Bose intros SoundLink wireless music system, charges $550 with a straight face

Ah, Bose. While almost any other audio company would be properly lambasted for charging $549.95 for a portable sound system with absolutely no hard specifications (driver material, amplifier type, wattage, etc.) to speak of, somehow or another Bose gets away with the practice. All bitterness aside, the fresh SoundLink Wireless Music System is actually rather attractive, and unlike its other models, this one arrives with a USB dongle that enables computers to stream tunes directly to it. 'Course, we're not told what kind of technology is used here nor how far you can stray without losing signal, but as we alluded to earlier, this is all par for the course for Bose. In brighter news, there's a rechargeable battery that keeps it humming for three hours on a full charge, and the bundled IR remote could probably be programmed to control your media app from afar. Oh, and there's a standard 3.5 millimeter auxiliary jack for linking things up the "old way." Start saving your pennies quarters, folks -- this one ships to those with more dollars than sense on August 27th.

[Via HotHardware]

[vbtrash @ Jul 17th 2009 12:24PM]

bose? no thanks..

[crescentdavid @ Jul 17th 2009 12:59PM]

looks like an air conditioner

[Jorvay @ Jul 17th 2009 1:39PM]

My local A/V store is proud of the fact that they won't carry Bose products. It's actually one of the examples they regularly use to demonstrate that they have more expertise than the competition.

[Stiv @ Jul 17th 2009 1:49PM]

Who needs stereo separation anyway? Mono FTW!

[RedSky @ Jul 18th 2009 5:03AM]

Probably sounds like an air conditioner too.

[egress63 @ Jul 17th 2009 2:33PM]

ROFL!

[Nikesh @ Jul 18th 2009 11:00AM]

Ahhh, Bose. The Apple of the audio world.

[Vellie @ Jul 18th 2009 11:55AM]

Actually bose products are some of the best. I used to work for them and we made the wave radios and if there was a problem with one radio we had to go through and break down every radio and check and see if there is a problem on any of the others. But yeah they are overpriced but you get what you pay for. Sound quality is Great!

[xtole @ Jul 20th 2009 10:29AM]

I actually won't buy anything but Bose. I'll save up a couple more weeks and put the extra cash down for their products. The sound quality is amazing. Call me a sucker, but I'm a Bose man now. :/

[Patrick @ Jul 17th 2009 12:25PM]

Style over substance at an exorbitant cost. Apple and Bose, two peas in a pod

[Arjun @ Jul 17th 2009 12:27PM]

Yet they are still making money...

[awbhoops @ Jul 17th 2009 12:37PM]

"Better Sales Through Marketing"

[Dez @ Jul 17th 2009 1:47PM]

more like two peas in an iPod.

[tommychan @ Jul 17th 2009 2:25PM]

Buy Other Sound Equipment

[CtrlBurn @ Jul 17th 2009 2:45PM]

"Yet they are still making money..."

Investing in ignorance and vanity will always pay off.

[10minutehobo @ Jul 17th 2009 3:49PM]

CtrlBurn:
"Yet they are still making money..."

Investing in ignorance and vanity will always pay off.

QFT

[Scott @ Jul 20th 2009 1:21PM]

Funny you should mention Apple, because their $100 Airport Express makes any radio with an input a "wireless music system."

Why spend $550 for the Bose?

[KIFF @ Jul 17th 2009 12:27PM]

A bit hypocritical blasting Bose when Apple does the same, no?

[Chris @ Jul 17th 2009 2:07PM]

Apple does the same?

Oh yeah cause I forgot when I was buying my Macbook I wasn't allowed to see the specs I was getting or even what OS it was running. And heaven forbid I should be able to find any information on the workings of such a secretive product..


Oh wait.... Idiot!

[J Dogg @ Jul 17th 2009 12:51PM]

Am I wrong in thinking that this costs about $400 too much? A $79 Apple Airport Express and a line-in cable plugged into a pair of powered speakers and you're good to go. Add an iPhone with the Remote App and you can even control everything wirelessly.

UPDATE: I see now that this Bose unit is battery powered. Big whoop.

[Ellianth @ Jul 17th 2009 12:39PM]

Chris shut up, KIFF is correct.
Without using Google (IE from Apples product page) tell me the manufacturer of EVERY component in your macbook. Not just the processor and video card please.

[DWells55 @ Jul 17th 2009 1:04PM]

Ellianth, Apple gives you the specs of their products and as much manufacturing information as any other manufacturer. You don't get told who the HDD, optical drive, and RAM manufacturers are because these things change within the same model of system. If you really care, run System Profiler on one the display models to get an idea. The CPU is Intel, the motherboard is Intel, and the GPUs are either nVidia or Intel. No idea who makes the panel, but again no one else tells you this because it's bound to change.

[Freedom Town @ Jul 17th 2009 1:24PM]

^
You knowing the OS a Mac is running isn't comparative at all to knowing anything about the specs of a Bose, and it isn't the point the dude above you was trying to make.

[microlith @ Jul 17th 2009 2:31PM]

His "point" is idiotic. Bose hides base specs you can find on pretty much every other piece of hardware available. Apple does not, their spec-sheets are equivalent in damn near every way to ones from Dell and HP. Apple makes their premium in aesthetics and OS X.

But keep up the ridiculous Apple hate. I'm suprised that Engadget hasn't gone full /g/ mode.

[GadgetGeek @ Jul 17th 2009 3:41PM]

break it up... Here are the facts, Apple DOES show the specs to consumers but I believe what Kiff was eluting to was the fact that they mark up their products ridiculas sums of money for something that is produced in China for God knows how little. I admit I do look at aesthetics as part of my purchasing decision making but lets get serious... I'm not throwing down 5 bills for something I can get from Altec Lansing for WAAAY less. get real....

