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]
posted Jul 17th 2009 12:18PM
bose? no thanks..
looks like an air conditioner
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.
Who needs stereo separation anyway? Mono FTW!
Probably sounds like an air conditioner too.
ROFL!
Ahhh, Bose. The Apple of the audio world.
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!
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. :/
Style over substance at an exorbitant cost. Apple and Bose, two peas in a pod
Yet they are still making money...
"Better Sales Through Marketing"
more like two peas in an iPod.
Buy Other Sound Equipment
"Yet they are still making money..."
Investing in ignorance and vanity will always pay off.
CtrlBurn:
"Yet they are still making money..."
Investing in ignorance and vanity will always pay off.
QFT
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?
A bit hypocritical blasting Bose when Apple does the same, no?
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!
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.
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.
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.
^
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.
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.
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....
You can also control this wirelessly with your iPhone. Worth noting at least since if you buy this you probably own an iPhone already.
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.
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.
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
They're over priced and they suck. I've seen (and heard) HTIB systems that sound infinitely better than Bose speakers.
no highs...no lows...must be BOSE
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.
Bose Blose
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.)
...oh yeah, and it's as low as $100!
Buy Other Sound Equipment.
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
The problem isn't the product quality, its the price of said products.
"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.
And the fact you can replicate their speakers for a tenth of the price.
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.
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.
@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!"
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
No thanks. Am I the only one who has never liked the sound of Bose? They sound flat.
Maybe Logitech should make this instead.
Flat? I wish they sounded flat.
You do mean no humps in the frequency curve right?
Apparently you haven't read the comments before you.
Bose do not sound flat. They are as flat as Mount Everest. And that is the problem. Good speakers have to sound flat.
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.
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
The sound quality of Bose products seems OK (and yes, slightly overpriced). But what made me decide to never buy Bose again were a few trips to their stores and having to deal with their pushy, condescending, and frankly, lying salespeople.
I'm all Paradigm now, great speakers.
+1000. Paradigm kicks ass for the price. Actually, they really just kick ass.
NHT fan here. :p
Is there a Bose customer that isn't a sucker?
Purchase
Different
Audio
Gear
Wait, did I do it wrong?
No, it looks correct to me...
Any chance to take a swipe at Apple, typical idiot mentality. Pathetic but then thats the kind of ja that comes here to only blast Apple.
Apple sucks and so does Bose. Booya
What about the new iPhone headphones from Bose with a built in mic.
http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/headphones/mobile_solutions/in_ear_mobile_solution/index.jsp
I've tried the non mic'ed triport ie's and i didn't really like them anymore than my KSC75s I bought for $5.
Bose = BLING
Bose = Overpriced
Monster Cable = Overpriced
Apple = Overpriced
I believe your math is correct =D
For the ultimate in overpriced setups, buy a Mac Pro and use monster cables to connect it to some Bose speakers.
Parrot Boombox....$90 for bluetooth edr & 60W. Oh wait...a buddy and I picked up the last ones on Amazon...sorry!
I think it depends on what you are getting from Apple, at least their OS is fairly simple to use. Their computer, however, depends on which one you get, for example, the Air is garbage and extremely overpriced and iMacs are ok for home use.
All I can say about Bose is effective advertising/marketing. They are very good at that and making uneducated consumers (in real Hi-Fi audio) believe in what they say.
Parrot has been doing the wireless PC music thing longer and cheaper.
http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/wireless-speakers
Everybody here knows that BOSE blows - nobody buys 'em but suckers and ...
I love the way my Bose sound. I have 2 Bose products and love them both. Notice I didn't say anything about the specs? That's because specs don't matter to the majority of consumers. The introduction of specs to the audio world was done back in the 70's and it turns out it's a race to the bottom. for those of you who consider themselves audiophiles, congratulations, you're among 10% of the population (if that) and not the target audience for most manufacturers. This quote kills me "Bose caters to human ear frequency response to make things seem louder than they really are." ....how shrewd of those nasty Bose people, catering audio equipment to the actual body part that perceives it....foul!
