So, you've got a few options here. Do a little research and piece together your own surround system, hire a voyeur from Geek Squad to do it for you, or just hire a live-in technician to handle both present and future issues. Whatever you settle on, you can pretty much rest assured that it'll be cheaper than forking out for one of Bose's hilariously overpriced Lifestyle systems. In typical Bose fashion, the company is introducing a new trio of 5.1 rigs (the V35, V25 and T20), each of which utilize a new "Unify" technology that is said to make "connecting speakers and sources, programming remotes, and accessing content easier and faster than ever before." And by that, they mean "we'll show you pictures of the connectors on your television screen." Each setup comes with a handful of tiny, cube-like speakers and a surely unimpressive Acoustimass bass module, and if you're hoping to find detailed specifications -- you know, things like RMS, impedance, frequency response range and other vital audio statistics -- we wish you the best of luck. Oh, but here's a few figures that are being handed down: $3,299, $2,499 and $1,999. Yeah, those are the MSRPs in order of mention, and amazingly, we aren't kidding.
I recently bought a B&W 5.1 600 series with a new Integra receiver for 1800 bucks. It blows away this over priced Bose BS. I had no idea just how bad the Bose systems were until I started looking around and doing some research. I have an amazing system and new 73 inch Dlp tv for 3200 out the door, and Bose wants how much ?!?!?
BOSE isn't a speaker company they're a marketing company. If you look at it that way they're wildly successful. The ridiculous thing is they'll manage to sell thousands of these.
Why anybody is duped into buying a Bose system based on its advertising as the best audio system is nuts. I have never heard a so called high end system miss more than half of the frequencies that it's suppose to reproduce. If it were to market to the “small” speaker or portable systems then I would not have a problem, but they tout this as a “high end” system when it clearly is not. So many other packages can be put together that will sounds worlds better for less price.
Best comment so far. You're so right about that. They are brilliant in marketing. Any company in the world should look at Bose and be impressed with what they have achieved in marketing. They make a crap product and sell it as if it's the product that will change your life in home theater. In that respect they have succeeded. Every company should use the same marketing for anything they sell.
"Bose stands for buy other sound equipment" THIS IS WHY BOSE SUKS http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html - (which is a garbage test) "No highs, no lows, must be Bose"
It's the same old crap. Can't any of you come up with something new or even just an opinion based on some real facts?
Like a record that has been playing for years, by people that probably haven't even heard half of what BOSE sells. There is a reason why they're still in business. Marketing or not people are still buying their stuff.
ASEVENSEE4 You obviously don't know high end audio and video. Maybe you sell Bose or have one at home. That's all well and fine, but the point is, is that Bose touts that it's system is better than anything else out there, and it's near the bottom of the heap. It's sound quality is worse than any and all systems placed in its price range. You can start here with a link, that will show you many other links on why Bose is not good or even middle of the line in its price range. http://www.firstadopter.com/fa/archives/001749.html
I have one of these, well, the Lifestyle 48 HTIB, and I'll say I'm pleased, and no I'm not a fool or ignorant about audio. I got it new off ebay and saved ~ $1800 off retail. Bose even replaced the entire system for free when it failed (after 4yrs of heavy use in a hot climate). It's a home theater, not studio quality monitors. The styling and space it takes up is gorgeous, and the audio for tv/movies is fantastic (I got the older bass module, the new one kinda sucks). It's admittedly not the best for music, but I primarily use it for tv/movies anyway, and when I do blast music it gives me what I need, but yes I can clearly tell there's much better out there. Also appreciated and frequently used is the RF remote, as opposed to the IR one on most other receivers. Bumping the volume and changing tracks from another room/floor is awesome.
Would I pay retail? Never. Would I buy again? Not the HTIB Lifestyle48 but yes on the V35 now that it supports multiple HDMI connections. Sure you could go patch together something that gives superior sound, but for the time and hassle of getting a coherent looking and sounding system, I'd just rather hunt ebay and get a good deal on this classy all in one.
Again, I'm very pleased with TV/Movie audio and only somewhat disappointed with music, which I have my Shure E500's for.
Um Shooter, Bose doesn't sound good. How can it when it misses half of the frequency range? Would you like proof of this because I can post a link on an independent test that tests speakers range, and they found Bose missed more of any frequency range then any other speaker ever tested. Cubes with no power cannot reproduce music at a range where most others can.
People bash Bose because it's become the norm for "audiophiles". There's nothing wrong at all with Bose and they put out great sound, is it the best? No. Is it overpriced, I think so, but those who do nothing but criticize it as crap have already made up their minds. I bet if you put them in a room for a blind hearing test they wouldn't think Bose was so bad afterall.
What the h...? So, the inovations are for "technically challenged" people? I can already do that installations! I do not need some other shit beeping! -____-
I wouldn't pay a third of that for this crappy-sounding junk. I'm ashamed to say I sold a few of these back when Tweeter (aka Sound Advice in Florida) still existed. I'm sorry, truly.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
posted May 25th 2010 10:42PM
@Zhuzhu
I know, we're not supposed to exist. I've probably upset some grand cosmic order by revealing myself.
