I will be getting the new 60" Grand Wega next month - can't wait for that. But that is another subject!
So you just spent... three thousand dollars on a BOSE system? Well the good news is that there's always eBay, and millions of gullible fools out there who will be more than happy to help you recover at least some of the money you spent on it. The bad news is that you've been had. Bigtime. Believe it or not, your system isn't just overpriced. Overpriced is a Pentium 4 processor when compared to an Athlon XP - you get less performance for your money, but nothing worth tearing your hair out for. Now, imagine if you paid for a Pentium 4 and got a Pentium 1 instead. That's what you just did.
I know this is hard to stomack, but your system doesn't perform on par with other 3000-dollar, 2000-dollar, 1000-dollar, or even 500-dollar speakers. Your system pretty much sounds as good as a set of cheap Creative Labs computer speakers, though i'm sure that owners of those speakers will be offended by me saying this. The truth is that BOSE is possibly one of the biggest and most successfull scams in the world - they sell crappy speakers for at least 10 times their value, and then use the buyers' stubborness and ignorance to prevent them from telling others that they've been had. And i'll be damned - it works, it works like a charm!
If you think that i'm lying to you for whatever reason, you're more than welcome to do your own research. Visit true audiophile forums, such as AVSForum or Home Theater Forum and ask them for their opinion. They will tell you exactly what i just did, you have my word. Why? Because i've seen this happen over and over and over before. At first, BOSE users refuse to admit the truth, which is that they don't have a clue what good-sounding speakers are really supposed to sound like. But then they finaly give in and agree to go down to a home theater store and listen to a similar-priced system from companies like Paradigm, PSB or Klipsch. Good luck to you, i hope you decide to buy yourself a real set of speakers instead.
Whew, sounds like you got lucky. Sell them off on eBay immediately and buy yourself another system. I don't know why you're worried about size though - you want size. According to physics, size means quality. Don't get me wrong, if you literally can't fit a bigger system anywhere, there are more than enough smaller systems that sound a whole lot better than BOSE. Visit the forums linked above, and they should have more than enough great advise for you. Just make sure you mention that size is an issue - they'll never recommend satellite speakers unless you tell them to.
Wow Nord, your setup is almost exactly like mine except I've got older stuff. I've got B&W 3s in the front, I think a B&W CL3 center and a Definitive 15" sub with Cambridge soundworks for surround sound. Too bad my Onkyo receiver sounds like crap.
Because Bose speakers are WAY over priced, their drivers are still made out of paper, they are no better than those "white van" speakers!
rich
rich
exactly. my parents bought a lifestyle system, not sure exactly, came with the little sliver cd changer/receiver 5 of the little double stack speakers and a sub... imo, they sound like crap, the bass is not clear at all and when there is a lot of action (in movies) the sound gets really muddy.
Suggestion:
Buy individual components. I can start buy saying for the amount you payed, the amps are the quality of a factory head unit in a car. Small, cheap and producing lack-luster sound quality.
You see, the question you ask is really much deaper.
Are you going with HDTV? (S-video or Component video hook ups?)
What do you currently have besides the LS50?
How big is your room going to be?
Do you want 5,6 or 7 channels (not including the sub)?
Here's a link to your current system:
Bose LS50 $3700
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
how about this:
Inifinity home theater speaker package : $1200
Harmon Kardon Remote : $275
5 disk DVD/CD changer(Pioneer) : $375
That's about $1900 so far.
$1800 budget for receiver?
Harmon Kardon 7.1 channel receiver : $1689
So, essentially, I paid $100 less and this system will make yours look like it was made by Fisher Price.
You can always settle for the stock remote that comes with the receiver and upgrade some of the components. I didn't veck what the stock remote is, so it might actually be the same thing.
The only thing you might beat me on is the speaker size. Either way, the inifinities are considered satelite speakers. To say that the smaller size of the Bose is an advantage is just an excuse.
Truth is, I could easily meat your systems specs for about $2000, without even trying. Truth is, i just whipped together this system. As far as sound quality goes, the Bose system you have doesn't have a chance against the system I just designed.
That is exactly what my "Premium" Bose stereo in my Acura sounds like. The bass is muffled and not tight at all and the highs are muddy. On a car forum someone did a check of the Bose stereo in my car and they found out the speakers in it were less than $10 each OEM.
After seeing that your going with a SICK TV. I second the motion. Get you A$$ over to ebay rtight now!
If your getting a TV that big, you clearly have enough room that larger speakers are not an issue.
My design is still decent. I just did it to prove a point is all. For $3500, you could get a much better stereo to complement your TV. I imagine you have alot of room, so I'd look into a 7.1 setup.