You audiophiles don't seem to understand that music is emotional and sound subjective. Neither of these realities can be compensated for with numbers/specs, etc...
People who buy Bose like the sound better. It has nothing to do with them being stupid/ignorant/fools, etc...please do try to keep your holier -than-thou opinions to yourself.
I've been an audio enthusiast for 3 decades now and can say, without hesitation, Bose customers enjoy their music just as much as any of you non-Bose people do. Apple and Bose do have something in common, they make stuff people like. To hear you whiners talk you'd think no other company tries to market their products. Apple and Bose market the things they make just like every other company. The reason they're more effective is the products themselves. Whether you like it or not, the products appeal to consumers for a variety of reasons, maybe not your reasons but reasons nonetheless.
As an aside, I've listened to more than my fair share of audio equipment, much of it lustworthy, expensive gear. I've heard speakers made with rare materials and ungodly frequency responses. I've heard sounds come from these speakers that I never find in a live performance of the music but you "audiophiles" applaud them as phenomenal. I say to each his own. If you listen to a high-end audio component and like the sound...buy it. I don't have to listen to your choice....that's why they call it choice.
Lastly, if you've never heard the Bose Computer MusicMonitor, it's a wonder of audio engineering. This is my preference, not meant to impress you audio snobs. The sound that comes from such a small enclosure is music to my ears (pun intended).
The only thing that annoys me are some of the ignorant bose owners that say that it's they're the end all products for audio. You don't seem like one because you claim you've at least tried other products.
Mind sharing what you heard? And impressions?
The list is far too long to get into. Like I said, I've been at this for 3 decades. There are many audio manufacturers I like and many worth buying. I've always said that we all have the test equipment we need to evaluate audio equipment, they're called ears. Take music you know well with you to a showroom and listen. That's all, just listen. Pick the one you like the best no matter what anyone says.
I happen to like nice tight bass, I don't like drivers larger than 10" in my home. They have a quicker transient response that I prefer. Having said that, there are many who would argue that I'm not reproducing the bottom end of the spectrum with such small drivers. While they're right technically, I prefer how it sounds.
It all comes down to preference. Listen and choose.
I'd actually argue that most Bose customers haven't actually taken the time to demo any other equipment in the same price range. They just buy the stuff off of the commercials or walk into Best Buy and pick a system because they heard they were the best. So while they may like the Bose sound, much of it is likely because they haven't taken the time to listen to other gear.
And, come on, tight bass? I'm certain anyone could appreciate tight bass, but I'm also certain you won't find it from Bose. Anything I've heard from Bose is loose and quickly gets distorted as the frequency drops and/or the SPL goes up. I should also point out that while your statement about smaller drivers being faster is generally true, other HT systems will have larger drivers in their fronts and surrounds to handle mid-range bass. Most of Bose's crap uses tiny cube speakers so they have to rely entirely on the sub for midrange. So you're argument completely falls apart at that point.
Marketing is purely subjective and emotional, that's what makes companies like Bose and Monster Cable so "effective".
ninevolttoys the problem aint that they dont sound ok the problem is that you can get the same and better quality for a lot less money. They advertise that there system sound better than system costing 5x as much but they dont. I can knock together a system for less money that will blow the BOSE away in every aspect. The main problem is you dont get great sound with small speakers no matter how you design the box they are in. The lifestyle systems are way way way over priced and dont sound very good at all for the money they are asking. Get some in wall speakers and a cheap surround amp and you will blow the Bose system out of the water. People who are misinformed think BOSE are the greatest audio company on earth and nothing is better. This is where BOSE, Monster Cbale and Apple shine. They take advantage of people who dont really know better. It's not because they are the best but because some people are just suckers.
You see how you use the term "better" to describe your fictitious audio system? What, exactly, does that mean? More highs? More lows? More mids? Or better highs/lows/mids? And how do we quantify "better" in that example? Like I said, it's preference pure and simple.
Your comment suggests that anyone who buys Bose is undereducated and foolish. I submit they're neither, they just like the sound better.