[Rage @ Jul 17th 2009 12:39PM]

You can also control this wirelessly with your iPhone. Worth noting at least since if you buy this you probably own an iPhone already.

[Pontro! @ Jul 17th 2009 12:32PM]

Looking a lot like the B&O BeoSound1



But I have to admit it, that I love Bose sound, smooth, warm, no highs or low, just pleasently smooth listening experiece.

Enjoy music, not criticize.

[Adam @ Jul 17th 2009 12:32PM]

Overpriced or not, my Bose Portable Sounddock gets used daily, and sounds great both indoors and out. Best present I've gotten in a while.

[D @ Jul 17th 2009 2:52PM]

I like their speakers. I don't know what people have to hold against it. Apple - over priced? They're everywhere now. Bose - better try it before you pass judgement

[Papa Midnight @ Jul 17th 2009 6:33PM]

They're over priced and they suck. I've seen (and heard) HTIB systems that sound infinitely better than Bose speakers.

[Derek @ Jul 17th 2009 12:33PM]

no highs...no lows...must be BOSE

[NoAndThen @ Jul 17th 2009 1:36PM]

While we're at it...

Buy Other Sound Equipment
Better Off with Something Else
Brings Out Suckers Egos


I can go on, but what's the point.

And guys, trying to say that what Bose does with their bullshit peaks at 4k and wave amplification tunnels is anything even remotely akin to Apple putting in a lot of R&D for good improvements like unibody manufacturing and glass trackpads is absolutely ridiculous (without even getting into software.) I can piece together a cheap shitty laptop too, but I'd rather pay a little more for a really well manufactured machine that's going to last.

You can see nearly every spec that means anything before you buy, which is more than I can say for Bose. Bose caters to human ear frequency response to make things seem louder than they really are. They absolutely suck compared to a similarly priced system pieced together. They want 1500+ for the crappy surround sound system with an insanely high crossover setting. Go buy a decent Onkyo and a matched set of Klipsch surrounds/sub and it's no contest at the same price.

[smak @ Jul 17th 2009 2:11PM]

Bose Blose

[mrpysnik @ Jul 17th 2009 12:33PM]

Get a Mint speaker system instead. It sounds good, it's built well, and it has an iPod dock build in as well.

http://www.mintds.com/index.php

(and no, I don't have any affiliation with them. I bought one for my gf.)

[mrpysnik @ Jul 17th 2009 12:36PM]

...oh yeah, and it's as low as $100!

[HaZaRd @ Jul 17th 2009 12:35PM]

Buy Other Sound Equipment.

[mike @ Jul 17th 2009 12:38PM]

Hating Bose has become too cliche. Bose does some amazing DSP in their audio system, yes the speaker components themselves are pretty bad, but they do a pretty amazing job with what they have.

/ PhD in Acoustics

[Superstition @ Jul 17th 2009 12:42PM]

The problem isn't the product quality, its the price of said products.

[nrb @ Jul 17th 2009 1:32PM]

"Bose does some amazing DSP in their audio system, yes the speaker components themselves are pretty bad, but they do a pretty amazing job with what they have."

Let me try in rephrase that: It's pretty good, considering the components are junk.

This is an argument in favor of Bose? I prefer a company that uses good components AND good engineering.

[Ishcabible @ Jul 17th 2009 1:38PM]

And the fact you can replicate their speakers for a tenth of the price.

[NoAndThen @ Jul 17th 2009 1:38PM]

Yeah, and the iTunes equalizer really brings shitty laptop speakers up to par with my HD595s!

/no one gives a shit about your PhD in Acoustics when you say stuff like that.

[Dez @ Jul 17th 2009 1:53PM]

I can't hear all you guys complaining over the sound of my BOSE sound system connected with MONSTER cables for the ultimate in sound experience. Good thing both companies were nice enough to toss an extra zero right before the decimal, I didn't like that money anyway.

[rv @ Jul 17th 2009 10:47PM]

@dez
Bose connected with monster cables. Hahahaha. The guy who has that setup must be the biggest douche in the world. "yeah, my system set me back $5000, but I have te best sound in the world!"

[johnny @ Jul 17th 2009 4:29PM]

i have a bose multi-media audio system hooked to my computer and i have to admit, the sound quality is great BUT i did not/nor would i have paid over $500 for it. seems like a nifty device for music lovers and people who frequently entertain guests. i'll wait for the Logitech version LOL

[windblownmonkey @ Jul 17th 2009 12:41PM]

No thanks. Am I the only one who has never liked the sound of Bose? They sound flat.
Maybe Logitech should make this instead.

[Ishcabible @ Jul 17th 2009 2:48PM]

Flat? I wish they sounded flat.

You do mean no humps in the frequency curve right?

[10minutehobo @ Jul 17th 2009 3:52PM]

Apparently you haven't read the comments before you.

[kadajawi @ Jul 18th 2009 11:42AM]

Bose do not sound flat. They are as flat as Mount Everest. And that is the problem. Good speakers have to sound flat.

[jol @ Jul 17th 2009 12:47PM]

Bose sound quality is heads and shoulders above any other product out there. If their products suck so much, then it shouldn't bother anyone that they charge more than you're willing to pay, because you wont be paying regardless.

[Freedom Town @ Jul 17th 2009 1:22PM]

I hope your joking. For the price of a Bose (a Bose anything, this thing, a soundock, headphones, etc...) you can get a much higher quality piece of equipment, unless you have no clue about audio, in which case you shouldn't be wasting your money