Conference hips::uk_audioo

I should have done search _before_ entering the base note - apologies.

Note 400 asks pretty much the same question but it was 18 months ago and 
there were only 2 replies so I think my basic questions still stand (I'm 
just sorry I didn't ask as a reply to 400!).  Can anyone add anything 
from experience during the last 18 months ?


Mike

    Apparently a friend went to a BOSE demo, where they had these HUGE
    speakers pumping out some great sound, then they stopped the music and
    turned on spotlights inside the big boxes to reveal the sound coming
    from these tiny BOSE speakers.
    
    He was impressed...
    
    
    
    Greg

Yes, that's exactly what I saw in the BOSE home cinema demo this Wednesday 
at Live'94.

They cunningly disguise the speakers behind black speaker cloth, after 10 
minutes demoing they turn spotlights on within the cabinets to reveal 
their minute cube like reflecting speakers.

However looking at the price, I think the sound may be good but not 
exceptional against the competition.

Certainly ideal in the normal sub/sat speaker combination in a small room 
as the speakers are very un-obtrusive compared to the normal pair of 
fridges you'd need for big bass!

The show's still on till Sunday, it'll cost �7 to get in at the weekend if 
you can get there and have a listen.

Rob.

    Well, it all depends upon how real sounding your like your music.  Yes,
    the Bose systems do have a lot of sparkle...  Yes, the Bose systems do
    have punchy bass...  But, do they have reall musicality that puts you
    in the performance.  I don't feel they do.  They call too much
    attension to themselves by the way they sound, eventhough they are
    visually unobtrusive.  I could never have them as a primary loudspeaker
    in my system because the "Bose" sound would just get too much in the
    way of the music.  Also, the bass is good for such a compact unit,
    however, it lacks in ultimate extension and tightness.  
    
    I strongly feel that for $700-$800 U.S. that you can find a MUCH better
    sound with a loudspeaker along the lines of Mordaunt-Short or JPW.  
    
    As always, let YOUR ears do the talking.  
    
    Happy listening.
    
    Dan

I saw such a Bose demo showing big speakers with cloths over them which turned
out to be cloth over a metal frame with two tiny bose speakers underneath.
It sounded impressive and had pleanty of bass, so I asked bose assistant after 
the demo how they managed so much bass out of a speaker/subwoofer setup which was
so small.

Their answer was not what I expected, as they told me the speakers were not being
used in the demo as they were "too small to control such a large room" and then
showed me a theater based speaker system being used behind a curtain at the back
with *huge* bass tubes.

So if you want to hear them go to a dealer, as at least you will hear the
correct speakers!


Andy Leigh

	Being sick of the sight of black boxes I saw this Bose ad
	and thought that it looked like a good idea. Ah but they
	don't give any prices, which presumably means high.

	Anybody know what these systems cost - ie complete systems.

	-John

I assume you saw one of the Bose receiver/AMx combos that they are also selling 
here in the States at department stores?  Very compact, very B&O looking.


I tried to listen to one in a department store audio department.  Of course it 
was terribly set-up, but even at that it was clear to me that Bose still thinks 
all electronics sound the same and speakers that measure flat are perfect. It 
sounded like a bad receiver hooked to a pair of AMx speakers.  If course I am 
not a real big fan of AMx speaker sound - way forward upper midrange, very dry 
lower midrange and one note bottom end.  

The prices for the 2-3 models I have seen in the US are $800-$1400.  I am sure 
I could do much better sonically for less money, but I dont think I could touch 
the compactness of this unit short of adapting car audio components.


Walt

    
    I heard these things in a Bose factory outlet in Kittery (when I was in
    the US in April).  They weren't set up as you'd have them in a room,
    more like on a small stand.  They sounded a bit too excessive at the
    high end frequencies, although not sure how this would change when you
    bung the bass unit out of sight behind a sofa or wherever.
    
    If I remember correctly, Bose in the UK were offering a trade-in based
    on how much your current kit weighed!  Something like 300 quid trade-in
    for your old kit offset against the price of a new system as mentioned
    in .0 
    
    Not a bad deal I suppose if you want minimal intrusion into your living
    room with a reasonable (to me!) sound.
    
    Chris.