If your getting a TV that big, you clearly have enough room that larger speakers are not an issue.
My design is still decent. I just did it to prove a point is all. For $3500, you could get a much better stereo to complement your TV. I imagine you have alot of room, so I'd look into a 7.1 setup.
"I always hear that there is better systems for much cheaper but I can never get anybody to give me a system that has everything the lifestyle 50 has that isn't huge."
Based on the rsponse so far, I don't think you can ever use that excuse again
I really cannot believe you said that about Harley...very disheartening. People don't buy a Harley because they are the "best performing" and "most reliable", but instead they are buying an Icon, a True classic, and arguably if you keep it long enough any Harley will be an apprecating asset...something which a Honda or Yamaha will never be.
Don't get me wrong, Hondas and Yamahas are nice for the money, great bang for the buck bikes....but they will never have the Mystique that a harley has (least not in our lifetime), and in the long run they will never be worth as much as a Harley is...
Look at any high end consumer luxury product and try to justify getting a good deal?
Tiffany Diamonds? grossly overpriced when compared to competitors but highly respected by both the masses and jewelers
Montblanc pens? Also very overpriced, poor warranty, fragile...yet one of the best selling high end pen on the market
Rolex watches? vastly inferior to a Timex in their function and much more costly, but still manage to be highly desireable and sell out of their stock every year.
Virtually any high end car? you can buy a Toyota for thousands less, be much more reliable, but Toyota's are not nearly as coveted as a MB or a BMW.
You always pay for luxury.....and in some cases it is worth it, others it is not.
Personally I would take a Harley or a Ducati over a Honda or Yamaha, a BMW over a Camry, and a Rolex over a Timex anyday of the week....
However with electronics such as Bose, diamonds and a few other luxury products you are better off comparison shopping, as 90% of the time you will lose money in the long run on these purchases and you can find something of better or equal quality for much less.
I also feel that people should spend money on what THEY want, and if you really like Bose then by all means buy a Bose system...heck even though everyone says Montblanc is garbage and grossly overpriced I still find myself drawn to many of their pens based on visual asthetics and history alone.
GTaudiophile
Lifer
- Oct 24, 2000
- 29,767
- 33
- 81
Bose makes decent speakers if you're goal is to make them be as invisible as possible. If accurate and good sound is you're goal, you can do much better elsewhere for less money. If you look at Bose' site, you'll notice they talk a lot more about how the speakers look instead of giving information like frequency response.
Well, at least women like riding on my Hog, it's got uniqueness, and you can get parts for it years later, unlike the average crotch rocket which is totally changed every few years (hey, don't flame me, I've got both). I've owned a set of Acoustamass 7s and I was very happy with them. Until I built my first set of speakers. Using the A/B switch on my reciever I compared them directly. My $80 pair of DIY speakers sounded so much better that I gave away my Bose. I investigated what went into the AM-7s and found it was only about $100-150 worth of components and $600 worth of marketing and mark-up. That's why I'm angry at Bose (and myself) - it's overpriced and poor quality. It does OK for some Home Theater, (provided you have a real sub and a decent listening environment) but it mangles music and I don't like the voice reproduciton. There's a Bose FAQ out there, read for more education. I think Bose COULD build a decent system, but why bother when people are willing to pay premium price for substandard quality? The only redeeming quality is SAF (spouse approval factor) of the small cubes.
What I don't like about Bose is how cheap the hardware is in car systems. The amps they use any tiny with inferior electronics that burn itself out within a few years. Replacements costs are high, and you can't even use 3rd party gear unless you rip the whole thing out since Bose use so much custom equilization that it will sound like crap. In my case, I had a 92 Maxima with Bose and all but one speaker totally crapped out within 5 years. If I just had regular OEM speakers I would have done a lot better than this.
apoppin
Lifer
Everyone seems to FORGET (or isn't old enough to remember) the ORIGINAL Bose 901s were a very nice speaker - inefficient but almost-audiophile.
The speakers were based on some sound (pun intended) acoustic principles. After the original inventor (lost interest? died?) they were MASS-marketed and the speakers REdesigned to work with low power . . . the result is the crap you hear today.
End of short history lesson. You can close your books now.
The speakers were based on some sound (pun intended) acoustic principles. After the original inventor (lost interest? died?) they were MASS-marketed and the speakers REdesigned to work with low power . . . the result is the crap you hear today.
End of short history lesson. You can close your books now.