Jesus Diaz would have gushed praise all over this thing. Engadget is such a breath of fresh air!
The funny thing is, Bose used to be (1970s) a fairly respectable company, before Amar went insane and got into cold fusion research.
I recently bought a B&W 5.1 600 series with a new Integra receiver for 1800 bucks. It blows away this over priced Bose BS. I had no idea just how bad the Bose systems were until I started looking around and doing some research. I have an amazing system and new 73 inch Dlp tv for 3200 out the door, and Bose wants how much ?!?!?
BOSE isn't a speaker company they're a marketing company. If you look at it that way they're wildly successful. The ridiculous thing is they'll manage to sell thousands of these.
lol @ 2:51 editing! "..and when you point-EHHH-device remote.." stupid!
Why anybody is duped into buying a Bose system based on its advertising as the best audio system is nuts. I have never heard a so called high end system miss more than half of the frequencies that it's suppose to reproduce. If it were to market to the “small” speaker or portable systems then I would not have a problem, but they tout this as a “high end” system when it clearly is not. So many other packages can be put together that will sounds worlds better for less price.
Best comment so far. You're so right about that. They are brilliant in marketing. Any company in the world should look at Bose and be impressed with what they have achieved in marketing. They make a crap product and sell it as if it's the product that will change your life in home theater. In that respect they have succeeded. Every company should use the same marketing for anything they sell.
Same old garbage comments
"Bose stands for buy other sound equipment"
THIS IS WHY BOSE SUKS
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html - (which is a garbage test)
"No highs, no lows, must be Bose"
It's the same old crap. Can't any of you come up with something new or even just an opinion based on some real facts?
Like a record that has been playing for years, by people that probably haven't even heard half of what BOSE sells. There is a reason why they're still in business. Marketing or not people are still buying their stuff.
Just go to your local home theater store and see if you find anything Bose related. They'll probably laugh at you if you ask.
ASEVENSEE4 You obviously don't know high end audio and video. Maybe you sell Bose or have one at home. That's all well and fine, but the point is, is that Bose touts that it's system is better than anything else out there, and it's near the bottom of the heap. It's sound quality is worse than any and all systems placed in its price range. You can start here with a link, that will show you many other links on why Bose is not good or even middle of the line in its price range.
http://www.firstadopter.com/fa/archives/001749.html
Bose haters are funny. They may be overpriced but anyone who says they don't sound excellent is a biased fool.
Having said that, these are ridiculous prices.
I have one of these, well, the Lifestyle 48 HTIB, and I'll say I'm pleased, and no I'm not a fool or ignorant about audio. I got it new off ebay and saved ~ $1800 off retail. Bose even replaced the entire system for free when it failed (after 4yrs of heavy use in a hot climate). It's a home theater, not studio quality monitors. The styling and space it takes up is gorgeous, and the audio for tv/movies is fantastic (I got the older bass module, the new one kinda sucks). It's admittedly not the best for music, but I primarily use it for tv/movies anyway, and when I do blast music it gives me what I need, but yes I can clearly tell there's much better out there. Also appreciated and frequently used is the RF remote, as opposed to the IR one on most other receivers. Bumping the volume and changing tracks from another room/floor is awesome.
Would I pay retail? Never. Would I buy again? Not the HTIB Lifestyle48 but yes on the V35 now that it supports multiple HDMI connections. Sure you could go patch together something that gives superior sound, but for the time and hassle of getting a coherent looking and sounding system, I'd just rather hunt ebay and get a good deal on this classy all in one.
Again, I'm very pleased with TV/Movie audio and only somewhat disappointed with music, which I have my Shure E500's for.
Um Shooter, Bose doesn't sound good. How can it when it misses half of the frequency range? Would you like proof of this because I can post a link on an independent test that tests speakers range, and they found Bose missed more of any frequency range then any other speaker ever tested. Cubes with no power cannot reproduce music at a range where most others can.
@mazspeed
People bash Bose because it's become the norm for "audiophiles". There's nothing wrong at all with Bose and they put out great sound, is it the best? No. Is it overpriced, I think so, but those who do nothing but criticize it as crap have already made up their minds. I bet if you put them in a room for a blind hearing test they wouldn't think Bose was so bad afterall.
Here is a link to speakers and system in the same price range with more options, much better sound, and just over all a much better deal.
http://www.intellexual.net/speaker5.html
Frequency tests from another independent test group.
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=343759&highlight=bose
What the h...? So, the inovations are for "technically challenged" people? I can already do that installations! I do not need some other shit beeping! -____-
I wouldn't pay a third of that for this crappy-sounding junk. I'm ashamed to say I sold a few of these back when Tweeter (aka Sound Advice in Florida) still existed. I'm sorry, truly.
If it BLOWS... It's gotta be BOSE