anyway. But the price point for Bose has always had me guessing. No more on that.

I'd like to spend less and get just a decent system that will play some background music that doesn't sound like it's coming out of a hole in the wall. No high volume, just mellow.

As your senior citizen resident here, I can admit we have tapes, CD's and vinyl. I'd at least like to be able to play the CD's. I copied a few, but we're down on computer power right now. Maybe one day I'll get into the 21 Century. I'd don't presently have dual drives on any computer and there are a few around here.

The best way to achieve what you want/need is to either buy one of those compact shelf systems from a store like best buy... The ones where everything is built into one unit with speakers that you can place where you want.

Or what I would prefer is to go out and buy, within your set budget, a cd player, amp, and small book shelf speakers and be done with it. Doesn't sound like your need to be spending thousands on a fancy stereo.

The fact is, if you were using an iPod for your source, you would have a lot more options for size, price and style. Perhaps you should make an effort to become comfortable with this technology now rather than later. I too have CDs and vinyl but like the convenience of my iPod. If u can work your iPhone's basic functions you can certainly learn how to use an iPod. You do not need a fancy computer to set it up, just the basics with an Internet connection will do

I kinda like this little guy, and it ticks most/all of your check-boxes (including different colors available):

MCR-140 - Mini-Systems - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340999958.jpg

Here are a few other offerings from them that might fit the bill:
TSX-130 - Desktop Audio - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States
ISX-800 - Desktop Audio - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States
MCR-730 - Mini-Systems - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States
MCR-332 - Mini-Systems - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

Just keep in mind that sound quality is going to be compromised with most any consumer mini/micro "system" so buy for features and asthetics. That said, stay away from the obvious garbage.
Typically classified as mini or micro systems, bookshelf systems, desktop audio, etc.

This is a wacky idea but I will throw it out there.

When I helped a friend move after her dad died there was an old Packard Bell stereo (IIRC) the console type where it is a nice furniture grade wood box where the lid in on a hinge and you open it to reveal a radio and record player, it is all tube powered, and has matching speakers.

I plugged it in and it worked!

I have held onto it because it is so cool... but I have no use for it.

If anyone is interested PM or email me.

It does have an AUX in with RCA connectors.

Sorry for the hijack, carry on.

You didn't read my list. USB port and iPhone dock. We have iPods, other devices and phones, all with music in them.

Theme music, like holiday music, is on CD's purchased ions ago. Once a year they come out for 2-3 weeks. The unit needs to follow the work at hand, but does not need to be self powered. Don't need the thing in the living room when the action is in the kitchen and vice versa.

Scottmandue, I have an old Grundig Majestic console and a large table model. They sound pretty good for their time. Not very portable, but I could see converting one or the other. They ain't that valuable.

I read the list

Here is what I do. I have my amp's aux or CD inputs connected to an A/B switcher. Plugged into A is my cd player. Plugged into B is my iPod. You don't need USB. You use a stereo RCA to mini plug cable to connect the mp3 player. If you don't want to connect the cable to the headphone jack on device, you can get an iPod dock that connects power to wall outlet and cable plugs into base of dock and takes music out of the bottom of the iPod. I'm talking about one of those small white docks you get at apple store. I'm on phone so can't post photo right now

re console type where it is a nice furniture grade wood box where the lid in on a hinge and you open it to reveal a radio and record player

put in some high end stereo stuff in that cabinet