You use the terms "better" and "misinformed". I would say that I'm very informed about all aspects of audio reproduction. As stated in an earlier post, I've been at this for 3 decades. I've listened to all manner of gear, informed myself about the physics of audio reproduction and generally been an audio fan for most of my life.
My choice isn't based in ignorance. I enjoy listening to the latest and greatest available in the audio realm. To say that my choice is based in ignorance is, well....ignorant.
Obviously i need to restate: audio is subjective. Hello?!? If you're not aware of the significance of that statement, please do look it up.
"Your comment suggests that anyone who buys Bose is undereducated and foolish. I submit they're neither, they just like the sound better."
And your comment suggests that Bose customers have taken the time to demo other equipment. I submit that most have not.
Ok Vid, I'll bite. First let's establish that neither of us have facts to support the assertion that Bose owner either have or have not auditioned other equipment. Given that, we're both participating in conjecture. I am one to bite though, so here goes.
Given that you're maligning Bose, you probably think they're overpriced. Given that they are comparatively expensive, it follows that they wouldn't be an entry level system for most people. That alone would suggest that not only have people listened to other systems before buying Bose but they actually owned other equipment before purchasing Bose.
Now on to an equally factless basis for conjecture....I know 7 people who own Bose (including myself). One is a man who's 70+ years old and recently purchased a wave radio. I'm pretty sure his love of music started somewhere in the previous 6 decades of his life and he's owned other equipment, but I can't be positive. The others are as follows: 1 network (NBC) audio engineer, 3 musicians and 2 audio enthusiasts. All of them owned and auditioned many other manufacturers' wares before ending up with Bose.
I will say it again, music isn't a technical pursuit. That you think it is makes it so for only you. The most accurate way to determine if any audio equipment is the "right" audio equipment for each individual is in the listening. That's the only thing that matters.
My logic wins. You lose.
" The most accurate way to determine if any audio equipment is the "right" audio equipment for each individual is in the listening. That's the only thing that matters. My logic wins. You lose. "
Ummm... you admit that you have nothing but conjecture and your examples are purely anecdotal, so I'm not sure how your logic wins. I could point out that I know no one with Bose systems, but that too is purely anecdotal. I will say however that your premise that just because something is expensive means the buyers have demoed other equipment is quite laughable. I mean, come on, these are the same people that drop $100 on a 6 foot Monster HDMI cable when a $5 cable from Monoprice will perform the exact same. The general public is easily swayed with marketing and Bose pays to have their equipment set up nicely in places like Best Buy where they won't have to face off against the Paradigms of the world. Instead the simply have to face off against home-theater-in-a-box systems from manufacturers like Insignia and Sony whose systems often don't even have demo displays, just boxes on a shelf. Bose is all about illusion and perception, not performance. The shoppers buying a system at a Best Buy have not idea that the $2-4K they're dropping on a Bose Lifestyle system would be easily outperformed dozens of other systems at half the price and crushed by any at the same price. They all just saw on TV that Bose is the "premier name in sound" and then got to hear one of their systems at Best Buy while sitting in a nice leather chair surrounded by Bose's speakers sitting 3 feet away. It's all one huge joke and the fact you have actually bought into their nonsense is a joke as well.
wow. av snobs making fun of...av snobs? bitchin.
I picked up a sound dock portable while it was on sale at best buy. wouldn't have paid full price for it, mind you, but I'm very happy with what I ended up with. I think it would be interesting to see a show of hands here with all the people who have actually owned a bose product and not just taken someone elses' word for how bad their products supposedly suck.
Bose are the Apple of the sound industry.
Overcharge you for the same equipment you could get for half the price, and try to sell based on name and *perceived* reputation alone.
I guess some people just dont know any better. My first ever setup was a technics 4 stack that back 15 years ago still sounds better than stuff from Bose today. I then upgraded to a Arcam alpha 7 amp and CD player with some floor standing kef coda 9's which again where cheaper than most Bose systems and still blew them away. Then after than i bought a denon 3806 with some book shelf mordaunt short speakers and sub. Now i have a B&W XT surround setup with a Onkyo 805 AV amp and a SACD player. I also know my Audio and i found out after just a few months how overpriced the Bose stuff was compaired to other brands. Now even if their systems were 50% cheaper they would still be over priced for the quality of audio they offer. Either these people who love Bose have more money than sense or they really have no idea what good SQ means!! I have even heard setups costing $300 that sound better than $3500-$4000 equipment. I also love the little tricks they do in their stores where they place the speakers so far above your head to give you a open sound stage. It does nothing for the quality of sound but to people who have no idea what good audio should sound like think that they are the be all and end all of sound equipment. Well there not people and perhaps you should go out and test some cheaper equipment next time you are ready to spend money on Bose. We have all been there and some of us get sucked in and some of us get led in the right direction. I will admit that i nearly bought a lifestyle 50 system back in the day and when i heard it for the first time i was amazed at how it sounded. Then i went to a high end audio shop and they really showed me what good audio was all about. That was when i picked up my Arcam alpha setup.
All I can say is that Bose-Haters never owned a Bose! My SoundDock ROCKS! And I would bet this product does too. Every Bose I've owned has been worth every penny!
Except the SoundDock is priced at 2-3X what its worth and this is a simple music streamer with small crappy speakers that should be no more than $150. I've heard many SoundDocks and they do not sound that great. People who don't know sound that well love them mostly because they are preprogrammed to by the Bose hype, but objective listening shows that their base is terrible even for such a small system and the high frequencies come out thin.
Sorry for the typo: meant to say bass, not base.
True, I haven't owned anything by Bose. Because I have listened to them and they sound god awful. I would rather buy something cheap from Logitech, they are that bad.
free
Badly
Overpriced
Sonic
Experience
those whores...
who ever wrote the article really nice pun at the end
I have the Bose sound dock 2. I love it. The sound is not audiophile or anywear close. But its very good for a portable. I have tested quite a few diffrent brands.
How ever they are the best sounding all in-ONE PACKAGE AROUND. Altec Lansing speakers can not hold a candle to the sound. I should know I returned 2 different A/L speakers because they sound tinny.
Here is why they stand out. Build quality is excellent.
Sound ( especially at higher volume's is clear and consistent, even with heavy bass music.
Other small portable speakers can not match the battery life and producer the same quality of sound.
interchangeable Li-Ion Battery.
unofficial waterproof remote. (Accidentally tested)
Con's compared to the competition.
no radio, weight,price. Crapy touch sensative volume controls that never work on first touch.
No question they are overpriced. But with the added connivence of wireless music streaming built in, this is a very flexible product. At home now I use airport express, and energiser li-ion battery station to stream music to my bose speakers in the garden (This gives me 50ft range from the house) . With the new wireless bose speaker i can dispose of my Mcguver wirless speaker system.
Just need to sell old ones on ebay. Anyway I challang anyone to provide a example of better portable sound dock. (excluding cost).
i have to confirm that bose is maybe overpriced but their sounddock portable ist probably the best sounding compact speaker-system for ipod that really kicks ass for its size.
i have heard dozens of them, harman kardon go&play, logitech pure-if, altec lansing im7 etc... most of them are huge but still suck compared to their size. the go&play sounds incredible when run plugged in, but from batteries it's tinny.
the soundock portable is small as a netbook, sounds really huge for what it is, and it can play for up to 12 hours from one charge at normal listening-levels.
it is definitely not hifi, but i wouldn't even bother carrying a true hifi system to the beach or to the park.
the sounddock portable is always with me when i am on a picknick and i enjoy listening to the music with it so much, that even at home i rather prefer putting my ipod inside and turning it on, than using my big hifi-system.
as already mentioned the touch sensitive buttons are crap, but apart from that it is the best portable speaker around.
this new system though, i have no idea what it's for. i can do anything it does with an iphone connected through wifi and stream my music through simplify or listening to wifi-radio with tuner etc. so no idea what this new one will do better, but i am sure it will sound exactly the same as the sounddock portable.