OK. The dimensions of my room are 18' X 15' with 11' ceilings (small for my TV, I know). I currently have the Bose LS50 (which I can sell if I find a better option) and Phillips prontopro tsu6000 remote control. I will be purchasing the Sony 60XBR800 60" Grand Wega in about a month when it comes out. I have a Panasonic nonprogressive DVD which I plan on replacing with some of the newer model progressive scans (Recommendations?) when I get the TV. I also have a Panasonic Showstopper replay TV and an XBOX.
If you guys that are in the know in audio would help me find the best audio system for $3,000-$4,000, that would be great. My wife does not want the speakers and audio equipment to be the centerpiece of the house. That is what is nice about the Bose. I would prefer to have satellite speakers mounted from the ceiling. Thanks so much in advance.
SCR
The main problem I have with Bose isn't that their products suck ass for the money or that they earned their rep through ads... rather, its the Bose LOVERS out there that think that Bose is God's gift to the audiophile and nothing beats their technology, their R&D is "sooo cooool" etcetc. Bascially a fanboy/girl mentality. I think my crappy @$$ Infinity car audio system sounds just as good as my friend's Bose system in the Maxima.
I have excellent hearing and have nearly perfect pitch (there are people who can differentaite less than 1/20th of a tone... ) and a picky ear. Just like everyone else, I heard other systems and they sounded better or equal for way less $$. The thing is that there are fanboys out there that spout about how they gots a m4d 133t Bose system and that it's the best $$ can buy and they r0X0rZ. yaddayadda... strangely is seems so similar to the ricer movement...
I hate to see my friends dish out an extra friggin grand or 2 for a "premium Bose audio" system in their car. I know a lot of guys into car audio and they always scream and yell... LEMME BUILD YOU A SYSTEM! BOSE SUCKS! My ears say their systems are pretty damn good for the amount of money they spend.
I have excellent hearing and have nearly perfect pitch (there are people who can differentaite less than 1/20th of a tone... ) and a picky ear. Just like everyone else, I heard other systems and they sounded better or equal for way less $$. The thing is that there are fanboys out there that spout about how they gots a m4d 133t Bose system and that it's the best $$ can buy and they r0X0rZ. yaddayadda... strangely is seems so similar to the ricer movement...
I hate to see my friends dish out an extra friggin grand or 2 for a "premium Bose audio" system in their car. I know a lot of guys into car audio and they always scream and yell... LEMME BUILD YOU A SYSTEM! BOSE SUCKS! My ears say their systems are pretty damn good for the amount of money they spend.
Very good points there! However, you buy a Montblanc or a rolex or Bimmer because of the status and the luxury.
Bose is snake oil.
The only ones who perceive Bose as high-end, luxury items are uneducated consumer whores. There is absolutely zero reason to buy a Bose at its asking price.
$3000-$4000 for just the audio components? Damn man, thats a very good amount of money to throw at it. I am assuming you mean: Receiver, DVD player, speakers (at least 5.1, possibly more). The remote you have will kick ass with the system (I have a lesser Pronto). At this point, I would suggest hitting up the Home Theater / AV forums listed above and ask them. Give them your budget and requirements (i.e. must not be overbearing for the room). And hit up your local Home Theater shop (this is not BB) and ask them. You will be able to demo the stuff at their store, so bring your own CD's with music you like and your favorite DVD's to test it out. For that kind of money, they'll probably let you demo it at home for a short period, like 48 hours.
I mean, thats double what I budgeted for those components, and I love my setup.
EDIT: BTW, my setup is in a 13'x13'x8' living room. The speakers are there, but they are not "sore thumbs".
With that kind of money, you might be able to spring for some custom installations to hide the speakers better.
Amnesiac, go read a pen enthusiasts site, or a watch enthusiasts site, or even some car enthusiasts sites and see what the majority say about Montblanc, Rolex and BMW ...most of the comments by the "enthusiasts" are negative as all of these brands rely heavily on marketing, image, past history and little on their current product...many will say all three of these brands represent a very poor value for the money...however all three of these brands are amongst the most popular and retain their value better than many others....I think the same could be said for Bose, many people buy them for the name, they are not a good "value" for the money but have a good amount of status associated with them, and they can be re-sold for a higher premium than other brands of speakers.....so I think many people also buy Bose for the status and the luxury as well.
$500?
I can get 100 ft. spools of 12 ga cable for $35, a set of gold plated plugs for about $20...
I've been out of the A/V scene for a while. So I can't contribute much more. I will ask one question that others probably asssume. You are putting the TV on the 15' wall, correct?
Also, you questions are probably better answered in one of the A/V forums that have already been posted.
This is making me sad. I can't wait till the day comes that I can build a home theater. Right now I have decent equipment, and an HDTV. I just can't afford to put money into a sick system right now :|
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 24K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter